We know how you all love a good crime novel and only recently I am realising just how many sub-genres they are. In our reading group we have lots of fans of crime novels that come under the ‘Police Procedural’ sub-genre and so we thought we’d gather some recommendations.
We asked across our social media network, on Facebook and on our Instagram to find our what your favourite police procedural novels are and you answered in your droves! In all you suggested 34 different police procedural novels or series and from the top votes we have a top 20 for you.
There’s nothing to solve, you don’t need to guess the winner, it’s right here along with the rest of the top 20 police procedural novels, according to you!
In Death Series – J. D. Robb
The In Death Series by J. D. Robb was the clear winner of this poll. Written by Nora Roberts under a pseudonym, the In Death Series features NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Rourke, set in the 21st Century it’s an interesting twist on crime. There are 54 books to date so a great series to get started on!
Interestingly Nora Jones and her husband own the Turn the Page Bookstore in Maryland, also listed in our bookshop section.
Naked in Death (In Death 1) US
Naked in Death (In Death 1) UK
Harry Hole Series – Jo Nesbo
Harry Hole is a heavy smoking, hard lining, alcoholic police officer with the Oslo crime squad. One of our voters called Harry Hole the anti-police procedure series, but it’s proved one of the most popular translated series in recent times and your votes put it in second place.
Sam Vimes Novels – Terry Pratchett
The Discworld series is one of the best loved book series of all time, and many of you are particular fans of Pratchett’s fictional policeman, Sam Vimes who first appears in Guards! Guards! as the Commander of the City Watch.
Inspector Rebus Series – Ian Rankin
The Inspector Rebus series is a series of detective novels by Scottish author, Ian Rankin. The novels centre around the investigations of the Inspector and are largely based in and around Edinburgh. There are 20 novels to date, plus a collection of short stories and other publications.
Knots and Crosses (Rebus 1) US
Knots and Crosses (Rebus 1) UK
Alex Cross Series – James Patterson
James Patterson is a particularly prolific author and the Alex Cross series currently runs to 23 books. Alex Cross is a widowed father and detective in Washington D.C and several of the novels have been adapted for screen.
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross 1) US
Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross 1) UK
Three Pines Series – Louise Penny
Canadian author, Louise Penny created a series of eleven books featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec, the provincial police force for Quebec. The stories take place in the town of Three Pines, and many havetopped the New York Times Best-Seller List.
Logan McRae – Stuart McBride
Scottish author Stuart McBride has written many works, and many of them set around crime and the criminal world, but it’s his Logan McRae series many of you love and it got the votes putting it in our top ten. There are thirteen novels to date with more expected in the future.
Cold Granite (Logan McRae 1) US
Cold Granite (Logan McRae 1) UK
The Dublin Murder Squad Series – Tana French
Tana French is described as the Irish First Lady of Crime and it’s a deserved title as her Dublin Murder Squad series is a worldwide bestseller. There are six novels in the series to date and each has been published to international acclaim, and many a book award too.
In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad 1) US
In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad 1) UK
Detective Harry Bosch series – Michael Connelly
Detective Hieronymus ‘Harry’ Bosch is the lead character in Connelly’s twenty novel series. The first novel was published in 1992 and each one is set in the year it’s written in. Harry Bosch is a detective for the homicide division of the LAPD and this is gritty crime fiction.
The Black Echo (Harry Bosch 1) US
The Black Echo (Harry Bosch 1) UK
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Series – Karin Slaughter
Featuring Will Trent, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation series from Karin Slaughter finishes our top 10. The series is nine books long, and books in the series bring together this and the Grant County series (in 11th place).
11. Grant County Series – Karin Slaughter
12. Alphabet Series – Sue Grafton
13. Rizzoli & Isles – Tess Gerritsen
14. Penn Cage Series – Greg Iles
15. Kurt Wallander Series – Henning Mankell
16. Lucas Davenport Series – John Sanford
17. Bourne Trilogy – Robert Ludlum
18. Jack Reacher – Lee Childs
19. No Country for Old Men – Cormac McCarthy
20. Joona Linna Series – Lars Kepler
With so many big series suggested in the top twenty, this makes well over a hundred books in all, and hopefully something for your TBR too!
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Please how do i get to vote in these polls?
Hi Adele,
Our Polls can be found either on our Facebook page or our Instagram account.
~ Shan
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