Bosun Higgs
N/A
I like crime novels - those of the Inspector Morse type of low violence levels. Mostly British rather than American but happy to try other nationalities and historical periods.
recommend me an easy read novel
- Thread starter Bosun Higgs
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dt4134
New member
Try one of the Lt Boruvka novels by Josef Skvorecky.
V1701
Well-known member
Have you tried the Rebus novels (Ian Rankin)? Anything by James Patterson is ridiculously easy to read but US and quite gory...
Skysail
Well-known member
Quintin Jardine is a real page turner but can be violent. The alphabet series by Sue Grafton is good. ' A is for Alibi' etc.
Fantasie 19
Well-known member
Any of the Roy Grace series by Peter James - highly recommended...
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/j/peter-james/dead-simple.htm
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/j/peter-james/dead-simple.htm
Rustyknight
Well-known member
The "Inspector Banks" series by Peter Robinson are pretty decent reads.
ITV recently aired an adaptation of one of the novels, though it was a bit of a hatchet job really, and didn't do the books justice IMHO.
ITV recently aired an adaptation of one of the novels, though it was a bit of a hatchet job really, and didn't do the books justice IMHO.
jhr
Well-known member
The Dalziel and Pascoe novels by Reginald Hill are good - much better than the TV adaptation, even though it's got Warren Clarke in it 
Also, anything by Minette Walters, though her stories are often quite dark and introspective.
Also, anything by Minette Walters, though her stories are often quite dark and introspective.
Gazza
Member
Crime Novels
For a change of scenery, I'd highly recommend Michael Dibdin's series of novels featuring an Italian detective (Aurolio Zen). Brilliantly written, some violence but not gratuitous. My wife is very enthusiastic about Donna Leon's books about (by chance) another Italian detective, but I get very irritated by his apparant lack of investigative skills (at least in the first book).
Try Michael Dibdin - I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
For a change of scenery, I'd highly recommend Michael Dibdin's series of novels featuring an Italian detective (Aurolio Zen). Brilliantly written, some violence but not gratuitous. My wife is very enthusiastic about Donna Leon's books about (by chance) another Italian detective, but I get very irritated by his apparant lack of investigative skills (at least in the first book).
Try Michael Dibdin - I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Spuddy
Active member
Yes, I liked the Michael Dibdin books - a bit sombre in tone maybe. Also based in Italy, but in Venice is Donna Leon's series of police procedurals. You also get the odd recipe and a real insight into what life is like for the locals. My personal favourite for a well put together thriller is Eric Ambler - Mask of Demetrious and also the one's featuring Arthur Simpson as an absurd anti-hero.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
Yes - tried one, but the idea of the hero who always ignores his stupid superiors is about as hackneyed as they get. Not my taste despite me using Morse as an example.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
Done the alphabet. Will have a look at Quintin.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
The Dalziel and Pascoe novels by Reginald Hill are good - much better than the TV adaptation, even though it's got Warren Clarke in it
Read all those. Will have a look at Walters and Dibdin. Thanks for the suggestions.
In return I can recommend:
Patricia Cornwell, the Martin Obrien "Jaquot" series, Reginald Hill and John Rawlings. Just read Arnaldur Indridason "silence of the grave" - fairly average but interesting as an Icelandic detective story. Also Qiu bXialong "the mao case" is interesting as a chinese alternative.
Slowtack
Well-known member
Anything by James Lee Burke
chinita
Well-known member
You could try the Patricia Highsmith Ripley novels. Begin with 'The Talented Mr Ripley'
Yes, American, but a distinctive style.
Not historical, but historically interesting is 'Rogue Male' by Geoffrey Household. A novel - but only just so IMO.
Yes, American, but a distinctive style.
Not historical, but historically interesting is 'Rogue Male' by Geoffrey Household. A novel - but only just so IMO.
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dt4134
New member
You could try the Welsh detective novels of Malcolm Pryce. Written in the style of Raymond Chandler but with the action transfered from Los Angeles to Aberystwyth. Can get a bit surreal.
http://www.bloomsbury.com/Authors/article.aspx?tpid=704&aid=7529
Seajet
...
Wasn't it Y.O.T.Chandler who wrote 'The Big Sloop' and 'Farewell My Lubberly' ?
Norman_E
Well-known member
Try going back to the 16th century with C J Sansom's series of Shardlake novels, starting with Dissolution. Not really detective novels but very good historical context and good storytelling, whilst still an easy read.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
Definitely sounds surreal - maybe even weird if you've ever been to Aberystwyth
Sojourner47
New member
How about Alexander McCall Smith's No 1 Lady Detective series? OK, fairly lightweight stuff, but an easy read.
Otherwise, Henning Mankell's Wallander books, though maybe a bit dark......
Otherwise, Henning Mankell's Wallander books, though maybe a bit dark......
iggy3860
New member
Ellis Peters 'Brother Cadfael' series are quite easy to read...mediaeval whodunnits