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Quick answer: If you like Sue Grafton, read Sara Paretsky, Marcia Muller, Janet Evanovich and Robert B. Parker. All feature a sharp private investigator, a gripping case and a strong sense of place.
Sue Grafton's alphabet series, beginning with A Is for Alibi, follows Kinsey Millhone, a private investigator in 1980s California. Her stories are clear, wry and carefully plotted. The books below offer similar detectives, from female private eyes to classic hard-boiled heroes and cozy village mysteries.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Is for Alibi | Sue Grafton | Adult | the series start |
| Indemnity Only | Sara Paretsky | Adult | tough Chicago detective |
| Edwin of the Iron Shoes | Marcia Muller | Adult | first female PI |
| One for the Money | Janet Evanovich | Adult | comic mystery |
| The Sins of the Fathers | Lawrence Block | Adult | gritty New York |
| The Godwulf Manuscript | Robert B. Parker | Adult | wise-cracking detective |
| The Maltese Falcon | Dashiell Hammett | Adult | hard-boiled classic |
| The Big Sleep | Raymond Chandler | Adult | noir classic |
| A Great Deliverance | Elizabeth George | Adult | British procedural |
| The Beekeeper's Apprentice | Laurie R. King | Adult | Sherlock Holmes twist |
| The Man with a Load of Mischief | Martha Grimes | Adult | village mystery |
| A Trouble of Fools | Linda Barnes | Adult | Boston private eye |
| Track of the Cat | Nevada Barr | Adult | national park mystery |
| Case Histories | Kate Atkinson | Adult | literary mystery |
| Still Life | Louise Penny | Adult | cozy Canadian crime |
1. A Is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
Kinsey takes on a case about a woman convicted of murder. If you have not begun the alphabet series, begin here.
Best for: the series start.
2. Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky
V.I. Warshawski investigates a case that touches powerful people. A founding novel of modern female detective fiction.
Best for: tough Chicago detective.
3. Edwin of the Iron Shoes by Marcia Muller
Sharon McCone investigates a murder in an antique shop. Often credited as one of the first modern female private eye novels.
Best for: first female PI.
4. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum becomes a bounty hunter. Fast, funny and light.
Best for: comic mystery.
5. The Sins of the Fathers by Lawrence Block
Matthew Scudder, an unlicensed private investigator, looks into a murder. Moody and literary.
Best for: gritty New York.
6. The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
Spenser investigates a stolen manuscript and a murder. Quick, witty and a start to a long series.
Best for: wise-cracking detective.
7. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Sam Spade pursues a priceless statue. The model for the modern private eye.
Best for: hard-boiled classic.
8. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Philip Marlowe is hired by a wealthy family in Los Angeles. Stylish, cynical and unforgettable.
Best for: noir classic.
9. A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George
Inspector Lynley and Sergeant Havers investigate a murder in Yorkshire. Rich character work.
Best for: British procedural.
10. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
A teenage girl meets a retired Sherlock Holmes. Charming and clever.
Best for: Sherlock Holmes twist.
11. The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes
Inspector Richard Jury investigates two murders in a quiet English village. Classic and cozy.
Best for: village mystery.
12. A Trouble of Fools by Linda Barnes
Carlotta Carlyle, a former police officer turned PI, takes on a case. Funny and tough.
Best for: Boston private eye.
13. Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr
Park ranger Anna Pigeon investigates a death in Guadalupe Mountains. Sharp and atmospheric.
Best for: national park mystery.
14. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Private detective Jackson Brodie links three cold cases. Wry and moving.
Best for: literary mystery.
15. Still Life by Louise Penny
Inspector Gamache looks into a death in a Quebec village. Warm and thoughtful.
Best for: cozy Canadian crime.
How to Choose
For tough female detectives choose Sara Paretsky, Marcia Muller or Linda Barnes. For humour pick Janet Evanovich. For hard-boiled classics try Hammett and Chandler. For British procedurals read Elizabeth George or Martha Grimes. For cozy village crime pick Louise Penny. If you want more Grafton, continue through the alphabet series in order, since Kinsey's life develops across the books. If you like the 1980s setting, try Sara Paretsky and Marcia Muller, who were writing in the same period. If you want more recent crime, pick Kate Atkinson or Louise Penny. If you love the brisk, single-case structure of a Kinsey novel, then Robert B. Parker and Lawrence Block are the closest. The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep are worth reading once to see where it all started.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kinsey Millhone?
The private investigator in Sue Grafton's alphabet series.
What is the first book?
A Is for Alibi.
How many books are there?
Twenty-five, ending with Y Is for Yesterday.
Did Grafton finish the alphabet?
No, she died in 2017 before writing Z.
Do I have to read in order?
Not strictly, but it is more satisfying.
When are the books set?
In the 1980s, and the series stays in that time.
Are they violent?
They have crime and some violence, but are not graphic.
Are there audiobooks?
Yes. Check current listings.
Is Kinsey Millhone based on a real person?
Grafton has said the character reflects aspects of herself, though Kinsey is fictional.
What is the best Grafton book?
Fans often name G Is for Gumshoe, O Is for Outlaw or A Is for Alibi, but opinions vary.