Friedrich Dürrenmatt's exclusion is a joke!

Alec, Derby , England

Just cant believe that Michael Connelly is not there in the list!
I'm not sure what exactly are the factors deciding the writer's worth in this list but if someone like Patricia Cornwell can make it, Connelly should be placed at least 20 places above her!

Abhishek Nandi, Mumbai, India

Why are Tony Hillerman and Martin Cruz Smith not on the list?
Is the former too ethnic and the latter's books set in the "wrong" countries?

Roland Reinert, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

One who in my opinion should be on the list is C.J. Sansom .The Shardlake stories are masterful and need to be visited by your correspondents.There are four books and they are best to read in order i.e. 1. Dissolution 2. Dark Fire ( a masterpiece and my favourite) 3. Sovereign and 4. Revelation .
W

john moulds, Kidderminster,

Unbelievable that Michael Connelly is not included on this list. Another string candidate is Robert Crais although maybe his books are thrillers not crime. Harry Bosch is the archtypal outcast detective

Alex Willis, LONDON,

And what about Jerry Raine ? His novels on low life losers always aiming high but never succeeding are gems - Raine is one of the Englands most neglected crime writers.

Mark, Emsworth, England

I have 2 lists now for my summer reading, the official and more interestingly the one from the crime afficenados who are submitting their comments.
I think Henning Mankell is top 5 & agree that Mark Billingham needs to be on there & what about jeff Lindsay & his character Dexter ..

janet Ramjeet, Norwich, Norfolk

Michael Connolly should be in there without any doubt whatsoever. He would be closely followed by Peter Robinson.

Crime writing has moved on a long way, and some of the older writers should be losing their places.

David Swarbrick, Brighouse, england

I willingly admit that the English, US-American and Scandinavian Authors rule. But at least our only national treasure of crime literature should be in this list: Friedrich Dürrenmatt. If you should have none of his brilliant novels translated, take a look at Sean Penn`s adaptation "The Pledge".

Volker Pietsch, Berlin, Germany

This is a great idea as it's thrown out names I haven't yet tried like Rex Stout even if that was through people complaining that he was excluded from the list.
The two names I think should have been there are Michael Connelly and Robert Crais but you're never going to make everyone happy!

Anne Stevens, Hampton Wick,

And what about Jerry Raine ? His books offer an unsparing look at low life losers trying but failing to make something out of life

Mark, Emsworth, England

I willingly admit, that there isn`t so much convincing crime literature in German, but at I miss Friedrich Dürrenmatt on the list. If you don`t have translated versions of his brilliant - and, in a cynical way funny - novels, check out "The Pledge", Sean Penn`s adaptation for the screen.

Volker Pietsch, Berlin,

Your list is very relevant but very Anglo-Saxon. You should also consider the French duo Boileau-Narcejac (e.g. "Diabolique") and Sébastien Japrisot. "The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun" won him the CWA Silver Dagger for the best crime novel published in the UK in 1968 by a foreign writer.

Jean-Luc Janot, Liège, Belgium

No Michael Connelly? He's such a wonderful writer.

Lisa Greig, Alexandria, USA

I agree with all of Robert B. Parker fans as well as Michael Connelly 's fans and did I miss Daniel Silva? Charlotte Chester, Phoenix, AZ

Charlotte Chester, Phoenix, USA

another vote here for Peter Robinson. delighted with the list and the comments. have kept all for future reference.

sandra macrory, newtownards, ireland

No Michael Connelly, no Robert Goddard and no T. Jefferson Parker (winner of not just one but two Edgar Awards)? Without any of these three the list looks more like a list of someone's favorites, not what it's purported to be.

Michael Lane, Alexandria, VA, USA

Lisa Scottoline
Deborah Crombie
Laurie R King
Elizabeth Peters
(and noticing Bert Coules further up this comment list, would include his excellent Sherlock Holmes stories and BBC radio adaptations of the Conan Doyle canon - often aired on BBC7)

Jane, Oxford, UK

No Gladys Mitchell?

Mary, Salford, UK

I think you should add Simon Beckett to this list. He is an exciting new Scotish auhor with two books translated into English, He is a master atof red hrrring clues and unexpected endings.

barbara broberg, Chaska, minnesota, united states

Frances Fyfield??

