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British mystery novels - Page 2

post #16 of 24
10/15/09 at 6:58pm
Michael Dibdin (RIP) and PD James. James is classical British crime stuff: toffs and resentful arrivistes in remote English locations. Always beautifully written. Dibdin's Aurelio Zen stories, set in Italy, are wonderfully atmospheric. I recommend them all, up to and including Blood Rain (which is a classic of the genre, in my opinion). The series stuttered slightly after that, but Dibdin's last novel, End Games, was a return to form. Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus stories are good (and sometimes excellent) too, though I think James and Dibdin are in a different league.
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post #17 of 24
10/16/09 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
The only one I can think of is Martha Grimes.

Lol, not sure if you know this, but she's actually American.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Huntsman
Sayers, perhaps, if you want to go back in time, or perhaps P.D. James. I thought the adaptation of his The Murder Room was pretty good so I'm sure the book will be great.

+1 on the recs, but James is a woman!

Also, check out Ruth Rendell--good psychological stuff. Freeman Wills Crofts. Phillip MacDonald, especially The List of Adrian Messenger.
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post #18 of 24
10/16/09 at 6:20pm
Concur with Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine.
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post #19 of 24
10/16/09 at 9:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheIdler View Post
\\ +1 on the recs, but James is a woman!
Whoa. This I did not realize, but I should have. She doesn't write men like men like men. Lots of people have addressed me as Mr. Bond, but I'm far more alike to Commander Dagliesh. ~ H
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post #20 of 24
10/18/09 at 12:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by romafan View Post
Old: Wilkie Collins (Moonstone, Womann in White. New: Ian Rankin (Inspector Rebus books)


I am with you on the Rankin books...All really great.
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post #21 of 24
10/18/09 at 12:49am
PD james never did it for me.
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post #22 of 24
10/18/09 at 3:58am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Brown edit: wait, didn't see "novels," GK Chesterton's Father Brown stories are short stories. But I still enjoyed them (I read them when I was a kid, maybe they aren't as entertaining as I remember)
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post #23 of 24
10/19/09 at 1:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HHD View Post
Dibdin's Aurelio Zen stories, set in Italy, are wonderfully atmospheric. I recommend them all, up to and including Blood Rain (which is a classic of the genre, in my opinion). The series stuttered slightly after that, but Dibdin's last novel, End Games, was a return to form.

+1
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post #24 of 24
10/19/09 at 1:49am
If you're after 'golden age' English crime (1930's to 50's) then try:

Edmund Crispin
Dorothy L Sayers
Margery Allingham
Cyril Hare
Gladys Mitchell
Michael Innes
Francis Iles

Born an American, but lived in UK and wrote in an English style:
Carter Dickson
John Dickson Carr
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