I’m always looking for new crime fiction writers to try. In this article, I decided to focus just on the women crime fiction writers who seem to be getting some buzz or have managed to snag my interest and get me to buy their book. They seem to hold their own very well when compared to their male counterparts. Most of these authors are on my ebook reader.
Nordic crime fiction writer Karin Fossum grabbed my attention when she made the list at No.27 in Time’s list of The 50 Greatest Crime Writers [2008]. From what I can tell she just has the Inspector Konrad Sejer series going. I’ve bought two of her books to try: Black Seconds and Calling Out For You or The Indian Bride. Looks like all of her books are translated to English but digital availability for the entire series is spotty.
British crime fiction writer, Ann Granger was an Amazon recommended read. How could I resist. I bought Cold in the Earth [1992] in what seems like a long series featuring Mitchell & Markby. On her wiki page it says she used to write historical romances. I don’t recognize any of the titles and there aren’t very many.
Fred Vargas is a French crime fiction writer who is both an archeologist and an medieval historian which she uses in her books. Or at least in the one that I read. I did read The Three Evangelists which was good and is apart of her medieval historian series. I’d heard great things about her books especially about this title, Wash This Blood Clean From My Hand [2007]. Bought that one and plan to read it this year. It’s apart of a series and is book number three in her Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg series.
Camilla Lackberg slid onto my radar after visiting a very active crime fiction thread. Lackberg is a young Swedish crime writer who has been getting some buzz. She has two books already translated in English with several forthcoming. I bought both: The Ice Princess and The Preacher.
Karin Alvtegen is yet another Swedish crime fiction writer who has garnered critical acclaim for her books. She won The Glass Key award in 2001 for Missing which was also nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel in 2009. She has three books available in English: Missing, Betrayal and Shame. I have all three on my ereader. From the looks of it, her novels are stand alone or probably loosely connected.
Alex Gray is a Scottish crime fiction writer who has a series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Lorimer and Solomon Brightman set in Glasgow. I bought Glasgow Kiss (2009).
British crime fiction writer Anne Cleeves showed up as another Amazon recommendation. She has her Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope series. Word around the net and from reading reviews it looks like her books are well received. I bought one, forgot the title but it’s not the first in the series. Her books are not widely available in digital format either. Bummer.
Anne Holt is a Nordic crime fiction writer and a lawyer. She has her The Hanne Wilhelmsen series along with some stand alone titles. I bought one of hers to try too.
On the fence about Helene Tursten. Her covers look so bleak and with titles like The Torso. Undecided on her. She keeps showing up as a recommended read.
Everybody knows how much I love Karin Slaughter and if you don’t know, I’m telling you right now. I am currently reading her latest, Broken (all I can say is wow, wow, wow). Then there is Alafair Burke’s 212 still waiting for me to read. An aside, who in the hell is still reading Stephanie Plum? Just saw the latest release from Janet Evanovich, Sizzling Sixteen. She lost me at Hot Six, for real. Just the die hard-can’t-stop-reading-her are the only people still reading her at this point. Her stories are funny but not that funny. Anyway, that’s at least a glimpse at my virtual bookshelf. Now I just need to read them.
Helene Tursten is not as bleak as it may appear. Unlike many fictional detectives, she has a happy and unremarkable family life, and the day-to-day intersection of her very balanced personal life with her work makes the work less bleak. Soho is no longer publishing her in translation, though. I wouldn’t say she’s at the top of my list, but I still remember how interestingly she contrasted Danish and Swedish social mores in (I think) The Torso. The Swedish detective is quite shocked at Copenhagen’s loose morals and bawdy behavior.
I think I made it to three with Evanovich before I thought “wait, I’ve read this before.”
LOL. Who are some of your favorite crime fiction writers? Have you read Jo Nesbo yet? I think he is awesome.
Nice list!
As you know, I’m a fan of Val McDermid’s stand alone thrillers (e.g.: ‘A Place of Execution’, ‘Distant Echoes’, ‘The Grave Tattoo’. She has a new one out in September called ‘Trick of the Dark’. I’m not entirely sold on the blurb for this one, but I’m sure I’ll get it anyway.
I also like some of the female classic mystery authors such as Dorothy L. Sayers and Josephine Tey.
Well, you know I have Josephine Tey in my stacks that I need to read. I keep stopping at the same place for some reason.
Pingback: Sunny Sunday
Yes, I love Jo Nesbo’s series – The Redbreast is probably my favorite, though it’s not as pacy as some of his books. Have you read Denise Mina? She’s a Scottish writer and has a couple of very different (but good) series. The Garnethill trilogy is pretty dark; the Paddy Mehan series less so. I think she’s brilliant.
Another Swedish writer you may enjoy is Asa Larsson – well-written books set in the far north.
I hadn’t really thought about it, but e-readers probably only allow you to download books that have been published in the territory you live in. I order books from the UK when I can’t get them here, but that’s probably impossible with digital editions.
Hi Barbara,
Actually, I have bought ebooks published outside the US. I always get Jo Nesbo’s new stuff from WH Smiths or Amazon UK. But WH Smiths allows US customers to purchase ebooks that are not available here. All those ebooks listed I own and probably half of them are not available here. I have Denise Mina’s Garnethill and will check out Asa Larsson. Thanks!
Definitely second the
Oops! Was trying to say I definitely second the rec on Denise Mina. I’ve only read two of hers so far, but they were really good.
Re: Ann Granger – I didn’t know she wrote mysteries. I checked her list of historicals and recognized two of them as regency trads I read when I was around 13-15. I remember liking The Unexpected American, but not sure how it would stand up now.
I’m currently on a Karin Fossum kick, but I plan to take a break to snap up the new Tana French next week and devour it whole. After that, I may just have to read those last 2 Nesbo books I’ve been rationing.
Hey Lynn, I am tackling a Jo Nesbo as well this weekend, The Snowman and will take up Karin Fossum right after.
Pingback: Swedish Crime Novelist, Camilla Lackberg « Yet Another Crime Fiction Blog
Have you come across Lisa Unger’s ‘Die For You’. I loved the style of the writing and the structure of the plot.
Presently reading Kate Brady’s ‘Last To Die’ – any thoughts on her? It’s fairly average – female lead detective keeps going weak at the knees when hunky guy from her past returns…
Hi Jessica –
I’ve never read Lisa Unger. Which title to start with first? As for Kate Brady, I wasn’t impressed with her first book so I didn’t bother to try her second one. I think she can write good suspense but her romances are problematic for me.