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FICTION BY TOPIC
To help you pick your next good book to read!
Go to Fiction Topics
Notes: - work in progress! More fiction suggestions added daily with all links to be connected soon.
- Title links go to Amazon or to a Mystery Series list on this website.
- Books by setting: I don't classify books by setting unless the setting is very vivid.
- For books set in specific states, check under U for "United States"
- See also the categories of Africa, Asia, Australia/Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, Middle East, and Russia.
How to Use This Page: Think of a topic in fiction in the most obvious terms possible like Australia or Social Workers. Whichever letter with which the topic begins, click the corresponding letter of the alphabet below. The link will take you to the alphabetically ordered topic-list where you can find that topic.
A Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Africa & Africans
Abani, Chris GraceLand: A Novel Nigeria
Achebe, Chinua Things Fall Apart Nigeria
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Half of a Yellow Sun Nigeria
Dangarembga, Tsitsi Nervous Conditions Zimbabwe
Farah, Nuruddin Links Somalia
Isegawa, Moses Abyssinian Chronicles: A Novel Uganda
Smith, Alexander McCall. No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mystery series Botswana
African Americans - see also Black Characters (non Americans) and Africa
DeLoach, Nora. Candi "Mama" Covington mystery series
Greer, Robert O. C.J. Floyd mystery series
Hurston, Zora Neale Their Eyes Were Watching God Black women in rural historic Florida.
Morrison, Toni Song of Solomon
Morrison, Toni Sula
Mosley, Walter. Easy Rawlins mystery series
Neely, Barbara. Blanche White mystery series. Start with Blanche on the Lam . Blanche is a plus-size housecleaner who puts up with no crap, especially about her name.
Smith, Zadie. On Beauty
Walker, Alice The Color Purple
Alcoholics
Black, Benjamin. Quirke mystery series
Bruen, Ken. Jack Taylor mystery series
Burke, James Lee. Dave Robicheaux mystery series
Rankin, Ian. John Rebus mystery series
American Civil War / Slavery
Brooks, Geraldine March Civil War, slavery
Frazier, Charles Cold Mountain Civil War
Johnson, Charles Middle Passage Slavery with supernatural overtones
Jones, Edward P The Known World Slavery. Black plantation owner owns slaves.
Martin, Valerie Property Slavery - see my review of Property
Morrison, Toni Beloved Civil War, slavery
Shaara, Michael The Killer Angels Civil War
Asia & Asians
Cotterill, Colin. Siri Paiboun mystery series Laos
Divakaruni, Chitra Sister of My Heart India
Eisler, Barry. John Rain mystery series Japan
Kawabata, Yasunari Snow Country Japan
Oe, Kenzaburo A Personal Matter Japan
Pattison, Elliot. Shan Tao Yun mystery series. China and Tibet
Salzman, Mark Iron and Silk Memoir - American in China in 1982 - excellent!
See, Lisa. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan 19th century China
Shen, Fan Gang of One China, Cultural Revolution memoir
Soseki, Natsume Kokoro Japan
Asian Americans
Hagedorn, Jessica Dream Jungle Filipino
Jen, Gish. The Love Wife Chinese
Lahiri, Jhumpa Interpreter of Maladies Bengali - Pulitzer Prize winning short stories
Lahiri, Jhumpa Unaccustomed Earth Bengali - short stories
Lee, Chang-Rae Native Speaker Korean
Lee, Gus. China Boy Chinese
Okada, John No-No Boy Japanese
Ozeki, Ruth My Year of Meats Japanese
Tan, Amy The Joy Luck Club Chinese
Assassins
Block, Lawrence. John Keller mystery series Protagonist is a freelance hit man.
Eisler, Barry. John Rain mystery series Protagonist is a freelance assassin.
Australia / Pacific
Hulme, Keri. The Bone People Maori people in New Zealand
B Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Black Characters - see also African Americans or Africa
Book Collectors / Dealers / Publishers
Dunning, John. Cliff Janeway mystery series
Bounty Hunters / Bail Bonds
Evanovich, Janet. Stephanie Plum mystery series Comical, not very detailed
Greer, Robert O. C.J. Floyd mystery series
Brain Conditions
Parker, T. Jefferson The Fallen Mystery - Cop develops synesthesia after a fall.
