Considering there are likely hundreds of series in the genre at least as of 2016, it was quite a heroic feat to sort through these hundreds, all to find the most compelling series these being a mix of well known popular series to underrated more obscure series. Explore our list of detecive and mystery fiction books at barnes. The series is written by a highly renowned united states novelist named david baldacci. The cuckoos calling by robert galbraith, the silkworm by robert galbraith, still life by louise penny, career of evil. This series takes a historical setting, the immediate aftermath of world war i. Here is a list of 20 books from great mystery book series that you should check out.
It is an adventure and is a great way to help kids understand how they came to be. In the seven novels published to date, detective carl morck and his motley crew of. This is a list of fictional detective teams from popular detective fiction. Meet montanas favorite detective in the sean stranahan mysteries series by keith mccafferty. Holmes is a supporting character here, and mary smart, observant, fiercely feminist is every bit as good a detective as her more famous patron.
The 12 greatest fictional detectives who arent sherlock. Private detective kinsey millhone was created by american author sue grafton. Encyclopedia brown has taken us on countless journeys since it was first published in 1963. Since that initial series nancy has been revamped various times for everything from seventies tv series to madefortv movies and modern book series. Each and every novel of this series features the lead protagonist in the. Theres no crime too dark for this maverick lapd homicide detective and sometime private eye. For avid readers, finding a series you love is especially nice, providing easy entertainment without the risk that the book will be a dud. A large frame, a large family, a gentle manner, and a brilliant detective.
So if looking for stephen king you would search by s, not k. These will become classics with the like of to kill a mockingbird. Two young girls travel back in time to meet their relatives. A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century london. I then look no further because this roundup includes some of the most quickwitted kid detectives of childrens literature. The queen of crime fiction, dame agatha christie has written 66 detective novels, and has even been credited with creating the motifs that we now expect of detective crime fiction. This fictional town based on santa barbara was invented by another writer, ross macdonald. Youve subscribed to surfing detective mystery series. Pizzolatto, creator of hbos true detective, wasnt so famous when his debut novel was published, but its still a gorgeously meanspirited noir, following lowlevel enforcer roy cadyrecently diagnosed with a terminal illnesswho flees new orleans when his boss puts a hit on him. This is book number 9 in the inspector armand gamache series and definitely our favorite of all of them there are 12. Two key characters in the series are introduced susan silverman and lieutenant healy and youll meet them again throughout the 40book series. Detective jack stratton mystery thriller series book 1 christopher greyson. Nancy drew is one of the most famous girl detectives, and for good reason. Easy falls into unlicensed private detective work after losing his job at a defense plant.
In this first installment, wallander tries to solve a murder at a remote swedish farmhouse, going on nothing but a foreign word uttered by a dying woman. Considered to be a delator a private informer of plebeian rank, falco navigates his way through investigations of trading conspiracy, treason and vengeful murder, some of which. Sherlock holmes, along with his partner james watson, solves numerous complicated cases and fascinates everyone with his extraordinary wit. These fictional american characters were created by edward stratemeyer. The swedish mankell, a master of the police procedural, is best known for his 11book series following the rugged, obsessive ystad police inspector kurt wallander. It was these gothic novels that paved the way for the detective story. Nero wolfe may not be americas most famous fictional detectivebut he is surely its most sherlockian. Taking a young girl along for the ride, cady heads. Theres nothing quite exciting as finding out a new murder mystery series.
This genius work by sir arthur conan doyle has inspired the wellknown movies and tv series. These classics ushered in the golden age of crime and detective stories. Please note it is listed by the authors first name. As fans of louise penny just like many of you out there, she had to top our list with how the light gets in. In poes wake came storytellers of varying degrees of competency, and. No list would be complete without the greatest detective who never lived. Popular mystery series books meet your next favorite book. She produced long series of books featuring detective characters like. Harry potter is, and will always remain the best book series of all time. Two dozen outstanding detective series from around the world. Though falco was created by lindsey davis using the concepts of the modern detective novel, falco actually serves as the protagonist of a series of historical mysteries set during the rule of vespasian.
Michael connelly delivers a gripping, gritty series. She lives in an apartment in santa teresa, california. This is a unique series in that there really arent many crime novels coming from israelsomething discussed by the fictional character in the book. This notsofamous detective book is a gem for readers who appreciate reality more than anything. Rutledge is a scotland yard detective who served at the front and came back psychologically damaged. The judy bolton mystery stories by margaret sutton. A tv aficionadobecomenovelist, crais started off completely. Leroy encyclopedia brown is one of the most popular kid detectives in literature. The 19th book featuring harry bosch, black box, will be out next month, and one of my favorite detectives, now sliding firmly into middle age, shows no sign of slowing down.
