Crime writers guaranteed to give you a good time - top 5 most prolific and reliable mystery authors

[@susantownsend8397]

I’m 74 and have been reading all of these going back to my teens. I recently started rereading the Travis McGee books and though they are very dated they are still fun. The Elmore Leonard books are genius. Don’t forget the classic noirs, Raymond Chandler and Dashell Hammet.

[@kathrynbrowning4644]

Also Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer series!

[@Faretheewell608]

@@susantownsend8397 I wish Raymond Chandler had written more detective novels

[@susantownsend8397]

@@Faretheewell608 Oh yes. There aren’t nearly enough.

[@kevinrussell-jp6om]

@@kathrynbrowning4644 RM's books are a strange bunch. Some are quite good, others just clunk or never take off. I get the impression he was a strange guy.

[@kevinrussell-jp6om]

@@Faretheewell608 A drunk, a womanizer, not a nice guy, but I'm with you. Considering all the writers mentioned in the comments or by CriminOlly, Chandler WAS the most talented for creating a completely immersive work. Yeah, if only there were more.

[@glendam1148]

Excellent recommendations. I’ve read them all. My all time favorite is Rex Stout for his Nero Wolfe series. These don’t have to be read in order either. And I’m always surprised that Tony Hillerman doesn’t appear on anyone’s list of best mystery writers. His Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee series about the Navajo police is excellent.

[@clearwoodcouk]

I second your recommendation of the Nero Wolfe books. Wonderfully entertaining and endlessly rereadable too. P G Wodehouse was a fan by the way...

[@HappyCat3096]

Hillerman is wonderful. I've read them all and now his daughter is continuing the series.

[@kmwwrench]

Nero Wolfe is one of my favorites, too. I'm sure there are quite a few that I haven't read as they can be hard to find.

[@gerardvila4685]

Hillerman also wrote an autobiography - growing up in the Depression, shooting squirrels for the pot, fighting in WW2, working as a reporter... He mentions how his Navajo comrades, on returning from the war, were given a special "enemy way" ceremony - in effect, a kind of psychotherapy - while the anglos were supposed to just get on with their life. Which might explain his fascination for the Navajos.

[@glendam1148]

@ Thank you for reminding me, and a good observation. I used to have all of his books but lost them in a flood. Have replaced a lot but not all.

[@Friedlandbe]

As a Belgian, I'm very proud to find Simenon on your list. 🇧🇪

[@CriminOllyBlog]

You should be, he was fantastic!

[@dab505279]

@@Friedlandbe As an American, I'm also very proud to find Simenon on the list. Man, I love Maigret! Cheers Fried.

[@67daltonknox]

Some serious writers claim to be big fans. I think Simenon modernised the detective novel, replacing the stylised plots of, say, Agatha Christie, with something nearer to actual police methods.

[@Fantumh]

I'm so glad you mentioned Simenon. I've been reading him for almost twenty years, but it's really been in the last few that I've become obsessed with him. I think I've read 30+ and I have another 30 of his, as I'm trying to get as many as I can because unfortunately a lot of his books are very hard to find in English (and more unfortunately there were many which have never been translated). But of course his Maigret books are all available and in print and I love them, but wow! his serious books are truly excellent. My favorites are the one you were holding up which also goes by the titles The Snow Is Dirty or also Dirty Snow. Then there's The Man Who Watched Trains Go By (probably my #1 favorite), Strangers in the House, The Man from London, The People Opposite (which would be my favorite if the ending were a little more satisfying), The Widow... Of course, I've got many more to read. I read easily over a dozen of Elmore Leonard's books, but then one day I picked one up to read and I couldn't get past the first few pages, and the same for the next one, and that was it, he no longer had any appeal for me. I did enjoy them at the time as fun reads with lots of interesting and scheming characters, but I never found any that really stayed with me.

[@wayneandrews1022]

If you like these, also look into the considerable canon of Lawrence Block.

[@TheVanneo]

Some days you get the bear

[@tommyboyindy1157]

The Mat Scudder books are great.

[@stephenleiperdefault1113]

@@wayneandrews1022 He has become one of my favourite writers. Highly recommend.

[@hkumar7340]

Lawrence Block is simply the best! Whether it's his Matt Scudder series or the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, you are kept glued to the pages from start to finish. I was a resident of New York City for many years, so the Scudder novels are particularly evocative for me. Block is a writer's writer indeed!

