Where to go after Michael Connelly?

[fancynancy]

I can't believe I'm about to read the LAST book written by Michael Connelly.  I've read them all, and they've helped me through some rough times when I needed to escape.  But now I'm facing major surgery and a long recuperation and I need a new series.  Help!

I loved Ian Rankin but finally got queasy from all the alcohol drinking.  Burned out on J.D. Robb's characters after 7 books.  Lost interest in Laura Lippman after 6 books.  Thought Jonathan Kellerman was an untalented writer after 2 books.  Knew Evanovich wasn't for me after the first book.  Never even made it through A is for Alibi. 

If that gives you any indication of my tastes, any suggestions?  I need another good series pronto!
Thanks in advance.

[Ann in Arlington]

Have you tried Linda Fairstein. . . .first book of the series is

There's also Tess Gerritsen's series featuring "Rizzoli & Isles":    That's the first book.  There's a TNT series based on it which is good though slightly different to the books which are also good.  I like 'em both.

Oh, and Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan series, which starts with .  Though, honestly, I like the characters in the series Bone much better.

[djgross]

Lisa Gardner's Detective DD Warren books might work for you.   Gardner is releasing her first DD Warren short story (priced at $1.99) on January 10th if you want to sample her writing.   



John Sandford is another option to consider.   My favorite of his Lucas Davenport series is Storm Prey. 



Both of these authors typically use more points of view than Connelly.   

I hope you find several new series to help you recuperate!

[Jeff Shelby]

Have you tried any of Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Gennaro series?  A Drink Before The War is the first.

[David Swinson]

Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series are great reads. The first one is Faceless Killers.

[KindleGirl]

Have you ever tried Allison Brennan? She has 5 different trilogies, not one long series, but they are good! My favorite ones are the Predator Trilogy, the No Evil Trilogy & the Lucy Kincaid books.

What about Harlen Coben? He's excellent. He has a Myron Bolitar series or he has quite a few stand alone books. All very good!

James Grippando is also very good. He has stand alone books as well as the Jack Swyteck series, which is a great series.

[docnoir]

I'm a big fan of T. Jefferson Parker's latest series (Charlie Hood), starting with L.A. Outlaws. Very good stuff.

The closest cop novels to Bosch, it seems to me, are coming from Ian Rankin and Jo Nesbo.

[Harry Shannon]

T. Jefferson Parker
Mo Hayder
Robert Crais
James Lee Burke
Jo Nesbo
John Connelly's Charlie Parker series
Dennis Lehane's Kenize and Gennaro books

[fancynancy]

Thanks so much for all your suggestions!

Last night before I saw any of these responses, I ordered the first Scarpetta novel by Patricia Cornwall.  I haven't even read a sample yet.  Any thoughts on that?  

David, I read a non-Wallendar Henning Mankell and loved his writing.  But I came away with this sense of endless dark gloominess.  Is the Wallendar series like that?  Mankell is truly gifted.

Kindlegirl, of course, Harlen Coben.  Can you believe I've never read a single book written by him?  How did I manage that?  Thanks for reminding me to try.  I see his series starts with Dealbreaker in 1995.  

Djgross, I love changing points of view.  Thanks!

Oh wow!  My cup runneth over.  I'm now actually looking forward to spending several weeks in my recliner chair (hopefully without too much pain though).  

Feel free to keep the suggestions coming.  Thanks again to all.

[Ann in Arlington]

Thanks so much for all your suggestions!

Last night before I saw any of these responses, I ordered the first Scarpetta novel by Patricia Cornwall.  I haven't even read a sample yet.  Any thoughts on that? 

I read some of the early Scarpetta novels. . .not sure why I stopped . . . . I have a vague recollection of generally enjoying them but then, at some point, not so much.  I should probably try to pick back up and see if I can figure out why.

[fancynancy]

I read some of the early Scarpetta novels. . .not sure why I stopped . . . . I have a vague recollection of generally enjoying them but then, at some point, not so much.  I should probably try to pick back up and see if I can figure out why.

