British Mystery Recs needed - Page 2

JSWolf · 03-01-2013, 10:26 AM

We've taken to watching the UK TV series DCI Banks based on the Peter Robinson Inspector Banks books. This is run on PBS. I have the first book of the series near the top of my TBR pile.

HarryT · 03-01-2013, 10:26 AM

Another name I must mention is Simon Brett - especially his "Charles Paris" series. Charles Paris is an third-rate actor who is rather more fond of the booze than is good for him, and who seems to fall over dead bodies at every turn. Very well-written, and a series where I feel a great deal of empathy for the hapless protagonist.

Synamon · 03-01-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usuallee

Edit: Ian Rankin - just to chime in, I wanted to like the Rebus series so badly, but it just didn't work out for me. I enjoyed the first better than the second, and then I couldn't finish the 3rd. Disappointing trend. Perhaps I'll try one of the later ones in the series at some point.

I can't do Rankin either.

Elizabeth George hasn't been mentioned, her Inspector Lynley series is top notch. She's American, but the mysteries are British. I second Dick Francis if you want light entertainment, he's one of my favourites.

HarryT · 03-01-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synamon

I can't do Rankin either.

Sorry to hear that; he's one of my favourites.

Quote:

Elizabeth George hasn't been mentioned, her Inspector Lynley series is top notch. She's American, but the mysteries are British.

Heaven preserve us from American authors who try to write British stories. They never get the right "feel" to the books, and Elizabeth George is no exception. The books may be set in Britain, but they are most assuredly not British books.

issybird · 03-01-2013, 11:02 AM

Martha Grimes, mentioned in the OP, also is American. I agree that they frequently get it wrong. Then there's Jacqueline Winspear, an English ex-pat, and she gets it wrong, too.

HarryT · 03-01-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

Martha Grimes, mentioned in the OP, also is American. I agree that they frequently get it wrong. Then there's Jacqueline Winspear, an English ex-pat, and she gets it wrong, too.

One author who does better than most is Elizabeth Peters. Her "Amelia Peabody" series has a very good British feel to it, although she makes the occasional mistake (such as calling a railway a "railroad", which nobody in Britain would ever do).

Synamon · 03-01-2013, 11:11 AM

Josephine Tey's Alan Grant series is another I'd recommend. Old fashioned, but still very readable today. If you take a trip to a death+50 country, these are in the public domain.

usuallee · 03-01-2013, 11:18 AM

And then there's Lee Child, a Brit writing American thrillers. He does a good job at maintaining authenticity, I'd have assumed he's American if I didn't know better.

Mike L · 03-01-2013, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usuallee

And then there's Lee Child, a Brit writing American thrillers. He does a good job at maintaining authenticity, I'd have assumed he's American if I didn't know better.

Lee Child does a fantastic job of writing with an American "voice". I did notice a couple minor British-isms in Killing Floor, but it would be churlish to hold those against him.

Mike

JSWolf · 03-01-2013, 11:43 AM

Doctor Who books are sometimes good mysteries.

acprinter · 03-01-2013, 11:57 AM

P. D. James (Inspector Dalgliesh)

You can't go wrong.

Polarpenguin · 03-01-2013, 04:24 PM

Reginald Hill : Dalziel & Pascoe

JLeighs · 03-01-2013, 05:56 PM

I can see that I'll be book shopping this evening, but I can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night.

Thank you all very much for these recommendations, and please do keep them coming!

(I had no idea that Martha Grimes was American!)

DianNC · 03-01-2013, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

Lee Child does a fantastic job of writing with an American "voice". I did notice a couple minor British-isms in Killing Floor, but it would be churlish to hold those against him.

I've noticed as well, but as you say, they are very minor and mostly amusing. The first time he had a male character describe another male as 'amiable', I smiled. And he repeated it over several of his novels.

Having lived here in the U.S. my entire life, I can honestly say I've never heard a man describe another man as 'amiable'. They might say..."he's a likeable fellow" or "he's a friendly guy", but never (or extremely rarely) as amiable.

llcj · 03-02-2013, 08:51 AM

How about Minette Walters? As far as I know, she doesn't do series, each book is a stand alone.

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03-01-2013, 10:26 AM	#16
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,792 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	We've taken to watching the UK TV series DCI Banks based on the Peter Robinson Inspector Banks books. This is run on PBS. I have the first book of the series near the top of my TBR pile.

03-01-2013, 10:26 AM	#17
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,548 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Another name I must mention is Simon Brett - especially his "Charles Paris" series. Charles Paris is an third-rate actor who is rather more fond of the booze than is good for him, and who seems to fall over dead bodies at every turn. Very well-written, and a series where I feel a great deal of empathy for the hapless protagonist.

03-01-2013, 11:02 AM	#20
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 21,307 Karma: 234636059 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: Mini, H2O, Glo HD, Aura One, PW4, PW5	Martha Grimes, mentioned in the OP, also is American. I agree that they frequently get it wrong. Then there's Jacqueline Winspear, an English ex-pat, and she gets it wrong, too.

03-01-2013, 11:11 AM	#22
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	Josephine Tey's Alan Grant series is another I'd recommend. Old fashioned, but still very readable today. If you take a trip to a death+50 country, these are in the public domain.

03-01-2013, 11:18 AM	#23
usuallee Media Junkie Posts: 278 Karma: 2039392 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW	And then there's Lee Child, a Brit writing American thrillers. He does a good job at maintaining authenticity, I'd have assumed he's American if I didn't know better.

03-01-2013, 11:43 AM	#25
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,792 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Doctor Who books are sometimes good mysteries.

03-01-2013, 11:57 AM	#26
acprinter Groupie Posts: 163 Karma: 3141364 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California Gold Country Device: Paperwhite 11th generation	P. D. James (Inspector Dalgliesh) You can't go wrong.

03-01-2013, 04:24 PM	#27
Polarpenguin Groupie Posts: 176 Karma: 1834850 Join Date: May 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-300, Sony PRS- T3S, Kobo aura H2O Kobo aura One Kobo libra	Reginald Hill : Dalziel & Pascoe

03-01-2013, 05:56 PM	#28
JLeighs Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 1208646 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wisconsin Device: K3, PW	I can see that I'll be book shopping this evening, but I can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night. Thank you all very much for these recommendations, and please do keep them coming! (I had no idea that Martha Grimes was American!)

03-02-2013, 08:51 AM	#30
llcj Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 883854 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Canada Device: kobo touch	How about Minette Walters? As far as I know, she doesn't do series, each book is a stand alone.

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