Best police procedural books to add to your reading list
Do you love a police procedural? You know, the sort of story that revolves around a police department solving a cold case or hunting down a serial killer. These are some of the most immersive thrillers, pulling you into an investigation and putting your own crime-solving abilities to the test.
If you enjoyed shows like Shetland or Line of Duty, you’ll probably love books by Michael Connelly, Jo Nesbo and Ann Cleeves, to name a few. There are so many brilliant police procedurals – both classic titles and new releases. We’ve rounded up the best below.
Desert Star by Michael Connelly
Detective Renée Ballard has been tasked with reviving the LAPD’s cold case unit. Her first case is solving the murder of the city councilman’s sister, who died years earlier. She recruits legendary investigator Harry Bosch to help with the search, but he has his own agenda: he wants to use the LAPD’s resources to track down the man responsible for an entire family’s murder. As the investigators’ priorities clash, and they close in on the dangerous people at large, Desert Star ramps up the tension, reaching an unforgettable conclusion.
Dark Waters by G R Halliday
DI Monica Kennedy has been called to her first Serious Crimes case in six months; a dismembered body has been discovered, abandoned in a dam. Days later, when another victim surfaces, Monica knows she is on the hunt for a ruthless killer. But as she begins to close in on the murderer, her own dark past isn’t far behind…This dark, no holds barred police procedural is brilliantly written and gripping to the very end.
The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
Detective Matthew Venn has not been back to the small North Devon town where he grew up for years. But now he’s back and working a murder case: a man’s body has washed up on shore, with an albatross tattoo on his neck and stab wounds on his body. Venn must find the killer – which means reliving his own past and exposing the town’s dark secrets. This police procedural is now a major ITV series, and we’d expect no less from the author whose works inspired Shetland and Vera.