Denzil Meyrick is a Scottish author known for his engaging crime fiction. His popular series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Daley includes titles like Whisky from Small Glasses and The Last Witness, set in atmospheric coastal towns.
If you enjoy reading books by Denzil Meyrick then you might also like the following authors:
If you like atmospheric, gritty crime fiction set in Scotland, Ian Rankin is a great choice. His Inspector John Rebus series offers intelligent, thoughtful mysteries with dark themes and a keen sense of Edinburgh's streets and culture.
Try Knots and Crosses, the first book introducing the brooding and complex Detective Rebus.
Val McDermid writes tense, psychological crime novels often featuring complex characters and intriguing forensic details. Her stories highlight dark motivations, exploring the emotional side of crime and human nature.
You might enjoy The Mermaids Singing, the first in her Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, known for intense storytelling and strong character development.
Fans who appreciate Denzil Meyrick's combination of mystery, humor, and vivid Scottish settings should try Stuart MacBride. He creates gritty yet humorous police procedurals set in Aberdeen that balance serious crime narratives with darkly comic elements.
A good place to start is Cold Granite, the first installment of his Logan McRae series.
Christopher Brookmyre delivers fast-paced, satirical crime fiction with sharp wit and dark humor. His style blends suspenseful mysteries with social commentary and irreverent storytelling.
Quite Ugly One Morning is an excellent introduction to Brookmyre, featuring investigative journalist Jack Parlabane in a cleverly plotted and entertaining mystery.
Peter May is known for detailed, atmospheric crime fiction set in evocative locations, frequently the remote Scottish islands. His novels mix careful plotting with strong characters who must confront complex moral questions.
Readers might particularly enjoy The Blackhouse, the first book of the Lewis Trilogy, rich in atmosphere and suspense.
Ann Cleeves writes engaging detective novels set in vivid, atmospheric locations, featuring solid characterization and detailed investigative narratives.
Her Shetland series starts with Raven Black, which introduces detective Jimmy Perez as he unravels a tense murder mystery against the backdrop of remote Shetland islands.
Quintin Jardine offers fast-paced crime novels full of suspense and memorable characters. His stories mix detailed police work with personal dramas, making them relatable and exciting reads.
A good example is Skinner's Rules, the first book of his Detective Bob Skinner series, set in contemporary Edinburgh.
Craig Russell crafts atmospheric and often dark crime fiction with sharp plotting and vividly drawn settings. He explores psychological depth and historical elements, keeping readers invested in his stories.
Try his novel Lennox, set in post-war Glasgow, featuring a shady private investigator navigating the city's gritty underworld.
Lin Anderson writes gripping crime thrillers with a strong forensic angle, blending believable science with compelling storylines. Her novels capture the gritty realism of contemporary Glasgow.
Driftnet introduces forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod, whose professional skills lead her into tense and suspenseful investigations.
Alex Gray provides absorbing detective stories set in authentic, well-observed Glasgow settings. Her characters come alive through their personal struggles alongside intricate crime-solving plots.
Never Somewhere Else, the first of her DCI Lorimer series, is a great introduction to her storytelling, blending engaging mysteries with believable, human characters.
Tana French is known for atmospheric, psychological mysteries set in Ireland. Her novels draw heavily on character-driven storytelling, exploring how past events haunt her characters in their present lives.
In In the Woods, she introduces readers to detective Rob Ryan, who must revisit the unsolved mystery from his childhood while investigating a chilling murder.
Adrian McKinty writes gritty, fast-paced crime thrillers often set against Northern Ireland’s dark political backdrop. His stories are vivid and sharp, with strong characterization and intense plots.
In The Chain, he presents a gripping scenario where a mother must kidnap another child to save her own, raising suspenseful moral dilemmas and intense emotional impacts.
Steve Cavanagh writes energetic, cleverly-plotted legal thrillers, blending courtroom drama with suspenseful intrigues and engaging twists. His writing is punchy and easy to read, always with unexpected reveals.
One notable example is Thirteen, where attorney Eddie Flynn defends a client accused of murder, unaware that the actual killer is on the jury.
Mark Billingham creates suspenseful British crime fiction featuring detailed police investigations and strong, realistic characters. His novels often focus on complex moral decisions, exploring both criminal psychology and personal struggles.
Sleepyhead introduces readers to Detective Tom Thorne, who hunts for a killer who deliberately leaves his victims trapped in a terrifying state between life and death.
M.W. Craven’s crime fiction is dark and intense, set in atmospheric Northern England landscapes, and often with sharp-witted dialogue. He excels at crafting suspenseful plots with vivid characterization.
The Puppet Show follows detective Washington Poe as he investigates gruesome murders linked to a sinister conspiracy, combining macabre elements with tight plotting and sharp narrative rhythm.