[@robertgallagher5285]

The Novel he finished for Cornell Woolrich Into the Night real good!!!

[@EileenHall-j9f]

I learnt to read with my Dad by ploughing through Agatha Christie prolific works. In my late 70s, i still love them.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's wonderful!

[@lauriepowell3959]

Agatha Christie had an extraordinary understanding of human nature. I am 71 and still read her (and P.G.Wodehouse, hee, hee) from time to time. Thanks for the list. 👍

[@12345patbet]

For my money, the best crime writer - from a literary perspective as well as beautiful plotting- is Reginald Hill. All time favourite Agatha Christie!

[@jackr.1609]

It was good to see some beloved authors mentioned in the video, as well as in the comments. Definitely, Donald E. Westlake and Ruth Rendell are worth reading. I hard a little hard time getting into de Insp. Maigret novels. In other classical detective novels you see the detective sharing some thoughts with his/her sidekick, but not Maigret. When asked, he would say "I don't think anything." That was kind of annoying until I realised that he was first soaking up on the facts. After that realisation, I learned to LOVE Maigret!

[@gaileverett]

Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine YES! You never know what's going to happen in her books.

[@NinaKeilin]

I love 😮mcbain. Also Michael Connelly, Jospeh Wambaugh, Sue grafton

[@AlineCohen-r2z]

I'm a bookaholic and have read all these authors. I would like to recommend John Sandford, Sara Paretsky, Dick Francis, Val McDermid, Anne Cleeves, Jonathan Kellerman and Peter Lovesey, all well worth reading.

[@northsongs]

and Carol O'Connell

[@northsongs]

Carol O'Connell and Greg Iles ...

[@jennymacallan9071]

If you haven't read Ruth Rendell, who also wrote as Barbara Vine, you're missing out. She's just awesome.

[@francesmeyer8478]

Have been reading her for years.🇺🇸

[@lauriepowell3959]

I read her A Judgement in Stone as a young woman, but couldn’t remember her name or the title. However, it stayed with me and I eventually became a remedial reading specialist. Years later I reread it and it was even better.

[@firstchoice7761]

I found that I actually agreed with you about these authors. I love mysteries and these authors are very entertaining. Thanks.

[@nancycronin601]

Own all the Travis Mcgee. Bought back in the 80s. Pick up when I want a fairly quick and fun read. Love the relationship between Travis and best friend Meyer.

[@bjminton2698]

Love all 5! Appreciate your spotlighting vintage mystery authors. I also enjoy the length of their books. Most of them are around 200 pages. A perfect afternoon or evening's entertainment!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Exactly! I really don’t think a mystery needs to be any longer than that!

[@mikejschin]

No quarrels with your excellent choices. If you wanted to expand the list to 7, I'd consider adding Ngaio Marsh and Rex Stout. Lastly, a note on Simenon: the Maigret novels in the original French are excellent for anyone who took high school French and wants to improve their understanding of the language. Simenon deliberately wrote them in straightforward language and style. One thing that is very helpful is that the narrative uses perfect French grammar while the dialogue features a lot of colloquial French, making for an all around education in the language.

[@teleriferchnyfain]

I’ve only read Simenon in French😊

[@lobstermash]

Don't forget Reginald Hill's series with Dalziel and Pascoe. Also Fred Vargas who writes eccentric police procedurals set in France - really entertaining.

[@janettepolt2815]

Dashiell Hammet!!! I didn't spell it correctly. Thanks, I'm heading out to Savers with my list.

[@AmyPitts71]

Thank you for the recommendations. i have read Christie and McBain. Also, I just noticed you have a spinning watch rack behind you. Lol I love it!

[@GCBGIRL]

Loved n love reading all of these arthurs books. Someone mentioned Sue Grafton as well. ❤

[@davidheath5429]

Thanks for the reviews. I have read some of all the authors you list. More examples are Robert Parker, Robert Crais, C J Box, Ian Rankin, Michael Z Lewin and one I have recently discovered is Keigo Higashino translated from the Japanese.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah Higashino is really great!

[@danielsweet858]

Often I look up after enjoying your videos & a couple of hours have pleasantly passed. None of my neighbors will admit to ever having read ANYTHING! This is like having a friend come over for a visit. 🙂🎃

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Daniel, really glad you're enjoying them!

