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4691mls · 11-12-2015, 07:58 PM

Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series - police procedurals set in Los Angeles
Harry seems like a real person - he has some flaws but is not so dysfunctional you wonder how he keeps his job, nor does he have near-superhuman skills. He's basically a decent, hardworking guy doing his best at a tough job. The series started in the early 90's and is still going, with Harry aging more or less in real time.

Mary Daheim's Alpine/Emma Lord series - small-town cozy mysteries set in Alpine, Washington
Emma is the editor of the newspaper in the town of Alpine. What I like about this series is that Emma's job gives her a reason to investigate; she's not just the neighborhood busybody. She does have romantic issues but they generally don't overwhelm the mysteries. The books are in alphabetical order so it's easy to keep the series order straight. Although the most recent book was Z (The Alpine Zen), the author's web site indicates she's working on another book to start over at A.
semi-spoiler re the romantic issues:

Spoiler:

I recommend reading this series in order if you want to try to keep track of who's who among the townsfolk.

Christopher Fowler's Bryant and May series - semi-cozy police procedurals set in London
John May and the eccentric Arthur Bryant are elderly detectives who have been working together for decades in the Peculiar Crimes Unit. A few of the books are set earlier in their careers but many of them are modern-day. Most of the members of the PCU are misfits in one way or another. If you enjoy eccentric characters you may like this series.

Timothy Hallinan's Junior Bender series.
Junior is a professional burglar who is hired by other criminals to solve crimes. Neither cozy nor hard-core thriller, there are tough characters and some violence but the mood is lightened by Junior's smart-aleck remarks and penchant for living in cheap theme motels - such as a Christmas theme motel with rooms named after Santa's reindeer. This is a newer series with four books out so far and a fifth due in spring 2016.

11-12-2015, 07:58 PM	#35
4691mls Wizard Posts: 2,776 Karma: 30081762 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: US Device: ALL DEVICES ARE STOCK: Kobo Clara, Tolino Shine 2, Sony PRS-T3, T1	Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series - police procedurals set in Los Angeles Harry seems like a real person - he has some flaws but is not so dysfunctional you wonder how he keeps his job, nor does he have near-superhuman skills. He's basically a decent, hardworking guy doing his best at a tough job. The series started in the early 90's and is still going, with Harry aging more or less in real time. Mary Daheim's Alpine/Emma Lord series - small-town cozy mysteries set in Alpine, Washington Emma is the editor of the newspaper in the town of Alpine. What I like about this series is that Emma's job gives her a reason to investigate; she's not just the neighborhood busybody. She does have romantic issues but they generally don't overwhelm the mysteries. The books are in alphabetical order so it's easy to keep the series order straight. Although the most recent book was Z (The Alpine Zen), the author's web site indicates she's working on another book to start over at A. semi-spoiler re the romantic issues: Spoiler: toward the end of the alphabet, Emma does finally get herself straightened out and ends up with someone. I recommend reading this series in order if you want to try to keep track of who's who among the townsfolk. Christopher Fowler's Bryant and May series - semi-cozy police procedurals set in London John May and the eccentric Arthur Bryant are elderly detectives who have been working together for decades in the Peculiar Crimes Unit. A few of the books are set earlier in their careers but many of them are modern-day. Most of the members of the PCU are misfits in one way or another. If you enjoy eccentric characters you may like this series. Timothy Hallinan's Junior Bender series. Junior is a professional burglar who is hired by other criminals to solve crimes. Neither cozy nor hard-core thriller, there are tough characters and some violence but the mood is lightened by Junior's smart-aleck remarks and penchant for living in cheap theme motels - such as a Christmas theme motel with rooms named after Santa's reindeer. This is a newer series with four books out so far and a fifth due in spring 2016.