Powers, Richard The Echo Maker
Car accident victim develops Capgras Syndrome and believes his loved ones are impostors - see my review of The Echo Maker
Britain – see Europe
Buddhism
Chadwick, David Thank You and Ok!: An American Zen Failure in Japan (memoir)
Downing, Michael Shoes Outside the Door: Desire, Devotion, and Excess at San Francisco Zen Center (nonfiction)
Pattison, Eliot The Skull Mantra (first in Shan mystery series - Tibetan Buddhism)
C Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Canada and Canadians
Blunt, Giles. John Cardinal mystery series (Ontario)
Penny, Louise. Three Pines mystery series (Quebec)
Child Abuse
Lehane, Dennis. Patrick Kenzie /Angie Gennaro mystery series
Robb, J. D. In Death / Eve Dallas futuristic mystery series
Webb, Betty. Lena Jones mystery series
Vachss, Andrew. Burke mystery series
Walker, Alice The Color Purple
Christian Themes & Christian Metaphysical
Howatch, Susan The Wonder Worker (Starbridge series - Anglican clergymen and psychics)
Wells, Melanie. Dylan Thomas mystery series
Civil War – see American Civil War
Clergy – Main Character
Akunin, Boris. Sister Pelagia historical mystery series (late 19th century Russian nun)
Howatch, Susan The Wonder Worker (Starbridge series - Anglican clergymen and psychics)
Peters, Ellis. Brother Cadfael historical mystery series (he's a Benedictine monk)
Spencer-Fleming, Julia. Clare Fergusson mystery series (she's an Episcopalian priest)
Communism
Bulgakov, Mikhail. The Master and Margarita (Stalinist Russia with supernatural overtones)
Cotterill, Colin. Siri Paiboun mystery series (Laos, comic mystery)
Jin, Ha Waiting (China)
Lessing, Doris. The Golden Notebook (disillusionment with the British Communist Party)
Shen, Fan Gang of One (China, Cultural Revolution memoir)
Cults
Sherill, Martha The Buddha from Brooklyn (excellent nonfiction - woman con artist poses as Tibetan lama)
Webb, Betty Desert Wives (part of Lena Jones mystery series - polygamous cult)
D Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Deserts, Desert Life
Webb, Betty. Lena Jones mystery series (Arizona, USA)
Disappearing from View - see also False Identities
Perry, Thomas. Jane Whitefield mystery series
Viets, Elaine. Dead-End Jobs mystery series
Dogs
Drugs, Illegal
Benedict, Pinckney Dogs of God (drug farmers in rural West Virginia)
Stone, Robert Dog Soldiers (heroin smuggling during Vietnam War)
E Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Employment
Levison, Iain A Working Stiff's Manifesto: A Memoir of Thirty Jobs I Quit, Nine That Fired Me, and Three I Can't Remember
Viets, Elaine. Dead-End Jobs mystery series
England – see Europe
Europe – Western Europe and Britain
Alvtegen, Karin. Missing a stand-alone mystery (Sweden)
Black, Benjamin. Quirke mystery series (Ireland)
Bruen, Ken. Jack Taylor mystery series (Galway, Ireland)
Gabaldon, Diana. Lord John historical mystery series (18th century Britain)
George, Elizabeth. Inspector Lynley mystery series (Britain)
Indridason, Arnaldur. Erlendur/Reykjavik mystery series (Iceland)
Peters, Ellis. Brother Cadfael historical mystery series (12th century Britain)
Rankin, Ian. John Rebus mystery series (Scotland)
Thomas, Will. Barker and Llewelyn historical mystery series (19th century Britain)
Winspear, Jacqueline. Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series
F Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
False Identities
Perry, Thomas. Jane Whitefield mystery series
Viets, Elaine. Dead-End Jobs mystery series
Film Industry - Actors, Movies
Sloane, Kit Margot O'Banion and Max Skull mystery series
First World War - see World War I
Forensics
Patricia Cornwell. Kay Scarpetta mystery series (much forensic detail)
Black, Benjamin. Quirke mystery series (less forensic detail)
Cotterill, Colin. Siri Paiboun mystery series (less forensic detail)
G Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Gardening & Herbs
Albert, Susan Wittig. China Bayles mystery series (herbalist)
Peters, Ellis. Brother Cadfael historical mystery series (herbalist)
Gay / Lesbian / Bisexual / Transgendered Characters
Eugenides, Jeffrey. Middlesex (intersex) See my short summary.
