My favorite authors (not counting the ones you have listed) would include:
James Patterson
Stuart Woods
David Baldacci
Sidney Sheldon
Michael Palmer (medical mystery/thrillers)
Robin Cook (medical)
John J. Nance (aviation)
J. A. Jance
John Grisham
Sandra Brown

I'll second John Sandford... wonderful!

Elizabeth George, the Lyndly books, try to read in order
John Lescroart, stories set in San Francisco, also best read in order. (The principle characters have on-going life stories.)
Ian Rankin's Rebus books

I was very disappointed in Jeffrey Deaver, but will read the ones set here in Monterey County. Lescroart and Sandford are much meatier books, better dialogue, etc.

Lee Childs, the Jack Reahcer books
Daniel Silva, international intrigue, wonderful

Donna Leon writes the Inspector Brunetti mysteries - it's set in Venice and I am completely hooked on him.

Here is a link that might be useful: Donna Leon

James Patterson
JJ Jance

P. D. James
Ruth Rendell
Martha Grimes
Nevada Barr

This is great! I hadn't heard of many of these. I'll make a list to take to the library next time.

Thank you!!

lisa jackson, linda howard, iris johansen...a little quirky but nora robert's jd robb...

Randy Wayne White- Love his books, hate his name, I can't say it without sounding like a 3 year old. Wandy Wayne White. lol

Have you read the Sookie Stackhouse series? "Dead Until Dark" is the first one, author is Charlaine Harris. FUN series and there's a mystery in each one. Vampires, but not horrible scary ones. New one, #10, is coming out in just a few days. I'm excited.

Janest Evanovich is my front and center.
John Grisham and Dan Brown are high on my list as well.

Dana Stabenow set in Alaska--Kate Shugak series.
My favorite is Tony Hillerman set on the Navajo reservation.

One of my favorite is Harlan Coben and Andrew Gross. Andrew is a young author who writes with Patterson, I think. Good tho. Nanny (excuse left handed typing....right in cast)

Michael Connelly
Sandra Brown
John Lescroat

Janet Evanovich
Ruth Rendell
Lee Child
Tony Hillerman
Susan Wittig Albert
James Lee Burke

My local libraries do a good job getting a wide selection of Mystery. None of the following are gory. None are all that "heavy" either, I read mostly for entertainment.

Laurie King's "Mary Russell" series has a strong female protagonist  setting is the 1920's (?), gimmick is that intelligent and independent Mary meets (and becomes involved with) Sherlock Holmes. Tenth in the series is coming out next week.

Colin Cotterill has several books set in 1970's Laos, starring Dr Siri Paiboun  the country's coroner  and host to a 1000 year old spirit. There are several strong female characters too including his nurse who is studying to become a doctor. I love these for the mixture of history and a different look at cultures and spiritualism.

Jason Goodwyn's has 3 (soon to be 4) mysteries set in late 1800's Ottoman empire, featuring Yashim, a eunuch. Goodwyn brings Istanbul to life -- fascinating city.

Susan Wittig Albert has two series I enjoy. One stars contemporary China Bayles, a big-town lawyer who quits the rat race for a herb shop in small town Texas. Other series is a bit more surprising  it features an actual historical character, Beatrix Potter (there are talking animals, but don't let that put you off -- it works without being impossibly cutesy.)

Peg Kingman doesn't have a series, alas, but her first novel "Not Yet Drown'd" was excellent. It was about a woman searching for her presumed-dead brother, sometime around the turn of last century. Her 2nd book is coming out this fall, something about slavery. Should be good, probably more about ideas and character development than fast-pace & action.

Totally light, fun mysteries: Rhys Bowen is writing about Lady Georgiana, 32nd in line to the throne, impoverished, but can't publicly admit it. Spencer Quinn  his detective has a canine partner; the stories are told from the dog's point of view. Diane Mott Davidson's extremely formulaic series about the caterer who always finds a body. Donna Andrews' series about the woman blacksmith and her crazy family.

Hope this wasn't too much, I get very enthusiastic about books.

Just read recently that Sue Grafton is 70.! I imagined her as in her 30's.

I, too, recommend John Sandford.

Other authors:

Denise Swanson - The Scumble River Mystery series

David Rosenfelt - the Andy Carpenter series

Julia Spencer-Fleming - the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery series (not a lot of books in the series, but I LOVE them!)

Ellen

I agree with lots of these and have learned some new ones to add to my reading list. Thanks.

