October MysteryKit: A Police Procedural

Police Procedural stories are among my favorite, and this month I get to indulge! A police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction that focuses on the realistic and step-by-step process of police officers investigating and solving a crime, often a murder. Unlike traditional detective stories that rely heavily on the intuition of a solitary detective, this genre emphasizes the work of a police team, utilizing specialized knowledge, scientific forensics, and established departmental procedures to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and ultimately catch the perpetrator.

Many police procedurals are delivered in series, following one main character and his cohorts. Some examples of police procedurals are the Logan McRae series by Stuart MacBride, The Roy Grace series by Peter James and the Tom Thorne series by Mark Billingham. Other authors who specialize in police procedurals are Jussi Adler-Olsen, Deborah Crombie, Kate Ellis, and Ed McBain, this lis could go on and on.

Whatever you chose to read this month, let us know and enjoy the read!

The MysteryKit Wiki can be found here: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/2025_MysteryKIT

I am planning to read: Walking by Night by Kate Ellis and Dead if You Don't by Peter James.

I have several choices, but my plan is to read Glasflügel, the third installment of the Kørner & Werner series by Katrine Engberg. The English title is The Butterfly House.

I plan to read A Meditation on Murder by Robert Thorogood.
This will also work for Cover Cat challenge since the cover art shows a man wearing a necktie.

I'm planning to veer away from the traditional with The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde, in which Inspector Jack Spratt and Sergeant Mary Mary investigate the murder of Humpty Dumpty.

I think I will read the next Vera book, Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves

I want to read A Siege of Bitterns by Steve Burrows This will be a twofer with the CoverCat of: fits in your pocket.

I've decided to use World of Curiosities by Louise Penny for this challenge.

I will be reading the next book in the Alex Cross series.

>10 michaeljamesromt: Since I picked up the first book, I have been addicted to Stuart MacBrides' Logan McRae series. I also loved the Charlie Resnick series by John Harvey.

>10 michaeljamesromt: I enjoy James Patterson's quick style with short action-packed chapters.

>2 DeltaQueen50: I think I’ll join you in reading Dead if You Don’t Judy, it’s the next book for me also.

I'm reading All the Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson and The Detective Up Late by Adrian McKinty that is set in Northern Ireland. McKinty manages to include crime, politics, and enough humour to keep the other two readable.

I finished two selections for this challenge.
A Meditation on Murder and Friends are Forever.

I've finished A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny

I have read Dead If You Don't by Peter James. I am a big fan o this series but this particular entry wasn't a favorite. Too many plotlines causing the author to gloss over many parts of the book.

COMPLETED Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves, No. 6 in the Vera series about DCI Vera Stanhope and her colleagues

I didn't think of it for this month until after I had finished, but I read Witness in Death by J. D. Robb a futuristic version of a police procedural.

I finished Jasper Fforde's The Big Over Easy, a police procedural set in the Nursery Crimes Division, where the murder of Humpty Dumpty must be solved.

I have finished Walking By Night by Kate Ellis. This is part of the Joe Plantagenet series and was spooky and dark.

>22 DeltaQueen50: I wish she'd carried on with that series. I really enjoyed it - mysteries with a whiff of the supernatural

>23 Robertgreaves: I actually like the Joe Plantagenet more than her more popular series with Wesley Peterson but I see she has another Plantagenet book coming out in 2026 called "Killing in the Shadows".

>24 DeltaQueen50: Ooooooooh

Just finished Dinner Parties and Dangerous Enemies which is part of a series by A.R. Winters, featuring characters that carry over from two other series by this author. Starting The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan and O Little Town of Bethlehem by Elizabeth Boyle.

Would Karin Slaughter's books be considered police procedurals? I may have an unread one on my shelves; if not, I can always re-read one. This would be in her Will Trent series, BTW.

I also read Dead if You Don't and also found that it wasn't that great, but I am committed to the series, as I am a big fan.

I read The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck, the start of a Finnish mystery series featuring Detective Jessica Niemi.

All the Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson
This begins with the apparent murder-suicide of gay lovers that makes Annie Cabbot decide that Banks should be recalled from his holiday leave - and young girlfriend - to take charge. When one of the victims is revealed to be MI6 their perception of the crime changes, confirmed when they are warned off the case, an order handed down from the upper echelons of the force. They quietly keep the investigation going and get deeper into spy territory.

Banks is caught near a midsummer terrorist attack in London, not identified but presumably represents the Oxford Circus attack known as 7/7 where 52 people died in 2005. Robinson has been known to use real life events in his stories, otherwise, this scene has no obvious purpose except to shine a light on heinous crimes where no perpetrator is brought to face justice, like the one they are investigating. It gives the story more gravitas and mystery without adding complexity to the plot.

The detectives examine a potential link to Othello, currently playing at a local theatre, which seems a bit fanciful, but works here. And although Banks’ music is usually a feature that I enjoy, it was mentioned just a little too often for me to be able to listen along and understand what Banks was feeling.

An excellent story, one of my favourites from Robinson. It has well-developed characters, a good plot, an ample dose of espionage, and an ending that was shocking yet perfect.

Just a heads-up that I have created the 2026 Category Challenge group: https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24919/2026-Category-Challenge. Stop by to get a head start on planning next year's challenge!

(Cross-posted to a bunch of threads; sorry if you see this a thousand times!)

Fear No Evil by James Patterson ★★★★

Dr. Alex Cross and Detective John Sampson venture into the rugged Montana wilderness—where they will be the prey. They’re not on the job, but on a personal mission. Until they’re attacked by two rival teams of assassins, controlled by the same mastermind who has stalked Alex and his family for years. Darkness falls. The river churns into rapids. Shots ring out through the forest. No backup. No way out. Fear no evil.

The synopsis for the book is such a small portion of the actual tale that I was actually wondering if it was going to ever happen. Otherwise, an old antagonist returns to torture Cross. Although the end of the book reveals this mastermind to the reader, Alex still has no clue. I can't wait for the collision to happen in future books.

I have finished Calypso, an 87th Precinct novel. I am a little embarrassed to find this was a re-read, I had completely forgotten the plot.

I'm half-way through The Lighthouse by PD James, a Dalgliesh mystery.

I've completed Shadows of Sounds by Alex Gray. This is the third in her procedural series featuring DCI Lorimer.

The Detective Up Late by Adrian McKinty
I’m hoping this is not “Duffy’s Last Case” but the beginning of something new. Sean Duffy is in his last days with the Royal Ulster Constabulary although he must work seven days a month as a reserve in order to qualify for a pension. His family are already in their new home in Scotland, while he travels back and forward on the ferry to solve cases. This one is a search for a missing Traveller girl, presumed to have been murdered. McKinty delivers fabulous plots and characters in this Northern Ireland series set during the “Troubles” and featuring plentiful Ulster humour.

I have read Girls Who Lie by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir from her Forbidden Iceland series.