Best crime novel/author?

[cyberfairy]

Fallen Angel By Andrew Taylor is one of those fascinating if somewhat unbelievable novels that I adore (made quite a good ITV drama too)


The thrilling and powerful psychological trilogy, reissued to coincide with a major 3 part TV adaptation, Fallen Angel, starring Charles Dance and Emilia Fox, from the bestelling author of 'The American Boy'. 'Nobody's perfect,' says a little girl in a walled garden. Certainly not the child stolen from a shabby London street. Or the sexually frustrated suburban vicar. Or least of all, perhaps, the woman who runs out of good times and comes to perch like a cuckoo in the bosom of a perfect family. Fallen Angel uncovers the secret history of a murderer, tracing the full damage and horror of an unforgiving killer over forty years. A chilling account of one family's self-destruction, the story slowly strips away the past, like an archaeological dig into the very nature of evil.

 

[claxton]

Elmore Leonard.

Anything by the man, he is the best by a long way. Best writer of dialogue alive. Rum Punch, LaBrava, Freaky Deaky ...

 

[Dirty Martini]

Raymond Chandler -- a one-off, a terrible influence on other writers who don't realise how difficult it is to write like that. Favourite one of his I've read: Farewell, My Lovely

Elmore Leonard. Swag is the funniest crime novel I've read.

I also wasn't too impressed with the Pelecanos I read (Right as Rain).

George V Higgins. A very special writer, concentrating on lawyers as much as criminals, some of the best dialogue you'll ever read. I'd recommend The Friends of Eddie Coyle (stellar), Wonderful Years, Wonderful Years and Rat on Fire, bit it's difficult to go wrong with Higgins.

Of Ellroy, I enjoyed Black Dahlia and The Big Nowhere, but lost patience, I think, with LA Confidential.

I've loved the Derek Raymond I've read: The Devil's Home On Leave, The Crust On Its Uppers and I Was Dora Suarez.

These are some of my favourites.

One writer I'd like to read is Ace Atkins -- has anyone come across his stuff? Also, that Swedish husband-and-wife team from the 60s and 70s who wrote police procedurals, I can't remember their names. These have just been reissued. And Rankin I guess.

It's a big field. There's lots of great stuff that's only ever got a minority audience.

 

[Madusa]

James Patterson.

 

[Lysistrata]

I like Sara Peretsky, I've read a lot of the VI Warshawski books and like the way the characters develop. Also really enjoyed the three books I read by Mary Wing(s?) but can't find any more by her.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

I had a look through my shelves last night and one author that jumped out at me was Cornell Woolrich. He was another American I'm afraid but he wrote some great novels and short stories on a crime/noir tip, many of which were subsequently turned into good movies such as Rear Window and The Bride Wore Black (written under his pseudonym William Irish).

You can often pick up collected copies of his short stories in discount stores so keep an eye out for him.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

TYou should also read Crime & Punishment - now THAT's a crime novel.

Quite.

 

[Dubversion]

the best crime novel - kinda - i've ever read is Michael Chabon's Yiddish Policeman's Union, a detective murder investigation in an Alaska that became a Jewish settlement in the 40s.

absolutely brilliant

 

[Donna Ferentes]

You only read it last week. Sure it doesn't just loom large for that reason?

 

[Diamond]

Henning Mankell is good in a rather bleak sort of way.

 

[Dubversion]

You only read it last week. Sure it doesn't just loom large for that reason?

i'm well aware of the recency effect, thanks donna.

it looms large because it's one of the most original, involving and well-written works of fiction i've ever read.

but thanks, like

 

[Reno]

I had a look through my shelves last night and one author that jumped out at me was Cornell Woolrich. He was another American I'm afraid but he wrote some great novels and short stories on a crime/noir tip, many of which were subsequently turned into good movies such as Rear Window and The Bride Wore Black (written under his pseudonym William Irish).

You can often pick up collected copies of his short stories in discount stores so keep an eye out for him.

I read a lot of his stuff in my late teens and loved it. My favourite novels of his are I Married a Dead Man and Waltz into Darkness.

 

[dash_two]

Jim Thompson, the 'Dimestore Dostoevsky'.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

but thanks, like

No problem. As I get older I become more and more aware of my value as a spiritual and philosophical guide to younger people.

 

[DRINK?]

i read some peter robinson crime novels that were pretty good, the main character is a bit like rebus. but it's all set up north rather than scotland

Am into him at the mo, nothing groundbreaking though good, characters, storylines etc....rankin recomends him and defo a good train read....

 

[Lysistrata]

the best crime novel - kinda - i've ever read is Michael Chabon's Yiddish Policeman's Union, a detective murder investigation in an Alaska that became a Jewish settlement in the 40s.

absolutely brilliant

Thanks for reminding that I want to read this - thought it sounded good.

 

[starfish]

Ive started reading some of Ed McBains 87th Precinct novels, which arent too bad. The first one was Pusher from 1958. Downtown a later novel he wrote is a good one too.

 

[marty21]

Ive started reading some of Ed McBains 87th Precinct novels, which arent too bad. The first one was Pusher from 1958. Downtown a later novel he wrote is a good one too.

ed mcbain is good, very prolific writer , there's probably about 50 of those
87th precinct novels