Top Ten Mystery Writers 2019
There are many things that can be said about an excellent writer and how they draw you in and capture your imagination. I've been blessed to read many authors throughout the years that have epitomized a certain something which gave me a deep appreciation for their genre, writing style, and characters. Although I've shared my Favorite Fiction Reads with you a couple of years ago now, I can't help but mention how much of a revolving list that is on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis.
As I find new authors to love, it becomes important to me to share them with you. I hope to inspire others to read such fantastic authors, and I hope they will become a part of your reading library as well. Some books you might also love or come to love, others you might never see eye to eye with me on, and that's okay! It's magnificent how reading is so subjective, not only from one person to the next, but also with how we, ourselves, respond on a regular basis.
We, as readers, can read a book one day and love it. The next year, we might decide it isn't a favorite anymore. It might have slid down our lists of must-read or must-own, or we might be trying to recall why we loved it in the first place. I've had that happen to me as well. Sometimes, our family and friends influence our tastes or make us rethink what we previously enjoyed. That's okay too!
We're a growing, changing, and expanding collection of human beings who understand there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the artistic passions we develop. Art, film, music, and literature are only a few avenues to show our ever-changing esteem for one artist to the next, one author to the next, one movie to the next. Some of these loves will hold the test of time. Others will go out of style within the new decade, just like big hair from the '80s.
In keeping with this theme of change, I've created a list of my Top Ten Mystery Writers. For 2019, or today at least, I've decided that there are some tried and true mystery authors that need to be recognized. These are the ones I've been exposed to over the new year and will feature favorites from years gone by to those I've recently discovered.
For the sake of the genre, I will focus primarily on mystery and all of its sub-genres: crime fiction, detective fiction, cozy, noir, suspense, and thriller. It will be my divine pleasure to share some whodunit love with all of you. I will say as part of this genre minefield, some authors might write other fiction as well in their repertoire, but for the purpose of this list, I will include their name only if they've written a juicy mystery for the masses.
Shall we begin?
As I find new authors to love, it becomes important to me to share them with you. I hope to inspire others to read such fantastic authors, and I hope they will become a part of your reading library as well. Some books you might also love or come to love, others you might never see eye to eye with me on, and that's okay! It's magnificent how reading is so subjective, not only from one person to the next, but also with how we, ourselves, respond on a regular basis.
We, as readers, can read a book one day and love it. The next year, we might decide it isn't a favorite anymore. It might have slid down our lists of must-read or must-own, or we might be trying to recall why we loved it in the first place. I've had that happen to me as well. Sometimes, our family and friends influence our tastes or make us rethink what we previously enjoyed. That's okay too!
We're a growing, changing, and expanding collection of human beings who understand there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the artistic passions we develop. Art, film, music, and literature are only a few avenues to show our ever-changing esteem for one artist to the next, one author to the next, one movie to the next. Some of these loves will hold the test of time. Others will go out of style within the new decade, just like big hair from the '80s.
In keeping with this theme of change, I've created a list of my Top Ten Mystery Writers. For 2019, or today at least, I've decided that there are some tried and true mystery authors that need to be recognized. These are the ones I've been exposed to over the new year and will feature favorites from years gone by to those I've recently discovered.
For the sake of the genre, I will focus primarily on mystery and all of its sub-genres: crime fiction, detective fiction, cozy, noir, suspense, and thriller. It will be my divine pleasure to share some whodunit love with all of you. I will say as part of this genre minefield, some authors might write other fiction as well in their repertoire, but for the purpose of this list, I will include their name only if they've written a juicy mystery for the masses.
Shall we begin?
10. Dashiell Hammett
This author surprised me with his wit and character integrity. He's the new, fresh, updated version of all those Hardy Boy mysteries that most of our childhoods couldn't be without. Implausible though some of his plots might be, the savvy misdeeds and resourceful characters make all of his FunJungle and Spy School series a definite treat.
