crime/mystery novels not set in the same ole places (themes, romance)

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by nomoresnow

If you're looking for authors who write about Southern locales, try Stuart Woods. He writes about places he knows and where he lives - NYC and Southern Florida. He's entertaining, amusing and consistent.

I've recently been introduced to Harlan Coben. Very good author - he always keeps you guessing and you rarely see the twists coming.

Where does Harlan Coben set his stories? I haven't read any of his books, but I know where he lives--used to pass his house all the time. Beautiful restored Victorian in Ridgewood, NJ.

[Snowblue]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

... novels set in Oslo, Norway featuring Insp. Harry Hole are FANTASTIC! Most of them have not been translated into English yet. I have read three of them so far (The Redbreast, The Devil's Star, and Nemesis) and I honestly cannot recommend them enough!

I agree with this. Jo Nesbo's books are really good. And scary. It's the kind where you suddenly find yourself standing on the floor while reading, because it's so intense.

What about Patricia Cornwall's books about Kay Scarpetta? The first books are from Richmond, Virginia. Later on, she moves to Louisiana, Florida and other states.

[nomoresnow]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

Where does Harlan Coben set his stories? I haven't read any of his books, but I know where he lives--used to pass his house all the time. Beautiful restored Victorian in Ridgewood, NJ.

He does tend to write about the NYC/NJ areas, and I know OP wanted new locations, but I think he's worth a look, for sure. I just finished reading Caught - thoroughly enjoyed it, as I have everything else I've read.

I concur about the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell. She does move around a lot.

[redelephant1703]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I have recently read "desert heat" by JA Jance, as well as the first joe pickett book by CJ Box. I enjoyed both and look forward to reading more by both. A lot of other suggestions I will try out next. The John Sandford "prey" series I will definitely read. I will also be trying many of the other suggestions. As far as harlan coben goes, I have actually read all of his books and thoroughly enjoyed them all. Just looking for a change of pace and location. Looks like I came to the right place! Thanks again!

[DubbleT]

Sharyn McCrumb has a "southern ballad" series of mysteries set in the rural hills and hollows of Appalachia. May be a little light for some peoples tastes.
John D McDonald is an oldie but a goodie with his stories set in Florida. His main character Travis McGee lives on a houseboat.
Kris Nelscott I haven't tried this series yet but it looks to have an interesting spin on it.

[Ga Jerk]

Originally Posted by karibear

John Lutz has written quite a few mysteries set in St Louis. My favorite is Night Lines.

I have read all his "Carver" books set in south Florida.

Good stuff!

I''ll add another vote for James Lee Burke and Randy Wayne White(Doc Ford series set in Sanible Island).

I did not see James W. Hall in the thread. His "Thorn" series set in Key Largo is excellent.

John Verdon has a excellent series about a retired NYPD detective that has moved to upstate NY.

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire mysteries, set in Absaroka County, Wyoming. The first is "Cold Dish." I believe the 6th or 7th book in the series is about to be released.

Dang it, you beat me to it! I love the Walt Longmire books. As The Crow Flies is due mid May.

[fromupthere]

Here's another author for you to look into: Official website of Edgar-nominated mystery author Brian Freeman.

[Giesela]

I have read and love many of the suggestions so far. Here are a couple of others that are real favorites of mine.
The Woods Cop mystery series
The Official Site of Author Joseph Heywood-Woods Cop Mysteries
and the
Alex McKnight cop mystery series by Steve Hamilton

Both take place in the Upper Peninsula but are fairly different. Joesph Heywood's Woods Cop is an actual DNR law officer and the books are filled with local geography, descriptions of the wilderness, as well as good crime stories.

Alex McKnight is a early retired Detroit cop running a small rental cabin business in the UP who gets dragged into investigations.

I highly recommend both.

[Praline]

Martha Grimes - her inspector Richard Jury series (all of the books are named after an English pub:

1. Man With a Load of Mischief (1981)
2. The Old Fox Deceiv'd (1982)
3. The Anodyne Necklace (1983)
4. The Dirty Duck (1984)
5. Jerusalem Inn (1984)
6. Help the Poor Struggler (1985)
7. The Deer Leap (1985)
8. I Am the Only Running Footman (1986)
9. The Five Bells and Bladebone (1987)
10. The Old Silent (1989)
11. The Old Contemptibles (1991)
12. The Horse You Came in On (1993)
13. Rainbow's End (1995)
14. The Case Has Altered (1997)
15. The Stargazey (1998)
16. The Lamorna Wink (1999)
17. The Blue Last (2001)
18. The Grave Maurice (2002)
19. The Winds of Change (2004)
20. The Old Wine Shades (2006)

Margaret Maron's Judge Deborah Knott series (North Carolina).

• Bootlegger’s Daughter. New York: Mysterious Press, 1992.
• Southern Discomfort. New York: Mysterious Pres, 1993.
• Shooting at Loons. New York: Mysterious Press, 1994.
• Up Jumps the Devil. New York: Mysterious Press, 1996.
• Killer Market. New York: Mysterious Press, 1997.
• Home Fires. New York: Mysterious Press, 1998.
• Storm Track. New York: Mysterious Press, 2000.
• Uncommon Clay. New York: Warner Books, 2001.
• Slow Dollar. New York: Mysterious Press, 2002.
• High Country Fall. New York: Warner Books, 2004.
• Rituals of the Season. New York: Warner Books, 2005.
• Winter’s Child. Mysterious Press, 2006.
• Hard Row. Warner Books, 2007.
• Death’s Half Acre. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2008.
• Sand Sharks. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2009.
• Christmas Mourning. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2010.
• Three-Day Town. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2011.

Dorothy Simpson's Inspector Luke Thanet (kind of hard to find - an oldie but goodie)
The Night She Died (1981)
Six Feet Under (1982)
Puppet for a Corpse (1983)
Close Her Eyes (1984)
Last Seen Alive (1985)
Dead on Arrival (1986)
Element of Doubt (1987)
Suspicious Death (1988)
Dead by Morning (1989)
Doomed to Die (1991)
Wake the Dead (1992)
No Laughing Matter (1993)
A Day for Dying (1995)
Once Too Often (1998)
Dead and Gone (2000)

Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone Mysteries (Cape Cod, Maine)

1. Mail Order Murder '91 aka Mistletoe Murder
2. Tippy Toe Murder '94
3. Trick or Treat Murder '96
4. Back to School Murder '97
5. Valentine Murder '00
6. The Turkey Day Murder '00
7. Christmas Cookie Murder '99
8. The Wedding Day Murder '01
9. Birthday Party Murder '02
10. Father’s Day Murder ‘03
11. Star Spangled Murder ‘04
12. New Year’s Eve Murder ‘05
13. Bake Sale Murder '06
14. St. Patrick's Day Murder '07
15. Mother's Day Murder '09
16. Wicked Witch Murder '10
17. English Tea Murder '11
18. Chocolate Covered Murder