[@marrow-lj2gy]

interesting fact of the day!! a well known story about Simeone . . .Alfred Hitchcock telephoned him as he was interested in adapting one of his books or something. his secretary said that he was busy writing a book. Hitchcock, said he'd hold.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

😂😂😂that’s brilliant

[@skimusic3773]

Rex Stout. Well written, well plotted, with a style that conveyed the flavor of the times he was portraying. (His sister Ruth wrote garden books that are also worth reading..) My husband's favorite was Tony Hillerman. Neither disappoints. Thank you!

[@kickywicky4616]

I bought all my second-hand Travis McGee books at a thrift shop near one of the kombi stands in downtown Harare in the 1990s. Your analysis is, as Zimbos say, "spot on", down to the deeply un-PC misogyny, racism, and homophobia. Still, I enjoyed them and bought every one I ran across that was cheap (they all were).

[@emcdonald496]

Thank you for introducing me to some new authors, your recommendations are usually spot on for me. You’re probably already familiar with him, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Lawrence Block to you! His Hitman series with philatelist hitman John Paul Keller (and his….manager? Scheduler? Dot) are just phenomenal. If you’re not familiar, my dude…. I think you’d enjoy them very much. Block has a bunch of other very good series as well

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Glad my suggestions usually work for you. I have read Block, although not the Hitman series. Love the Matt Scudder books though

[@jimmyraybob]

@@CriminOllyBlog Also try his Burglar series - great fun.

[@ProfessorEchoMedia]

Good list. I would have added Chandler and John D. Macdonald. But I don’t disagree with any of your choices. 🍻

[@jow.6605]

Michael Connelly, Sue Gratton are two of my go to authors.

[@teleriferchnyfain]

Marsh & Sayers are the other two original’Queens of Mystery’ - very worth reading. So is PD James & Ruth Rendal 😊

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I need to dig more deeply into all of those

[@tullochgorum6323]

Ian Rankin would be on my list. A crime writer who transcends the genre with books of genuine psychological depth - especially in his later work.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah he is great - someone has suggested I do a verison of this video with authors who are still publishing and he would definitely be on it

[@HappyCat3096]

There are plenty of other mystery writes who weren't quite so prolific. PD James, Dorothy Sayers, Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Camilla Lackberg, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Henning Mankell. Yes I like Nordic and British stuff! And I know I am leaving out a ton. I've been reading for over 60 years now. Oh and Hillerman, both father and daughter.

[@amherst88]

Yay to Dorothy Sayers -- I especially love listening to the novels read by Ian Carmichael ❤

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Some great ones there!

[@dinacox1971]

Thank you so much for this! It seems that KZbin is awash with 'the cozy mystery' discussions. Agatha Christie was never banally dumbed-down drivel. While I have already read all of John D. McDonald, Elmore Leonard, and Agatha Christie I was very happily reminded of George Simenon, INTRODUCED to Ed McBain! Again, thank you.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@elainerempel1613]

Patricia Finney who's written a series under the nom de plume P F Chisholm, Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey) & Josephine Tey, particularly The Daughter of Time which presents Richard II in a different light decades before the excavation of his skeleton. Tony Hillerman writing in the milieu of the Navajo, Pueblo & Apache tribes.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks for the recommendations!

[@gaileverett]

@@CriminOllyBlog I second the Tony Hillerman suggestion.

[@tanjavandermeer3522]

Thank you for reminding me to read more of Ed McBain. Simenon and Christy are also favourites of mine. A contemporary of Christy is Dorothy Sayers, she is a very good read. Also, Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee series, well researched and very enjoyable. Prolific crime fluff: Ellery Queen. And for the readers of Dutch among your viewers: pick up any copy of the books by Havank, his protagonist 'de Schaduw' is delicious. Unfortunately quite untranslatable, due to the way he plays with the Dutch language. Another prolific writer, who recently passed away, is Anne Perry.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Some great recommendations there, thank you!

