Can you recommend English murder mysteries?

[Livi's Mama]

I am really bad at remembering authors' names. I know I have read all the Peter Robinson mysteries and have found a few authors with a similar style, but don't recall the names. Can anyone throw some names at me? Whether contemporary settings or "period pieces". (Besides the obvious Agatha Christie.) Also would take recommendations for mysteries set in Ireland/Scotland/Wales. Cheers!

[Very Snoofly]

My favorite genre!

Best author ever, mystery or otherwise: Ruth Rendell, who also writes under Barbara Vine. The Rendell books are more whodunnit type stories (especially her Inspector Wexford series), while the Vine books are more psychological thriller type stories.

Also, Reginald Hill--the Dalziel/Pascoe series.

PD James' Dalgliesh series are also good.

Others that I've read: Anne Perry (so-so; set in either Victorian or Edwarian London; a husband and wife team); Minette Walters (contemporary; her first books were much better than her more recent ones); I've never read her, but I've heard that Elizabeth George is good.

I also read two books about Welsh detectives...don't remember the author's names, but the books were "Simeon's Bride" and, I think, "The House of Women."

Hope that helps!

[Livi's Mama]

Now that you mention the name, I know I've read Elizabeth George's work & it is quite good. I, too, thought Anne Perry was so-so. And now that I think about it, I believe it was Ruth Rendell I was reading during early labor. I sure wish I could remember an author for more than 3 days . I'll check the others out, too. Thanks!

[CerridwenLorelei]

Ellis Peters Father Cadfael

mysteries...

[Quirky]

Elizabeth George is great, although I can't say I cared much for the most recent one.

How about Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey series?

[SummerLover]

Absolutely Dorothy Sayers! Love, love lover her books. P.D. James is wonderful and I generally like Elizabeth George. There's also another femaile author whos name is escaping me at the moment, of course! She wrote a series with Sherlock Holmes' wife as the main character. One of the titles was "The Beekeeper's Apprentice."

[JesseMomme]

I think Agatha Christie was English? Even so her old murder mysteries always kept me guessing until the very end!

[MaggiesMom]

Well, technically Ngaio Marsh is (I think) from New Zealand or something like that. But most of her books are good, and I think they are set in England, if I remember right. (Who has time to read?)

I know I have more and when I get a chance I will post them.

And I second the Dorothy Sayers, Ruth Rendall, and Ellis Peters recommendations.

[Very Snoofly]

Summerlover, The Beekeeper's Apprentice is by Laurie R. King. I think there are 5 books in that series now, and in my opinion, they're getting progressively worse, both in terms of plot and writing style. Which is sad, because it's a great concept. (The narrator is an independent young American woman who ends up working with and marrying Sherlock Holmes.)

[kimbalicious]

I'm going to second on the Dorothy L. Sayers books! Her stuff is great. Love Lord Peter Wimsey, especially when he's working with Harriet Vane.

Might I also suggest Wodehouse's Wooster & Jeeves collections. Though not murder mysteries, they are a spin on the whole Holmes/Watson relationship and will make you laugh your @$$ off!

[kimbalicious]

I'm going to vote yea for the Dorothy L. Sayers books! Her stuff is great. Love Lord Peter Wimsey, especially when he's working with Harriet Vane.

Might I also suggest Wodehouse's Wooster & Jeeves collections. Though not murder mysteries, they are a spin on the whole Holmes/Watson relationship and will make you laugh your @$$ off!

[Hilary Briss]

I like the Inspector Morse stories by Colin Dexter.

[sohj]

some not yet mentioned (and I've got to say that Gaudy Night by Sayers is my favorite mystery of all time and nearly my favorite novel)


Josephine Tey...especially Daughter of Time and Brat Farrar

Michael Gilbert (been writing for a loooong time and his books and short stories all hold up)

and not exactly mysteries...more thrillers...but the books of John Buchan are pretty good, as long as you take them in historical/cultural context as they've got of the "white man's burden" stuff in them. Not sure if they are still in print. I do come across them in used book stores in Canada, not so much in the US. Greenmantle is probably the best known one. Also, Prince of the Captivity is good. VERY "stiff upper lip english of a certain period", if you know what I mean.

Margery Allingham wrote the Albert Campion books which are poor cousins to Lord Peter, however, some of the plots are good and stick in your brain for a long time. The Fear Sign was my favorite (its first edition UK title, I think it had a different title in the US)

edited because I remembered someone else: John Mortimer, author of the whole Rumpole of the Bailey series, among other books. Curmudgeon is the word that comes to mind.

[Livi's Mama]

Wow! So many options, so little time!

[TigerTail]

m c beaton's 'hamish macbeth' and 'agatha raisin' books, for sure. nancy atherton's 'aunt dimity' books. (I LOVE THE COZIES!) whoops, didn't mean to shout about it!

chesterton's 'father brown's were fun, too.

suse