Brilliant police procedurals

Cumbria-based investigator Washington Poe is blunt, stubborn and at his best when a case refuses to follow the obvious path. His partnership with brilliant but socially inexperienced analyst Tilly Bradshaw gives the series its heart as well as much of its humour. Each book delivers a substantial investigation, sharp plotting and a character dynamic that becomes more rewarding with every instalment.

Detective Logan McRae investigates Aberdeen’s grimmest crimes while dealing with difficult colleagues, competing cases and a career that rarely goes smoothly. The investigations can be extremely dark, but the bleakness is cut through with biting dialogue and a wonderfully dry Scottish sense of humour. It is a gritty, character-rich series for readers who like their procedurals messy, sardonic and firmly rooted in place.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Will Trent has an exceptional eye for a crime scene and a painful past that affects how he moves through the world. Alongside medical examiner Sara Linton and a strong recurring cast, he takes on complex cases that are as interested in their human consequences as their solutions. These are compulsive, emotionally intense procedurals that never soften the realities of violence.

Former NYPD forensic expert Lincoln Rhyme works from his home laboratory, analysing the evidence gathered at crime scenes by detective Amelia Sachs. Together they pursue offenders who construct elaborate patterns, traps and puzzles around their crimes. The forensic detail is fascinating, but the real pleasure lies in the intellectual contest: every apparent solution may conceal another layer of misdirection.