[@adriennelee26]

I love the Miss Marple series, which is definitely cozy, but my favorite Agatha Christie novel is the odd duck Endless Night, which seems so different from her other books. I have to explore the Poirot series further. Honestly, I just always found Miss Marple a more likeable sleuth so I read those first. I haven't read the other authors although I've heard of them.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks for watching, Adrienne! I've not read Endless Night, I'll have to check it out

[@LittleKikuyu]

I’m a bit late to the party but if you enjoyed Endless Night: Towards Zero had a bit of a similar vibe to me. I felt it was also like a bit of an oddball with a very creepy start told from the perspective of the killer… 🫣

[@leoscheibelhut940]

Five excellent authors! I have read most of their works, looking for the rest. On second thought, I 've only read one by Simenon. I'd add Dick Francis, Robert Stark, and Max Alan Collins.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’m looking forward to reading some more Dick Francis soon.

[@davenakingdon7503]

@@CriminOllyBlog read all the Dick Francis novels right up until he passed away and his son took over My late Husband and I used to scour 2nd hand book shops and charity shops until the collection was completed Hope you enjoy them

[@badaliceandcharlie]

Travis McGee is, in my opinion, a predecessor of Jack Reacher. It's so hard these days to get the older and often out of print early crime series as the thrift shops toss them because they aren't in "modern" format. Cultivate second hand bookshop owners is my advice. I would also recommend Ngaio Marsh, a later Christie contemporary, for great mysteries, and Dorothy L Sayers who (also around 30's to 60's) for her Lord Peter Whimsy series which is just a delight.

[@monologgen]

👍I love Agatha Christie. They Came to Bagdad and Third Girl are my absolute favorites.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Oooh, I haven’t read either of those! Thanks!

[@JillLawton-zt8me]

Never forget Steig Larsson The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. Always in charity shops. Be patient and read them in order.

[@EdelweisSusie]

He forgot to include one of the most sensational writer I've ever read (and I've read THOUSANDS of crime/mystery books) and that's Raymond Chandler. He's the only author whose voice you can literally hear as you read the pages, like watching the film version of the books but without the visual images, and he does what hardly any other authors do ie writes long sentences. Most authors tend to write staccato phrases that bore me rigid after a few chapters. No-one else has come close to his unique style of writing, nor ever will.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Agree that Chandler is great, but not prolific enough as a novelist to make this list

[@amherst88]

So true -- he actually transcends the genre as far as I'm concerned.

[@warrenpope749]

Do your own self a favor and fall under the influence of my hero, Donald E. Westlake! As a retired cop and writer, myself, I'm amazed by Westlake's mastery of unbelievably complex. convoluted plots and realistic dialogue . He's prolific and had many movies produced from his incredible books. I'm working my way through his unbelievably prolific catalog. Trust me, pick up anything he wrote, you'll be smiling as you read.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Amazingly I don't think I've ever read Westlake! Any recommendations on where to start?

[@warrenpope749]

@@CriminOllyBlog, his repertoire is so wide it's almost impossible to believe he's not a committee! His best known character is John Dortmunder, an unlucky thief who stars in 16 0r 17 novels and subsequent movies... His novels span an impressive variety of thought. from the man who convinced twin ladies, that he was a twin and married both to them, to a monk who successfully fought off a Real Estate investor Who was trying to foreclose on a several hundred year old monastery on 5th Ave. Manhattan, to one of my favorites, Where an angel sets out to obey God's order to destroy the world, and becomes embroiled with a demon who thinks the decadence going on here is just fine, and tries to save the world. you become involved with a confusesd situation where you have to decide who's side you're on.... There's many, many more incredible plots and twists within them... check him out...

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@warrenpope749 sounds brilliant. I will!

[@wayneandrews1022]

And be sure to read his more hard-edged alter ego Richard Stark.

[@warrenpope749]

I am, as well as "Samuel Holt" and as many of his nom de plum's as I can get my hands on! @@wayneandrews1022

[@isirlasplace91]

I'm definitely a huge fan of Agatha Christie!! I made my way through her books throughout most of my teen years 😄

[@shirleytodd6900]

@@isirlasplace91 me too. Loved them then and still do💜

[@JenniferNefdt-tm5cv]

Hope you are watching her TV series and films on her books

[@Toracube]

I think that list is hard to beat. Just under I’d go James Lee Burke, Carl Hiaasen, Rober Crais…even Dennis Wheatley (who has never let me down). I’m a big JD McDonald fan too.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’ve actually never read Crais or Burke! Need to give them a try

[@bjminton2698]

I too really like Robert Crais! Not familiar with Wheatley though. Which series of his would you recommend for a start?

