Mysteries Set in New York

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Mysteries Set in New York

1DoctorRobert
toukokuu 6, 2007, 3:32 pm

Inspired by the previous thread on London, I wonder if anyone can recommend mysteries set in New York (present-day or historical). I loved Caleb Carr's books, and I'm grieved that he hasn't continued the series. Where can I turn for another fix?

2kingkama
Muokkaaja: toukokuu 6, 2007, 4:10 pm

Try Paula Cohen's Gramercy Park, an operatic historical romantic mystery...a fine New York read, indeed.

(By the way, the touchstone and the author info is incorrect on LT, HER name is Paula Cohen not Paul A. Cohen).

3bfister Ensimmäinen viesti
toukokuu 7, 2007, 9:17 am

Lawrence Block is quintessential New York. I particularly like his Scudder series. Another person who really gets the city is S. J. Rozan - and do try Jim Fusilli - great stuff. Oh, and the Artie Cohen series by Reggie Nadelson.

4bfister
toukokuu 7, 2007, 9:18 am

Oh! and how could I forget Ed Dee?

5cmbohn
toukokuu 7, 2007, 1:08 pm

Here's my list of some I have read.

Lydia Adamson has more than one series set in New York. I only read one, don't remember which. They all have 'cat' in the title.

I liked the Richard Barth series about a set of elderly friends in New York. The series starts with The Rag Bag Clan.

And I like the new Rhys Bowen series featuring Irish immigrant Molly Murphy. It's historical, but I don't remember when it takes place. 1900's, I think. I like the Evan Evans series better though.

I also like the Elizabeth Daly books which feature Henry Gamadge. Several in that series, all out of print, I'm afraid.

And who could forget Rex Stout's sleuth Nero Wolfe?

6DoctorRobert
toukokuu 7, 2007, 1:45 pm

Thanks very much to everyone for the recommendations!

7KromesTomes
toukokuu 7, 2007, 2:28 pm

Kind of outside ye olde box, but there's Paul Auster's New York Trilogy ...

8tardis
toukokuu 7, 2007, 5:00 pm

Hugh Pentecost wrote a number of mysteries set in the Hotel Beaumont in New York.

9SJaneDoe
toukokuu 8, 2007, 7:49 am

Viestin kirjoittaja on poistanut viestin.

10LeHack
toukokuu 11, 2007, 3:29 pm

for present day crime/mystery fiction, you may enjoy Linda Fairstein's Alex Cooper series. The stories usually focus on sites throughout the city, most of them being well-known.

You may also enjoy Brooklyn Noir and Brooklyn Noir 2. Each book is a series of short stories whose setting is a different section of Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Bensonhurst, etc.) I found them while browsing at BN on Court Street in Brooklyn.

There are many others. The mystery bookshop in Greenwich Village used to feature mysteries set in NYC.

11cmbohn
toukokuu 11, 2007, 5:42 pm

I forgot to list one of my favorite series. It's by Emma Lathen, which is a team of two women, one an economist and one a stockbroker or something. Anyway, they are all set on Wall Street and feature banker John Putnam Thatcher as the sleuth. They start with Accounting for Murder. I think some of the later ones are still in print, like Brewing Up a Storm. They each focus on a particular industry and are dang funny at times.

CMB

12avaland
toukokuu 23, 2007, 6:53 pm

If you'd like to get out of the city, Julia Spencer Flemings series which is set in upstate New York and begins with In a Bleak Midwinter is excellent.

13Storeetllr
toukokuu 30, 2007, 12:37 am

Thanks to Quartzite, I just discovered Carol O'Connell, a new (to me) author, whose noir (again, to me) mystery thrillers are set in New York City. I'm in the middle of the first of the series, Mallory's Oracle, and so far it is stunningly good! I just love the main character, Kathleen Mallory, a sociopathic young woman who interacts best with computers, is compulsively neat and orderly, is a brilliant thief and able to hack into any computer network in the world, and who also happens to be a cop. But then I simply adore Dexter. ;)

14RachaelfromNJ
toukokuu 30, 2007, 12:39 am

The Screaming Room by Thomas O'Callaghan is set in NY. Great book! :)

15GreyHead
toukokuu 30, 2007, 5:31 am

Jed Rubenfeld's The Interpretation of Murder is set in a meticulously researched 1909 New York city. A good read too.

16Linkmeister
kesäkuu 2, 2007, 2:49 am

Um. Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe books, although I have to say the city isn't particularly a character in any of them.

