Sleuth Home - Message Boards - The Gumshoe Lounge

Jan-1-2007 16:54

I've actually never read a mystery novel in my life yet somehow I ended up here and like this game a lot. This got me to thinking that maybe I should actually check out some mystery novels. Who knows maybe I might stumble onto a hidden passion I didn't knwo I had.

Now I'm assuming a few of you here must be mystery buffs and I was wondering if you could recomend some mystery novels to a "n00b" of the genre.

Jan-1-2007 17:06

This is a link to one thread about 'book's that Sleuther's have read that's specifically related to Crime/Mystery (once you get past the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew ref's)

http://newyork.hypoware.com/map/cityhall/post.spy?id=321

Some other kind folk might add some extras here for you to start on too.

Jan-1-2007 18:53

well depends on if you want classic mysteries or newer stuff. I'm a fan of the classics my self. I can give a short list of some favorites of mine to get your feet wet.

Murder on the Orient Express - any thing by Agatha Christie is great but this one is my favorite.
And Then There Were None - Another Christie gem
The Thin Man - a good one by Dashiell Hammett

Jan-1-2007 21:18

Well, I've decided to go back to reading mysteries... I've always been a mystery fan... I've decided to try reading the books listed in Sleuth... that might help you decide...

Jan-1-2007 22:08

As Marcus said, try And Then There Were None.

I must say that is a great Christie novel.

Jan-1-2007 23:09

Tell us about your other interests. Believe it or not, there are actually sub-genres that fit just about every taste you can think of, everything from the stuffy old British detectives like Ms Marple and Sherlock Holmes, to police procedurals (something similar to The Shield or NYPD Blue), to stuff by Patricia Cornwall (if you like autopsies and CSI type medical examiner forensics mysteries), there are even new mysteries that revolve around food where the protagonists are caterers or chefs. I am really into the espionage/thriller section which is loosely connected with the mystery genre. You can find some really great stuff there.

If you let us know that you have interests in certain other areas, we might be able to suggest something that may fit you better.
-j

Jan-1-2007 23:40

Here are some of my personal favourites:

Agatha Christie: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Sleeping Murder
Lord Edgware Dies
Death on the Nile

Arthur Connan Doyle: The Hound of the Baskervilles

Ellis Peters: The Leper of St Giles (and others from Brother Cadfael series)

Josephine Tey: The Daughter of Time
Miss Pym Disposes
Brat Farrar (not typical murder mysteries, but excellent reading)

Robert van Gulik: The Chinese Bell Murders (and others from Judge Dee series)

Jan-1-2007 23:41

Personally I have been reading the works of Robert Ludlum (Bourne series) and Kathy Reich (her books are the basis of the TV show "Bones") lately... they're more thriller than mystery but have the same elements for the most part.

Jan-2-2007 05:14

James Patterson's Alex Cross Novels. The movies Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls are based on his novels.

Micheal Connelley - Harry Bosch Novels

David Baldacci.

Since you are starting out go the library 1st, is much cheaper then trying to purchase even if you purchase used.

Jan-2-2007 06:19

LOL, do mystery TV shows based on books count? If so, I personally love the Midsomer Murder series. I haven't read any of the books yet, but I'm planning to very soon.

Jan-2-2007 10:09

I tend to go more for the more recent stuff, like Farm up there. Michael Connolly is great, as is James Patterson. My absolute favorite is Faye Kellerman (Peter Decker series), closely followed by Robert B. Parker (Spenser series), and Perri O'Shaughnessy (which is more legal thriller, but still great).