The Best Crime Authors of All Time

The Best Crime Authors of All Time as Voted by You

WH Smith Blog -  WHSbookmarks | February 19, 2015 | 

After reading your recommendations for some fantastic detectives, underrated crime books and books that would work well on the big screen, we had an inkling that there were a few fans of certain authors in our midst. As the crime period of #WHSBookmarks started to draw to an end, we decided to take it to the vote and cruelly ask you to narrow down all your favourite crime authors to choose just one to be the best crime author of all time. The nominations came pouring in, including a huge mix of authors, from the classics who are considered the godfathers/mothers of their sub-genre to modern bestsellers to little-heard-of names that have made a big impact on you. In the end though, our winner won the crown by a landslide, leaving us in no doubt as to who you think is worthy of the title of The Best Crime Author of all Time.

Scroll down to find out if your vote made the top 20.

#20 Stuart MacBride

Scottish crime writer Stuart MacBride claims the #20 spot with his intricate police procedurals and his authentic detective Logan McRae. Infusing the tension and suspense of crime fiction with a dark humour, MacBride’s novels create an intriguing contrast of emotions throughout, all set against the grimly painted backdrop of Aberdeen. His debut novel ‘Cold Granite’ won the Barry Award for best first novel and he was awarded the dagger in the library in 2007 by the Crime Writers’ Association.
Click here for more from Stuart MacBride.

#19 Thomas Harris

Thomas Harris is perhaps best known for his charming, cannibalistic villain Hannibal Lecter. Toying with FBI agent Clarice Starling with intelligence and sociopathic cruelty, Harris’s character is unique in that his notoriety is greater than the detective hunting him. The award-winning Hannibal Lecter books have since been adapted for film and TV with great success, most famously brought to life by Anthony Hopkins. Thomas Harris is known for being particularly private and protective of his personal life and has in fact not been interviewed since 1976.
Click here for more from Thomas Harris.

#18 P. D. James

P. D. James, Baroness James of Holland Park, OBE, FRSA, FRSL established herself as a leading voice in crime detective fiction during an outstanding career that saw her awarded an OBE and win the Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Award in 1999. James’s most famous creation – Adam Dalgliesh – is a tall, dark and handsome example of a gentleman detective, and featured in 14 of her novels. At the start of her career Phyllis worked for both the NHS and the police, and used her experiences alongside extensive research to include authentic details in her work. Her characters have captivated many crime fans over the years and a huge hole has been left in the literary world since she sadly passed away in November 2014.
Click here for more from P. D. James.

The full list