Gabaldon, Diana. Lord John historical mystery series (gay)
Kellerman, Jonathan. Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis mystery series (gay)
H Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Herbs - see Gardening & Herbs
Hispanics
Alvarez, Julia How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (Dominican-American)
Anaya, Rudolfo Bless Me, Ultima (1940s New Mexico)
Castillo, Ana So Far from God
Cisneros, Sandra The House on Mango Street
Garcia, Cristina Dreaming in Cuban
Hijuelos, Oscar. Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (Cuban)
Perez, Richard The Losers Club: Complete Restored Edition!
Quinonez, Ernesto Bodega Dreams
Rodriguez, Luis J. Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. (memoir)
Santiago, Esmeralda When I Was Puerto Rican (memoir)
Thomas, Piri Down These Mean Streets (memoir)
Historical Fiction
Akunin, Boris. Erast Fandorin historical mystery series (late 19th century Czarist Russia)
Akunin, Boris. Sister Pelagia historical mystery series (late 19th century Czarist Russia)
Gabaldon, Diana. Lord John historical mystery series (Britain, 18th century)
Lessing, Doris. The Golden Notebook (Britain, 1950s)
McEwan, Ian. Atonement (Britain, 1930s-1940s)
Mosley, Walter. Easy Rawlins mystery series – Post WWII Los Angeles
Peters, Ellis. Brother Cadfael historical mystery series
Reed Mary and Eric Mayer. John the Eunuch mysteries.(6th century Constantinople)
Thomas, Will. Barker and Llewelyn historical mystery series (Britain, 19th century)
Winspear, Jacqueline. Maisie Dobbs mystery series (Britain, 1930s)
Hit Man - see Assassin
Homeless People
Alvtegen, Karin. Missing a stand-alone mystery set in Stockholm, Sweden
Hostage Situations
Patchett, Ann Bel Canto
Humorous Fiction
Evanovich, Janet. Stephanie Plum mystery series
Levine, Paul. Solomon vs. Lord mystery series
Lindsay, Jeff. Dexter mystery series
Viets, Elaine. Dead-End Jobs mystery series
I Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Insanity - see Psychological Problems
Ireland and Irish – see Europe
Israel and Palestine - see Middle East
J Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Jews - see also Middle East
Abraham, Pearl. The Romance Reader
Chabon, Michael. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Chabon, Michael. The Yiddish Policemen's Union
Coleman, Reed Farrel. Moe Prager mystery series
Diamant, Anita. The Red Tent (Biblical Abraham's wives and daughters - a great book)
Goodman, Allegra. Kaaterskill Falls
Grant, Linda When I Lived in Modern Times
Levine, Paul. Solomon vs. Lord mystery series
Jobs, Bad Jobs - see Employment
K Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
L Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Latin America/Caribbean
Alvarez, Julia How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents(Dominican Republic)
Brand, Dionne At the Full and Change of the Moon (Trinidad)
Diaz, Junot. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Dominican Republic)
Garcia, Cristina Dreaming in Cuban
Hijuelos, Oscar. Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (Cuba)
Kincaid, Jamaica At the Bottom of the River (Antigua)
Santiago, Esmeralda When I Was Puerto Rican (memoir)
Lawyers
Fairstein, Linda. Alexandra Cooper mystery series
Levine, Paul. Solomon vs. Lord mystery series
Maron, Margaret. Judge Deborah Knott mystery series
M Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Martial Arts
Salzman, Mark Iron and Silk (Memoir - American in China in 1982 - excellent!)
Middle East
Grant, Linda When I Lived in Modern Times (Israel/Palestine)
Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner (Afghanistan)
Hosseini, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns (Afghanistan)
Reed Mary and Eric Mayer. John the Eunuch mysteries. (6th century Constantinople)
Rees, Matt Beynon. Omar Yussef mystery series (Israel/Palestine)
Mines, Mining, Miners
O'Dell, Tawni. Back Roads (coal mining town)
O'Dell, Tawni. Coal Run (coal mining town)
O'Dell, Tawni. Sister Mine (coal mining town)
Models, Fashion Models, Supermodels
Jade, Isobella Almost 5' 4": Confessions of an Unconventional Model (nonfiction)
Porizkova, Paulina A Model Summer (fiction - see my review of A Model Summer.)
