I’m a true crime author – these are my top 5 murder mysteries that aren’t Agatha Christie | Books | Entertainment

There’s nothing like a gritty, strange, and thought-provoking murder mystery that really challenges and tricks the reader, but what makes a great crime novel truly unforgettable? With years of studying real-life cases, true crime author Paul Donnelley has a unique eye for fiction that feels authentic and impossible to put down.

Paul began forming an interest in murder mysteries when he was in junior school in 1975, when he became interested in the Black Panther murders. This early fascination eventually led to the publication of his first true crime book, The Essex Murders, in 2007.

The author then began writing a monthly murder column for Master Detective magazine in 2008, and completed 990 stories before it closed down in January 2024. From classic ‘whodunits’ to dark psychological thrillers, Paul has shared the mystery series that stand above the rest.

Paul’s top five murder mystery series

1. Billy Rucker series

Paul begins his list by spotlighting Adam Baron’s Billy Rucker series. The series follows a former police officer turned private investigator who navigates the gritty streets of London. It is known for its noir tone, sharp dialogue, and complex protagonist.

Paul explained: “Billy Rucker appears in four books: Shut Eye, Hold Back The Night, Superjack, and It Was You. The books are gritty and believable until the last one, which was so terrible it killed off the series and Adam Baron’s career as a crime novelist.”

However, a book reviewer at the Thrilling Detective described this series as having a “nice bittersweetness to them; a world-weary tone and an original voice at work here, tempered with a yearning compassion.”

2. Ellery Queen

The next series is a part of the “fair play” golden age detective fiction. Paul shared: “The series began when the authors entered a mystery writer competition and wrote The Roman Hat Mystery.

“They went on to produce a couple of dozen or so novels featuring crime writer Ellery Queen (the author and the subject share the same name) and his father, Inspector Richard Queen of the NYPD.”

He continued: “Written between 1929 and the 1960s, modern readers might be partly hampered because the books are written in American slang. Do you know what a gat is? However, they are intelligently and carefully composed and very enjoyable.”

Check out Ellery Queen books here.

3. Sherlock Holmes

“No list of crime fiction would be complete without the inclusion of Holmes and Watson,” said Paul. Sherlock Holmes books were written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

In the series, readers will follow a brilliant detective known for his sharp intellect and deductive reasoning, and his trusty sidekick, Dr. Watson. He continued: “The books are as fresh today as when Conan Doyle began writing them in the 1880s. This is odd because of course they should be out of date but they’re not.”

4. Max Chard series

Coming a respectable fourth on the list is the Max Chard series. Paul shared: “I like these because they cover two of my great interests – crime fiction and journalism.

“John Burns is a former Fleet Street journalist who created a Fleet Street journalist who solves crimes. There are four books in the series and you will enjoy each one and you don’t have to know anything about journalism to do so.”

5. Kenzie and Gennaro series

Dennis Lehane’s Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro series follows a couple of private investigators in Boston. The pair are former lovers who now work together to solve crimes.

Paul beamed: “The books are terrific, and there are five in the series. Lehane writes with passion and doesn’t pull his punches. After a gap of a few years, Lehane wrote a sixth Kenzie and Gennaro novel. Don’t waste your time on it. Stick to the first five.”

The author then went on to say that despite all these incredible fictional series, his favourite mystery book of all time is The Roman Hat Mystery, “A new genre of crime fiction, calls for readers to think. And you can’t guess whodunnit.” 

Paul Donnelley is a multifaceted and extremely talented author and journalist. He has written more than just true crime books — he has also worked on celebrity and sports series. His knowledge and talent are evident on every page he writes. Keep an eye out for his upcoming series Firsts, Lasts & Onlys, which focuses on Boxing, Darts, and F1.

Find out more about Paul Donnelley’s books by clicking here.