My last entry got me thinking about mystery books that can be considered "Classics." Over the years, I have jotted down names of authors who might just be considered the great classic mystery book authors. Of course, as with all lists, I am sure there are many other authors out there who should be on it >>> So, please send a comment if you think that I have missed a few Classic Mystery Book Authors.
If you're anything like I am, you might consider authors of yesteryear to be more "classic" than our modern-day authors. But again, if you're anything like I am, you will be able to readjust your thinking to include some pretty great authors who are writing today, who will definitely be classic mystery book authors of "yesteryear" to future mystery book readers!
Margery Allingham… Albert Campion Mystery Series
Robert Barnard… Charlie Peace Mystery Series AND Perry Trethowan Mystery Series AND Amadeus Mozart Series
Lawrence Block… Bernie Rhodenbarr Mystery Series AND Evan Tanner Mystery Series AND Chip Harrison Series AND Matthew Scudder Series AND John Keller Mystery Series
Simon Brett… Fethering Mystery Series AND Mrs. Pargeter Series AND Charles Paris Mystery Series
Leo Bruce… Sergeant Beef Series AND Carolus Deene Series
John Dickson Carr… Gideon Fell Mystery Series AND Henri Bencolin Series
Raymond Chandler… Philip Marlowe Series
Leslie Charteris…The Saint (Simon Templar) Series
Agatha Christie… Miss Marple Series AND Hercule Poirot Series
Colin Dexter… Inspector Morse Mystery Series
Charles Dickens
Edmund Crispin… Gervase Fen Mystery Series
Arthur Conan Doyle… Sherlock Holmes Series
Ian Fleming… Bond, James Bond
R. Austin Freeman… Dr. Thorndyke Mystery Series
Erle Stanley Gardner… Perry Mason Series
Anna Katharine Green
Dashiel Hammett
Cyril Hare… Inspector Mallett Mystery Series AND Francis Pettigrew Series
Reginald Hill… Dalziel & Pascoe Mystery Series AND Joe Sixsmith Series
Tony Hillerman… Joe Leaphorn & Jim Chee Mystery Series
Michael Innes…Inspector Sir John Appleby Series AND Charles Honeybath Mystery Series
P. D. James… Inspector Adam Dalgliesh Mystery Series AND Cordelia Gray Series
John le Carré… George Smiley Mystery Series
Elizabeth Lemarchand… Pollard and Toye Mystery Series
John D. MacDonald… Travis McGee Mystery Series
Ngaio Marsh… Roderick Alleyn Mystery Series
Ed McBain… Matthew Hope Mystery Series AND 87th Precinct Series
Sharyn McCrumb… Elizabeth MacPherson Series AND Jay Omega Mystery Series AND the Ballad Series
Anne Morice… Tessa Crichton Series
Patricia Moyes… Henry Tibbett Mystery Series
Stuart Palmer: Hildegarde Withers Mystery Series AND Howard Rook Series
Edgar Allan Poe
Ellery Queen… Ellery Queen Mysteries
Ruth Rendell… Inspector Wexford Mystery Series
Mary Roberts Rineheart… Hilda Adams Mystery Series
Peter Robinson… Inspector Alan Banks Mystery Series
Dorothy L. Sayers… Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery Series
Rex Stout… Nero Wolfe Mystery Series
Edward Stratemeyer creator of: Nancy Drew (as Carolyn Keene), Hardy Boys (as Franklin W. Dixon) AND Bobbsey Twins (as Laura Lee Hope)
Josephine Tey… Alan Grant Mystery Series
Patricia Wentworth… Miss Maud Silver Mystery Series
Sara Woods… Anthony Maitland Mystery Series AND Richard Trenton Series AND Stephen Marryat Mystery Series AND Jeremy Locke Series
* * * I included the series names which the authors are more commonly associated with… but, of course, many of the authors wrote Stand Alones.* * *
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If you are going to include Shayn McCrumb (who seems to have stopped writing the "Ballad Mysteries" that I loved) you've got to include Nevada Barr (although at this point I would think that Anna Pigeon would be so crippled by her numerous near fatal injuries that she would be retired) and Laurie R.King.
Danna, I would just like to add G. K. Chesterton's "Father Brown" mystery series.
Years ago, I walked into the mystery section of a large city library and began with the A's. That is where I found Margery Allingham's novels. I really enjoyed her stories. Although I enjoy the novels of today, there is something about the old-school mysteries that still draw my attention.
Also, I am a huge fan of Tony Hillerman's mysteries. I have them all, plus several of his non-fiction books.
Thanks for the comprehensive list!
One of my favorite writers died on New Year's Eve 2008 – Donald Westlake. I will miss his wit and wonderful plots. John Dortmunder and his gang are treasures.
Wilkie Collins ….. his novel "The Moonstone" is considered, by some, to be the first detective novel. Inspector Cuff is said to be based loosely on a real detective, Jonathan Whicher. (Read about the true Victorian crime: "The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher" by Kate Summerscale.) Collins' other famous "mystery" novel is "The Woman in White". Both true classics!!!
What timing!
We just finished watching The Woman in White. I haven't read either of the books, but loved the "movies."
I believe it would be good to include Ian Rankin to this list of books. I'm ready to get the new one as fast as I can. They are,of course, about the steadily dedicated and never wavier from what he sees as right policeman, and therefore not too popular with the folks on the top. We are all rebels in our hearts and he does for us what many fear to do.
Thanks for bringing Ian Rankin (with his John Rebus – Edinburgh series) to our attention!
S. S. Van Dine,
A.E.W. Mason,
Anthony Berkely.
I remember reading their works long time ago, and I still feel the atmospheres they created.
I would recommend Elizabeth Daly. Her Henry Gamadge books are awesome and it does not hurt that she was Agatha Christie's favorite America author.
Thanks, Carin, Elizabeth Daly does indeed sound like a great addition to this list!
I love your site so much and find it really helpful when looking for books. Can anyone tell me why I can't find any of Donna Andrew's books? They sound delightful.
Val: go to your public library……….usually thats where I look.
Then I go to AMAZON………if not there………..don't know….grin.