I used to love Agitha Christie but haven't read any of her books in years. She's the only one I can think of right now!

I thought the exact same thing as Kath.

I've enjoyed reading books by Susan Wittig Albert, The China Bayles Mysteries. They are light, fast reads. I think they are more interesting to me because they take place in the Texas Hill Country (which is one of my favorite areas). The lead character owns an herb shop in a small town and always winds up solving mysteries.

In fact I think I first heard about this author here at the KT.

Another fun mystery writer is Diane Mott Davidson. She is a caterer and lists good recipes in her books as she is solving mysteries.

Other good mystery writers are James Patterson, Harlan Coben and Dennis LeHane.

Kate Wilhelm's Barbara Holloway series.

Dick Francis
Ruth Rendell
Martha Grimes
Ngaio Marsh

I like mystery books that take place in Minnesota. Some of my favs are:

Willian Kent Krueger
John Sanford
K.J. Erickson
Tami Hoag
Steve Thayer

I googled Minesota mystery authors and got a whole list. If you like to read books that take place in your state, I bet you can google that and get a long list. dottie

Dick Francis, now and forever.

Robert B. Parker, although I like his older stuff better than the new.

In the 1960s, when I worked at Lincoln Center, everyone in our office loved the books of John D. MacDonald, especially the Travis McGee series. We kept a chart showing who had which book, and we passed them around the office.

Does anybody remember Dell Shannon? I read every one of her series featuring Lt. Luis Mendoza and his Scottish redheaded wife, Alison. Shannon's real name was Elizabeth Linington, and I enjoyed her books written under that name, too.

More recently I've been enjoying Laura Lippman. And the audio book in my car is The Red Cat, by Peter Spiegelman. He's new to me, and I like it.

I have the feeling I've forgotten other favorites. Probably lots of them . . .

Ruth Rendell, P,D. James, Martha Grimes, Elizabeth George

T. Jefferson Parker
James Patterson (his mysteries only)
Dan Brown

Alisande--I was just thinking about Travis McGee the other day and wondering if it had been long enough since I read those books to read them again. Surely I've forgotten all those books. My Daddy and my sister and I passed those books around. I've read them all and hope younger readers will discover Travis.

I love the "fluffy" mysteries. Janet Evanovich is my favorite.

Linda

I do the same thing.

I like PJ Parish, Lisa Gardner, John Saul and Linda Howard.

I am getting ready to leave town for a week and I need to run by the library and find a good book to take with me.

John Grisham

When you work in a Non-Profit Retail store, you get several paperback books donated. Most customer's buy the books and then redonate them when they have finished.

John Grisham was by far the most popular book that came and went in the store. So, out of curiousity I started reading his books. Sometimes, it's a little rough, but good.

Gayle

I'm not much of a reader, but when I do read, it's usually Mary Higging Clark.

Vannie, as I wrote that post I had thoughts about reading some of those books again. I guarantee I don't remember the plots!

I was down in Florida when MacDonald died during a heart bypass. That was sad. I also loved a nonfiction book he wrote about his family's pets.

Janet Evanovich
Diana Mott Davidson (Goldy Bear series)
Mary Higgins Clark (she lives near me!)
Meg Cabot (for younger readers, but I love them!) "Size 12 is not fat"!!!

Maryann, I like Harlan Coben also. I am reading his latest one now. Also like Tami Hoage, Iris Johansen, Catherine Coulter and Tess Garrison.

Dick Francis was the first to come to mind for me. William Kent Krueger.
Jonathan Kellerman. Lots of good authors listed here.
I LOVE John Sandford.
JoanMN/FL

I too like Diana Mott Davidson's books. And for the not so faint of heart. Patricia Cornwell.

Jonathan Kellerman
Steve Martini

Stuart Kaminsky. I love the Rostnikov novels.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stuart K.

JA Jance...she writes using two different characters, one a police officer in Seattle and the other is a female sheriff in Arizona

Sue Grafton...her alphabet series features the same character...a private detective...VERY GOOD READ!

Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb, the Death series...all take place in 2059 era and based on a police detective and her husband and friends...VERY GOOD READ! Nora also writes lots of trilogies and are a really good read

Patricia Cornwell uses the same character in most of her books as well...

Thanks for all the recommendations!!..I've been a reading fool and need some new mystery authors!!

