Crime writers I keep going back to

The authors and series that never let me down!

If I haven't made it abundantly clear by now, crime is my go to genre. I love the tension, the thrill of the chase, and fitting all the puzzle pieces together. To me there is nothing more satisfying than unveiling a killer or catching a criminal, having their motive revealed and all the loose ends tied up neatly! In crime fiction there should be no misplaced words, every word and every detail is either fundamental to the solution, or an intentional misdirect and striking that balance well is no easy feat! It is no wonder then, that when it comes to crime fiction some authors do it better than others, and these are the writers and series that keep me coming back for more.

I think I found my first Kathy Reichs novel in one of those 'left behind libraries' you find in rented holiday villas, when I was in my early teens. I was already a fan of the Fox TV show 'Bones' but had no idea it was based on a series of books, so when I found a dog-eared slightly browning copy of the first in the series with the name Temperance Brennan emblazoned on the back I was thrilled. Spoiler alert for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting the on paper version of Temperance yet, she is nothing like the detached empiricist we have learned to love on TV, in fact you could count the similarities between the book and the show on one hand. That being said, while I was sure disappointment was on the cards early on, I was pleasantly surprised. Reichs' Temperance may not bear much resemblance to her small screen counterpart, but she is a complex yet down to earth character who is captivating specifically because of her humanity. Inspired by her own life as a forensic anthropologist Reichs' writing feels authentic and honest, her deaths ingenious and her plots gripping which is no doubt why there are now twenty-one books in the series!

Vera. Vera. Vera. A stalwart British personality if ever there was one. Closed off but quietly nurturing, a tad rough around the edges and not averse to the occasional glass of whisky. Ann Cleeves' formidable DCI Vera Stanhope is the first reason why I love this series so much. She is unapologetically herself, calculating, quick tempered and overweight. Vera is a welcome break from the ever present young, fit and beautiful central female character you so often see. Secondly Cleeves has a devastating way with words, her imagery is vivid and often hilarious which never hurts, and her language is emotive making you really feel for her characters. There is nothing extravagant about the plots, no international espionage just normal British people with normal British problems and I find that refreshing. This is another 'I saw it on TV first' moment, but Brenda Blethyn portrays the titular character so well that I can't help but see her in my mind when I'm reading. If you haven't seen the show or read the books I highly recommend them both (books first though!).

Jim Eldridge's Museum Mysteries are a relatively new find for me, but I think the fact that I only discovered them in December and I already own four out of the five published books is a fair testament to how much I enjoy them. The books centre around private enquiry agent Daniel Wilson and archaeologist Abigail Fenton as they work together to solve perplexing crimes committed in some of the UK's most famous museums in the 1890s. Maybe it is the history student in me that just loves a good museum, but I think Eldridge's niche historical fiction concept is well thought out, detail oriented and truly engaging. There is nothing difficult about his writing it is simple but entrancing, and his array of diverse and well developed characters keeps the unenviable role of prime-suspect ever changing in the readers mind. The Museum Mysteries are in my opinion perfect easy reads, not too taxing but sublimely satisfying!

If you're looking for crime writers and series that always deliver, these are my whole-hearted recommendations, but I am always interested in finding new favourites! Who do you think I'm missing out on?

H x