[@joysutton5528]

@@Toracube I collected Dennis Wheatley while at school. During lockdown I retrieved the boxes from the loft and reread them. Terrific. But very few copies to be seen nowadays.

[@markanthonysmith-authorhul9412]

Brilliant! You've answered my Simenon Q's re: reading in order or random Please do a James Herbert and a Shaùn Hutson collection review. Thanks

[@disshelvedwithadamwhite8731]

Great list. I have a huge Elmore Leonard collection somewhere in my attic. I’ve always loved his work.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

He’s so great at dialogue and character

[@nedludd7622]

Here are some more. Swede Henning Mankell in the series of his hero Kurt Wallender, Elizabeth George with her heroes Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers. Then there is the entire sector of ethno-mystery stories. Arthur Upfield in Australia with his Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte of the Queensland Police Force, a mixed-race Indigenous Australian. Tony Hillerman and his detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. James Doss with Ute detective/rancher Charlie Moon.

[@teleriferchnyfain]

I got over Elizabeth George for making her poor detective’s life miserable. Tony Hillerman is fantastic!!!

[@gerhardvanrooyen863]

Great overview as usual! I've enjoyed all of these authors on occasion, especially Simenon's non-Maigret stand alones. My TBR list concerning these numbers at least 50 by this stage. Somewhat daunting, but also something to look forward to.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! I have a few more of his standalones to read - need to get to them soon. Thanks for commenting and sorry it has taken me so long to reply.

[@PipBoykin]

In the 70's I read a lot of McBain, from my mother's collection. I'm now trying to re-collect (and complete) the whole 87th Precinct series. They're still a fantastic read.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

They are!

[@magnusskallagrimsson6707]

Lawrence Block, When the Sacred Gin Mill Closes is a classic. Mark Grenside, Fall Out - The Bastion is coming out and is a sequel. And... I'll slip in writers from my neck of the woods you wodd have little exposure to: Sam Wiebe: Ocean Drive, The Wakeland Series (Invisible Dead, Cut You Down, Hell and Gone, Sunset and Jericho) - he's a a big MacDonald fan. JT Siemens: To Those Who Killed Me, and it's sequel Call of the Void. AJ Devlin: a crime-comedy series featuring Cobra Clutch, Rolling Thunder, Five Moves of Doom Amber Cowie: Last One Alive (very Christie-esque), The Off Season. SM Freedman: The Day She Died, Blood Atonement.

[@samstevens7172]

At one time I had almost all of the 87th pct novels in hardback. I still have them, about to purge and you’re welcome to them. Same with Elmore Leonard, (curious you skipped the Raylan Givens series). I did like having a physical copy, but the dust and space have won out. Have not heard of the Inspector books as far as I know, will check them out. Couldn’t get into McDonald or Christie, Al through read a few of both. Good list.

[@daudder]

Excellent choices, and couldn't agree more about the fantastic Ed McBain. the 87th Precinct is an astonishingly great series, that got better, and better. Might have had Donald Westlake as an honorary mention! Would love to see a "modern" list of authors from you: Thomas Perry, Carl Hiassen and Gregory McDonald.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That's definitely something I'll have a think about!

[@Stormbrise]

People need to remember here that he said the top 5 and PROLIFIC writers. There are a lot of authors that have between 15 to 20 some odd books, but they have yet written as much as authors have. I read Christie as a kid, and moved on quickly. Travis McGee is one of my favorite quasi detectives. Took a course in detective fiction, and tied it with a film course. It was a load of fun. This is where I was introduced to British DI/DCI novels with interesting sidekicks. These tend to be my favorite subset of mystery novels.

[@feanor7080]

Leonard is king. Got me into crime novels.

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Great video Olly! We have relocated to hopefully our final destination and purchased a huge pile of thrillers from the previous owner. This includes 50+ Ed McBain novels. I will start reading them based on your recommendations in a previous video.. Cheers.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Oh that’s great news! Both the relocation and the McBains!

[@carolfarron6176]

Thanks for you list. Folks might also enjoy Minette Walters and Tana French.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I really need to try French

[@timcoombs2780]

Richard Stark deserves a shout too, especially if you like Elmore Leonard. The Parker books are quite brilliant and again don’t HAVE to be read in order but you do get the bigger picture if you do.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Shockingly, I don’t think I’ve read any of the Parker books! I definitely need to

[@timcoombs2780]

@@CriminOllyBlog They've not been widely available in the UK for years. The first one 'The Hunter' or 'Payback' as it is known in the UK, has been and the later ones but the real meat and potatoes of the series have been shockingly out of print for years.