Music
Patchett, Ann Bel Canto
Mysteries – African American. See African Americans
Mysteries – Asian American. See Asian Americans
Mysteries – British & European. See Europe
Mysteries – Cozy (amateur sleuth, minimal sex & violence)
Albert, Susan Wittig. China Bayles mystery series
Barr, Nevada. Anna Pigeon mystery series
Cotterill, Colin. Siri Paiboun mystery series
Evanovich, Janet. Stephanie Plum mystery series
Grafton, Sue. Alphabet / Kinsey Millhone series
Laurie, Victoria. Psychic Eye/Abby Cooper mystery series
Maron, Margaret. Judge Deborah Knott mystery series
Neely, Barbara. Blanche White mystery series
Penny, Louise. Three Pines mystery series
Peters, Ellis. Brother Cadfael historical mystery series
Reed Mary and Eric Mayer. John the Eunuch historical mystery series
Sloane, Kit Margot O'Banion and Max Skull mystery series
Viets, Elaine. Dead End Job mystery series
Winspear, Jacqueline. Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series
Mysteries – Historical. See Historical Fiction
Mysteries – Humorous. See Humorous Fiction
Mysteries – Legal Thrillers. See Lawyers
Mysteries – Native Americans. See Native Americans
Mysteries – Police Procedurals. See Police
Mysteries - Private Investigator
Bruen, Ken Jack Taylor mystery series
Crais, Robert. Elvis Cole mystery series
Coleman, Reed Farrel. Moe Prager mystery series
Grafton, Sue. Kinsey Millhone/Alphabet Mystery series
Lehane, Dennis. Patrick Kenzie /Angie Gennaro mystery series
Lutz, Lisa. Spellman mystery series
Mosley, Walter. Easy Rawlins mystery series
Vachss, Andrew. Burke mystery series
Webb, Betty. Lena Jones mystery series
Mysteries - Romantic Suspense
Robb, J. D. In Death / Eve Dallas futuristic mystery series
Mysteries – Russia. See Russia
Mysteries – Woman Main Character
Albert, Susan Wittig. China Bayles mystery series
Barr, Nevada. Anna Pigeon mystery series
Burke, Jan. Irene Kelly mystery series
Edghill, Rosemary. Bast mystery series
Evanovich, Janet. Stephanie Plum mystery series
Fairstein, Linda. Alexandra Cooper mystery series
Grafton, Sue. Kinsey Millhone/Alphabet Mystery series
Laurie, Victoria. Psychic Eye/Abby Cooper mystery series
Lutz, Lisa. Spellman mystery series
Maron, Margaret. Judge Deborah Knott mystery series
Neely, Barbara. Blanche White mystery series
O'Connell, Carol. Kathleen Mallory mystery series
Perry, Thomas. Jane Whitefield mystery series
Read, Cornelia. Maddie Dare mystery series
Robb, J. D. In Death / Eve Dallas futuristic mystery series
Sloane, Kit Margot O'Banion and Max Skull mystery series
Spencer-Fleming, Julia. Clare Fergusson mystery series
Viets, Elaine. Dead-End Jobs mystery series
Webb, Betty. Lena Jones mystery series
Wells, Melanie. Dylan Thomas mystery series
Winspear, Jacqueline. Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series
N Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Native Americans
Erdrich, Louise. Love Medicine (Chippewa)
Hillerman, Tony. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee mystery series (Navajo)
Krueger, William Kent. Cork O'Connor mystery series (Ojibwe)
Momaday, N. Scott. House Made of Dawn (Kiowa)
Perry, Thomas. Jane Whitefield mystery series (Seneca)
Power, Susan The Grass Dancer (Sioux)
Silko, Leslie Marmon. Ceremony (Laguna Pueblo)
Nobility
Gabaldon, Diana. Lord John historical mystery series (18th century Britain)
George, Elizabeth. Inspector Lynley mystery series (Britain. Detective is a titled lord.)
O Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
P Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Pagans
Edghill, Rosemary. Bast mystery series
Palestine - see Middle East
Parents and Children
Shriver, Lionel. We Need to Talk About Kevin
Police and Police Procedurals
Connelly, Michael. Harry Bosch mystery series (LAPD)
George, Elizabeth. Inspector Lynley mystery series (Scotland Yard)
Indridason, Arnaldur Erlendur/Reykjavik mystery series (Iceland)
Kaminsky, Stuart Rostnikov mystery series (Moscow, Russia)
O'Connell, Carol Kathleen Mallory mystery series (NYPD)
Rankin, Ian John Rebus mystery series (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Robb, J. D. In Death / Eve Dallas futuristic mystery series (futuristic NYPD)
Smith, Martin Cruz Arkady Renko mystery series (Moscow, Russia)
Wambaugh, Joseph Hollywood Station: A Novel (LAPD - excellent, and often hilarious!)
