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From The Times
April 17, 2008

More trouble with lists

Christopher MacLehose

Of these five writers I have read either all or at least ten of their books, and they choose themselves: Raymond Chandler, nonpareil, for his language, his wit, his Los Angeles; John D. MacDonald, for his “coloured” novels, for Travis McGhee and Meyer, for the Busted Flush and all who shipped out in her from the waterfront in Fort Lauderdale; Elmore Leonard for his unmatched genius for telling stories and people in dialogue; Henning Mankell for Inspector Kurt Wallander and for opening our eyes to the sorrowful realities of post-Palme Sweden; Stieg Larsson, maybe the best of them all, who died at 50 leaving three huge novels about a female investigator called Lisbeth Salander whose exploits will be being devoured long after the remorseless deep closes over the head of James Bond. Sébastien Japrisot was a narrative genius, and Arnaldur Indridason is one. Karin Fossum is a poet of atmosphere. And if there are no British crime writers here, it's enough that everyone else loves them, and I haven't read ten of any of them.

As chairman of Harvill Press, Christopher MacLehose published many crime writers in translation

How about Elizabeth George? The first time I read her, I was half way through the book before I realised I knew the characters she was writing about - Lynley and Havers - from the TV series. The books have far more depth, of course. Lizzy George would definitely be towards the top of my top 50.

Malcolm Watson, Chelmsford,

My current favourite crime writers are Sue Grafton (waiting impatiently for T in paperback) and Kathy Reichs - equally as good as P Cornwell to me.

Monica Sanders, Leeds,

Where is Gillian Linscott with her Nell Bray books? Superb writing and sharp historical insight.

Richard Phillips, Evesham, UK

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