The Running Grave - Robert Galbraith - 5 stars +

[Robin P]

Wow, this book of 34 hours audio took over my life and I was still sorry for it to end. I stayed up late listening and sneaked in as much time as I could during the day. It happened that I did the first book of the series on audio, and I was so impressed with the narrator that I've done them all that way. I am wary of books with dark themes (I have a rule of thumb to avoid books with the words "chilling" or "gripping" in the description) but I make an exception for this series. I also don't care about the author (who is of course J.K. Rowling) having some questionable views on some subjects. These books always draw me in and I enjoy all the details about the side cases, people's families, whatever.

This one gets very intense and I even dreamed about it. And it has a surprising ending. I hope the next one comes out soon! It's astounding how Rowling/Galbraith could have written in such very different styles and registers and be a huge success in both.

I am looking for recommendations of some other series that are as engaging. The only one I can think of is the Three Pines series by Louise Penny, which also has wonderfully complex characters/ But I have read all of those. So let me know if you have suggestions.

[Jgrace]

You beat me to the first review! But I had exactly the same reaction. It kept me awake. That rescue!
I was away for a week after I finished it, visiting family in Hawaii. I listened to it all over again coming and going on the long flight.

[John]

Galbraith's mysteries are long but they tend to move fast.

[Olivermagnus]

I just got the audio, which is the perfect way to enjoy this series. I need to find just the right time to start it but your review/comments make me anxious to jump right in.

[annapi]

Robin P wrote: "I am looking for recommendations of some other series that are as engaging."

My caveat is that I did not find Louise Penny's Gamache series to be anywhere near as compelling as Cormoran Strike or my other favorites. However, here are my recommendations:

Michael Connelly - Harry Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer and Renee Ballard series
William Kent Krueger - Cork O'Connor series
John Sandford - Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers series
Dana Stabenow - Kate Shugak series
Linda Castillo - Kate Burkholder series
Dick Francis - not a series, all are standalones but all great

[Theresa]

annapi wrote: "Robin P wrote: "I am looking for recommendations of some other series that are as engaging."

My caveat is that I did not find Louise Penny's Gamache series to be anywhere near as compelling as Cor..."

I agree with Anna - Louise Penny is just ok for me. But I also have had trouble getting far with her series so I don't rule out changing my mind.

I want to echo Anna's recommendation of Dana Stabenow's series with Kate Shuglack. And that's the one I was thinking about the other day as a series where it's less the extremely well told mystery that keeps me coming back than the characters, setting, and connections.

[Robin P]

I will check out Stabenow and the others, I have heard of all of them. I read 2 of Krueger's Cork O'Connor (I loved his non-mysteries, Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land) but found them too thriller-ish, plus getting into the "wife/child of detective in peril" trope which I don't like, Not sure why I was ok with Robin Ellacott in peril, maybe because she chose it and had options to take care of herself.

I have done 1 or 2 Dick Francis but I am looking for something where the character arc continues through the series. A historical series I like a lot is the Sebastian St. Cyr series starting with What Angels Fear.

[Theresa]

Robin P wrote: "I will check out Stabenow and the others, I have heard of all of them. I read 2 of Krueger's Cork O'Connor (I loved his non-mysteries, Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land) but found them too thrill..."

Historical mystery - where I reside these days.

My suggestions:

Andrea Penrose - either series. Her first was what I call the Chocolate series - featuring Lady Ariana - quite an original idea and chocolate - or cocoa - as a commodity has a big role. The series isn't long -- because she started her Sloane & Wexler series that has taken off. I think the characters in the 2nd series are less eccentric than the ones in the Chocolate series - but I do love eccentric.

Ashley Gardner - her Captain Lacey series -- I'm actually quite behind in these. I recommended these to the same colleague who recommended St. Cyr series to me and he loves them!.

Victoria Thompson - gaslight NYC - I know the midwife series but have not yet read her new series.

Mariah Fredericks - turn of 20th century NYC - Jane Prescott series - Shes' a local to NYC author and does impeccable research while writing interesting and good mysteries.

In fact, just take a look at my first in a series shelf for ideas -- includes any and all genres.