We know it might be hard to limit yourself, but who are your five favorite crime fiction authors?
Andie Ringstrom
Kathy Reichs
Patricia Cornwell
Jonathan Kellerman
Caleb Carr
Judy O.
Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Dennis Lehane, and John Lescroart.
Trish Thomas
Marcia Muller, Raymond Chandler, Dorothy L. Sayers, Stephanie Barron, and Tony Hillerman.
Elise Devlin
Ed McBain, Laura Lippman, Elizabeth George, Michael Connelly, P. J. Tracey, oh, and I can't forget Harlan Coben!
Fran
Faye Kellerman
James Patterson
Lisa Gardner
Janet Evanovich
Tami Hoag
Barbara Miers
John Sandford
Michael Connelly
Robert Crais
Brian Freeman
James Lee Burke
Jane Haase
Ann Rule
Dennis Lehane
Scott Turow
Robert Crais
Greg Iles
Debbie Miller
Ian Rankin
Martha Grimes
Christopher Fowler
Laura Lippman
Denise Mina
Molly Denys
Henning Mankell
Jeffery Deaver
Quentin Jardine
Kerry Greenwood
David Baldacci
Greg Iles
Ann Marie Kopec
Lisa Scottoline
Jonathan Kellerman
John Sandford
Patricia Cornwell
Faye Kellerman
Peggy
Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Kathy Reichs, Marcia Muller, Jeffery Deaver
Bobbe Banks Salkowitz
Michael Connelly
Jonathan Kellerman
David Baldacci
Elizabeth George
Laura Lippman
Edie
J. A. Jance
Diane Mott Davidson
Karin Slaughter
Susan Whittig Albert
Linda Fairstein
Coral Harrison
J. A. Jance, Dick Francis, Lisa Scottoline, Dana Stabenow, and Tony Hillerman
Joy Martineau
Jeffrey Archer
John Grisham
Harlan Corben
David Baldacci
Gale Schexnayder Moch
Jan Burke
Lee Child
Michael Connelly
Robert Crais
Lisa Gardner
Reva Wamsley
Iris Johansen
Patricia Cornwell
Sue Grafton
Dan Brown
Steve Berry
Bonnie Szul
Dean Koontz, John Sandford, Lisa Jackson, Lisa Scottoline, Stuart Woods, and Karen Harper.
Louise Pledge
1. Elizabeth Linington / Dell Shannon / Leslie Egan
2. Wendy Corsi Staub
3. James Patterson
4. Catherine Coulter
5. Brenda Novak
Margaret Franson
Nevada Barr
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Sara Paretsky
Sue Grafton
Linda Fairstein
Diana Fahy
Jonathan Kellerman
J. D.Robb (Nora Roberts)
Stuart Woods
Sue Grafton
Erica Spindler
Lisa
Rex Stout
Sue Grafton
Arnaldur Indridason
S. J. Rozan
Lawrence Block, tied with Laura Lippman
C. Golub
John Grisham
David Baldacci
Daniel Silva
Nelson DeMille
James Patterson
Ann
Harlan Coben, Mark Gimenez, Joy Fielding, James Patterson, and Lisa Scottoline.
Vee
Harlan Coben
J. A. Jance
Patricia McDonald
Stuart Woods
James Patterson
Jonathan Kellerman
Kenny Treger
Lee Child
Robert Crais
Harlan Coben
James Lee Burke
Bill Moody
Carol Newey
John Grisham
Linda Fairstein
Joseph Wambaugh
Sue Grafton
Kathy Hogan Trocheck
Meaghan Reckis
Harlan Coben
James Patterson
Nevada Barr
Lisa Scottoline
Lisa Unger
Lorraine Gelly
Michael Connelly
John Harvey
Peter Robinson
Reginald Hill
Graham Hurley
Christine
Kathy Reichs
Patricia Cornwell
Sue Grafton
Tess Gerritsen
Janet Evanovich
Jan Baybusky
Agatha Christie
P. D. James
Martha Grimes
Peter Robinson
Anthea Fraser
Mary Donner
Agatha Christie
Daniel Silva
Carolyn Hart
Donna Leon
Rita Mae Brown
Gwendolyn Bruno
P. D. James
Peter Robinson
Deborah Crombie
James Lee Burke
Stephen Booth
Connie Tritt
David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, Greg Iles, and several more!
