Can anyone suggest novels, especially mysteries, set in modern times in Europe? I've read several mysteries set in Venice by Donna Leon....

I haven't read any yet but I'm planning to read David Hewson's books - mysteries set in Italy. He has his own website
http://davidhewson.com/ Since we've been to Italy, I, too, am intrigued by books that reference locations we've visited.
"Brimstone" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child starts in NY and moves to Italy. Fantastic read. Also enjoyed "The City of Falling Angels" by John Berendt, but it's non-fiction.

I am a b ig fan of Steve Berry--historical novels such as THE AMBER ROOM, THE ROMANOV PROPHESY etc.

I strongly (strongly!) recommend Ruth Rendell (also writes under Barbara Vine). She sets her mysteries in London and outskirts. She is considered one of the best mysteries writer in the world and once you read one of her novels, you will definitely understand why. Recommend "A Dark Adapted Eye", "A Judgement in Stone" as good introduction.

Must it be modern times? Henry James' THE AMERICAN isn't exactly a mystery, yet it's filled with gothic elements and is set in Paris and a creepy French country chateau. One of my favorites.

Peter Mayle's CHASING CEZANNE is a fun crime novel, set on the Riviera. It's about art forgery, and, as always, full of the author's wit and ability to capture local flavor.

Viajero,

I think I must have read all of Ruth Rendell at least once, some of them twice. I think she's excellent.

I've enjoyed the Brunetti books by Donna Leon, and I also enjoyed Sacred Cut by David Hewson. Set in Rome at Christmas time, with lots of snow, it features 2 detectives on the trail of a murderer. I recall vivid descriptions of snow falling into the Pantheon through the oculus, there's some mystical/mythical stuff - sacred geometry, plus a little romance in there too for good measure. Same sort of genre as the daVinci code, but better written and more realistic.

John Grisham's "The Broker"

Takes place mostly in Bologna.

Pegontheroad-- Cool At least it tells me I was on the right track!!!

Another Rendell fan here

Oh, and can't remember the author but the Inspector Lynley mysteries are good also.

Look up Rebus (Ian Rankin), Morse (Colin Dexter), Dalziel and Pascoe (Reginald Hill)

Surprised no one has mentioned the most obvious, Brown's Angels and Demons and The Davinci Code. I'm also a fan of Steve Berry. A couple more recent reads--Michael Cordy's The Messiah Code and The Thieves of Heaven by R ichard Doetsch.

I like the Cara Black mystery novels set in Paris. They have a real feeling of being there. The main character, Aimée Leduc, lives on the Isle Saint Louis. I can picture the streets as she goes to the corner cafe for a glass of red wine or to the police station to talk to the "flics" -- cops.

Sandy

Try the Novels Set in France and Books Set in Italy threads. More than you can read in a year! Or even two.

Not sure if you consider the 1930's "modern times", but Rebecca Pawel has written a series of mysteries that take place in Spain during that period. I've only read the first one (Death of a Nationalist) so far, but I liked it enough that I plan to read more of the series.

I suggest these authors of mysteries:

Elizabeth George (Inspector Lynley)

Deborah Crombie

Barthelemew Gill (Set in Ireland)

Bruce Alexander (Set in the time of Henry Fielding)

P D James

Ian Rankin (Set in Edinburgh)

Cara Black - read one, it was enough, more action than mystery

Barbara Vine - just finished her third book (House of Stairs), took me six weeks, kept falling asleep. See this review: http://www.mysteryguide.com/bkVineStairs.html

Daniel Silva has a series featuring an Israeli spy who travels all over meting out justice to bad guys.

Peter Robinson's mysteries feature a detective in Yorkshire.

The following is a wonderful site for mystery fans. Take a look.

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/

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Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'm familiar with many of the authors you've mentioned, but there are many that I don't know and I will hunt down and read.

When I worked for the army in Heidelberg back in the late 60's, there was a book called "One of Us Works for Them," which was set in the HQ of the U.S. Army, Campbell Barracks. It mentioned many of the places in Heidelberg with which I was familiar. I'd love to find more things set in Germany, which is the country I know best.

I used to read a lot of Simenon, but that was before I ever went to Paris.

Bree,

I liked "Death of a Nationalist" the best of the three books Rebecca Pawel that were available to me. However, I enjoyed all three and I felt that I learned a little about a period that was/is foreign to me.