17jmcclain19 Ensimmäinen viesti
kesäkuu 28, 2007, 10:40 pm

I would say you can't go wrong with Nelson DeMille either - especially Plum Island - but his tend to be more Long Island based than NYC.

18aluvalibri
kesäkuu 29, 2007, 9:44 am

I just started The blackest bird by Joel Rose. It takes place in Manhattan around 1840s.

19TheTwoDs
kesäkuu 29, 2007, 10:34 am

How about comic-mysteries?

Kinky Friedman's series featuring a detective named Kinky Friedman are mostly set in New York.

It starts with:
Greenwich Killing Time
A Case of Lone Star
When the Cat's Away
Frequent Flyer
Musical Chairs
Elvis, Jesus and Coca-cola
Armadillos and Old Lace
God Bless John Wayne
and there are several more.

20booklover79
Muokkaaja: kesäkuu 29, 2007, 4:23 pm

April Woo series by Leslie Glass.

Alexandra Cooper series by Linda Fairstein. First book is Final Jeopardy.

Both books are set in modern NYC.

21laytonwoman3rd
Muokkaaja: kesäkuu 29, 2007, 8:01 pm

An old series I'm particularly fond of---The Mr. and Mrs. North mysteries by Francis and Richard Lockridge are set in NYC of the '40's and later. An extra bonus for cat-lovers are the couple's various Siamese housemates. The first title is The Norths Meet Murder You can check my library for others--I have most, if not all of them.

22Seajack
kesäkuu 29, 2007, 10:26 pm

Selma Eichler writes a cozy series, featuring P.I. Desiree Shapiro, set in New York City.

23Linkmeister
kesäkuu 29, 2007, 10:34 pm

Hugh Pentecost wrote several mysteries starring Pierre Chambrun as manager of a luxury hotel in a city which, if not named as NY, pretty clearly was.

24pmarshall
kesäkuu 30, 2007, 11:14 pm

One of my favourite New York detectives is Jane Bauer by Lee Harris. She is in mid-career and thinking of leaving the NYPD when she is assigned to a cold case squad. To date there are just 3 titles in the series, Murder in Hell's Kitchen, Murder in Alphabet City and Murder in Greenwich Village. Lee Harris also write the Christine Bennett mysteries.

25Seajack
kesäkuu 30, 2007, 11:21 pm

Since this is a NYC + crime thread, thought I'd piggyback onto the post above to recommend a non-fiction work: The restless sleep : inside New York City's Cold Case Squad by Stacy Horn.

26TheTwoDs
heinäkuu 1, 2007, 3:26 pm

If you're into police procedural mysteries, there's always Ed McBain's 87th Precinct Series, which is set in Isola, a fictional version of New York City.

Also, William J. Caunitz wrote some NYPD police procedurals including One Police Plaza.

27cmbohn
heinäkuu 1, 2007, 6:40 pm

#21 and #23 - I enjoy both of those series, even if they are out of print.

I am really enjoying this thread, BTW.

CMBohn

28Mkarpovage
syyskuu 14, 2010, 2:54 pm

Dr. Robert,

You may want to check out Crown of Serpents set in the Finger Lakes Region of western NY. It is a present-day mystery thriller involving a military historian on a hunt for an ancient Iroquois Indian artifact. Sort of a cross between Tony Hillerman and Clive Cussler. Or as one critic put it, "Indiana Jones meets The Godfather."

Visit www.crownofserpents.com

29pmarshall
syyskuu 15, 2010, 9:28 am

Margaret Maron's Sigrid Harald series is set in New York City. I like it better than the Deborah Knott series - more depth to the characters. She is a policewoman.

Joyce Christmas has a series featuring Lady Margaret Priam. She is an antiques dealer in NYC.

30sandyg210
syyskuu 15, 2010, 2:04 pm

Cleo Coyle writes a series of myteries set in a coffee shop in NYC

31cosmicdolphin
syyskuu 18, 2010, 8:35 pm

William Marshalls:

New York Detective
Faces in the Crowd

Featuring City Detective Virgil Tillman -- New York City's "first thinking detective" -- and his partner, patrolman Ned Muldoon of the Strong Arm Squad.

:-)

32tiegster
syyskuu 30, 2010, 12:00 pm

For any 'Castle' fans...you can now buy books by Richard Castle. I bought Heat Wave as a novelty just because I love the show so much. Apparently, Nathan Fillion is doing book tours as Rick Castle. I died laughing when my friend told me. They are obviously set in NY.

