Russian "detective queen" recommends: 6 books that impressed Alexandra Marinina

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Alexandra Marinina is rightfully called the queen of detectives. Her works are distinguished by psychologism, non-trivial plot, interesting characters and unexpected outcome. And also the fact that the foreground in them is not the personality of the criminal, but the relationship between the heroes. Alexandra Marinina's books have been translated into 28 languages and have become a kind of quality mark in the world of detective literature. That is why it is worth listening to the recommendations of detective stories from the master of the genre.

The writer herself respects those works in which several genres are intertwined at once, for example, a detective story and a historical novel or thriller. Books with a fascinating plot and a special atmosphere were able to win the favor of Alexandra Marinina. She singled out six works from five authors for readers, and each of them deserves attention.

"1793. The Story of a Murder, Niklas Nutt-o-Doug

According to the Swedish Writers Academy, this detective was the best literary debut of 2017. 1793. The Story of One Murder”for a whole forty weeks confidently kept in the first three world bestsellers. The gripping and witty story plunges the reader into the dark times of Stockholm life, captivates with an incredibly twisted criminal plot and evokes associations with the legendary “Perfume” by Patrick Süskind.

The action takes place at a time when Stockholm was drowned in mud and human sins. The detective story contains many detailed descriptions of the life of that time, which help to understand the possible causes and motives of the heroes' actions. Despite the fact that throughout the entire work an investigation of one brutal murder is underway, the more you immerse yourself in the book, the more you understand: the villain is not alone here. Each hero has his own mental trauma, and behind the facades of the houses of the Swedish elite are hidden very eerie details of their lives "respected citizens".

Shades of Death by Louise Penny

The author of the cycle of novels "Chief Inspector Gamache" is today one of the most famous and popular writers in Canada. In her works coziness and intrigue, many historical facts coexist. In Louise Penny's detectives, great attention is paid to detail, and the characters are endowed with incredible charm, so readers are imbued with sympathy for them literally from the first lines. For five years in a row, the author has won the Agatha Christie Prize, and the same amount won the Anthony Prize for Best Novel of the Year.

Each novel of the cycle, including “Different Shades of Death”, is a separate story. It seems that they are uncomplicated and quite commonplace, but the meaning of the works lies not even in finding the criminal. The essence lies in the feelings, experiences and actions of people.

The Ninth Grave by Stefan Anhem

At one time, the writer began his career as a screenwriter, in his asset - work on the series "Wallander" based on the novels of Henning Mankel. And today the writer is rightfully called the king of the Swedish detective. His debut novel "A Victim Without a Face" was highly appreciated not only by readers, but also by critics, and "The Ninth Wave" won the German Mimi Award as the best crime novel of the year. Currently, Stefan Anhem's books have been translated into 25 languages and the rights to film them have already been sold.

In the "Ninth Valley" in Stockholm, the Minister of Justice of Sweden disappears in an incredible way, and in Copenhagen a murder was committed, the victim of which was the wife of a celebrity. In two countries, the best detectives take on the case, and as a result, it turns out that these crimes are tightly linked, and at one point the threads of several atrocities will converge.

Girl in the Fog by Donato Carrisi

This writer is known all over the world as an Italian author of detective stories. But by training, he is a criminologist and specialist in the field of human behavior. He began his career as a lawyer and later became a screenwriter for film and television. Over time, he devoted himself entirely to literary activity, and his books became world bestsellers.

"Girl in the Fog" is one of the most famous works of the author, which has sold over a million copies and has become a bestseller in many countries of the world. The novel begins with the disappearance of young Anna Lu in a sleepy town in the Alps on the eve of Christmas. And the author invites readers to figure out what happened and understand what the stray cat has to do with it and where professional ambition can actually lead.

Evil Theory by Donato Carrisi

This novel is able to surprise the reader, however, like the entire cycle of Donato Carrisi about Mila Vasquez. The author can amaze the imagination of even the most sophisticated lover of detective stories and surprise him with a completely unpredictable outcome. And in this case, The Theory of Evil is no exception.

The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackburgh

Camille Lackberg has been called the leading author among the renowned masters of the Scandinavian detective story, and each of her works has consistently become a bestseller. The cycle about the writer Eric Falk is amazing not only for its detective plot, but also because it reads like the story of the heroes' lives. And the reader will certainly want to know what will happen next with each character.

One of the most popular literary genres in recent decades has been ironic detective. And it is worth reading only those works in which a famously twisted plot is adjacent to sparkling humor.