For the lovers of Crime Fiction and detective stories, our article will feature the best Detective Series Books that are truly a must-read for everyone. No matter what genres you read, you cannot deny the fact that it is the Crime and Mystery tales that involve powerful Detective characters play the most with your mind and imagination. No genre is as tricky as Crime, no characters reveal such intelligence when compared to Crime novels, hence reading these novels has a positive side. They make readers more observant and help them explore the most creative and intellectual minds.
Here is the list of 10 Detective Series that every Crime and Mystery lover should read.
1. The Sherlock Holmes Series by Arthur Conan Doyle
One of the strongest and the most intellectual character ever created in the history of Fiction, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes has no comparisons. Undoubtedly, there is no better series around the world that can compete with the masterpiece that the legend Doyle has created.
The Series of Sherlock Holmes features some of the most intriguing crime stories that are investigated by the incompatible duo of Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson. These stories portray the true picture of Holmes as a private detective, who has excellent skills of introspection and can read even the deadliest criminal minds with his incomparable wit. Some of the best cases that Sherlock Holmes has solved with the assistance of Dr. Watson include “A Scandal in Bohemia”, “The Final Problem”, “The Man with a Twisted Lip”, “The Adventure of the Norwood Builder” and many more. The Hound of the Baskerville is also one of the most popular crime novels mixed with a taste of the horror that features Sherlock’s intelligence and investigating skills.
2. Hercule Poirot Series by Agatha Christie
Other than Sherlock Holmes, if there is another character who has risen to fame for his exceptional investigating skills and intelligence, it is Hercule Poirot a wonderful creation of Agatha Christie. Agatha is renowned as one of the best author throughout the world for her finest works of mystery and crime investigation. Her excellency is best portrayed through the character of Hercules Poirot, the detective who solves all her mysterious plots of crimes and deaths through his thorough introspection and wit. For people who love to read detective stories or stories of mystery, suspense, and thrill, reading a classic of Agatha Christie is a common name of interest to them. Poirot finds an important place in almost all the Crime and Mystery novels written by Christie.
Some of the most popular cases solved by the Belgian Detective Poirot include “The Mysterious Affairs at Styles”, “The Murder on the Orient Express”, “And Then There Were None”, “The ABC Murders and many more.
3. Dublin Murder Squad Series by Tana French
The “Dublin Murder Squad Series” by Tana French includes some of the best books ever written by her. This series includes her most popular books such as In The Woods, The Likeness, Faithful Place, Broken Harbour, Secret Place & The Trespasser. This series written by the Irish- American author, follows the Murders that take place in Dublin, Ireland, and each book deals with a new case and new investigators. This series by French is like no other, its unique style is enough to make readers fall in love with them.
Tana French became popular worldwide with her debut novel of mystery into the Woods, which is the first book in the “Dublin Murder Squad” series. Each book on this series is equally intriguing and will impress readers with its gripping tales of murders and investigations. This series by French is certainly a must-read.
4. Inspector Gamache Series by Louise Penny
Another notable detective series on our list is by Louise Penny better known as the “ Inspector Gamache Series”, which is a collection of 5 books based on different crime investigations. These novels feature the captivating character of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who along with the help of his competent investing team solves the most complicated murder and crime mysteries.
This Series consists of Penny’s five most famous books including Still Life, A Fatal Grace, The CruellestMonth, A Rule Against Murder, and The Brutal Telling. Each of these books portrays gripping tales that will keep the readers glued to the books unless they have completed the whole series. Louise Penny has created goodwill in the genre of Crime Fiction, with his Inspector Gamache Series.
5. The Longmire Mystery Series by Craig Johnson
The “Longmire Series” by Craig Johnson has become even more popular after its adaptation by Netflix as a series by the name Longmire. This series is a collection of a total of 12 mystery novels that are New York Times bestselling novels, and are extremely interesting to read.
