If you enjoy travel to foreign lands and if you enjoy mystery suspense series with a strong, memorable protagonist, then we share the love of a special niche in escapist fiction.
I’m sure there are more such series, but there are four authors’ series that I know of.
James Church‘s novels, featuring an Inspector O of Pyongyang, North Korea. It’s hard to imagine a more unlikely, inhospitable setting for a story and likable protagonist, but Church makes it work, fabulously. I guarantee you’ll be hooked once you start reading these:
- A corpse in the Koryo (2006)
- Hidden moon : an Inspector O novel (2007)
- Bamboo and blood (2008)
Perhaps my favorite among the authors I know in this niche is John Burdett with his Bangkok series, featuring a continuing cast of quite varied characters, including the central one, Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep. What is so intriguing about this series is how completely the characters’ world view is Thai–not at all Western. I really do love this series.
- Bangkok 8: A Novel (2003)
- Bangkok Tattoo (2006)
- Bangkok Haunts (2007)
- The Godfather of Kathmandu (2010)
An earlier novel of his, not part of the series, is The Last Six Million Seconds (1997), that takes place during the handover of Hong Kong from the British to the People’s Republic of China. Good book!
Of course, the widely known Millennium Trilogy by the late Stieg Larsson, belongs in this niche as well. These may be the most famous novels of this type.
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005)
- The Girl Who Played with Fire (2006)
- The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest (2007)
To my knowledge, there’s no one who wrote mystery series set in foreign lands earlier, than the granddaddy of them all, Martin Cruz Smith and his Inspector Arkady Renko mysteries set in Russia:
- Gorky Park (1981)
- Polar Star (1989)
- Red Square (1992)
- Havana Bay (1999)
- Wolves Eat Dogs (2004)
- Stalin’s Ghost (2007)
- Three Stations (2010)
I would love to see Church and Burdett become as widely known as Larsson and Smith; they deserve to be.
I would also love to know of other mystery series set abroad so I can indulge myself in more hours of armchair travel and sleuthing.
There are, of course, many mystery series with European locales…England, France. And, I vaguely remember reading a series of mysteries set in Italy featuring a rather dour, Italian police detective, but I can’t recall the author’s name or any of the titles in the series. But, I was thinking, in this post, of more exotic locations.
If you know of any other (exotic locale) foreign mystery series, please comment, below. (No, Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau does not count!)
I’m surprised there’s not a series set in India…or China…or…
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A reader wrote me with a question about the Preston-Child series with Agent Pendergast. She’s definitely right, Agent Pendergast, who is a favorite protagonist of mine, does wind up in some far away places. But, her email prompted me to look closer at what I meant by this particular niche, so I thank her for her email! What I should have realized is that one of the identifying characteristics of this niche is that the protagonist is a native of the local culture and approaches the case with all the cultural biases and background of any native in that culture. This is especially noticeable in the Bangkok series, but all the others as well. For this niche, at least, it goes beyond just an exotic local. It’s how the culture is an intrinsic part of the protagonist’s personality that’s fun for me to watch. I should have realized this, earlier, but didn’t. Thanks for prompting me to think deeper about it.
Hi Hilton
Not series, and I suppose not true mysteries, but you will love Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini for their great depictions of life in Addis Ababa and Kabul, respectively, shown from the perspective of natives.
The NY Times was not as enthusiastic as I about Cutting for Stone – - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/books/review/Wagner-t.html — but the book was certainly enough to lead me to the wonderful Queen of Sheba Ethiopian restaurant in Tampa. The Times was kinder to Kite Runner. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/books/the-servant.html
Newt
Hi, Newt. Thanks for those titles. I’ll definitely check them out. That kind of thing really does grab me. Thanks for the review links, too.
Hilton
Hi Hilton!
I’ve been lurking and enjoying your blog for a few months, am now hooked and looking forward to reading of your future discoveries and adventures.
My addition to your exotoc mysteries list is maybe too obvious, and a much more ‘cozy’ series than your other books, but still a worthwhile contender based on your request for an exotic locale and a local, native protagonist steeped or biased in that culture.
This aptly describes the humorous and popular ‘No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ series by Alexander McCall Smith, which feature Mma (aka Precious) Ramotswe, Botswana’s only
female private detective.
According to an Amazon.com reviewer, “Author Alexander Mc Call Smith, a law professor, was born in Zimbabwe and educated in that country as well as in Scotland. He successfully captures the true essence, mannerisms, greetings and culture of Africa and its characters that are proud to come from that continent. In addition to Botswana and South Africa, other countries such as Ghana, Nigeria (countries in West Africa), Lesotho, Mozambique, and Malawi (countries in the southern part of Africa, not to be confused with South Africa) are mentioned as well. If you are unaware of these countries, it is a nice learning experience. ” http://www.amazon.com/No-1-Ladies-Detective-Agency-Movie/dp/0307456625/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284401393&sr=8-1
There is also an HBO series faithfully based on the books and filmed on location in Botswana and South Africa. The pilot was directed by Anthony Minghella and was produced and co-written by Richard Curtis. These are available through netflix.
You’re absolutely right, Sharon. I’ve heard of these but never read them. After your great description, I’m really motivated to read them–next stop is the search function on the St. Pete Library website! I get Netflix, too, so I”ll track down the HBO series there. Thanks for writing and mentioning these. Those are a perfect fit. You nailed, exactly, what I find intriguing about series of this sort. All the best, Hilton
Congratulations on making one of the top food blogs!
Rita
Gluten Free
Hey – Hilton
Get back to work! It’s October and you’ve been missing for 6 weeks.
Newt
Hey, Newt
Thanks! It’s nice to be missed. I got 3 in the hopper–pictures all taken. Just need to apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair and put them together. You’ve given me some motivation. Many thanks…!
If you’re interested in modern Japan, I’d recommend Sujata Massey’s mysteries featuring Rei Shimura, a young Japanese-American.
Just checked the library online. They have about 12 or 13 Sujata Massey novels. I put a request on the most recent, Shimura Trouble. Looking forward to reading a new author (new for me, that is)!
That does sound interesting. I’ll check to see if I can find them at the St. Pete library. Thanks for the tip.
If you’re interested in modern Japan, I’d recommend Sujata Massey’s mysteries featuring Rei Shimura, a young Japanese-American.
If you’re interested in modern Japan, I’d recommend Sujata Massey’s mysteries featuring Rei Shimura, a young Japanese-American.