5 Crime Fiction Series I Think Are Overrated And What You Should Read Instead

As a crime fiction blogger, I read a lot of books. When I say a lot, I mean A LOT. I’m always reading something and getting into a new series from an author I’ve never heard of or haven’t read before.

Many of these books I love, but some I just like, and many I feel are completely overrated. Here’s a list of five sets of crime fiction books that aren’t worth your time. Check out my reviews to see some crime fiction novels that are good, so you can find something fun to read!

5. The Logan McRae Series: Don’t get me wrong; I love Stuart MacBride. Some of his books are amazing, but the Logan McRae series has gone on far too long. It’s simply no longer any fun. The initial novels were intriguing and gripping, but the later ones are simply formulaic and boring. The character is now just a caricature that runs around after increasingly deranged killers without a single psychological scratch. He’s fine despite everything he’s seen and been through, which is, frankly, insane.

4. The Cormoran Strike Books: J.K. Rowling did a very good job with the Harry Potter books, but her detective novels, written under an assumed name, are frankly dire. Rowling tells you one thing, and then shows you another, making the narrative hard to follow and the characters flimsy. The plots show some promise, but many of the books are too long and filled with absurdities to actually be enjoyable. Most people are only reading them because of their love for Harry Potter; if you’re not a fan, there’s no point.

3. The Extended Millennium Series: Stieg Larsson’s original trilogy was a masterpiece, but the later books aren’t worth bothering with. They’re too convoluted and they don’t have the cultural impact that the first three novels did. So, don’t get me wrong, the first three books are great, but in my humble opinion the later books aren’t interesting. New writers are just trying to capitalise on the hype that Larsson’s trilogy earned.

2. The Cadfael Chronicles: The TV series of these books was boring, and the books are downright dull. You could use them as a sleep aid if you’re struggling with insomnia. The books centre on a Benedictine monk who solves crimes in a very sedate way. He very rarely does anything at any form of pace, meaning that the novels drag on much longer than they should.

1. The Agatha Raisin Novels: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Agatha Raisin is wonderful on TV but vile in the books. She’s a sassy, sophisticated woman on the screen, but in the books she’s an oversexed, unprofessional fool who blunders her way through investigations and ends up stumbling over the truth entirely by accident. The book series isn’t worth reading; just watch the show.

This list is just my humble opinion on some of the crime fiction series that I think are overrated. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment or drop me a line on social media.

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