7. Mary Higgins Clark
5. Lisa Gardner
Why does this matter? Well, because Robert Galbraith (in case you weren't already aware) is in fact J.K. Rowling's pseudonym. Therefore, I come into this mystery series without any prejudice against the author and what I expect from her writing. I can honestly say that Galbraith made it to #3 on my list because of the gritty, shrewd, humanizing characters in the Coroman Strike novels. I enjoy the storylines, the tenacity, the errors, and the triumphs that categorize this private investigator series. If you don't mind a bit of language and such, then these books are worth the read.
Below are a few notes in regard to other authors who might have held the Top Ten position in the past or the shifts on those above:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle got bumped from the Top Ten by the introduction of Riley Sager, who came in fourth after just two reads. Lisa Gardner has taken a step back since my discovery of Robert Galbraith and Riley Sager. Although they are young adult books, most often typical of elementary and middle-school reads, I'm still comfortable with keeping Carolyn Keene (in all of her many incarnations) and Stuart Gibbs on my Top Ten Mystery list.
Keene is a classic and created my first love of mysteries and the whodunit life. Nancy Drew will always hold a special place in my heart, and for that reason, she maintains her Top Ten status. Gibbs is a comical writer, and when I want something light and fun and clean, I jump to one of his nonsensical mysteries to enjoy a good laugh and much-needed perspective. As a result, other favorite mystery writers have been bumped out of the Top Ten.
Overall, this is my current update on can't-live-without authors for the mystery genre. Now, this by no means is a complete list of my favorite mystery authors. It is only the essential ten which I feel can be read and reread to your heart's content. These are the authors that make this genre come alive for me, that I have to read and reread, love unconditionally, and will never part with any of my copies. These are the sacred ten that I will tell anyone and everyone about anytime I hear they're looking for a new read.
Classic, smart, and always in style, Dashiell Hammett represents the noir collection with pizzazz and sophistication. He has inspired my deep love of The Thin Man, and the movie series featuring Myrna Loy and William Powell -- the best onscreen couple of all-time, in my humble opinion.
9. Stuart Gibbs
This author surprised me with his wit and character integrity. He's the new, fresh, updated version of all those Hardy Boy mysteries that most of our childhoods couldn't be without. Implausible though some of his plots might be, the savvy misdeeds and resourceful characters make all of his FunJungle and Spy School series a definite treat.
8. Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew still maintains her hold on the Top Ten for a few reasons, but I think nostalgia is a leading factor. The thrill of getting a new Nancy Drew mystery was a perk during my childhood that I couldn't forgo. Her humble collection gave a little girl an aspiring desire to write. She, also, birthed the brief but scintillating yearning to become a detective. No matter what, Nancy Drew was a part of my childhood that my adulthood doesn't want to let go of yet.
7. Mary Higgins Clark
This author was one of my first adult-geared mystery authors. After leaving the safe-haven of Nancy Drew and other similar authors, I found myself spotting Clark's books upon the shelves. MHC became my high school adaptation of Nancy Drew, if you will, and I loved reading her books. It's actually been a while since I've read one of her newer publications, but I will never be without A Cry in the Night and All Around the Town. Two of my first favorites in psychological thrillers, these set the bar on what I expected from future reads.
6. Shannon Greenland
I found this author through the wonderful world of social media when I offered to read a free copy of her compilation series, The Specialists. I was intrigued from the blurb because it was my childhood happiness reappearing in a new form. Spies fighting on the right side of the law with their illegal skills, what could be more fun? This author amazed me and ensured I was a dedicated fan with her diverse characters, their clever contributions, and informative plots. Even though geared toward young adults, this author shares a team for which anyone can cheer!