33TheTwoDs
lokakuu 1, 2010, 8:36 pm

Sheridan Hay's The Secret of Lost Things is a mystery/coming-of-age story set in a fictionalized version of Strand Books in New York City.

34CD1am
lokakuu 2, 2010, 6:14 pm

A strong second on the recommendation for S.J. Rozan's Lydia Chin / Bill Smith series. It's an excellent hard-boiled series where New York is a definite presence.

An interesting historical series is the Tonneman family series by Mann Meyers. It follows descendants of some original settlers of New Amsterdam (what New York was called before the Brits came in and chased the Dutch out), with books that take place several decades or even 100 years after the previous book in the series. I've only read the first in the series so far, High Constable, and really enjoyed it. I have the others in my TBR list.

35laytonwoman3rd
lokakuu 3, 2010, 5:28 pm

#34 The first book in that series is actually The Dutchman, which I started and got sidetracked on by the need to read and review three consecutive ER acquisitions. I'm going to go back to it one of these days, because it was very good. High Constable is No. 4, I believe.

36magnumpigg
lokakuu 6, 2010, 10:12 am

Try Reed Farrel Coleman. His Moe Prager series (4 books). One of the best series out there. Very literate and emotionally gut-wrenching.

37CD1am
Muokkaaja: lokakuu 9, 2010, 6:26 pm

#35 You are right. When I got home I realized my memory was off and The Dutchman was actually the book I've read. I've finally ordered the 2nd book in the series, The Kingsbridge Plot, from interlibray loan, so I don't yet know when that one takes place, tho I suspect it's during the Revolutionary War. The only Tonneman series book I own is the Victorian era House on Mulberry Street which I haven't read yet because I prefer to read most series in order.

Oh, before I get corrected on series order, I'm talking publication order. The authors have written a 2nd Dutchman book plus a short story collection featuring the Dutchman.

38Bookmarque
Muokkaaja: lokakuu 9, 2010, 6:45 pm

Wow, this is an old thread. I'm surprised the Alexandra Cooper series isn't on here. It's a legal thriller series set in modern day NYC. They're cozies for me...like Nancy Drew all grown up, but they contain a lot of historical information and I enjoy that aspect a lot. I always learn something.

Edited to add the first book - Final Jeopardy.

39JohnBrinling
lokakuu 21, 2010, 1:33 pm

I hope it is not against the rules, but I would recommend my recently released novel titled "The Ghost Of A Flea" that takes place primarily in New York City, with incidents in Yonkers and New Jersey. It is a romantic mystery/thriller that has gotten some nice reviews.
I hope you find what you are looking for.

40andyg227
marraskuu 2, 2010, 6:31 am

I enjoy the crime novels by Gabriel Cohen, which are mostly set in Brooklyn. The series follows a NYC detective Jack Leightner.
http://www.gabrielcohenbooks.com/indexmedia.html

41Romonko
helmikuu 21, 2011, 10:39 am

Historical-19 Century-The Gaslight mysteries by Victoria Thompson. They're not too bad either.

42Bookmarque
helmikuu 21, 2011, 11:02 am

oh that reminds me of The Alienist another late 19th cty mystery. Very well done. Holmesque.

43timepiece
helmikuu 21, 2011, 11:52 am

You might find some more by paging through a copy of the Mystery Reader's Walking Guide: New York. It also breaks down which neighborhoods each book takes place in.

44mstrust
helmikuu 21, 2011, 12:42 pm

>43 timepiece: Wish I'd had that one before our trip to Manhattan. We did track down one of Poe's homes though. They've hung a large portrait of him in the front window so passers-by can see it.

45MikeDennis
Muokkaaja: helmikuu 28, 2011, 3:22 pm

I'm currently reading an advance review copy of KISS HER GOODBYE, a collaboration between Mickey Spillane (posthumously) and Max Allan Collins (not to be confused with an Allan Guthrie book with the same title). It's a Mike Hammer novel, but it takes place in the 1970s. Hammer is aging, ailing, and taking it easy in the Florida Keys, but he's called to New York for the funeral of his long-ago mentor, and it takes off from there. You know you're in New York when you're reading a Mike Hammer novel.