Caitlin Hoy
1. J. D. Robb
2. Lori Avocato
3. Leann Sweeney
4. Shirley Damsgaard
5. Madelyn Alt
Lynette Bresowar
Lee Child
Peter Abrahams
Robert B. Parker
Thomas Perry
Colin Harrison
Kate Green
Robert B. Parker, Ed McBain, Sue Grafton, Rita Mae Brown and Janet Evanovich.
Barbara
Lisa Scottoline
Iris Johansen
Tess Gerritsen
Jonathan Nasaw
Linda Fairstein
Linda Armstrong
Margaret Frazer
Peter Bowen
Robert B. Parker
Louise Penny
Jo Dereske
Ray Palen
George P. Pelecanos
Donna Leon
Jeffery Deaver
Michael Connelly
Dennis Lehane
Rita Carter
Several of my favorites are: Kay Hooper, Catherine Coulter, Nevada Barr, Kathy Reichs, and Jack Higgins
Vivian Watts
James Patterson, Lisa Scottoline, Patricia Cornwell, Karen Robards, and Mary Higgins Clark.
Dena
Iris Johansen, Greg Iles, James Patterson, Carla Neggars, and Dean Koontz.
Margaret
Tony Hillerman
Laura Lippman
Robert Crais
Pat McIntosh
Steve Hockensmith
Barbara Broberg
1. Simon Beckett
2. P. D. James
3. John Sanford
4. Martha Grimes
5. Dorothy Sayersnvctrc
Donna Meier
J. D. Robb
James Patterson
John Sandford
Carol Higgins Clark
Marsha Neesley
Lee Child
Robert B. Parker
T. Jefferson Parker
Janet Evanovich
Sue Grafton
Marja Nikkila
Jeffery Deaver
Gayle Lynds
Allison Brennan
Sandra Brown
Pamela Clare
Bobbie Cloud
Vince Flynn, Andrew Britton, David Baldacci, Lee Child, and Ted Bell.
Tom Carrico
Michael Connelly
T. Jefferson Parker
Robert Crais
Benjamin Black
William Landay
Michelle
Karen Robards, Iris Johansen, Harlan Coben, and Lisa Jackson
A. Barbeau
Lee Child
John Sandford
Gary Disher
Harlan Coben
Robert Crais
A. Barbeau
Lee Child
Michael Connelly
Henning Mankell
T. Jefferson Parker
Thomas Perry
Jeneen Zabinsky
Harlan Coben
Elizabeth George
Robert Crais
Dennis Lehane
Peter Robinson
Jeannie Hoover
John Grisham
Iris Johansen
James Patterson
Harlan Coben
Tess Gerritsen
Bob Wigdor
Harlan Coben, Dennis Lehane, Richard Montanari, Jeffery Deaver, and Cody McFadyen.
Arlene Herring
Jane Langton
Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine
Denise Mina
Gene Kerrigan
Elizabeth George
Kristy
James Lee Burke
Lee Child
Harlan Coben
Keith Ablow
Greg Iles
Merrilee
Michael Connelly
Lee Child
Robert Crais
Steve Hamilton
P. J. Tracy
Tamara Randi
Nelson DeMille
Carolyn Hart
Diane Mott Davidson
William Kent Krueger
Clive Cussler
Pat Stainbrook
Susan Hill
Stephen Booth
Denise Mina
Peter Robinson
Laurie R. King
Jeri
Harlan Coben
Michael Connelly
Laura Lippman
Daniel Silva
Susan Sloan
Stephen White
Jill
Elizabeth George, Deborah Crombie, Reginald Hill, Julia Spencer-Fleming, and Jacqueline Winspear.
Wanda Duckett
Robert Crais
Michael Connelly
Randy Wayne White
Robert B. Parker
Lee Child
Brenda Snell
Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen, Carl Hiaasen, Harlan Coben, and John Connolly.
Karen Terry
Lee Child, Jonathan Kellerman, Iris Johansen, Michael Connelly, and Stephen White.
Fran Schroeder
Johnathan Kellerman, Donald Westlake, Robert B. Parker, David Wiltse, and J. A. Jance
Ilene Harris
Robert Crais
Harlan Coben
T. Jefferson Parker
Jeffery Deaver
Michael Connelly
Richard Bartels
James Patterson
Lawrence Sanders
Alex Folsom
David Baldacci
Harold Coyle
Frank Giitter
Michael Connelly
Carol O'Connell
Donald Westlake/Richard Stark
Robert Crais
Dennis LeHane
Anne Mager
Sur Grafton, J. D. Robb, Sara Paretsky, Robert Eversz, and Janet Evanovich.
