If you had to choose just one, which mystery/crime fiction series would you say is your favorite?

[David]

Ron wrote: Great list, Quillracer. Hard to go wrong on any book that meets that list of requirements.

I don't expect all of them in every book, but being outstanding in one area can overcome weakness in other areas.

Spenser was always a bit of an unrealistic character because he was always one step ahead of the bad guys but I've never read anyone who wrote snappier, crisper dialog than Robert B. Parker.

Lee Child writes great actions scenes but his dialog is a bit awkward some times.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Owen Mullen's Charlie Cameron series..... Games People Play and Old Friends and New Enemies.

[Dennis]

Spenser was always a bit of an unrealistic character because he was always one step ahead of the bad guys but I've never read anyone who wrote snappier, crisper dialog than Robert B. Parker.

Elmore Leonard?

[David]

True, Dennis, but I always liked Parker's better.

[Gail]

When I discovered Robert Ludlum's series back in the day, that got me hooked on thrillers. Eventually, John Sandford took his place until he switched to the Flowers character. It took me years to read the first four of those, fun but didn't stick with them.

I want to read some Kellerman books as they will be guest speakers at a conference next year, but I don't know which books to choose. Anyone have a favorite for Jonathan or Faye?

[David]

Most of Jonathan Kellerman's books are good. I'd suggest the first one - When The Bough Breaks - something from the middle - Self Defenseor Survival Of The Fittest - and one of the more recent ones - Deception or Mystery.

[Gail]

I like the sound of the titles, When The Bough Breaks and Deception. I'll give those a try. Thanks.

[David]

You can read his books in any order but I think it's easier to read them in sequence. Otherwise you might not understand some of the side issues (like his relationship with Robin, his girlfriend) in the books.

[Gail]

Then I will have to go with When The Bough Breaks because I won't have time to read all of them.

[Rebecca]

If the Sherlock Holmes entire collection counts as a series, I choose that! I can re-read Holmes and enjoy it every time.

[Thomas]

I like Elmore Leonard and Robert Parker.

[Ron]

Thomas wrote: "I like Elmore Leonard and Robert Parker."

I love Robert B. Parker's books. Both his Spenser series and his Jessee Stone one, at least.

I was becoming a fan of Elmore Leonard until I read a statement in one of his books that was totally wrong. Turned me off against him and I haven't read anymore by him and won't. When an author makes a remark that shows that he didn't research it, it turns me off completely.

[William]

When The Bough Breaks got me hooked on Kellerman years ago and also on the entire genre. Before that I was a Ludlum junkie,too. Now I'm partial to Robert Crais's Elvis Cole/Joe Pike thrillers along with Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch.

[Ron]

William wrote: "...Now I'm partial to Robert Crais's Elvis Cole/Joe Pike thrillers along with Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch. "

You and me, both! Love Crais and Connelly books. Well, Connelly's Bosch series. Not as much with the Mickey Haller ones. They're still good, but, I like his Bosch books better.

[Craig]

The Longmire Mysteries are my favorite series, followed by Dexter. Caroline Kepnes's You and Hidden Bodies rank high with me but I wouldn't call just two books a series, yet. Laura Lippman is also a favorite author, but I like her stand alone stories better than her Tess Monaghan series. I also like a lot of David Baldacci series.

[Thomas]

I also like Longmire series and Connelly books.

[Gail]

Definitely like Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch police procedurals. I started reading his novels at the same time as I read Jeffrey Deaver's books. I liked the first Lincoln Rhyme novels but stopped reading the later ones.

[Sandra]

Michael Connelly is also a favorite author, both the Harry Bosch and Lincoln Lawyer series are good. Good thing they are related, I like how we get to see several sides in the same time period

[Barbara]

I agree with everybody!!

[Andrew]

So many great series to choose from, Bosch, Elvis Cole, Hap and Leonard but if I had to choose only one it would be the Poke Rafferty novels by Timothy Hallinan. The series begins with A Nail Through The Heart, they are set in Bangkok and contain a wonderful cast of characters that develop so much over the course of the series. Judging on the amount of reviews they have here on Goodreads, they are also criminally under read. It is one series where you get the most out of it if you read them in order.

[Frank]

Hi Everyone, I will be launching my debut Serial Conspiracy Thriller in a few months and I wanted to start meeting fans of the genre so I thought it would be fun to host a contest and give away some great books. Enter here: http://frankbagnato.com/giveaways/ult... Good Luck!

[David]

For me there are of course many. Connelly & Harry for sure, but the one that stands out for me is James Lee Burke & the Dave Robicheaux series.

[Donna]

Try The Blacklick Valley Mystery Series--always a page-turner that will keep you glued till the last paragraph! All rated between 4.6 and 4.8 STARS.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_...

[Jacky]

Back here posting after a bit of hibernation (and have found some new authors to explore in these posts)

My favourite series is the Sharon McCone detective stories by Marcia Muller.
I found her in the early 80s, when they were published by the Women's Press in the UK. This must be one of the longest running series: Sharon investigated her first case in 1977 (Edwin of the Iron Shoes) but she, her beloved city of San Francisco and the love of her life Hy Ripinsky age & change naturally, in real time, over almost 40 years.
I have to say that the last one Someone Always Knows (no. 31, published this year) was not quite as gripping as the others, so I don't suggest starting with it, if you are new to Sharon's world.

[Dawn Lawrence]

So hard to choose but for me its got to be Chris Carter, the Robert Hunter series.

[Amy]

Right now it's SJ Bolton's Lacey Flint series. So good!

[[deleted user]]

Choosing one is impossible, in part because I love many, in part because every series has it's ups and downs, in part because new authors come along hit one out of the park, and finally, because there are simply too many genres that each have a 'best of breed'.

I've read most of the series named here, not a fan of some, but a big fan of other, like the Longmire books, Travis McGee, Bosch, Cole & Pike, and Leaphorn & Chee. But I also like David Housewright's Mac MacKenzie books, and Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight, and Loren Estleman's Amos Walker. That no one mentioned Christie, Sayers, Hammet, Chandler, Carr, Tey, Marsh, or Greene is surprising.

That's why mysteries in all their varied forms, from cozy, to PI, to police procedural, to spy novel, to amateur detectives, from dark noir like Vachss to humorous assassins like the Housewife Assassin books to urban fantasy mystery with paranormal detectives, to historical novels (I notice Lindsey Davis hasn't been mentioned with her Falco series, or John Maddox Roberts with his SPQR books), to Golden Age classics are such a wonderland to explore.

GO FORTH AND READ!