In this book, nameless takes on the case of a 40 year old murder of a pulp writer the detective as well as the author are also pulp fans. This list includes pairs of characters who appear in a series of novels or short stories, not characters who are teamed only for a single story where two detectives work together, they are listed as a and b. A hilarious collection of six novels with themes of man versus, these are not your average mystery. There is no more recognizable figure in the mystery world. The amos decker series is a famous book series of mystery, young adult, and thriller novels. Chet is the resident detective of emerson hicky elementary, and no crime is too big for him to solve. Whether you prefer cozy mysteries or hardhitting detective fiction. Saxby smart, private detective series by simon cheshire, illustrated by r. Some are new series that have a few books out, others are more established, and some are classics. It is comprised of 4 books in total, which were released between the years 2015 and 2018. While poirot is widely considered the most famous detective in literary fiction except for, perhaps, that one fellow, christie stated in the essay that she had become bored to tears of him, and even considered him something of an embarrassment. The wire, the sweeney, luther, nypd blue and true detective have provided some of tvs best cops. We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available.
After a body is discovered in a cab in melbourne, detective gorby sets out to solve. The fictitious detective has been a beloved staple of the genre for more than a century, having first appeared in the 1887 novel a study in scarlet. Instead of a sergeant sidekick, rutledge has hamish, a dead scottish soldier who served with him in france who nevertheless haunts rutledge night and day. Later, sir arthur conan doyle s sherlock holmes became the most famous example and remains so to this day. Detective in old style, gathering suspects in one place and naming the murderer, in a series of books, tv series, and several movies such as michael shayne, private d. This is a listing in alphabetical order of all of the authors that we currently list. Shes the disciple of the avowed worlds greatest detective, jacques silette, and spends much of her time meditating on the principles he laid out. Whenever we talk about detectives, how can we ever forget sherlock.
Top 25 best mystery series the complete sherlock holmes. Browse a list of books tagged detective series by our club members to find the best detective series books. His plot includes all the basics that you would need to get indulged into a mystery novel. Alex cross, the protagonist of a series of novels that begin with along came a spider, is the most softspoken member of a list that includes several little old ladies. The first famous detective in fiction was edgar allan poe s c. She acknowledged the ardent affection reserved for poirot by fans, but went on to caution wouldbe. When new books are released, well charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the preorder period. Nancy first appeared in 1930 in a series of mystery novels written by various people under the pseudonym of carolyn keene. Hes been given three years until he must retire from the lapd and hes still determined to do what he does best. The murder of roger ackroyd poirot hercule poirot series book 4.
The 50 best tv detectives and sleuths the telegraph. Inspector avraham avraham also takes issues with fictional detectives since he thinks they get the wrong person. The missing locket by mary cunningham and the others in the series, is for children and it is great. Although there is evidence of detectivelike stories from 18thcentury china, the first true detective stories were penned by edgar allan poe, whose eccentric parisian sleuth c. William dougherty, john almquist, richard sklar, james duncan lawrence, thomas mulvey and richard mckenna. Solving crimes in new york from his wellappointed brownstone on west 35th street, wolfes got all the right traits to please holmes obsessives.
The second spenser novel by robert b parker follows on from the godwulf manuscript and sees the detective come into his own as he searches for kevin, a 15yearold boy. Each book in the series contains at least ten minimysteries which you, the reader, solve right along with the boy wonder. Fantastic characters, great plot, twists and turns and a fabulous author. Poe started off writing short mystery stories, eventually to become the father of this genre.
When the main character is a likable detective, the mystery is suspenseful, and the pace is fast, well often want more when the book is done. Famous private detectives in novels, movies, and tv. The crime fiction series that defined the last decade crimereads. The tv series rivals of sherlock holmes consists of the character. Worlds best detective, crime, and murder mystery books. And just to help you out, weve listed them all in the order they were written. Is the young reader in your life a codecracking, baddybusting, fiendfoiling, eagleeyed p. The hardy boys, joe and frank hardy the three very famous detectives first appeared in 1927 and have featured in several adventure books for both children and teenagers. Specifically, our curated and ranked picks for the top 25 best mystery series. Weve put together our top 20 of the best series ever from crime to scifi, kids to teens, historical to contemporary fiction. Alley grades 36 readers get a chance to solve mysteries alongside this 10yearold boy detective, because he often shares his notebook, notes, and clues. The best and most popular mystery books and series vulture.
Many of the most popular books of the golden age were written by agatha christie. Created by scottish author alexander mccall smith, precious ramotswe is one of the very few black female detectives in literature. Auguste dupin foreshadowed the later sherlock holmes. Published the same year as robert louis stevensons dr jekyll and mr hyde which is part detective story and part gothic horror novel, and a year before the first sherlock holmes novel, the mystery of a hansom cab was a runaway bestseller upon its publication in 1886. The two fictional detectives have appeared in book and television shows and computer games. She is the first female private investigator from botswana and founder of a detective agency. The literary detective has been a part of our imagination since at least the 19th century.
A list of the alltime top british mystery series, from classic series like poirot to modern hits like luther. His son had been told that his father died in korea, but now evidence has come to light that makes the son wonder if his father committed suicide or was possibly murdered. Charlie chan by earl derr biggers charlie chan was endearing. Starting with author walter mosley s first novel about the detective, devil in a blue dress, the series follows rawlins as he investigates crimes and navigates the social injustices and race politics of america in the 1940s60s. And thats the great thing about a brilliant series, once you finish one book, theres always another.
621 901 90 331 700 1105 410 575 1055 229 1449 1460 1460 344 1078 120 820 165 931 1319 1034 193 1492 625 891 444 1052 835 1357 131 994 1385 1319 1099