[@warrenpope749]

Donald E Westlake is the author of the Stark books. Check out he Westlake novels. Every one of them is brilliant!

[@dicksnell1557]

The Parker novels have been republished by the University of Chicago.

[@JonTanOsb]

Great list! The only one I don't have is Elmore Leonard. I have several of all the rest. The first time I read a 87th Precinct book, I thought Ed McBain could have been more inventive with Meyer Meyer's name, but I soon forgot about that. I like that Steve Carella knew sign language because his wife, Teddy, was deaf. Jon in rural BC, Canada

[@comicbelief]

Love the video. I would point out that Christie’s mysteries are not called cozy for having no violence in them. A cozy mystery is one that mostly takes place in a single, contained location - a manor, a train, a boat, a beach house - with a small set of characters. In a Holmes novel, all of London might be the guilty party. For Poirot, it’s one of a handful, all known to the reader.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ah, interesting! Thank you!

[@comicbelief]

@@CriminOllyBlog It kept bothering me, so I went and looked it up, and it appears that I was wrong. In my defense, I didn’t think I’m wrong, I’m pretty sure everyone else is.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@comicbelief I do think your definition makes a lot of sense

[@teleriferchnyfain]

I despise the term ‘cosy mysteries’ & I’m fairly sure Christie would have as well.

[@zsuzsablom8731]

Read many of the Travis McGee novels. I like the character and the writing in the 1st person. As a recommendation, I read in order the Hercule Poirot books. Lots of fun.

[@mlaiuppa]

I started with Nancy Drew 60 years ago and five years later was reading through my best friend’s Dad’s entire collection of Ellery Queen. My contemporary favorite is Spencer Quinn whose Chet & Bernie series can be read in any order. I’ve got an autographed copy of one of Donald E Westlake’s books but own quite a few and highly recommend them.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I just read one of Westlake's Parker novels and really liked it

[@careyatchison1348]

Ross MacDonald is another can't miss, quality detective fiction writer. Archer is the name of his detective.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I need to read him! I did read 1 or 2 years and years ago but don't really remember them. I've been thinking I might pick up the Library of America collection

[@francesmeyer8478]

I have enjoyed Ross MacDonald for years. I have re-read some of them. "The Ivory Grin".

[@BluesImprov]

Agree with all of your "picks", but I also love Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe series. I very much enjoy the wise-cracking style of Wolfe's "legman" Archie Goodwin, combined with the "setting" of Wolfe's New York City brownstone. I always feel like that brownstone is a special place that I'd love to hang out in. Also, Stout wrote full-length Wolfe novels, but also short Wolfe "novelettes". Most of these were only about 60 pages, so you could just drop into the brownstone for a "visit" and not stay all day or night.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’ve only read one or the Wolfe books so far but I really enjoyed it

[@aaronfacer]

I need to give Simenon a go one of these days. One of my colleagues bit the bullet and bought all the Maigret novels in one go online - kept him busy during lockdown!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Wow, that's a lot of Maigret!

[@colinrumford2265]

The chapter for Ed McBain is entitled Ed McMahon.

[@fatfrreddy1414]

Off the top of my head,I would add Donald E Westlake, who also wrote under the name of Richard Stark;(the Parker Books). Some good Films were made of some of'em.

[@markriley5863]

When I saw the title of this I thought Elmore Leonard must be one of them. Unknown Man No 89 was the first of his novels I read. What gripped me about his books was the cool dialogue and the fast pace. Other favourites are 52 Pick-Up and Glitz.

[@EAinSpain]

@@markriley5863 love Elmore Leonard. Should be on any crime best writer list. My favorites are Freaky Deaky and Maximum Bob.

[@sbl2051]

Geoffery Household, Eric Ambler and Ross Macdonald are three that should not be forgotten.

[@horrorgeekmel196]

Thank you, thank you! I want to dive into some new (to me) mystery novels!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Awesome! Hope you enjoy them!

[@CareyTisdal]

Dorthy L. Sayer has a sensibility that I love.

[@elizavetasigova5030]

Really great video! Thank you!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Glad you liked it!