46laytonwoman3rd
helmikuu 28, 2011, 5:53 pm

I'm fascinated to know how Mickey Spillane collaborated from the grave...;>)

47Trinity7
joulukuu 22, 2012, 1:21 pm

The Michael Bennett series by James Patterson. He's a detective who is in the Bronx's 49th Precinct. He then transferred to the NYPD's Hostage Negotiation Team and remained there until he moved to the Manhattan North Homicide Squad.

48jldarden
joulukuu 22, 2012, 2:46 pm

Patterson. Bah! Humbug!

49mjenks6
elokuu 26, 2016, 8:45 pm

Hi Robert. It's been ages waiting to hear a reply, I'm sure, but I noticed your question while doing a Google search. I can give you my choice for best mystery set in New York, and it is historical as well, with just a touch of sci-fi (but not much). The book is Time and Again by Jack Finney, and it is amazing. Also, read anything by Lawrence Block, as well as the writer who wrote 'A is for Alibi' (can't remember her name at the moment). Cheers!

50laytonwoman3rd
elokuu 27, 2016, 3:06 pm

Sue Grafton wrote A is for Alibi, but none of her books are set in New York---she's a California girl all the way.

51ScoLgo
elokuu 28, 2016, 1:56 pm

I found the Simon Ziele Mysteries by Stefanie Pintoff to be reminiscent of Carr's The Alienist. The trilogy (which is really a set of three separate mysteries featuring the same main character), starts off with In the Shadow of Gotham, followed by A Curtain Falls, and Secret of the White Rose. Personally, I liked the 2nd book best while I found the 3rd book to be the weakest. All three were well-written. Word of warning, the first book does start off with a rather gruesome murder. On the plus side, as a period piece, Pintoff does a great job of bringing turn-of-19th-century New York City to life on the page. The mysteries aren't bad either.

52Storeetllr
Muokkaaja: elokuu 28, 2016, 7:47 pm

>51 ScoLgo: Thanks for the reccie, ScoLgo! I'll be checking Pintoff's trilogy out. Reminds me of another really good historical mystery trilogy set in NYC that I recently read and enjoyed - Gods of Gotham is the first in the series by Lindsey Faye.

ETA I'd already put the first in the Simon Ziele trilogy on my Wishlist. Seems another LT friend had recommended it awhile back and I'd forgotten about it, so thanks for putting it back on my radar!

53TempleCat
Muokkaaja: elokuu 28, 2016, 9:15 pm

A book that suits this topic to a 'T' is Manhattan Mayhem. It's a collection of all-new short stories, each set in a different neighborhood of Manhattan, written by such luminaries as Mary Higgins Clark and Lee Child. The book is produced by the Mystery Writers of America to commemorate their 70th anniversary and edited by Clark.

54ScoLgo
elokuu 28, 2016, 8:05 pm

>52 Storeetllr: My pleasure! Hope you enjoy it!

55patwo
helmikuu 12, 2017, 8:51 am

Amanda Cross - pen name of Carolyn Heilbrun. Murder in academia, lots of literary allusions eg The James Joyce murder

56BG_Gal
lokakuu 24, 2019, 7:00 pm

Any if these novels set in the 1950s era. Like to pick up some detective stories for a little research and enjoyment. :) thank you.

57laytonwoman3rd
lokakuu 24, 2019, 10:58 pm

>56 BG_Gal: Check out the Mr. and Mrs. North series, by Francis and Richard Lockridge, if you can get your hands on them. http://www.librarything.com/series/Mr.+and+Mrs.+North+mysteries Around about No. 15 or so, you'll find yourself in the 1950's. I know these so well, and for so long, that it's hard for me to judge how well you can drop into the middle of things that way, but I suspect it would work just fine. These are mysteries I call "sophies" (as opposed to "cozies") for the sophisticated metropolitan characters. Not gritty, noir or hard-boiled, though, if that's what you're looking for.

58rhinemaiden
lokakuu 30, 2019, 8:20 pm

New York City setting... Lady Margaret series by Joyce Christmas

59benjclark
marraskuu 18, 2019, 2:01 pm

Paddy Hirsch's two novels so far are set in early, post-Revolutionary New York.

60NennyMay
maaliskuu 24, 2021, 4:33 pm

>1 DoctorRobert: The Perfect Father by Nenny May is a new release I recently got my hands on and when I saw this thread I had to pop in and mention it. It's a legal mystery thriller kind of read and I enjoyed every bit of it!

61rgurskey
lokakuu 10, 2022, 4:04 pm

Many Ellery Queen novels are set in New York City.