Crime Fiction Series Worth Starting: Our Top Picks for Your Reading List

Walk into any bookshop or scroll through any online retailer and you will see thousands of crime novels competing for your attention. Standalone thrillers come and go, but a great crime fiction series is something different: it rewards commitment, builds a world you can return to, and turns a single book into a years-long reading relationship. At Mrs Bloggs Books, we read widely and often, and we have put together a curated list of series we genuinely believe are worth starting — from gritty Nordic noir to historical puzzles and contemporary character-driven mysteries. Whether you live in Helsinki, Tampere, or anywhere else in Finland, there is a series here for you.

Why Start a Crime Fiction Series?

There is a particular pleasure in finishing the first book of a series and knowing there are more waiting. Unlike a standalone novel, a series lets you settle into a world and stay there. You learn the rhythms of a detective’s life, the quirks of a small town, the politics of a police department. For readers in Finland, where crime fiction is a staple of both public libraries and personal bookshelves, series reading is practically a national pastime.

The Appeal of Recurring Characters

A series protagonist becomes a companion. You watch them age, fail, recover, and grow. Harry Hole’s struggles with addiction, Erlendur’s quiet melancholy, Cormoran Strike’s complicated personal life — these arcs only land fully when you follow them across multiple books. Recurring characters also bring secondary casts: colleagues, informants, families, and rivals who add texture to every investigation. That depth is almost impossible to achieve in a single novel.

Exploring Settings in Depth

Series allow authors to build a sense of place over time. Reykjavík, Fjällbacka, Oslo, Dublin, and the Australian outback all become characters in their own right. Finnish readers in particular respond to series set in familiar Nordic landscapes, where the long dark winters, remote communities, and social dynamics feel recognisable. Nordic noir is especially popular in Finland, with authors like Jo Nesbø frequently borrowed from libraries across the country.

Nordic Noir Series to Begin With

Nordic noir is the natural starting point for many Finnish readers, and for good reason: the tone, the weather, and the social commentary all resonate. Here are three series that have stood the test of time and are widely available in English.

Harry Hole by Jo Nesbø

Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole series begins with The Bat and really finds its footing with The Redbreast and Nemesis. Hole is a brilliant, flawed Oslo detective whose personal demons are as compelling as the cases he solves. The series has been translated into English consistently, and Nesbø remains one of the most-borrowed crime authors in Finnish libraries. If you want a gateway into Nordic noir, this is it.

Fjällbacka by Camilla Läckberg

Camilla Läckberg’s Fjällbacka series, starting with The Ice Princess, is set in a small Swedish coastal town. The books blend family drama with dark secrets, and the recurring cast — writer Erica Falck and detective Patrik Hedström — grows and changes across the series. It is a gentler, more domestic form of Nordic noir, and it has a devoted following in Finland.

Erlendur by Arnaldur Indriðason

Arnaldur Indriðason’s Reykjavík-based series featuring Detective Erlendur begins with Jar City (also published as Tainted Blood). The books are quiet, atmospheric, and deeply rooted in Icelandic history and landscape. Erlendur himself is a solitary, haunted figure, and the series rewards readers who appreciate mood over action.

Historical Crime Fiction Series

If you love history as much as mystery, historical crime fiction offers a double pleasure: a puzzle to solve and a past world to inhabit. Finnish readers with an interest in history tend to gravitate towards these series, and all three below are widely available in English.

Shardlake by C.J. Sansom

Beginning with Dissolution, C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake series follows a hunchbacked lawyer through the turbulent reign of Henry VIII. The historical detail is meticulous, and the mysteries are genuinely engaging. It is a superb choice for readers who enjoy Tudor politics alongside their murders.

Falco by Lindsey Davis

Lindsey Davis’s Marcus Didius Falco series opens with The Silver Pigs and takes readers to first-century Rome. Falco is an informer — essentially a private detective — and the series is witty, well-researched, and full of vivid period detail. It is a lighter, more humorous counterpoint to darker historical crime.