[@chardonnay4360]

And on the Aussie front - Garry Disher and Chris Hammer 👍🏼🇦🇺

[@ingamajbjornstrom9400]

Two books by Candice fox also australian, Crimson lake and Redemption point , thoroughly enjoyable. Also Peter Temple is a very good writer from australia.

[@Gladtobemom]

I'd like to add two more very prolific authors (no duds at all in the bunch): Rex Stout (famous for Nero Wolf) Dick Francis (Racing world)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

A few people have mentioned Francis - I read him when I was much younger and aim to try him again

[@kennethmcgurn3830]

I read all of Leonard and MacDonald and enjoyed them, so I'll try McBain. I recommend James Lee Burke.

[@royhoward38]

Early books were great later ones not so much

[@rebeccamacleanmezzo-sopran7903]

I have read all of Christie and a few Simenons. I mostly read British mysteries by female authors. Some might not be to everyone's taste but one author I definitely think belongs on the list both for being prolific and versatile as well as for detailed plotting is Ruth Rendell. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Rendell

[@buddhabillybob]

Excellent video!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you very much!

[@marthacanady9441]

How could you leave out Michael Connelly and his Bosch series? Simply the best police procedural ever. Can’t go wrong with these.

[@NinaKeilin]

I agree

[@Kanga-r]

With you there - brilliant books.

[@dilyaramarsh7770]

Michael Connelly, John Sanford, Jonathan Kellerman, Robert Crais - my favorites from modern times. And, of course, classics, mentioned here😊

[@RebeccaEdwardsJamesEdwards]

Great list! There are two I had not heard of (Georges Simenon & Ed McBain) & have promptly added to my list of books to read, thanks! May I also offer up my favorites of this genre? First & foremost is James Lee Burke, his writing is beautiful & powerful! He's known for his Dave Robicheaux series, a detective in New Orleans. Second is author Lawrence Block, very engaging writing that you can rip through because they're so enjoyable, best known for his Matthew Scudder series. Third, Robert B. Parker for his Spenser series. Fourth, Robert Crais for his Elvis Cole series. Fifth, Nevada Barr, for her Anna Pigeon series, very unique as she's a National Park Enforcement Ranger who travels to all sorts of American National Parks solving crimes.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Great suggestions! I'm a big fan of Block and Parker (although I've read more of the former at this point). I hadn't heard of Nevada Barr - will take a look!

[@annettekleynhans6127]

Thank you so much for these authors as yet unknown to me. I’m always looking for something new and cannot wait to hit the local 2nd hand bookstores.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you find some!

[@andreasreadingroad5367]

I'll try to remember these whenever I get to a second-hand bookstore, no idea when that will be though. :)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Hope you find some soon!

[@beckymiller5907]

Great list and post! I Also recommend Donald Westlake and Lawrence Block for really interesting characters and plots. And in the new millenium, you probably would enjoy the Kate Atkinson Jackson Brodie series...much more than crime novels, and really character-driven.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Lawrence Block is great!

[@pm6693]

John Sandford, James Lee Burke, John Connolly, Robert B Parker, Ed McBain, Ross Macdonald. If you don't know, check them out....

[@michellesmelancholia]

Loved this video idea, will definitely be looking for some Ed McBain when book shopping!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

He's fantastic!

[@michaelstrother3091]

I'd like to recommend Jim Thompson. He wrote about 30 or so novels, many of them very dark, all of them stand-alone, I think. His "A Hell of a Woman" is almost psychotic. Wrote most of the script for "The Killers," but Kubrick credited him only with the dialogue.

[@mikelod1969]

Leonard is a favorite of mine, especially because I’m from the Detroit area where many of his books take place. McBain is great as well. I’d recommend Loren Estleman for another Michigan author with a lot of good, noirish crime novels.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Mike - I'd not heard of Estleman until very recently when someone sent me one of his westerns. I'm looking forward to reading it and exploring more of his work.

[@PFNel]

EdMcBain, John D. MacDonald, and Elmore Leonard were all among my late mother's favourites, and I think some of the books are still in my house!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

They are well worth checking out. Your mother had good taste

[@kenm7179]

Not prolific as far as I know, but some of my favorites are Anthony Berkeley, Leo Bruce (Sgt. Beef series), Edmund Crispin- classic British mysteries with a large dose of humor. And, dated but fun, Patrick Quentin. And last but not least, Wilkie Collins (Moonstone, Woman in White).