Debbie Whittemore
New favorite: Louise Penny
Michael Connelly
Ridley Pearson
Carol O'Connell
Thomas Perry
Lindsey Hedrick
Lisa Scottoline
Harlan Coben
William Kent Krueger
Janet Evanovich
Carl Hiaasen
Ginny Kayfes
James Patterson
James Rollins
Clive Cussler
John Sandford
Kathy Reichs
Wendy Catalano
Greg Iles
Harlan Coben
James Patterson
James Lee Burke
Rick Mofina
hoops
James Lee Burke
Robert Crais
Michael Connelly
Peter Robinson
Janet Evanovich
Lesa Holstine
Louise Penny, Chris Grabenstein, Julia Spencer-Fleming, Robert B. Parker, and Betty Webb.
Dianne
John Sandford
Andrew Vachss
Caleb Carr
Jeffery Deaver
Stephen White
Carl Hiaasen
(Couldn't do just five)
Debi
Agatha Christie
Janet Evanovich
Greg Iles
Carolyn Haines
Joanne Fluke
Billie McHam
Terri Blackstock
Mindy Starns Clark
Joanne Fluke
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Janet Evanovich
Ottoline Dudley
James Ellroy
Frances Fyfield
Mike Ripley
Dashiell Hammett
Fred Vargas
Robyn
George Pelecanos
Ruth Rendell
P. D. James
James Ellroy
Dennis Lehane
Gahhh... why not 10??
Joyce A Urba Ph.D.
Robert B. Parker
Stuart Woods
Walter Mosley
Qiu Xiaolong
Lawrence Block
Michelle Miller
Kathy Reichs
Val McDermid
David Morrell
Erin Hart
Caleb Carr
Janet P Bedell
Jonathan Kellerman
James Patterson
James Grippando
P. J. Parrish
Janet Evanovich
Jerry Johnson
Jeffery Deaver
David Baldacci
John Sanford
Michael Connelly
Kathy Reichs
Andrea Arbie
Well I'd have to put Stephen King first, as I've been reading him for what seems like ever and think he's still got it. If anything, I think he's improved his craft with age; he's always had the "gotchas," but now he's a craftsman, too. I also enjoy the books of James Patterson, Sue Grafton, Linda Fairstein and Laura Lippman.
Marie Linton
Agatha Christie
Peter Robinson
Margaret Maron
Jim Kelly
Peter Tremayne
Marcia Beer
Michael Connelly
Nelson DeMille
Harlan Coben
Linda Fairstein
John Lescroart
Judith Mroz
Louise Penny
P. J. Tracy
Stephen Booth
P. J. Parrish
Tami Hoag
Harleigh
My favorite crime writers include:
1) Lee Child
2) Michael Connelly
3) Jeffery Deaver
4) John Sanford
5) James Lee Burke
Kathy Bolton
Harlan Coben
Robert Crais
John Sandford
Michael Connelly
Lisa Scottoline
F Tessa Bartels
Janet Evanovich
Lawrence Sanders
John Sandford
Kathy Reichs
Donald E. Westlake
Carolyn Baldwin
This is tough, since my first two are extremely close.
1. Julia Spencer-Fleming
2. Harlan Coben
3. Greg Isles
4. Joseph Finder
5. Sandra Brown
Edward Garea
Raymond Chandler, James Ellroy, Arthur Conan Doyle, Dashiell Hammett, and P. D. James.
Melissa Jordan
Harlan Coben, Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen, and James Patterson.
Maureen
Lisa Scottoline
J. D. Robb
David Baldacci
Jonathan Kellerman
Jeffery Deaver
Debbie
Robert B. Parker, Elizabeth George, P. D. James, John Lescroart, Sue Grafton, et al.
Manish Patwari
1. Agatha Christie
2. James Hadley Chase
3. P. D.James
4.Elmore Leonard
5.Sue Grafton
Betty Burrier
James Patterson
Jefferson Bass
Laura Lippman
James Kellerman
Steven White
James Keith
David Morrell
David Baldacci
Michael Connelly
Lee Child
Scott Turow
John Grisham
Nancy Thompson
Karin Slaughter
Tess Gerritsen
Harlan Coben
Linda Fairstein
Thomas Harris
Mary Kilgarriff
Kay Hooper
Tami Hoag
Karen Robards
Lisa Jackson
Iris Johansen
Marilyn
Elizabeth George
Jill McGown
Laurie R. King
Minette Walters
Phil Rickman
Karla Hodde
Alex Kava
J. A. Konrath
P. J. Tracy
Nevada Barr
James Patterson (The Women's Murder Club)
Ramona Pierce
Lilian Jackson Braun, Elizabeth Peters, James Patterson, Sue Grafton, and Janet Evanovich.