5. Lisa Gardner
I've said it before, and I will say it again, Lisa Gardner is top-notch when it comes to police procedurals, thrilling conspiracies, and hard-hitting vigilantes seeking justice. Her intense scenarios are raw, emotional, and profound. Her detectives shine, and her knowledge of the police how-to's comes from research that you can understand. She does her due-diligence, and even if she's pushing the facts to the edge, Gardner never disappoints. Her D.D. Warren series is one of my favorites because of vigilante Flora Dane. Her story is devastating, and her come-back is motivating and electric, but I can tell you that because of Flora's past, I'm hopeful and invested in her future. That's one reason I keep coming back to this author, and I can't wait for her newest book When You See Me.
4. Riley Sager
Yes, I do hear Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" in my head when I think of this author. I've read Sager's first two books, and they put him in the Top Ten faster than me singing, "I came in like a wrecking ball..." Yeah, they are edgy, sharp, and forthright in heaving you into the midst of the protagonist's world. I love the past and present combo each book gives. I'm already plotting my opportunity to read his latest release Lock Every Door.
3. Robert Galbraith
I'm not a Harry Potter fan. Let's just get that out of the way. I have nothing really against the kid, but I've never been motivated to read his story. Even though I've dabbled in reading some books having to do with wizards, witches, and magic, I can't say it's my go-to genre. I'm not that interested, and as I get older, I become less interested. So, that's my excuse.
Why does this matter? Well, because Robert Galbraith (in case you weren't already aware) is in fact J.K. Rowling's pseudonym. Therefore, I come into this mystery series without any prejudice against the author and what I expect from her writing. I can honestly say that Galbraith made it to #3 on my list because of the gritty, shrewd, humanizing characters in the Coroman Strike novels. I enjoy the storylines, the tenacity, the errors, and the triumphs that categorize this private investigator series. If you don't mind a bit of language and such, then these books are worth the read.
2. Georgette Heyer
By now, you've realized that Georgette Heyer is an author I love to read for my historical fiction, Regency era fiction, and mystery fix. She spreads her writing genius across the genres, and her twelve classic British whodunits are the embodiment of debonair heroes, dashing heroines, and enough sass to get you through the year. The comedy and thrilling conundrums and saucy dialogue give these books a whole other level of extraordinary.
1. Agatha Christie
My all-time favorite mystery author should come as no surprise. I did a whole blog review on the brilliance of Agatha Christie's detective Hercule Poirot. This should clue you into how much I love this author's adroit capabilities on incorporating lighthearted joking into her books. Poirot's dexterity of exercising his "little grey cells" and coming to the answer through psychological means are only one reason I'm in love with these books and adore reading them to ragged shreds. Basically, when I die, they will be buried with me.
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Below are a few notes in regard to other authors who might have held the Top Ten position in the past or the shifts on those above:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle got bumped from the Top Ten by the introduction of Riley Sager, who came in fourth after just two reads. Lisa Gardner has taken a step back since my discovery of Robert Galbraith and Riley Sager. Although they are young adult books, most often typical of elementary and middle-school reads, I'm still comfortable with keeping Carolyn Keene (in all of her many incarnations) and Stuart Gibbs on my Top Ten Mystery list.
Keene is a classic and created my first love of mysteries and the whodunit life. Nancy Drew will always hold a special place in my heart, and for that reason, she maintains her Top Ten status. Gibbs is a comical writer, and when I want something light and fun and clean, I jump to one of his nonsensical mysteries to enjoy a good laugh and much-needed perspective. As a result, other favorite mystery writers have been bumped out of the Top Ten.
Overall, this is my current update on can't-live-without authors for the mystery genre. Now, this by no means is a complete list of my favorite mystery authors. It is only the essential ten which I feel can be read and reread to your heart's content. These are the authors that make this genre come alive for me, that I have to read and reread, love unconditionally, and will never part with any of my copies. These are the sacred ten that I will tell anyone and everyone about anytime I hear they're looking for a new read.
Who are your favorite mystery writers? Let me know so I can add them to my list or let you know if I've read them or not! ;)
Thanks for joining me, and as always, Happy Reading!!
~Rebecca Reddell
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