Series fans are a devoted bunch, following their favorite characters through adventure after adventure and sending new installments to the top of bestseller lists. But what to do while you’re waiting for the next book?
In the spirit of book fortunes, here are mystery series recommendations based on taste, from cozies to police procedurals to Nordic noir. In each case, we take a wildly popular series and offer a few suggestions for series that are newer or lesser known.
If you like the forensic technology in Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta series, try . . .
• The Dr. Claire Waters series by Neal Baer and Jonathan Green, starring forensic psychiatrist Claire Waters and NYPD detective Nick Lawler. Book #1, Kill Switch, is a break-neck story about a serial killer’s rampage.
• Jefferson Bass’s Body Farm series, starring forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton. Whodunit columnist Bruce Tierney called the most recent installment, The Inquisitor’s Key, “highly original.”
• Andrea Kane’s Forensic Instincts series, about a crew of experts “working just a smidgeon outside the law” who solve near-impossible crimes.
If you like Michael Connelly’s police procedurals about LAPD detective Harry Bosch, try . . .
• The brand-new Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller, which focuses on the prosecuting attorney in a small town in West Virginia. We loved book #1, A Killing in the Hills, which starts with a bang when three men are murdered in a coffee shop.
• Owen Laukkanen’s Stevens and Windermere series, about an FBI special agent and a Minnesota state investigator. Book #2, Criminal Investigator, comes out on March 21, 2013.
If you like Elizabeth George’s series about Scotland Yard Inspector Thomas Lynley, try . . .
• Louise Penny’s Canadian whodunits about Chief Inspector Gamache and his homicide department in Quebec. The latest installment, The Beautiful Mystery, is out this month.
• The excellent police procedurals about the Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French. We loved #4, Broken Harbor—our Top Pick in Fiction for August.
If you like Lilian Jackson Braun’s lighthearted “The Cat Who” series of cozy mysteries, try . . .
• Barbara Allan’s Trash ‘n’ Treasures series about a mother-daughter amateur sleuthing team. The latest, the offbeat and funny Antiques Disposal, is a must for cozy fans.
• Clare O’Donohue’s Someday Quilts series, which BookPage calls “a haven for those who love a good mystery as well as the history and colorful ambiance involved in the craft of quilting.”
If you like Sue Grafton’s books starring feisty sleuth Kinsey Milhone, try . . .
• Laura Levine’s series about wisecracking detective Jaine Austen. We liked Pampered to Death, a clever sendup of health spas. (The victim is strangled with spa-healthy kelp!) Look for Death of A Neighborhood Witch in September.
• Kate White’s Bailey Weggins mysteries, about a “smart, savvy, sexy” amateur sleuth.
If you like Stieg Larsson’s edgy Millennium Trilogy, try . . .
• Jo Nesbo’s gritty series about Oslo investigator Harry Hole.
• Swedish author Hakan Nesser’s Chief Inspector van Veeteren series, which Bruce Tierney calls an “absolute must.”
• Lars Kepler’s Detective Inspector Joona Linna series (also Swedish). Book #2, The Nightmare, came out in July. BookPage contributor Sukey Howard called it “crime fiction with real depth.”
• Taylor Stevens’ Vanessa Michael Munroe books, which have an assassin-heroine who will remind you more than a little of Lisbeth Salander.
If you like Elizabeth Peters’ series about Egyptologist Amelia Peabody, try . . .
• Charles Finch’s atmospheric Victorian mystery series about Parliament member/amateur detective Charles Lenox. BookPage review Barbara Clark called A Burial at Sea an “expertly written adventure.” Look for A Death in the Small Hours in November.
• Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series, romantic stories about spies in 19th-century Britain.
• Tasha Alexander’s historical mysteries about 19th-century English sleuth Lady Emily.
What series do you love?
By the way, if women’s fiction series are more your thing, this week’s Monday Contest highlights Susan Wiggs’ Lakeshore Chronicles series. (You can enter to win 10 books!)