Ottoline Dudley, New Plymouth, New Zealand

Loren D Estleman; where is he? Gritty stories set in Detroit featuring Amos Walker. Read 'Retro' and weep.

Allen Stevens, Oxford, UK

Another vote here for Peter Robinson. He should definitely be in the top half of the list . Also Elizabeth George and Anne Perry should be there, especially if Sara Paretzky made it.

Pauline, Winnipeg, Canada

Colin Dexter number 47 - surely at least in the top twenty!

Mark Macklam, Edmonton, Canada

Where is Peter Robinson. Rebus's only rival Inspector Banks

Tony Francis, BUXTON Derbyshire, Great Britain

Peter Robinson. Consistently excellent for 20 years.

Mark , London,

Michael Connelly?

clarke ching, Linlithgow Bridge,

Where are the representatives of historical crime fiction? Ellis Peters, Lindsey Davis and Steven Saylor would all be on my list.

Juliette, Birmingham, UK,

James Ellory should be first.
David Peace's yorkshire quartet is asatonishing.
Where are Michael Connelly? James Sallis?
While we are on the subject, almost anything published by No Exit Press is worth a look.

Chris, London,

One of the earliest example's of detective fiction has to be Voltaire's "Zadig"(1748), whose main character performs feats of analysis. The first detective to feature in British literature, using what could be regarded today as modern day techniques, is Inspector Bucket in Charles Dicken's "Bleak House" (1853). This novel predates Wilkie Collins "The Woman in White" and "The Moonstone."

Raymond Nemo, Kingston, UK

Michael Connelly - excellent but strangely missing here. Harry Bosch is a legend! I am surprised, too, that Cruz Smith's Renko series is not considered good enough for him to make the list.

Otherwise, thank you. Some great recommendations that I'm sure I'll follow...

Mick, Bielefeld, Germany

Can't believe you left Kathy Reichs out!

Stephanie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Ruth Rendell, who is admittedly prolific, but still from the School of Anglo Bores, IS on the list, Kerrie, at #18.

Of course the list is created to provoke controversy, but a 'top fifty' that includes the anodyne Sarah Paretsky (albeit at #50), yet gives no place at all to John D. McDonald??

Ron McMillan, Thailand
www.myspace.com/betweenweathers

Ron McMillan, Bangkok, Thailand

Hard choice.
How about Martin Cruz Smith´s Arkadi Renko books,
Yasmina Khadra´s Algerian investigator Llob,
Jean-Claude Izzo` s Marseille trilogie with Fabio Montale or
Janwillem van de Wetering with his hilarious stories from Amsterdam?
Next time you should do a list of the 500 Greatest Crime Writers.

Gisela Gehrmann, Cologne, Germany

What about Lee Child and Peter Robinson.Am reading one of his books .He definetly belongs up there

Vidya, Dubai, UAE

Ian Rankin and Reginald Hill are surely pretty close to level pegging; Ipersonally 'd give Hill the edge - just. How on earth are they separated by 25 places and what on earth is Minette Walters (whose books I have very much enjoyed) doing ahead of Hill. She really is not in the same class - very few are.

Martin Eveleigh, George Town, Cayman Islands

Chester Himes anyone?

Anyone?

Will, London, UK

No William Reilly Burnett?

tom mccabe, dublin , ireland

A very weak list including some poor writers and missing out many better ones such as John D. Macdonald, Philip Macdonald and Lawrence block. I assume Wilkie Collins is not regarded as a crime writer for these purposes otherwise his omission is inexcusable.

a mcculloch, london, uk

Cannot believe the number 1 choice!!!!! Has this person read The Talented Mr Ripley - it is awful. Also where is Peter Robinson?
List is the real mystery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Russell White, Doagh, Ireland

A.E.W. MASON - one of the best, Where he? Well done Richard Creasey for being analytical - stats always have more impact than opinion - not often a family member gets stuck in that way. What an amazing output. So absolutely his Dad belongs as proven contributor to the genre. My 4 Toffs await me.