Ann, I am seeing many reviewers on Amazon who are saying that at some point in the middle of the series the quality took a nosedive to the point where several people did not believe Cornwall was writing the books anymore.  Strange. 

[Meemo]

Ann, I am seeing many reviewers on Amazon who are saying that at some point in the middle of the series the quality took a nosedive to the point where several people did not believe Cornwall was writing the books anymore.  Strange.  

I think that's around the time she had some personal stuff going on that probably affected her writing as well.  Assuming it was "her" writing.  I read the first 2 or 3 then lost interest.

Harlan Coben is wonderful - his series is a bit different from his standalones, but I love both.  I'm almost afraid to make any more personal suggestions since I love Sue Grafton's books.   But this might help - the closer to Connelly, the more "like" his writing (in theory):

http://literature-map.com/michael+connelly.html

[fancynancy]

I think that's around the time she had some personal stuff going on that probably affected her writing as well.  Assuming it was "her" writing.  I read the first 2 or 3 then lost interest.

Harlan Coben is wonderful - his series is a bit different from his standalones, but I love both.  I'm almost afraid to make any more personal suggestions since I love Sue Grafton's books.   But this might help - the closer to Connelly, the more "like" his writing (in theory):

http://literature-map.com/michael+connelly.html

Thanks Meemo.  I admit I hardly gave Grafton a chance at all.  In fact, as I recall, the only thing that put me off about Grafton's book was the young age of her protagonist because I couldn't relate to being young and single anymore!  Sometimes it's something as simple as that. 

[jaimee83]

I am also on the latest Michael Connelly.  Harry Bosch, Mickey haller, the reporter, its been a great run.  Hope to get a couple more before Harry retires.  Wonder where he'll go with the daughter, sounds like he's setting her up for a story line.

[Lursa (aka 9MMare)]

I'm with you, couldnt get into Evanovitch either.

How about:

Ridley Pearson, esp. his Harry Boldt series. Takes place in Seattle. I'm not totally sold on his new ones set in Sun Valley yet.

Tony Hillerman, all set in beautiful locales in the 4 Corners area of the SW and involved the local native American tribes and their police officers.

Nevada Bar, her books are about a female National Park ranger and most mysteries take place in the parks...excellent!

And Kathy Reichs has good mysteries and even better forensics...and little drinking as her character is a (mostly) recovering alcoholic. The TV series Bones is based on her books but IMO, quite loosely. They are pretty gory books sometimes tho....very detailed.

Dick Francis, early books all focused around horse racing, later books just tangentially but really good stuff!

And altho it's been awhile, I easily got lost (timewise) in John Grisham's early legal thrillers. Great stories, lots of heart and excitement, good details.



Let us know who ends up catching your interest....I'm looking for a new author fall in love with. A few of mine have passed away (Dick Francis, Hillerman), Pearson has gotten a little off-track for me. I still look forward to each of Nevada Barr's books.

[MariaESchneider]

You might like:

Robert Crais (especially the Joe Pike books)
Lee Child
Steve Hamilton

Couple on the inexpensive list that are worth a look:

Fatherly Love by Wallace
Joe Nassise The Heretic
Mercury Falls
Elizabeth Cosin  (HIGHLY recommended)

That ought to be enough.  But if not, let me know.  I can think of two others right off the top of my head...and I agree with the Fairstein and also look up Carol O'Connell.  She doesn't have a lot on Kindle at last check, but her books are awesome!

[davinci]

Michael Connelly recommends a lot of writers--it's one of the ways he "gives back" to a writing community that has been very good to him.  He regularly recommends Robert Crais and Ruth Francisco books.  Look for his name on book jackets.