White, Robin Gregori Nowek mystery series (Siberia, Russia)
Professors - see Teachers
Psychiatrists / Psychologists
Kellerman, Jonathan Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis mystery series
Wells, Melanie Dylan Thomas mystery series
Psychics
Howatch, Susan The Wonder Worker (Starbridge series - Anglican clergymen and psychics)
Laurie, Victoria. Psychic Eye/Abby Cooper mystery series
Psychological Problems - see also Brain Conditions
Lessing, Doris. The Golden Notebook
Shriver, Lionel. We Need to Talk About Kevin
Psychopath Protagonists
O'Connell, Carol Kathleen Mallory mystery series
Lindsay, Jeff Dexter mystery series
Q Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
R Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Reporters
Burke, Jan. Irene Kelly mystery series
Connelly, Michael. The Poet (stand-alone mystery)
Russia and Russians
Akunin, Boris. Erast Fandorin historical mystery series (late 19th century Czarist Russia)
Akunin, Boris. Sister Pelagia historical mystery series (late 19th century Czarist Russia)
Bulgakov, Mikhail The Master and Margarita (Stalinist Russia with supernatural overtones)
Denezhkina, Irina Give Me (Songs for Lovers) (short stories about modern young Russians). Brilliantly captures the chaotic flavor of aimless youth in post-Soviet Russia, or shallow and incoherent? You be the judge.
Ghelfi, Brent. Alexei "Volk" Volkovoy mystery series
Kaminsky, Stuart. Rostnikov mystery series
Lukyanenko, Sergei. Night Watch (first book in urban fantasy series set in Moscow)
Sedia, Ekaterina. The Secret History of Moscow (stand-alone urban fantasy set in Moscow)
Smith, Martin Cruz. Arkady Renko mystery series
Smith, Tom Rob Child 44 (mystery in Stalinist Russia)
Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr The Gulag Archipelago: 1918-1956 (Stalinist labor camps)
White, Robin. Gregori Nowek mystery series
S Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Scandinavia – see Europe
Social Workers
DeLoach, Nora. Candi "Mama" Covington mystery series
Southern, American South
Benedict, Pinckney Dogs of God (drug farmers in rural West Virginia)
Burke, James Lee. Dave Robicheaux mystery series
Maron, Margaret. Judge Deborah Knott mystery series
Supernatural
Bulgakov, Mikhail. The Master and Margarita (Stalinist Russia with supernatural overtones)
Edghill, Rosemary. Bast mystery series (not really paranormal but a Wiccan solves crimes)
Laurie, Victoria. Psychic Eye/Abby Cooper mystery series (psychic)
Lukyanenko, Sergei. Night Watch (first book in urban fantasy series set in Moscow)
Sedia, Ekaterina. The Secret History of Moscow (urban fantasy set in Moscow)
Wells, Melanie. Dylan Foster mystery series (psychics, angels, devils)
T Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Teachers
Rees, Matt Beynon. Omar Yussef mystery series The Collaborator of Bethlehem (Israel/Palestine)
Wells, Melanie. Dylan Thomas mystery series
U Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
United States – only if the setting is really vivid
Barr, Nevada. Anna Pigeon mystery series (western Texas)
Burke, James Lee. Dave Robicheaux mystery series (Louisiana)
Hillerman, Tony. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee mystery series (New Mexico)
Maron, Margaret. Judge Deborah Knott mystery series
V Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Vietnam War and Vietnam Veterans
Herr, Michael Dispatches (Nonfiction - War correspondents in Vietnam - excellent!)
Johnson, Denis. Tree of Smoke
Schaeffer, Susan Fromberg Buffalo Afternoon (vet's experience + adjusting to return home)
Vigilantism
Vachss, Andrew. Burke mystery series
W Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
Wiccans & Witches – see Pagans
World War I, First World War, Great War
Anthony, Patricia Flanders - Haunting story of an American sharpshooter in France.
Barker, Pat Regeneration - Excellent! First book in trilogy that includes The Eye in the Door and The Ghost Road
Graves, Robert Good-Bye to All That - Unforgettable memoir of the poet's WWI experience.
Remarque, Erich Maria All Quiet on the Western Front Young German soldiers in WWI.
Sassoon, Siegfried Memoirs of an Infantry Officer Read this with Pat Barker's Regeneration.
World War II - Europe
Vollmann, William T. Europe Central (Germans at Stalingrad with supernatural overtones)
World War II - Pacific
Jones, James From Here to Eternity (Pearl Harbor, Hawaii)
Mailer, Norman The Naked and the Dead (Philippines)
X
Y
Z Return to Alphabet Index at Top of Page
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