Roger Douglas, Alicante, Spain

I'm so pleased to see Andrea Camilleri in the list, (I'm Italian) his books are extroardinary. I bought them in english for my husbands that loves them, but, as good as the translation really is, the original sicilian writting makes you feel as you were there and so something is "lost in translation".
On the other hand, I would have expected Fred Vargas to be included as well. Probably not so well know in England yet, (only few of her books translated and not in the right order !!!), but she is considered the French Patricia Cornwell (sorry for the obvious punt!). Try one of her books, the three evangelist is a good start as much it does not included the famous adamsberg inspector, but characters that will be met in the following books.

Marcella, Bristol,

Dick Francis?! Seriously? Carl Hiaasen - why? And yet no Peter Robinson or Mark Billingham. Oh dear.

Charlotte, Worcester,

Kate Atkinson is wonderful - and missing from your list.

Charlotte, Miami, FL

Where are Old Masters of the genre such as Robert B. Parker and Richard Stark/Donald Westlake and new, accomplished and richly promising writers such as Australia's Peter Temple, France's Fred Vargas and Ireland's Declan Hughes?..these last three just a few books in , but so much to look forward to.

Derek Topliss, Greystones, Ireland

Ruth Rendell is no. 18 on the list as I read it.

Harold Tucker, LUDLOW, Kentucky USA

No William Reilly Burnett?

tom mccabe, dublin , ireland

Come on, get real. How could you miss out Robert Parker?? Every one's a winner.

Joan Stonham, Witney, UK

Robert B. Parker is not on the list. Having met him, I'd wager his colossal ego will compel him to dismiss this list all together and/or argue that he IS on the list due to his retention by the Chandler Family Trust to ghost Poodle Springs and the sequel to The Big Sleep. Ah well, better luck next time Mr. Parker.

Carl Lehman PI, Los Angeles, CA

He's won every major international crime fiction-writing award going, including the Edgar and Dagger. He's created four very different character based series - Scudder, Tanner, Rhodenbarr and Keller - and in the Scudder series surely what has developed into one of the most descriptive and noir of modern American writing. Lawrence Block doesn't make your list? Amazing! Perhaps Keller will be set loose next in the journo world of London!

Rob White, London, UK

Lists are always very relative.The one certainty is that you will get nobody to agree.I personally would have Michael Connelly,Robert Crais and Peter Robinson in my list and Laurence Block must be considered for his Matt Scudder character alone.Still what do I know!

David Kellett, Drogheda, Co.Louth Ireland

Misplaced

Dorothy Sayers should be near the top, bracketed with Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh [see below]

Missing?
1 R Austin Freeman - author of medico-legal specialist Dr John Thorndike, including his inverted stories, where you are told exactly what has happened, and then see how Thorndike solves the case.
2 Dornford Yates - his Chandos stories and others
3 Patricia Weatcroft - Miss Silver
4 Michael Innes - Appleby
5 Ngaio Marsh - Alleyn. She, Agatha and Dorothy were the top three in the golden age
6 Freeman Wills Croft - Inspector French
7 Rex Stout - Nero Wolf and Archie Goodman, in New York
8 GDH and M Cole
9 Simon Brett - e.g the Fethering Mysteries
10 Christine Aird

Placing creative workers, such as writers, in rank order will always be a thankless task, but not to include Austin Freeman nor any of the others ... !!

P H Borcherds, Birmingham, England

Tess Gerritsen - Richard Montanari - Lisa Gardner - Tami Hoag

Gordijn, Weert, Netherlands

John D. McDonald and "Richard Stark"/Donald E. Westlake

David N Cook, Oxnard, CA USA

Leaving Nero Wolfe off the list (he's so big he's truly difficult to overlook) merits one big PFUI! (And there's no John D. MacDonald either.)

Faterson, Bratislava, Slovakia

Ngaio Marsh is surely rated as one of the "golden age" women writers.

Sally Floyd, Edinburgh,

What about Patricia Wentworth from the "Golden Age" and Peter Lovesey still writing great stuff. For plots as meticulous as a Rolls Royce engine who could beat Freeman Wills Crofts? Edgar Wallace and John Creasy both prolific and consistantly entertaining although perhaps a bit too "down market" for the Sunday Times. How about Anne Perry, Carola Dunn and Jacqueline Winspear? I could go on but that will do for now.