[@luciollelsa]

I'm glad you got at least two of my favorite authors on this list. Here are some of my personal favorites : *Lawrence Sanders * Lawrence Block * Carl Hiaasen, these three can be quite humorous and lastly because I worked with race horses,* Dick Francis

[@hartereads]

Simenon is my new favorite author. I have only read his standalone novels so far. And Highsmith is another favorite of mine.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Highsmith is excellent! I read The Talented Mr Ripley earlier this year and really loved it.

[@careyatchison1348]

I have read all of Highsmith's suspense novels and think very highly of most of them. The not-so-hot ones: People who knock on doors & the last two Ripley novels.

[@im1ru122]

I've read a small-ish number of Simenon books (none in the Maigret series though I have a copy of the first in the series) - but I'm curious about the edition that you're highlighting: 'The Snow Was Black'. Goodreads is telling me that that is the same 1948 book available here in the US as 'Dirty Snow'. If so, I've read that one and found it to be among the best of what I know of Simenon's work so far.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Oh that's good to know! The titles certainly sound like they could be for the same book

[@DDB168]

Yes John D Mac is great. I havent tried the others but will do. I can recommend Peter Temple, not as prolific but you may pick up his books cheap over there.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’ve not heard of Temple! I’ll keep my eyes peeled for him.

[@leighcain7258]

Both authors great.

[@leighcain7258]

Also Gary Disher.

[@deangrant6482]

Reginald Hill, Dalziel and Pascoe series. Get better and better. Splendid command of the English language.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I've never tried those!

[@bmniac]

A bit long but quite engaging. (From India)

[@AliceandtheGiantBookshelf]

I’ve been meaning to get to Simenon and Maigret for ages! At some point I will. I have read an 87th Precinct book and I have that recently purchased one to read. The one that looked super trashy (but I’m sure is not)! Defo agree that you are guaranteed a good time with Christie! I’ve been advised that the Travis McGee books are trashy? Was hoping to get one for Garbaugust. I also need to get to Elmore Leonard. Great video.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

The Maigret books are great, I think you’d really like them. I’d say Trav McGee is the trashiest of the bunch. Just about trashy enough for GarbAugust!

[@beckymiller5907]

These are not as prolific but: John Harvey, British crime writer; Garry Disher, Australian; Giles Blunt, Canadian; Henning Mankell, Swedish; Wahloo/Sjowall's "Beck" series, also Swedish. Stephen Hamilton's "Alex McKnight" series set in the upper peninsula of Michigan is great, and the setting is almost like a character in the novels. These are all intelligent and absorbing. I love your list because it reminded me of some writers I loved when I was younger. You haven't mentioned our great public libraries as a source for people without deep pockets...long may they thrive! :D

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Amen to the libraries, and thanks for all the recommendations

[@sharonwaddell2548]

i love Elmore Leonard. His crime novels are character driven instead of plot driven. I also like Lawrence Block. His Burglar series is quite funny.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I've not read the Burglar books, but I love Block's Matt Scudder series

[@thirdspacemaker9141]

I really enjoyed the Burglar series, but my favorite is his hit man series. I haven’t tried the Scudder series yet, even though I believe it would be considered his flagship series.

[@Socratez7]

Agatha Christie Georges Simenon Dorothy Sayers Ngaio Marsh G K Chesterton

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Strong list!

[@EqualOpportunityDestoroya]

As an airport employee, and if someone is looking for books other than King and Patterson. My recommended reading are pulps, manga, and paperbacks. Some cheap thrills and keep the phone off as much as possible.

[@caramcnulty8129]

I've read all the Travis McGee and most of Elmore Leonard. Love his Raylan Givens books.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Fantastic! I’m working my way through McGee at the moment. They’re such fun

[@caramcnulty8129]

@@CriminOllyBlog I used to live a few blocks away from where the Busted Flush was moored.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@caramcnulty8129 oh that’s so cool!

[@jonrutherford6852]

Thanks for the good recommendations. I'd like to suggest the novels by Ross MacDonald (Kenneth Millar).

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I’m definitely hoping to read more of those soon!

[@jimivey6462]

The wonderful TV series JUSTIFIED is based on Elmore Leonard books. The writers of this series wore bracelets with WWEW (What Would Elmore Write).

[@itsØUmusic]

Thanks Olly, very helpful!