What’s your favourite crime-writer?
Now and then someone asks me who my favourite crime-writer is, as they did last night at my book-group. My mind always goes a blank and I mutter something about still loving Agatha Christie. Last night I did in the end manage to come up with Andrea Camilleri, Michael Connolly (recent worthy winner of the CWA Diamond Dagger) and Ian Rankin. But I did feel a bit of a fool. After all I write crime fiction and – goodness knows – I also read plenty of it, so I ought not to be at a loss.
Perhaps the truth is that there are just too many to choose from and I don’t have just one favourite. And at the moment too my head is full of my own novel, which I am right in the middle of writing (and which also accounts for my neglect of my blog).
All the same, why didn’t I think of the excellent Ellie Griffiths, for example, whose Ruth Galloway series I enjoy so much? Or my favourite Scandi authors, Norwegian Jorn Lier Horst and Icelandic Arnaldur Indridason (though possibly uncertainty about pronunciation plays a part there)? There is also Simenon whose Maigret novels I return to again and again.
And then there are all the Golden Age writers, such as Helen McCloy whose books I am reading or re-reading in preparation for talking about her at the annual Bodies from the Library in June. I’ve also been loving the collection of short stories edited by Martin Edwards in the British Library Crime Classics series. And by the way, that series is now accompanied by a very attractive little book that I have been meaning to mention, The Pocket Detective, compiled by Kate Jackson, and containing a hundred puzzles, including word searches, spot the difference, anagrams, and crosswords (that staple of the Golden Age). I was delighted to be sent a review copy and the puzzles are perfect for mulling over during a coffee break: an excellent little present for the crime-lover (or writer) in your life – or maybe yourself. Kate by the way is the author of a terrific blog about crime fiction:http://crossexaminingcrime.com.
Happy New Year to my readers. I intend to do better with my blog this year and there may even be a new development in the offing. Watch this space.
10 Comments
Margot Kinberg
January 15, 2019I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ll have on offer for us this year on your blog, Christine. As for top crime-writers, I’m in much the same situation as you are. I really would find it hard to choose just a few. There are too many whose work I admire. On the one hand, what a feast for a reader (and inspiration for a writer!). On the other hand, it is hard to keep up with all of the great work out there.
Christine Poulson
January 15, 2019It’s always so good to hear from you, Margot. Yes, almost impossible to choose! As soon as I had pressed ‘publish’, I thought why didn’t I mention Quentin Bates and Simon Brett . . . and . . . and . . . on it goes . . .
Helen Townshend
January 15, 2019Oh so many! but for a start :
Catriona McPherson’s excellent, witty and absorbing Dandy Gilver series;
Frances Brody, Tasha Alexander, Carola Dunn & Sara Sheridan for their very good historical series; & Cynthia Harrod-Eagles for the incomparable Bill Slider books.
Oh, and there’s also an excellent writer called Christine Poulson…oh, that’s you:) call me a suck-up but I’ve enjoyed every book you’ve written even though they are so varied.
Christine Poulson
January 16, 2019It is lovely of you say that you’ve enjoyed my books! Thank you! Some of those names aren’t familiar to me. I will follow them up. Also the Bill Slider books. I think I have heard good things about them elsewhere. There are just so many good writers on the scene at the moment that it is really hard to choose. I have very much enjoyed Mick Heron lately.
Helen Townshend
January 17, 2019They’re very realistic but also very funny with lovely, erudite wordplay and comments between the characters.
Christine Poulson
January 17, 2019I have downloaded the first in the series onto my Kindle.
tracybham
January 15, 2019Christine, that is an easy question for me: Rex Stout is my favorite crime writer, and Agatha Christie would be a close second, even though there are many of her books I have not gotten to yet. And actually I would put Margery Allingham between Stout and Christie.
But I have the same issue when asked such questions, like favorite films or actors, and if was asked about more contemporary authors, I would be at a loss. I would probably remember ones I have read most recently, or read many books by, or a long list of my favorite espionage authors (Deighton, Charles McCarry, le Carre, Victor Canning, Anthony Price)… whether they count or not.
But it is a nice question to consider, even if it is hard to answer.
Christine Poulson
January 16, 2019Very interesting, Tracy. I would rate some of Margery Allingham’s very highly – The Tiger in the Smoke for instance – and others not. I do like Rex Stout and I envy you with some Agatha Christie’s still to come. I have read them all and wish I hadn’t. But there are just so many good writers, both contemporary and Golden Age.
moira@clothes in books
January 18, 2019I suppose my overall favourite will always be Agatha Christie, with Sayers and Allingham close behind. Of the modern writers, I think of the people I like to read as soon as they bring out a new book, and that means Elly Griffiths, Tana French, Mick Herron, Catriona McPherson. And of course you!
Christine Poulson
January 19, 2019Thanks, Moira. You are kind! I am delighted to be in such good company. And how did I forget to put Mick Herron on my first list of favourites. I’ve fallen in love . . .