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Quick answer: If you like Robert Galbraith, read Case Histories, A Great Deliverance, Knots and Crosses and The Crow Trap. All are British detective novels with flawed investigators, long cases and a strong sense of place.
Robert Galbraith is J. K. Rowling's pen name for the Cormoran Strike novels, starting with The Cuckoo's Calling, about a war-veteran private detective in London and his assistant Robin Ellacott. The books are long, twisty and full of character. The books below offer similar British detective series and puzzles.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cuckoo's Calling | Robert Galbraith | Adult | the Strike start |
| Case Histories | Kate Atkinson | Adult | witty literary crime |
| A Great Deliverance | Elizabeth George | Adult | British procedural |
| Knots and Crosses | Ian Rankin | Adult | Scottish crime |
| The Crow Trap | Ann Cleeves | Adult | Vera Stanhope start |
| In the Woods | Tana French | Adult | psychological mystery |
| The Mermaids Singing | Val McDermid | Adult | gritty profiling |
| Gallows View | Peter Robinson | Adult | Yorkshire mystery |
| From Doon with Death | Ruth Rendell | Adult | Inspector Wexford |
| The Crossing Places | Elly Griffiths | Adult | Ruth Galloway |
| The Murder of Roger Ackroyd | Agatha Christie | Adult | daring twist |
| Last Bus to Woodstock | Colin Dexter | Adult | Inspector Morse |
| A Is for Alibi | Sue Grafton | Adult | Kinsey Millhone |
| The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman | Adult | cosy humour |
| The Black Echo | Michael Connelly | Adult | modern procedural |
1. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
Cormoran Strike investigates a model's death. Classic and clever.
Best for: the Strike start.
2. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Private detective Jackson Brodie links three cold cases. Wry and moving.
Best for: witty literary crime.
3. A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George
Inspector Lynley and Sergeant Havers investigate a murder in Yorkshire. Rich.
Best for: British procedural.
4. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin
The first Inspector Rebus novel, set in Edinburgh. Dark and moody.
Best for: Scottish crime.
5. The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves
The first Vera novel, set among scientists in Northumberland. Strong sense of place.
Best for: Vera Stanhope start.
6. In the Woods by Tana French
A detective investigates a child's murder near where he was once found. Haunting.
Best for: psychological mystery.
7. The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid
A psychologist and a detective hunt a killer in northern England. Dark and gripping.
Best for: gritty profiling.
8. Gallows View by Peter Robinson
The first Inspector Banks novel. Quiet, procedural and full of place.
Best for: Yorkshire mystery.
9. From Doon with Death by Ruth Rendell
The first Wexford novel, a quiet English village crime. Psychological.
Best for: Inspector Wexford.
10. The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths
A forensic archaeologist identifies bones on a Norfolk saltmarsh. Atmospheric.
Best for: Ruth Galloway.
11. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Poirot solves a murder in a quiet village. Famous for its surprise.
Best for: daring twist.
12. Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter
Morse investigates a murder in Oxford. A classic British procedural.
Best for: Inspector Morse.
13. A Is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
A California private eye takes on a case about a woman convicted of murder. Clear and wry.
Best for: Kinsey Millhone.
14. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirees solve cold cases and then a murder. Funny and warm.
Best for: cosy humour.
15. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Detective Harry Bosch investigates a body in a drain. A tight classic.
Best for: modern procedural.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Robert Galbraith: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
To continue read The Silkworm and the rest of the Strike series in order. For flawed detectives choose Case Histories, Knots and Crosses or In the Woods. For British procedurals pick Elizabeth George, Peter Robinson or Colin Dexter. For classic puzzles read Christie. Galbraith's novels are long, so these picks suit readers who like to follow a case over many pages. Rowling used the Galbraith name to publish The Cuckoo's Calling without her fame, and the secret was revealed after a few months. The BBC adapted the books as the TV series Strike, and many fans enjoy the novels' extra detail.
Related: Robert B Parker Printable Book List · Printable List of Robert Crais Books
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Robert Galbraith?
The pen name of J. K. Rowling for the Cormoran Strike series.
Where should I start?
With The Cuckoo's Calling.
How many Strike books are there?
Seven so far. Check current listings.
Do I need to read in order?
Yes, since the characters develop.
Is there a TV series?
Yes, Strike.
Are the books very long?
Many exceed 600 pages.
Are they violent?
They contain murders and some disturbing scenes.
What should I read next?
Try The Silkworm or Case Histories.
Which book here is best for Scottish crime?
Try Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin, which suits readers looking for Scottish crime.
Which book here is best for gritty profiling?
Try The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid, which suits readers looking for gritty profiling.
Which book here is best for Ruth Galloway?
Try The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths, which suits readers looking for Ruth Galloway.
Which book here is best for Kinsey Millhone?
Try A Is for Alibi by Sue Grafton, which suits readers looking for Kinsey Millhone.
Which book here is best for witty literary crime?
Try Case Histories by Kate Atkinson, which suits readers looking for witty literary crime.
Which book here is best for Vera Stanhope start?
Try The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves, which suits readers looking for Vera Stanhope start.