Lou
Meg O'Brien, Karen Robards, Lisa Gardner, Lisa Jackson, J. A. Jance, Wendy Corsi Staub, Harley Coben, Michael Connelly, James Patterson (...oops, that's more than five. It was hard to limit myself). And I also like Ann Perry.
Marsha Maramba
J. A. Jance
Greg Iles
Jeffery Deaver
Stephen White
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Sandy Greathouse
John Sanford
James Patterson
Patricia Cornwell
Dorothy Cowling
Jacqueline Winspear
Elizabeth George
Margaret Duffy
Laurie King
Carol O'Connell
Pat Iannucci
Stephen White
James Patterson
Mary Higgins Clark
Joy Fielding
Iris Johansen
Miriam
Martha Grimes
Nora Roberts
James Patterson
Forrest Devoe Jr.
Ellen
Jeffery Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme)
James Patterson (Alex Cross)
Kathy Reichs
Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta)
John Sanford (the Prey series)
Limiting it to 5 was hard to do!
Deborah Davlin
Michael Connelly
James Lee Burke
Robert Crais
John Sanford
J. D. Robb
Linda M. Johnson
John Dunning
Carol O'Connell
Agatha Christie
John Spencer Hill
Ian Pears
Nancy
Harlan Coben, Lee Child, Stephen White, John Lescroart, and John Grisham.
Freda McNulty
Mary Higgins Clark
Carol Higgins Clark
Jonathan Kellerman
Fern Michaels
Sandra Brown
Debbie Wernert
Harlan Coben
Jeffrey Archer
David Baldacci
Stephen White
Tess Gerritsen
John Clark
Kate Flora
Tony Hillerman
William Kent Krueger
James Lee Burke
William G. Tapley
Carolyn Swinter
Harlan Coben
Stuart Woods
James Patterson
Robert B. Parker
Jonathan Kellerman
Judy Williams
Laurie R. King, Louise Penny, Harlan Coben, Anne Perry, and Kerry Greenwood
P. Subity
Kathy Reichs
Gail Bowen
Robert B. Parker
James Patterson
Laurence Saunders
Janet Evanovich (okay, that might be pushing it.)
Pooch
Dominick Dunne
Anne Ripley
Mary Kruger
Sandra Smith
John Sandford
Ridley Pearson
Janet Evanovich
Greg Iles
Jonathan Kellerman
Gordon Wilson
Robert B. Parker, James Patterson, Kathy Reichs, Harlen Coban and Robert Ludlum, in no particular order.
Lisa
Tough question! Here goes...
Rex Stout, Sue Grafton, S. J. Rozan, Ken Bruen, and Martha Grimes.
Kellie
Michael Connelly, Elizabeth George, Jeffery Deaver, Robert B. Parker and Dennis Lehane
Angela Teeter
Erica Spindler, Ann Rule, Mary Higgins Clark, John Grisham, and J. D. Robb.
Joan Woods
Michael Connelly, Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton, Agatha Christie, and Michael Crichton.
Cheri Bauder
Catherine Coulter
Patricia Cornwell
J. D. Robb
Iris Johansen
Dean Koontz
Ruth
J. D. Robb
Sarah Graves
Earlene Fowler
Jan Burke
Deborah Crombie
Janice Hoaglin
Julia Spencer-Fleming, Tony Hillerman, Giles Blunt, Nevada Barr, and Anne George.
Jon Weiman
Michael Connelly
Robert Crais
Lee Child
John D. MacDonald
Elmore Leonard
Barbara Peters
Sue Grafton, Lawrence Block, Robert Crais, Faye and Jonathan Kellerman, and Stuart Woods.
Beth Cummings
Jacqueline Winspear
Alexander McCall Smith
Agatha Christie
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Laura Childs
K. Verree Rodgers
J. D.Robb, Tami Hoag, James Patterson, Iris Johansen, John Sandford
It's not fair to limit it to 5!