I can recommend Patricia Smiley. I think she has three books out - she is a relatively new author. Her books are very entertaining.

I really like James Lee Burke......and Nelson DeMille.

Lisa Gardner

I like Lisa Gardner, Lisa Scottoline, who I met a few weeks ago, Jodi Piccoult,Harlan Coben off the top of my head.

My favorite is, Barbara Mertz, also known as Elizabeth Peters, also known as Barbara Michaels.

You've received an excellent of recommended authors so far and when that well runs dry, you might find this link helpful to picking a new author similar to those already your favorites.

Here is a link that might be useful: Similar Authors

Here's another website to file away in your 'Bookmarks'

Mysteries by category ...

Here is a link that might be useful: Mystery Lovers Corner

Daniel became one of my all time favorite authors and I've collected and read each of his books with Gabriel Allon (art restorer) as the protagonist, starting with The Kill Artist (2000) through The Defector (2009). His writing is top notch.

As Sushipup wrote, the Gabriel Allon series is not strictly a mystery but more of international intrigue / spy thriller. It's best to read them in order.

I think all of his books are available on audio.

Here is a link that might be useful: Synopsis of 1st book in the Allon Series

What a great thread!! Thanks for asking the question Susan. I love Michael Connelly because he writes about Los Angeles and I know many of the places he puts in his stories. But I've filled up a page with new authors I'm going to look into (from the library).

Also thanks for links thunderboltlee. I have indeed bookmarked them!

Susan

Thanks for the links posted above. Here is another one I use frequently.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mystery book link

I'm another one who likes Lisa Jackson. Saw a lady reading one of her books in McDonald's the other day, stopped and asked her if she was enjoying it. She told me that she had just discovered her and was loving her style of writing. Told her to keep exploring - some were even better than the one she was reading!

T. Jefferson Parker.

T. Jefferson, whom I've met on occasion, was born and raised in Southern CA. His parents still live just a short distance from me.

***

Too bad you don't live in So. CA Susan, you'd probably really enjoy our annual "Men of Mystery" event, held 3 miles from my home. 50+ male mystery authors join you for lunch. Each table has one author, one author wrangler and six guests. You can choose to sit with your favorite author if you get there early enough, or learn all about an author you've never heard of.

The first hour of the event each author has exactly one minute to talk about themselves. That in itself is pretty entertaining.

There are two guest speakers, this year being Michael Connelly and Tim Dorsey. TV and print mystery writers, Lee (Monk and Diagnosis Murder) and Tod Goldberg are brought in every year for hilarious comic relief. I sat at Lee's table the first year. Thought I'd die from laughing so hard.

The food itself is incredible and you get to talk with the author throughout the meal.

I've worked the event a couple times as an author wrangler. It was a blast!

Jodi-

Here is a link that might be useful: Men of Mystery

Love James Patterson, and especially his Alex Cross books..read them in sequence.

Also love Jon Kellerman....and his wife Faith's books. They're lighter fare and I call them my Orthodox mystery writer because she brings her Orthodox Judaism into her stories. Also should be read in order.

And then, there is Jesse Kellerman, their son. He has 4 books under his belt, and is a very talented and readable combination of his parent's writing styles.

I haven't read any of Jesse Kellerman's books, thanks, Monica.
Has anyone mentioned Edna Buchanan? She was a crime reporter in Miami, then turned to fiction. Love her stuff.

Wow--there are more mystery readers here than I'd imagined! Thank you for all these recommendations. I've been going back and forth between here and Amazon to check out the authors, but I can't keep up. :-)

I discovered that I read at least one book each by some of the authors mentioned, but had forgotten their names. I'm glad to have my memory refreshed. I also look forward to reading some that are totally new to me.

Love those links, Phyllis and Lee! (May I call you Lee?)

Jodi, you're right--that event is my kind of thing for sure. We can sit together! :-)

I like Faye and Jonathan Kellerman's books, but do not care for Jesse's at all, although I have tried several. Many of the authors listed are favorites of mine and I will have to make note of some of the ones listed that I haven't tried. I especially like serial type books where the author uses the same characters.

Alisande, here's one more website you can bookmark and read from at your leisure ... you might find 1 or 2 that might pique your interest. Some of the books discussed are 'old' so they may not be available on audio.

Lee

Here is a link that might be useful: Mystery Books with Strong Female Characters

Susan, I'd be delighted to sit next to you at Men of Mystery!