One of the best crime novelists, Johnson’s Longmire series deserves a mention because it revolves around the charismatic character of Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming, Absaroka County, who solves every mystery with his exceptional skills. All the 12, best mystery books written by Johnson are included in this Longmire series, which has books like The Cold Dish, Death Without Company, Hell is Empty, and other notable ones. After finishing this series, you would love to watch the adaptation by Netflix and thoroughly enjoy it when you would see the fictional characters come to life and mystery cases brought into reality.
6. Harry Bosch Series by Michael Connelly
In Michael Connelly’s detective series Harry Bosch is a Police Detective at the Los Angeles Police Department whose strong sense of ethics and morality often leads him to have a clash with other officials. What Bosch wants is justice for the innocent and severe punishment for those who commit heinous crimes.
This man of strong values became such a popular figure that this book series has been adapted by Amazon Prime as a series by the name “Bosch”. There is a total of 20 novels included in the Henry Bosch series that is filled with mystery and adventure. Bosch comes across some of the most challenging murder mysteries and mysterious cases that he needs to solve while maintaining a friendly relation with his fellow Officers. Since Bosch is a man of values, he has a strong sense of right and wrong, he must hunt down the wicked, criminal minds and bring justice to both innocent and guilty. Thoroughly entertaining and equally intriguing, the Henry Bosch series by Michael Connelly is definitely a must-read Detective Series.
7. Miss Marple Series by Agatha Christie
Apart from creating an exceptional character like Hercule Poirot, the Belgian Detective, Agatha Christie has also brought another detective character to life and this time it is a lady. Miss Marple, is a white-haired elderly woman who has lived all her life in the sleepy county of St. Mary Mead. In spite of living in a village, Miss Marple in all these years has gained an exceptional ability and insight into human nature, which has made her a successful investigator.
Miss Marple is witty, observant, has the finest introspection skills, and that is what has made her friend Sir Henry Slithering, the ex-Commissioner of Scotland Yard to say that she is indeed the “finest detective God ever made”. Miss Marple’s detective stories are extremely pleasing to read, and we cannot deny the fact that not many times in our lives we come across female detective characters as pleasing as Miss Marple. However, this is what we could expect from the Queen of mystery novels- Agatha Christie.
8. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith
Smith’s “No.1 Ladies Detective Agency” series features Botswana’s premier lady Detective Precious Ramotswe who takes readers on different adventures every time she comes across a new case. Precious and her team of ladies know no bounds and can solve even the most complicated cases.
There are Twenty One novels in the detective series, and all of them focus on the cases and challenges that Precious comes across. Precious is the No.1 and only lady Detective in Botswana who brings hope into the lives of the people with her investigating skills. The series is best-selling and has been praised by readers for its unique style and engaging plots, and of course the admirable character of Precious Ramotswe.
9. Inspector Maigret Series by Georges Simenon
One of the world’s most successful crime writers, George Simenon’s “Inspector Maigret” series became so popular among readers, that it was later adapted as a TV series by the name “Maigret”. The classic crime stories are a treasure to crime and mystery lovers, and they cannot help but fall in love with the captivating crime stories of the series.
Maigret is a quintessentially French detective, who loves working with a selected group of policemen who eventually help him in solving cases and bringing justice. There are 75 books in the series as a whole meaning, you never have to think of shifting your attention elsewhere, you can go on and on with this truly impressive crime series and be a witness to every case solved tactfully by Inspector Maigret.
10. Decker/Lazarus Series by Faye Kellerman
The last detective series on our list by Faye Kellerman follows the investigations led by LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) Lieutenant Peter Decker, and his equally talented orthodox Jewish wife Rina Lazarus. The crime mysteries are rooted in Jewish themes, and covers mysteries, thrills, various twists and turns to give readers nail-biting tension and provide them with a wonderful reading experience. These gripping mystery tales are enough to keep readers glued until the amazing husband-wife duo brings the puzzles together and solves the cases. There are a total of 20 novels in the series that anyone would love to read.
