On the lookout for some of the best crime thriller book series? You’ve come to the right place!
So what makes a great crime thriller series?
Adrenaline-fueled action and page-turning suspense? Sounds good! But we also need to be truly invested in the character at the heart of the stories.
All great crime thriller main characters must possess fundamental qualities, such as intelligence, bravery and perseverance. Such characters are often detectives, police officers or vigilantes.
We like them to be flawed in some way, as this makes them more human! But regardless, if we don’t believe in and root for them.. we won’t stay the course!
So let’s take a look at some of the best crime thriller book series, and delve a little into the characters that make them so special…
Our list: Top crime thriller book series
Alex Cross series by James Patterson (1993 to-date)
“Alex Cross is one of the greatest creations of thriller fiction” – Dallas Morning News
In 1993, Along Came a Spider was published as the first book in what was to become the number one detective series of the last three-decades.
We were introduced to Alex Cross; a six foot three, 200 pound homicide detective from Washington D.C. Cross has a Ph. D. in Psychology and works for the Washington D.C. police department, where he counters threats – by criminals and serial killers – to his family and the city itself.
As well as being a detective, Cross is a father and widower. The unsolved murder of his first wife is a theme which earlier books in the series elaborate upon. His cases are highly stressful and difficult to solve. Alongside this, he must attempt to maintain a relationship with his family.
There have been 32 Alex Cross novels published so far and the series is still going strong.
Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell (1990 to-date)
Kay Scarpetta is the protagonist in a series of popular crime novels by Patricia Cornwell, that has now spanned into its fourth decade.
Her character is inspired by a former Chief Medical Examiner – a role that she holds, among others, at different times during the series.
Scarpetta is widely regarded as one of the top forensic pathologists in the United States. She is a a perfectionist and workaholic. Her investigations are known for their use of forensic technology, as she attempts to solve brutal crimes.
A sharp dressing blonde of Italian descent, with a wardrobe of designer suits; Scarpetta drives a Mercedes and lives in a beautiful home, built to her exacting specifications.
The first Scarpetta novel, Postmortem, is still regarded as one of the best.. so why not start where it all began! There are currently 28 books in the series.
Jack Reacher series by Lee Child (1990 to-date)
“A righteous avenger for our troubled times“
Having served as a major in the US Army’s military police, Jack Reacher left aged 36 and began roaming the United States. His wandering lifestyle sees him picking up odd jobs and investigating suspicious, dangerous situations.
A brute of a man at 250 pounds and 6ft 5in tall, Reacher has a huge presence. His ex-military police background gives him a well-rounded set of investigative, procedural and forensics experience. Added to this are his impressive fighting abilities and a penchant for violence.
Lee Child has authored 29 Jack Reacher novels to-date, in a series that is already well into its fourth decade!
Not sure where to start or which is the best? Check out our ultimate list of all Jack Reacher novels ranked (best to worst).
Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver (1997 to-date)
Lincoln Ryhme is a quadriplegic forensic criminologist, after an accident on the job left him able to move only one finger.
An ex-head of NYPD forensics, his brilliant mind now works as a consultant for the department, to solve homicides from his bed. Ryhme is assisted by partner Amelia Sachs, who acts as his eyes at crime scenes.
The first novel in the series – The Bone Collector – remains one of its most highly rated. There are 16 books in the series so far, and there’s no sign of things stopping there.
Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly (1992 to-date)
“Everybody counts or nobody counts” – Harry Bosch
Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch is an ex-army man who starts the series as a maverick LAPD detective. He subsequently retires to work as a private detective before returning to the department in various roles.
Although regular in terms of his height, Bosch is muscular and physically strong. He has a strong moral compass and sense of what is right and wrong, but on the flip-side has little regard for his career.
As a result, he is a character who often finds himself butting heads with authority; be it his lieutenant, a deputy chief of police or the FBI.
Harry Bosch debuted in Connelly’s 1992 novel The Black Echo, the first of 24 novels in this best-selling crime series.
Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs (1997 to-date)
“Each book in the Temperance Brennan series is better than the last, I just can’t get enough!” – Lisa Scottoline
Like her creator, Dr Temperance “Tempe” Brennan is a forensic anthropologist. She investigates victims of advanced decomposition, mutilation and arson; crime scenes where there is too much degradation for a coroner to obtain evidence.
All of the books in this series are written in the first person, from Tempe Brennan’s viewpoint. Correct crime scene process is of the utmost importance in her work.
The first novel in this 23 book series – Déjà Dead – is an international bestseller and won the 1998 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel.
Bill Hodges series by Stephen King (2014-16)
“The best thriller of the year“ – Sunday Express
When Stephen King crossed over from horror into crime, the master of suspense created one of the most wonderful characters this genre has ever seen – Bill Hodges.
Hodges is a divorced ex-cop, living a depressed and empty retirement. Haunted by a horrific massacre that he was unable to solve, he has contemplated suicide. But when he receives a letter claimed to be from the murderer, he is brought back into a chilling game with an obsessed, insane killer.
Although it has the fewest novels of any series on our list, this is as gripping a crime trilogy as you can get. The first book in the series is a classic, Mr Mercedes.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the best crime thriller book series. But it should certainly whet your appetite if you’re new to novels of this type or looking for your next collection to get stuck into.
Have you read any of the series on our list? If so, let us know what you think in the comments below.