I love the Bryant & May series by Christopher Fowler, Colin Cotterill’s coroner series in Laos, Jo Nesbo’s procedurals, J. Adler-Olson, Indridasson’s procedurals.
I am hooked on “The Women’s Murder Club” by James Patterson. I listen to these on CD when we are traveling. Also love the Annie Pigeon series.
I love reading the “Prey” novels of John Sandford. Talk about page turners!
I absolutely love the JD Robb “in death” series. Not just for the mystery but for the character and relationship development throughout the series. I recommend it to everyone who comes in looking for a great series to read! I’ve gotten many people hooked!
I love J. D. Robb series also. I read each new one as soon as I can get it from the library. Love love love Eve and Roark
As an avid mystery reader for many years, my current favorites are books by Jo Nesbo, Michael Connelly and I’ve recently discovered how good the Jack Reacher novels are by Lee Childs.
I’m presently immersed in Julia Spencer-Fleming’s “Reverend Clare Fergusson” series. Here, a female Anglican/Episcopalian priest — ex-Army (chopper pilot) and single — teams up with a small town’s chief of police — also ex-Army (MP) and long married. The sparks fly!
I love cooking Joanne fluke is wonderful
I agree… I have been reading the entire series from book 1 this summer and almost to the most recent one, Cinnamon Roll Murder… I have also made one of her recipes and it turned out pretty good
Do you think THAT GIRL STARTED HER OWN COUNTRY could be Lisbeth Salander’s twin sister and the fourth sequel to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo?
Fans of Scandinavian-type mysteries should read Karin Fossum, Helen Tursten, Asa Larsson and Lene Kaaberbol, to name a few new additions to the current popular authors of this genre. Add a mix of Louise Penny’s beautifully written stories and Anne Holt’s thrillers and you’ll have many books to read this fall and winter.
I love a good mystery book. That’s why I wrote one: BLOODGUILTY. The ebook is on the KINDLE Bookstore. It has mystery, terror, and intrigue.
If you love International Mysteries, check out this Ghanaian Author: Kwei Quartey. He has two books so far in his series: Wife of the Gods, and Children of the Street. Books are set in Ghana (West Africa) and the author has given us an interesting main character who is both flawed and principled. The author is a Ghanaian-American.
I have been reading Rebecca Cantrell’s excellent series about pre WWII Berlin. Great characters and you learn so much about Germany’s past. The first book is A Trace of Smoke. Coincidentaly I have been reading James Benn’s excellent WWII series. Each book is set in a different area England, Ireland, North Africa and I think the next one is set at the Vatican. Again excellent characters and you learn so much.
I picked the latest james R.benn book friday at my local library. Death’s door takes place in rome and the Vatican early 1944. billy boyle is sent in to discover why and american monsignor who has worked in the Vatican for years. (he was in college with Wild bill O’Donovan top gun of OSS.) lots of intrigue and Billy brings in more. He is bound and determined to get his girl friend out of the infamous Regina coeli jail run by the Gestapo. she has been working undercover as a nun in the Vatican. lots of intrigue, suspense and mystery . since I am leaving for a 10 day trip to Italy oct 7th I found this more interesting. there are real people in this book and much history.( have to get the allied forces to rome) they are still stuck near anzio and people are waiting. rome is full of hidden British & american air force people, jews in convents and inside the Vatican and other refugees. Who do you trust?
Two great series set in the western part of the US: the first series is by C.J. Box, the Joe Picket series set in Wyoming — Joe is a game warden who is too smart for his surperiors, but solves the most difficult crimes. He’s a family man with interesting friends. The second is by Todd Borg: the Owen McKenna series set in Lake Tahoe and surrounding NV and CA locales. Owen is a retired San Francisco policeman who has a Great Dane “partner” named Spot. I especially appreciate these author’s research.