Jim C
Robert B. Parker
Archer Mayor
Harlan Coben
William Kent Krueger
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Carol Cherngo
James Patterson
Patricia Cornwell
Tess Gerritsen
Lisa Jackson
John Grisham
Lynn
J. A. Jance
Janet Evanovich
Elizabeth George
Margaret Maron
Aaron Elkins
Faye Kellerman
Earlene Fowler
Sue Grafton
(Okay, okay, that was 8!)
Julie Siemek
John Sandford
Perri O'Shaughnessy
James Patterson
Tami Hoag
Iris Johansen
Annie
Tess Gerritsen
Joy Fielding
Harlan Coben
Greg Iles
Janet Evanovich
Mary Branham
James Patterson, Stuart Woods, Patricia Cornwell, Mary and Carol Higgins Clark, and so many more.
Linda Harrison
James Patterson
Greg Iles
David Baldacci
Nevada Barr
Lisa Jackson
Lori
James Patterson
Agatha Christie
Joseph Wambaugh
Patricia Cornwell
Lori Schultz
James Patterson
Stuart Woods
Tami Hoag
Agatha Christie
Tom Carrico
Ed McBain
Joe R. Lansdale
Michael Connelly
T. Jefferson Parker
Linda S. Miller
Jonathan Kellerman
Faye Kellerman
Stuart Woods
Linda Fairstein
John Sanford
Deborah
Sue Grafton
Robert Crais
Bill Pronzini
Michael Connelly
Jonathan Kellerman
Sheila Soloff
Robert B. Parker, Patricia Cornwell, both Kellermans...Would you count Nelson DeMille in this genre?
Ilene Harris
Harlan Coben
John Sanford
Dennis Lehane
Robert Crais
Jonathan Kellerman
Shannon
The five authors whose books I most look forward to reading are:
Janet Evanovich
Cody McFadyen
Harlan Coben
Lisa Gardner
J. A. Konrath
Amy Gross
Harlan Coben, David Baldacci, Stuart Woods, James Patterson and Michael Connelly.
Ann
Val McDermid
Frances Fyfield
Reginald Hill
Martha Grimes
Elizabeth George
Kathryn Jasper
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Craig Johnson
Louise Penny
Simon Beckett
Lee Child
Debbie Johnson
Jonathan Kellerman
John Sandford
Marcia Muller
Laurie R. King
Sue Grafton
Fran Grimm
Jonathan Kellerman
Phillip Margolin
Lisa Scottoline
Stephen White
Stuart Woods
Theresa Holm
Michael Connelly, John Connolly, Robert Crais, Dennis Lehane, T. Jefferson Parker
Harriet Stay
Michael Connelly
Peter Robinson
Michael Robotham
Carol O'Connell
Karin Fossum
Becky Wreyford
Michael McGarrity
C. J. Box
J. A. Jance
Laura Crum
Nevada Barr
Jackie Callanan
Jeffery Deaver
Stephen White
Kathy Reichs
William Kent Krueger
Patricia Cornwell
Joyce Newmark
Michael Connelly
J. A. Jance
Laurie R. King
Jonathan Kellerman
Dana Stabenow
Betty Vincent
James Patterson
Sue Grafton
Jonathan Kellerman
Lee Child
Tami Hoag
Ma Titwonky
Ed McBain
John Lescroart
Janet Evanovich
Elizabeth George
Ian Rankin
Rod Vaughn
John Sandford
Lee Child
Ed McBain
Elmore Leonard
Robert B. Parker
Kathy Church
James Patterson
Stuart Woods
Kathy Reichs
Edna Buchanan
Jonathan Kellerman
Marilyn MacDonald
Lindsey Davis
Dick Francis
Elizabeth George
John Lescroart
Ian Rankin
Cynthia Scott
Joseph Finder, Lee Child, Stephen White, Michael Connelly, and David Baldacci.
Liza Grigoropoulos
Ken Bruen
Laura Lippman
Denise Mina
Dennis Lehane
George P. Pelecanos
Sashi
Michael Connelly, Deborah Crombie, Peter Robinson, Val McDermid, and Harlan Coben.
John Stover
James Lee Burke
Michael Connelly
John Grisham
Robert Traver (deceased)
Sue Grafton
Doree
Michael Connelly
Nicci French
Robert Crais
Minette Walters
Peter Robinson
Nancy Clarke Green
Seicho Matsumoto
Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Michael Connelly
J. A. Jance (Beaumont only)
Miyuki Miyabe
Ngaio Marsh.
Oops! That's six.
Mickey
Marian Babson
Margaret Maron
Will Thomas
Deanna Raybourn
Joan Hess