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Morning-Darkness-ebook/dp/product-description/B003TFET9Q/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&n=133140011&s=digital-text

[Rejean]

my girlfriend likes Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti mysteries, but I think that's just because she'll read anything about Venice.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_tc_2_0?rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3ADonna+Leon&keywords=Donna+Leon&ie=UTF8&qid=1325447161&sr=1-2-ent&field-contributor_id=B000APJKYC

[fancynancy]

Michael Connelly recommends a lot of writers--it's one of the ways he "gives back" to a writing community that has been very good to him.  He regularly recommends Robert Crais and Ruth Francisco books.  Look for his name on book jackets.

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Morning-Darkness-ebook/dp/product-description/B003TFET9Q/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&n=133140011&s=digital-text

Great idea!  Thanks davinci.

[fancynancy]

I am also on the latest Michael Connelly.  Harry Bosch, Mickey haller, the reporter, its been a great run.  Hope to get a couple more before Harry retires.  Wonder where he'll go with the daughter, sounds like he's setting her up for a story line.

I'm missing them all already! 

[Pencepon]

I see MariaESchneider already recommended Lee Child, but I heartily second this nomination. He was the very first name that came to mind for me.

Another thought is to go back to the past to John D. MacDonald. His books are retro by now, since they were mostly written in the '50s and '60s, but I love them dearly — especially the Travis McGee series.

[Ann in Arlington]

Michael Connelly recommends a lot of writers--it's one of the ways he "gives back" to a writing community that has been very good to him.  He regularly recommends Robert Crais and Ruth Francisco books.  Look for his name on book jackets.

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Morning-Darkness-ebook/dp/product-description/B003TFET9Q/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&n=133140011&s=digital-text

Also, if you use Fantastic Fiction, they list most mainstream authors with all the books they've written -- series in order and with alternate titles, which is also nice.  Anyway, at the bottom, they also link to books that writer recommends.  Here's the page for Michael Connelly:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/michael-connelly/


He has a LOT of them. . . .

[David Swinson]

Thanks so much for all your suggestions!

Last night before I saw any of these responses, I ordered the first Scarpetta novel by Patricia Cornwall.  I haven't even read a sample yet.  Any thoughts on that?  

David, I read a non-Wallendar Henning Mankell and loved his writing.  But I came away with this sense of endless dark gloominess.  Is the Wallendar series like that?  Mankell is truly gifted.

Kindlegirl, of course, Harlen Coben.  Can you believe I've never read a single book written by him?  How did I manage that?  Thanks for reminding me to try.  I see his series starts with Dealbreaker in 1995.  

Djgross, I love changing points of view.  Thanks!

Oh wow!  My cup runneth over.  I'm now actually looking forward to spending several weeks in my recliner chair (hopefully without too much pain though).  

Feel free to keep the suggestions coming.  Thanks again to all.

Yes, unfortunately most Scandinavian writers are dark. I think it comes with the landscape. I'm also a fan of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander Mccall Smith. Always a fun read.

[Meemo]

I'm also a fan of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander Mccall Smith. Always a fun read.

I like this series a lot - sampled it when I first got my Kindle (and first heard of it on a Kindle forum), but the sample didn't grab me.  It was offered free later by B&N and I got it.  Once I read it I was hooked - the books have their own lovely rhythm & charm (which I didn't quite get from just the sample).  And they're available through the Overdrive library.  

I haven't tried any of his other books, but at times these read like a love poem to Botswana, both the land and the people. 

[Lursa (aka 9MMare)]

I like this series a lot - sampled it when I first got my Kindle (and first heard of it on a Kindle forum), but the sample didn't grab me.  It was offered free later by B&N and I got it.  Once I read it I was hooked - the books have their own lovely rhythm & charm (which I didn't quite get from just the sample).  And they're available through the Overdrive library.  

I haven't tried any of his other books, but at times these read like a love poem to Botswana, both the land and the people. 

I've read them all so far...they cant really be pigeonholed into any genre I normally read but I am intrigued by the smooth writing style and cultural differences in their adventures.

I recommend them....I think "rhythm & charm" are good descriptors.