Jodi-

I really enjoyed the Sarah Graves mysteries. She is fixing up an old house in Maine and her and her friend keep getting involved in the local stuff. I get her books from the library Here are some of her new ones. They are not gory and have alot of humor in them.

Here is a link that might be useful: sarah graves home maintenance mysteries

I also am getting some great suggestions here!

I second/third Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series. Gabriel is an art restorer, so there are usually tidbits about art history added, which give an unusual touch.

My favorite is J.A.Jance. These are not "cozy" mysteries, but they are fairly light on bloodshed (which I also don't like). She writes very strongly about places and her characters develop from one book to the next. One series is about Joanna Brady, the female sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona, which is making headlines in the news now. The other series is about J.P.Beaumont, a Seattle homicide detective. Jance's books have a good sense of atmosphere.

Am about to start reading Steven Saylor's murder mysteries set in Ancient Rome. He is a highly praised writer, so am hoping...

If you liked the "Da Vinci Code", then try the author, Dan Brown.

I enjoy Susan Witting Albert's books about China Bayles. They take place in the Texas Hill country and I'm familiar with all the places she mentions. She says the towns are fictional, but I know exactly which towns she's writing about.

Dan Brown's books are real page turners.

I just finished First Family by David Baldacci and it was really good.

I like Deborah Crombie, Martha Grimes, Donna Andrews, Monica Ferris, Agatha Christie - all "cozy" mystery writers

I see that Margaret Maron is mentioned in the lovely link that Lee posted above, and I do enjoy her stories about Judge Deborah Knott.

Another vote for Tony Hillerman.

I liked his work before I visited New Mexico, but after I went there I was absolutely entranced by his books.

With a thread this long, I can't believe that no one has mentioned Sara Paretsky. She has a great woman protaganist!

Oh my gosh! Thank you Jodi for the link to "The Men of Mystery" event in Southern California. I'm sending in my money today! Michael Connelly? Wow. I live in Culver City so this is an easy drive for me.

I love this thread. It's amazing how many of us love mystery writers. ~LOL~

Susan

Phew...I got ahead of myself. I am going to go this year! Michael was in 2009 but this sounds like so much fun! ~LOL~

Susan

So happy you're going Susan!

I just finished reading "212" by Alafair Burke and it was very good.
She is the daughter of James Lee Burke.

I'm hoping for another book by Julia R. Fleming about the helicopter pilot turned Episcopal minister, with 'feelings' for her small town's chief of police. Dramatic, very human characters, *funny*, unpredictable.

I liked Anne Perry's books set in England between the wars, but she began to repeat herself -- writing too much, too fast?

DH and I ejoyed Silva's books featuring Gabriel Allon, but...eventually the character is running out of steam. Great plots!

Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko is another great character. ("Gorky Park", etc.)

Love Sandford, Robert Crais, the late Donald Westlake. (So sad there will be no more from him.)

S. J. Rozan! Her Chinese-American detective Lydia Chin and her 'friend'. ("The Coldest Place")

Who is the author who writes about books and book sellers? Lives Minneapolis, I think.

May I mention my modern favorite book, "City of Thieves"? A 'fairy tale', a mystery, reads like Dostoevski might have written it if he'd lived through WWII.

Alan Furst -- "The Polish Officer", etc.

Philip Kerr's character Bernie Gunther in the "Berlin Noir Trilogy" and more. (Another character who must eventually wind down...so sad.)

Oh-oh, I've really stayed from the OP's request. Sorry, Susan.

Please don't apologize! Susan is eagerly reading all this.

I have Robert Crais in my CD player right now: The First Rule. Reviews on Amazon say this one doesn't have his usual clever humor. I look forward to reading others of his.

I'm glad I have two monitors.......I can put up the thread on one, and type my list on the other. :-)

Oh, and PS: I shared some of the recommendations with my boss, another mystery fan. He's presently listening to one of the Beatrix Potter books mentioned above.

Thanks again!

The website I have linked this time is a guide to the mystery genre. It is not limited to strong female characters but is more general.

You can do a search by author's surname or a protagonist's surname and get the listing of books. It appears to me that the list is kept up-to-date ...which is important.

I like it. *Lee*

Here is a link that might be useful: Stop You're Killing Me

I started editing a new manuscript yesterday, Susan. On about page 3, I thought, "Hey, this is going to be a good mystery! Susan would like it!"

But by page 15, there was a vampire thing going on. Not a bad read, so far. Just not what I thought it would be.