Mystery Fiction

Police Procedurals
These novels feature protagonists who belong to a police force and a crime with is solved using the rules of the police department and forensic rules of evidence.  Filled with details of police work and investigative procedure.

P.D James
Ed McBain
Tony Hillerman
Ruth Rendell
Martha Grimes
James Lee Burke
M.C. Beaton
Patricia Cornwell
Michael Connolly
J.A Jance
Laurie King
Ian Rankin

Private Detective
The hero in these stories is either employed by a large agency or a loner striking out on his or her own.  These detectives are usually licensed P.I.s or ex-cops.

Lawrence Block
James Lee Burke
Robert Crais
Sue Grafton
P.D. James
Laura Lippman
Walter Mosley
Sara Paretsky
Robert B. Parker
Stuart Woods
Rex Stout

Amateur
Detectives in these stories are nosy and inquisitive civilians with private occupations not associated with law enforcement that get caught up in mysteries.  They usually cooperate with authorities, but are viewed as meddling annoyances by the police.

Diane Mott Davidson
Agatha Christie
Lawrence Block
Janet Evanovich
Dick Francis
Sue Grafton
Joan Hess
Anne Perry
Elizabeth Peters
Carol Higgins Clark
Faye Kellerman

Cozies
These are lighter mysteries, ones without blood or gore, simply a nice “civilized” murder.  The sleuth is nearly always a “reluctant”.  Murders usually take place close to home.  There is little violence (apart from the murder), no gory details and everything is wrapped up in a satisfactory conclusion.  English villages or country houses, with peaceful and gentle exteriors are usually the setting for these mysteries.

Agatha Christie
M.C. Beaton
Charlaine Harris
Rita Mae Brown
Lillian Jackson Braun
Diane Mott Davidson
Elizabeth Peters

Historical Mystery
Anne Perry: Victorian England
Elizabeth Peters: Ancient Egypt
Phillip Kerr: Nazi Germany

Hard Boiled
These are gritty “noir” novels involving grim details and tough, hard-bitten detectives.

Patricia Cornwell
Jeffrey Deaver
Elmore Leonard

Legal Mysteries

Lawrence Block
John Grisham
Scott Turow
Richard North Patterson
Lisa Scottoline
William Bernardt
James Grippando
John T. Lescroart
Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
Robert K Tanebaum
Linda Fairstein
Brad Meltzer

Medical Thrillers
Patricia Cornwell
Jeffery Deaver
Tess Gerristsen
Jonathan Kellerman
Michael Palmer
Ridley Pearson
Anne Perry
Kathy Reichs
Robin Cook

Romantic Suspense
Sandra Brown
Kay Hooper
Linda Howard
Elizabeth Lowell
Mary Higgins Clark
Tami Hoag
J.D. Robb

Psychological Suspense
Lee Child
Harlan Coben
P.D. James
Jonathan Kellerman
Ruth Rendell
Joyce Carol Oates

Political Suspense
David Baldacci
James Grippando
Michael Connelly
John Grisham
W.E.B. Griffin
Jeffrey Archer
Brad Meltzer
Dale Brown
Vince Flynn
Nelson Demille

Psychochillers
John Connolly
Thomas Harris
Dennis Lehane
James Patterson
John Sandford