James Patterson (mysteries only)
Ann Rule (true crime)

Aren't books wonderful? What would we do with out them?

Alisande...I do remember the books by Del Shannon. they were so good about Lt Mendoza, his red headed wife and do you remember his rye-drinking cat. I asked at out local library about them, but they don't have any by her. It is a privetly owned library, so we can't request books from other branches. Dottie

Isn't Del Shannon a singer?

Here is a link that might be useful: Del Shannon

Here's a few more to consider:

Rex Stout - his "Nero Wolfe" series read like a classic black & white movie. Easy to find in just about any library or used paperback store, which doesn't hurt the pocketbook.

Lauren Berenson - very similar to Diane Mott Davidson, but her 'thing' is poodles & dog shows, not cooking. Funny how a good author can teach you things about a subject you didn't think you were interested in.

Sarah Strohmeyer - her "Bubbles" series is a fun read. Her 'thing' is beauty shop tips in small-town Pennsylvania.

Laurie R King - she has a series involving a San Fransisco cop that I find too stereotyped to enjoy (okay the cop is gay and lives in a diverse neighborhood, but what's that got to do with the actual story again?). But King also has a series based on a Sherlock Holmes inspired character that I love.

Peg Kingman - just has one (I think) book, called "Not Yet Drown'd". I guess it could be called either a novel or a mystery -- there was a disappearance to figure out, at any rate. Set in the days of the British Empire, voyage to India, good character development, good background research.

Donna Leon writes a great series set in modern Venice. I love the policeman, Guido Brunetti.

Ruth

For the light stuff:
Robert Parker
John MacDonald (they'd ban him for his non PC 'tude today lol)
Sue Grafton
Janet Evonovich

Deeper:
John Grisham
Faye Kellerman
James Patterson
Iris Johanson
Lisa Scottoline
Lee Child

No particular order

Light Reading:

"The Cat Who" series of books by LILIAN JACKSON BRAUN. She has been very prolific over a number of years -- 30+ books.

And while it's best to read them in order each book stands alone.

Deeper and Thought Provoking:

The "Gabriel Allon" series by DANIEL SILVA.

The Kill Artist (2000); The English Assassin (2002); The Confessor (2003); A Death in Vienna (2004); Prince of Fire (2005); The Messenger (2006) are available now in paperback. The Secret Servant (paperback to be available in late June 2008). His books are real page-turners to the very end.
He does scrupulous research for every book so historical references are based on fact. Again, it is best to read them in order but each book stands alone.

Tess Gerritsen
John Grisham
David Baldacci

That's true, Joan, but Dell Shannon (the woman) is, or was, an author. Maybe she sang, too, for all I know. :-)

Dotmom, look how cheap they are (used) on Amazon:

Dell Shannon's books

Dorothy Sayers, Anne Perry, Tony Hillerman, Kathy Hogan Trochek, Robert Crais, Ellis Peters, Jeffrey Deaver, Jan Burke, Bruce Alexander, Linda Farstein, and my all-time favorite, Arthur Conan Doyle.

Ones others have on their list already - Dick Francis, Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Jonathan Kellerman, Faye Kellerman

In addition to ones already listed:

Nevada Barr, her heroine is a National Parks Ranger

Stuart Woods - only those where the protagonist is a female former sheriff. These are set in a locale in Florida very close to where I live (Central Florida, east coast)

Dorothy L Sayers - Lord Peter Whimsy

Colin Dexter - he wrote a series featuring Inspector Morse. The public TV stations aired numerous movies based on Morse, on the Mystery series.

stop! dh already complains about my paperback collection...sandra brown, and now fern michaels is dipping with her sisterhood vigilante books...

I've been reading a lot of Jeffrey Deaver and David Baldacci lately. One of my older favorites is P.D. James. She writes the Adam Dalgliesh detective stories.

Oh I forgot Thomas Perry
I like Tess Gerritsen too

Thanks, Alisande! Now I know there are two Dell Shannon's!
JoanMN/FL

I absolutely groove on Tony Hillerman.

I like both Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, as well.

Scott Turow.

I loved Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey books. The PBS series was terrific! Wouldn't it be great to have Bunter in your household?

I have hunderds of books in storage but I haven't read a book in three years thanks to MD . I tried talking books but I really don't enjoy being read to. However this post has made me realize how much I miss those books so I'm going to try again.