Ian Turner, Wolverhampton, England

My Goodness, who made this list? Obviously someone who's never read crime stories in their life! Colin Dexter should be on top of it. And please: Where's Martha Grimes??? Caroline Graham?? Never heard of them? No wonder...
A list unworthy of the Times, that's for sure!!!

Annette, Munich, Bavaria

No John Creasey or Edgar Wallace? I expected these to top the list, not be omitted.

Ian Sampson, Kendal, Carlisle, U.K.

Interesting list. I'd rank them differently, and find a spot for
Elizabeth Daly. Who? She's the often-out-of-print author of the Henry Gamadge novels. Agatha Christie thought she was wonderful. Gamadge's stories of book forgeries and corpses set c. 1940's Upper East Side New York evoke a vanished world.

sedahlinger, HIghland, New York

Please consider: Elizabeth George. Peter Robinson.
On a good day : Mo Hayder.

And I agree with one of the other readers: It's all very Sgt Pepper in Abbey Road with a white revolver. Let it be. Lists never work.

David Rea, Denver, USA

Dick Francis above Colin Dexter? Good grief.

Bert Coules, Hythe, Kent

Christie above Chandler??

Hammett not in the top TEN??

Sayers above Raymond or Thompson?

No Block?

And where was the white album, or revolver?

Jay, Glasgow,

Michael Connelly, Peter Robinson, Lawrence Block - and personally I'd rate Allingham far higher than Sayers....
What an impossible task you've set yourselves!!

Patrick, Newton Abbot, Devon

Michael Connelly and Marcia Muller are definite omissions, Laurie King and Sue Grafton are possibles.

Chris, Thousand Oaks, California

Barry Eisler gets my vote - creator of the assassin John Rain. Sheer brilliance!

Mags, FoD, Gloucestershire

Good list, but very upset not to see Michael Connelly anywhere on the list. Surely an oversight...?

Danielle Vella, Ta L'Ibragg, Malta

Peter Robinson a must on this list. Banks is well up there as a great british detective. I'm astonished he is not on the list.

No Michael Connelly? Truely amazing.

Otherwise, hugely enjoyable article. Great for debate.

MDJ, Dublin, Ireland

A thoughtful list - it covers many writers whose originality led to new ideas and directions. I was a little surprised not to find Michael Connelly somewhere in the lower half of the catalogue.

HMJ, Bushey, UK

I'm clearly prejudiced because John Creasey was my Dad. Born in 1908 he's become the forgotten writer: Click http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A610886 and tell me what you think:
Simple facts:
John Creasey published over 600 books (no one is sure exactly how many!) following 743 rejection slips, with worldwide sales of over 80 million copies in at least 5000 different editions in 28 different languages . There are 11 different series, four of them (Roger West, the Toff, the Baron and Patrick Dawlish) with either 50 titles reached or very close, two series (Dr Palfrey and Department Z) with over 30 titles, and the great Gideon with 21. A further 50-odd titles have been published as written by Michael Halliday. In 1955 John Ford used Gideon's Day to inspire a feature film. In the sixties Lew Grade based two television series: The Baron and Gideon's Way.

Richard Creasey, London,

No Donald E. Westlake/Richard Stark? And what about Mickey Spillane?

John DuMond, Albany, NY

"Archie" would be annoyed -- Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, for oh so many reasons!!

ed, asbury park, nj

Dexter should be ranked closer to the top of the list....well above Francis and Smith.....and Martha Grimes should have made the list.

Betty Mullins, Pinson, Alabama.....USA

What about Ruth Rendell? How could you leave her off?

Kerrie, Paradise, South Australia

What about Ruth Rendell? Surely Britain's modern queen of crime

Kerrie, Paradise, South Australia

I had to read his list several times as i couldn't believe that Michael Connelly and Robert Crais are missing. At least you have Willeford and Pelecanos!

Malcolm, Theoule, France

Kathy Reichs and Peter Robinson?

Sarah Billings, Alford, Lincs

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Stephen Monaghan, Hancock, MA