Here are some of the notable detective novelists and their acclaimed detective stories from the past 20 years:
Authors and Novels:
1. Tana French
• In the Woods (2007): The first novel in the “Dublin Murder Squad” series, featuring Detective Rob Ryan investigating a child’s murder while confronting his own troubled past.
• The Trespasser (2016): Another entry in the series, focusing on Detective Antoinette Conway as she faces a seemingly straightforward domestic murder that turns out to be much more complex.
2. Michael Connelly
• The Lincoln Lawyer (2005): Introducing Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who works out of his car, solving legal mysteries that often intersect with criminal investigations.
• The Black Box (2012): Part of the “Harry Bosch” series, it follows Bosch as he reopens a cold case tied to the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
3. Ian Rankin
• Exit Music (2007): Features John Rebus, a veteran detective in Edinburgh, investigating a case just as he is about to retire.
• In a House of Lies (2018): Another Rebus novel where the detective, now retired, returns to help solve a cold case with new evidence.
4. Karin Slaughter
• Triptych (2006): The first in the “Will Trent” series, featuring a dyslexic Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent who uncovers dark secrets in the criminal world.
• The Kept Woman (2016): A continuation of the series that explores Will Trent’s personal life and a brutal crime involving a pro basketball player.
5. Peter James
• Dead Simple (2005): The first novel in the “Roy Grace” series, following a Brighton-based detective superintendent whose unorthodox methods help him solve complex cases.
• Love You Dead (2016): Another entry in the series, involving a black widow who uses her seductive skills to kill wealthy men.
6. Jo Nesbø
• The Snowman (2007): Part of the “Harry Hole” series, in which a Norwegian detective investigates a series of murders linked to a snowman that appears at each crime scene.
• The Thirst (2017): Harry Hole returns to track down a killer who uses online dating apps to find his victims.
7. James Lee Burke
• The Tin Roof Blowdown (2007): A “Dave Robicheaux” novel set in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, dealing with the aftermath of the storm and crime in the devastated city.
• Creole Belle (2012): Continues Robicheaux’s story as he investigates a mysterious woman’s disappearance.
8. Ann Cleeves
• Raven Black (2006): The first book in the “Shetland” series, featuring detective Jimmy Perez investigating a murder in a close-knit island community.
• The Long Call (2019): Launches the “Two Rivers” series, introducing Detective Matthew Venn as he solves crimes in North Devon.
9. Gillian Galbraith
• Blood in the Water (2007): The first in the “Alice Rice” series, featuring a detective in Edinburgh investigating a series of murders linked to the city’s wealthy elite.
• Where the Shadow Falls (2008): A follow-up in the series, with Alice Rice tackling another challenging case while navigating personal struggles.
10. Mark Billingham
• Sleepyhead (2001): The debut of Detective Tom Thorne, a London-based detective who solves cases with a mix of intuition and determination.
• Lifeless (2005): Thorne goes undercover as a homeless man to investigate a series of murders targeting London’s street population.
11. Sophie Hannah
• The Monogram Murders (2014): An official Hercule Poirot mystery authorized by Agatha Christie’s estate, with Hannah continuing the legacy of the iconic Belgian detective.
• Closed Casket (2016): Another Poirot novel by Hannah, featuring a classic whodunit set in an English country house.
12. Jane Harper
• The Dry (2016): A crime thriller set in a drought-stricken Australian town, where federal agent Aaron Falk returns to solve the murder of his childhood friend.
• Force of Nature (2017): A follow-up to The Dry, with Falk investigating the disappearance of a woman during a corporate retreat in the wilderness.
13. Mick Herron
• Down Cemetery Road (2003): The first novel in the “Zoe Boehm” series, featuring a private detective in Oxford who solves complex cases while dealing with personal trauma.
• Slow Horses (2010): While more of a spy thriller, the “Slough House” series also involves investigative work by disgraced MI5 agents.
14. Denise Mina
• The Field of Blood (2005): The first in the “Paddy Meehan” series, featuring a young Scottish journalist who becomes involved in solving a murder case.
• The Red Road (2013): A novel in the “Alex Morrow” series, where the Glasgow detective investigates a double murder linked to her own past.
15. Benjamin Black (pseudonym of John Banville)
• Christine Falls (2006): The first novel featuring Quirke, a Dublin pathologist who stumbles upon dark secrets while investigating suspicious deaths.
• The Silver Swan (2007): Continues the Quirke series with a focus on the underbelly of 1950s Dublin.
These authors and novels have shaped the modern detective fiction landscape, blending traditional detective work with psychological depth, unique settings, and compelling characters.
