Genre Post: Crime and Murder Mysteries
One of my favourite
genres is crime/murder mystery. There's something about a good whodunnit that
keeps me hooked. So I thought I'd share some of my favourite books and series
that kept me guessing with all their twists and turns!
The Hollow - Agatha Christie
When socialite Lady Angkatell organises a weekend's
entertainment at her country house, The Hollow, it seems she has thought of
everything. The only thing she has overlooked is the fact that most of her
guests loathe each other. A far-from-warm welcome greets Hercule Poirot as he
arrives for lunch - instead, a man lies dying by the swimming pool, as a gun
sinks slowly to the bottom…
It took me a while
to try an Agatha Christie book but once I'd read one, I had to read more! The
first of her books I read was The Hollow. Throughout her books, she drops
various red herrings and hints of secrets, so you think you have solved it,
only to find you haven't! Granted there are parts which have dated - some
comments or opinions are a bit dodgy nowadays - but these are few and far
between, so just remember they were written in a different time. I have quite a
few of her books on my shelves and I'm looking forward to reading more of her
mysteries!
Matthew Shardlake Series - C.J. Sansom
Set during the reign of Henry VIII, this series
follows lawyer-detective Matthew Shardlake. From a murder in a monastery, to
the secret of dark fire, Shardlake investigates mysteries whilst navigating the
politics of the Tudor Court.
I'm halfway through
this series and have enjoyed each book. These are true detective stories but
with the added danger of the Tudor Court and politics. Each story has many
threads that seem unconnected but come together in a way that leaves you
thinking "of course, how did I not see that?!". The third book
(Sovereign) was a tad too political for me and some of the historical parts I
already knew having read a fair few historical books. But on the whole, I'm
looking forward to reading more of this series.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle -
Stuart Turton
She's been murdered hundreds of times, and each day,
Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. The only way to break this cycle is to
identify Evelyn's killer. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in
the body of a different guest. And someone is desperate to stop him ever
escaping Blackheath.
This book is the
perfect blend of 1920s murder mystery and groundhog day. Waking up as a
different person each day brings different aspects and observations - a
conversation takes a new meaning, we find out more of character relationships.
This clever story weaves so many strands together, whilst the overall story arc
(i.e. why Aiden has to solve the mystery) is really interesting and, at times,
thought-provoking. A refreshing twist on the classic murder mystery.
Nadia Stafford Series - Kelley Armstrong
Nadia Stafford was a great cop - until she took
things into her own hands and shot a child-killer. In desperation she becomes a
hit woman. And she's really, really good at her job.
I love a kickass
woman, so a female hitwoman was something I just had to read. In the first book
(Exit Strategy), Nadia bands together with other hitmen to investigate a serial
killer threatening to unmask several professional assassins, including herself.
This is a real, fast-paced thriller series, full of action and investigating.
If you like thrillers and badass women, this series is well worth a read!
Cormoran Strike Series - Robert Galbraith
Private detective Cormoran Strike, and his assistant
Robin Ellacott, investigate the most puzzling mysteries: a suicide that wasn't
suicide (Cuckoo's Calling); a silenced author's disturbing writings (The
Silkworm); someone with a personal grudge sending body parts (Career of Evil);
a troubled man recalling a murder he witnessed as a child (Lethal White).
This series is one
of my favourites. As the series progresses, the stories become darker and more
exciting, in particular, Career of Evil left me quite disturbed at times!
There's also a lot of character development in these books - from getting to
know Cormoran and Robin, to complicated relationships between suspects. Whilst
the TV adaptation does cut bits of the book out, it's still worth a watch
(although I'm a huge advocate of books before films!). Definitely a series for
any crime lover!
Some more books I'd
recommend:
- The Confessions of Frannie Langton (Sara Collins)
- City of the Lost (Kelley Armstrong)
- The Thirty-Nine Steps (John Buchan)
- Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
- The Woman in Cabin 10 (Ruth Ware)
- The Yard (Alex Grecian)