Who Is Your Favorite Mystery Books Writer?
By spiderman05
@spiderman05 (851)
Canada
May 3, 2007 9:20pm CST
On one of my recent visits to the library, I found myself in the mystery books area. Agatha Christie is my favorite mystery books writer, though I like to discover new authors once in a while. There were tons of books on the shelves which made it even harder for me to choose a book. Finally, I picked up randomly a book written by Ruth Rendell and called Going Wrong. I think I was the one who went wrong because I chose this book. I stopped reading after the third chapter. The book simply did not appeal to me. Fortunately, I also picked up Christie's book called the curtain which was Poirot's last investigation. I must say that the end of this book was breathtaking.
This brings me to the topic of this discussion. I wonder if you know any mystery book writers who have the same style as Agatha Christie. Many people describe Mary Higgins Clark as the new Agatha Christie. I saw this writer on TV and did not get the impression that she is a great novelist. So far, i also enjoy reading books written by Harlan Coben and by Dan Brown as well as very few others. Though, it would be great to get some recommendations from mystery books lovers.
3 people like this
13 responses
@kiiizu (1901)
• Estonia
5 May 07
I love Agatha Christie's mysteries very much, and I'm not very fond of Rendell, so perhaps we have, or actually, our tastes have something in common. Did you ever try Ellis Peters? I love her Brother Cadfael series but her other mysteries are also good in my opinion. Read more about Ellis Peters and Brother Cadfael on http://www.steveconrad.co.uk/cadfael/index.html
If you are after meeting with Brother Cadfael interested in reading more historical mysteries then you can try Sister Fidelma's stories by Peter Tremayne too. Peter Tremayne, or Peter Berresford Ellis actually, is in his real life a scientist, a celtic scholar. Read more about Peter Tremayne on http://www.sisterfidelma.com/
(A librarian is doing her everyday job recommending books LOL)
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
5 May 07
Thank you for the titles you suggested. I am heading to the library this afternoon. I will return Rendell's book and check for J. Patterson, K. Follet, E. Peters and P. Tremayne. I made a list based on the kind recommendations posted here :)
2 people like this
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
4 May 07
Good suggestion, believe it or not, I have never read Sherlok Holmes before :)
1 person likes this
@writermom8 (913)
• Philippines
4 May 07
Hi! Would just like to correct you on that. Sherlock Holmes is the detective character and it is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who is the writer of the Sherlock series :)
I also love reading those books by the way ...
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
8 May 07
I agree, Agatha' s style seems to be rooted in the British culture.
1 person likes this
@charles63 (146)
• United States
9 May 07
I enjoy mysteries but haven't read too many recently. The one mystery book that I read not too long ago was Michael Connelly's "The Closers." It's a far cry from the genteel mysteries of Agatha Christie, but it does construct a neat puzzle that only makes perfect sense when all the facts are revealed.
2 people like this
@writermom8 (913)
• Philippines
4 May 07
You know, the first genre that I fell in love with when I discovered the magic of books was mystery. I was in gradeschool and became a voracious reader of the following series: Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, The Dana Girls, Three Investigators, The Bobbsey Twins and Trixie Belden. They may have been written for a younger audience but I think adults would also enjoy the story twists in small doses.
Since my high school days though, I graduated to Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen. I so love Poirot and Miss Marple's characters!
A few years ago, I discovered Ken Follett and was also hooked. He writes great mystery. Try to check his books out too. My recommeded titles: Triple and The Third Twin
2 people like this
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
5 May 07
Thank you for the suggestion. Like you, I started reading mystery books at a very young age, I guess because my parents were into that kind of books too. My parents were not fans of Agatha Christie, they mostly used to read books of Jame Hadley Chase, a totally different style. I started reading my parents' books, then I switched to Agatha and never came back to J. Chase.
1 person likes this
@alexaneil21 (4)
• Philippines
7 May 07
I'm an avid fan of Mary Higgins Clark. I even have a collection of her books. Everytime I go to a bookstore, I always look for books written by her. If I find one that is not part of my collection yet, I buy the book. Clark is a very good writer. I could read her book even in one sitting, can't wait to finish. Her books are full of thrill and mystery. I also read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. It was very good, more intense than the movie. Sidney Sheldon is a good writer too. I also have some of his books.
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
8 May 07
I never tried reading Mary hingins clark nor her daughter. I am subscribed to a books club that allows me to buy books at a lower price (well theoretically). They always have books of Clark in their catalogue, though I never dared to buy one of them.
1 person likes this
@starr4all (2863)
•
4 May 07
I've loved reading Agatha Christie books since I was a child! I'm not too familiar with any other mystery writers. I just loved her hercule poirot and Miss Marple mysteries.
2 people like this
@mobyfriend (1017)
• Netherlands
22 May 07
I like the Cadfael mysteries by Ellis Peters or Inspector Morse by Colin Dexter.
And Elizabeth Geoorge is pretty good. (Inspecor Lynley).
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
23 May 07
I have borrowed 3 books written by Ellis Peters from the library:
- Brother Cadfael Penance.
- An Excellent Mystery.
- The House of Green Turf.
I started by Brother Cadfael Penance. I have just read a few pages. Hopefully, I will get a chance to read a bit more tonight before agoing to bed.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 May 07
I love Agatha Christie the best. Haven't read Mary Higgins Clark for sometime, but feel all her novels are similar. Whereas Agatha Christie has so many varied characters. I liked Ten Little Indians, kept me in suspense to the end.
1 person likes this
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
23 May 07
I have never read Clark, but I would suspect that her stories occur in a more modern setting than Christie's.
@777330975 (331)
• Sri Lanka
4 May 07
I am an agatha christie fan too. Like you I also wanted to explore new authors to see how others appeal to me, Just now I am reading a book of James Patterson called the four Blind mice. I havent finished the book as yet so I cannot comment on the climax,but so far the book is good.
I have read Dan Brown, his books were marvelous, but has only few books. I am eagerly awaiting to read his newest book.
1 person likes this
@spiderman05 (851)
• Canada
4 May 07
I guess that when we start reading Agatha's books, we develop higher standards when it comes to mystery books and it becomes harder afterwards to appreciate other writers. I will keep J. Patterson's name in my mind when I next visit the library. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63595)
• United States
6 May 07
I like Tony Hillerman's Navaho detective books. Stuart Kaminsky writes 2 series that I know of, the hard to find, but funny ones are his Toby Peters books - set in LA/Hollywood of the late 1930's & early 40's. I also like Janet Evonvich, but more because they are absolute train wrecks & so funny.
2 people like this
@RookRocks (381)
• Philippines
10 May 07
I looove Christie. Her plots are always intricate. Doyle is not that good in my opinion. I read two of his works and it struck me more as a ghost mystery than a detective story. My favorite Christie character is Hercule Poirot. Murder on the Orient Express just blew me away. It's sad that he had to die in Curtain because he felt guilty. Stupid reason if you ask me.
1 person likes this
@simona1987 (201)
• India
8 May 07
i like james patterson... he keeps you guessing till the end. sidney sheldon is good, but once u read most of his books, he gets kinda predictable.
2 people like this
