"Cold case" trend in mysteries

[raccoon]

Seems like every mystery series has had a "cold case" addition recently. Sue Grafton (Kinsey Milhone series) did one not long ago, her last published, or maybe it was next to the last.

Katherine Hall Page (Faith Fairchild series) recently published THE BODY IN THE IVY, a cold case book.

I'm sure there were others; add the ones from your favorite series(s).

[Richardo]

1. "The Closers" and "Echo Park" by Michael Connelly

In fact, Detective Harry Bosch is now assigned to a 'cold case' unit in the LAPD. I expect Connelly will be writing these for awhile.

[Nay]

2. First-time novelist Jefferson Bass writes about a cold case in

his book titled "Carved in Bone." It's going to be a series of forensic novels featuring a forensic anthropologist who works at Tennessee's famous "Body Farm."

[Mz Pip]

3. Kathy Reichs

Her character is a forensic anthropologist so most of the cases are cold ones, Monday Mourning, Deja Dead, Bare Bones. Her work is what the TV show Bones is based on.

Aaron Elkin does the same kind of books - also very good.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[smoogatz]

4. I think it kind of equates with the rise of the procedural

as the dominant mode in the genre. Forensic investigation is still pretty fresh territory, and readers seem to like the kind of "realism" that a catalog of forensic "stuff" can create. Packing a book with ultraviolet lights and spray bottles and DNA testing is a relatively easy way for a mystery writer to sound as though they know what they're talking about. In my novel (coming out in August, btw), I tried to keep the procedural element to a minimum; I wanted to do something more character driven. But I still had to do a lot of crazy research--everything from autopsy procedure to forensic fire investigation to the effects of strangulation on the human body. Fun!

[tigereye]

5. I can't say I like it

I prefer the old fashioned literate thinker mysteries....

[RobertGregoryBrowne]

6. This Does Seem to Be the Trend

I love Connelly's new books with Bosch on the cold case squad. And I have noticed a trend toward this kind of thing, thanks in part, I think to the cold case television shows her and in Canada. There's something fascinating and, ultimately, satisfying about a dead investigation being renewed and a killer who thinks he's gotten away with it finally being caught.

Even my own third book -- still in progress -- has a cold case of sorts in it. Although I wasn't thinking of trends when I decided to write it.