Charlotte and Thomas Pitt by Anne Perry

Anne Perry’s Pitt series, starting with The Cater Street Hangman, is set in Victorian London. Charlotte Pitt, born into society, marries a police inspector, and together they navigate crimes that expose the inequalities of the era. The series is long, consistent, and beloved by historical mystery fans.

Contemporary Crime Series with Strong Leads

Modern crime fiction has moved increasingly towards character-driven storytelling, and the three series below are excellent examples of how a strong lead can carry a whole run of books.

Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French

Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series begins with In the Woods. Each book focuses on a different detective from the same unit, which keeps the series fresh while maintaining a shared world. French’s prose is literary, and her psychological insight is exceptional.

Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith

Starting with The Cuckoo’s Calling, the Cormoran Strike series follows a private detective and his assistant Robin Ellacott through complex cases across London and beyond. The relationship between Strike and Robin is the heart of the series, and it develops satisfyingly over time.

Aaron Falk by Jane Harper

Jane Harper’s Aaron Falk series opens with The Dry and continues with Force of Nature and Exiles. Set in Australia, the books use landscape and climate to create tension. Falk is a quiet, thoughtful investigator, and the series is a strong choice if you want something outside the Nordic and European settings.

How We Choose Our Recommendations

We do not recommend every series we read. Our picks are based on consistent quality, strong openings, and practical accessibility for readers in Finland.

Our Evaluation Criteria

• Strong first book: The opening novel must stand on its own and make you want to continue.
• Consistent quality: We look for series that do not decline sharply after the first few books.
• Availability in English: We check that the series can be found through Finnish libraries or online retailers.
• Personal reading experience: Every series on this list has been read by at least one member of our team.

Accessibility for Finnish Readers

Finland has a strong reading culture, and public libraries in Helsinki and other cities offer English-language crime fiction on their shelves. If a title is not available locally, online book retailers like Adlibris and Booky.fi ship English-language crime series to Finland reliably. The Helsinki Book Fair also features crime fiction authors and is a key event for Finnish readers looking to discover new series.

Tips for Starting a New Series

Starting a long series can feel daunting, especially when there are ten or fifteen books ahead of you. A few simple habits make the experience much more enjoyable.

Where to Begin

Always start with book one. Even when later books are stronger, the first instalment establishes the characters and their world. Pace yourself: there is no need to binge an entire series in a month. Many readers alternate between series to keep things fresh. Goodreads is a useful tool for tracking your progress and finding reading order guides.

Joining a Book Club

Many Finnish readers participate in English-language book clubs, both in person and online. Local libraries in Helsinki and other cities often host reading groups, and online communities on Goodreads and social media connect readers across the country. Discussing a series with others deepens the experience and often introduces you to titles you would not have found alone.

FAQ

Which crime fiction series should I start with if I am new to the genre?

If you are new to crime fiction, we suggest starting with Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole series or Camilla Läckberg’s Fjällbacka series. Both are widely available in English in Finland and offer a strong introduction to Nordic noir.

Are these series available in English in Finland?

Yes. Most of the series we recommend are stocked by Finnish public libraries or can be ordered through online retailers like Adlibris and Booky.fi, which ship English-language books to Finland.

Do I need to read a crime series in order?

We strongly recommend reading in order, especially for series with ongoing character arcs like Harry Hole, Cormoran Strike, or the Dublin Murder Squad. Some historical series, such as Falco, can be read more loosely, but starting at book one is always the safest approach.

Where can I meet other English-language crime fiction readers in Finland?

Local libraries in Helsinki and other cities often run English-language book clubs, and the Helsinki Book Fair is a great place to meet fellow readers and discover new authors. Online communities on Goodreads and social media are also active and welcoming.

How many books should I read before deciding whether a series is for me?

Give a series at least two books. Many crime series improve significantly after the first instalment as the author settles into the characters and setting.

Pick one series from this list and dive in. The best crime fiction series are the ones that keep you coming back, book after book, season after season — and with so many strong options available in English here in Finland, you are spoiled for choice. Happy reading from all of us at Mrs Bloggs Books.