This Rec League request comes from Reader Karoline and it’s full of my catnip. I’m sure many members of the Bitchery feel the same way. Here’s Karoline’s email:
I am looking for what I would basically call “detective paranormal” romances. I started reading this series by Diana Rowland that was all about demons, and the heroine was a police detective and she solved crimes, but with a paranormal element. Her love interest was another detective. It was all of my catnip forever. That series took kind of a weird turn but I would like more that are like that, basically like an episode of CSI, but with sexy times.
Amanda: Most of the recommendations I thought of are more along the lines of urban fantasy, but here’s what I’ve got.
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton ( A | BN | K | AB ). This is the first book in the Anita Blake series and the first few books start off great and have a good balance of sexiness and suspense. However, the later books get a little weird and the sexy-times are front and center. You have been warned.
I just read Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews, which is currently on sale! The heroine is a P.I. and there’s a scarred, magic-wielding billionaire. There are some romantic elements and dear god, the sexual tension is off the charts. But like I said earlier, more urban fantasy than straight paranormal romance.
Lastly, I think the Alien Huntress series by Gena Showalter might qualify. The heroine works with the NYPD, hunting aliens. And of course, the hero is an alien. Like most Showalter books, it’s over-the-top bonkers with an Alpha hero. The first book is Awaken Me Darkly. ( A | BN | K | AB )
Do you have any recommendations for sexy, paranormal, police procedural romances?
Jordan L Hawk! The Whyborne and Griffin series in historical and SPECTR series in contemp are both fantastic and have standalone supernatural mystery, overarching series plots, and lovely (and hot) romance.
Does Jayne Ann Krentz fit the bill? She’s got a whole world full of psychics and weird objects and people of varying degrees of belief battling the bad guys who are out to Conquer The World With Psychic Science. Under her various writing names she’s got books set in Victorian England, contemporary America and a futuristic planet someplace.
Catnip indeed. I believe *the* paranormal detetective might be found in Jim Butchers “Dresden Files”. Ben Aaronovitch´s Peter Grant also fits the bill, both are rather low on the “hotness-index”. I would like to recommend the slightly aged Vicki Nelson-series by Tanya Huff (which was made into a regrettably mediocre TV-show) – this has a romance-writing vampire as a sidekick! Also very good are the Ukiah Oregon-books by Wen Spencer, which features private detectives with a specialty in lost persons. After the first one (Alien Taste), the mysteries move a little away from the CSI-type though. These two fall into the “Urban Fantasy” sprectrum, I think. For something a little different, I would suggest “The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal” by KJ Charles.
The Chintz n China series by Yasmine Galenorn – the first one is called Ghost of a Chance. There’s a romance, but IIRC there’s not a lot of on-page sexytimes.
What? No mention of Eve Dallas? Also, the second book in the Andrews series releases at the end of this month and the third later this year.
Gini Koch, the Aliens series, so so good! sexy and funny as hell.
J.D. Robb’s In Death series featuring New York detective Eve Dallas and Roarke. Not paranormal but set in the future. Lots of good mystery and sexy times. Plus, since this series is now like 45 books long (with consistent quality), this should keep you in books for a while.
Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson and Alpha/Omega series primarily paranormal/urban fantasy but there is a mystery or big bad to fight each book.
Another suggestion for you – it’s not police procedural but it is detective work and paranormal abilities… The Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris.
From wikipedia-
“Harper Connelly, the central character of the novel, has the ability to sense the location and last memories of dead people, a result of being struck by lightning as a young teenager. In Grave Sight, Harper Connelly and her protective stepbrother, Tolliver Lang, help find the whereabouts and condition of a missing teenage girl in a small town in the Ozark mountains, only to encounter a complex network of lies and murders”
I’ll be stalking the comments, as I’ve been on a big urban fantasy kick since discovering Mercy Thompson and Kate Daniels.
I think the Charlie Davidson series might qualify. She’s a private detective who works with the police and is also the Grim Reaper. It took me a few books to really love the series, but now I’m hooked.
My first thoughts were JAKs various pseudonyms, the Charlie Davidson books, and Eve Dallas although I actually couldn’t get into those personally. Jim Utcher and Ben Aaronovich both have decent series but not romantical.
So seconding all those. Additionally, maybe,
Lila Bowen has a great Western series but lacking in sexy times, LKH’s Meredith Gentry series starts with a fairy princess who is a private detective in LA but the detectiving quickly vanishes into group sex.
The Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens
I would have to recommend Simone St. James. I’ve read and loved The Haunting of Maddy Clare, and the descriptions for her other books, while standalones, sound very much in the same vein. THoMC is about a team of ghost/paranormal researchers and the new assistant they hired, who of course becomes involved in the investigation. It’s paranormal mystery with romance and sexytimes! I loved it!
I would recommend Meljean Brooks steampunk series starting with the Iron Duke. In that one the heroine is a police inspector. As I recall most of the books involve the couples solving some kind of “mystery” although some are more straight up adventure.
Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series also involves the couples untangling some kind of mystery with a villain of some sort in each book. They all work into the overarching larger story as well and it’s fun to see the pieces of the puzzle come together. The first book is “Kiss Of Steel” which is one of my favorites.
For lighter fare as some posters above mention Jayne Ann Krentz does paranormal mysteries with almost all her alter egos including Krentz, Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle.
Linda Howard has a book “Now You See Her” where the heroine can literally see dead people and compulsively paints murder scenes.
Another poster mentioned Charlaine Harris’s “Grave” series with Harper Connelly who can sense dead bodies and how they died. It’s very realistic, set in present day, with only Harper’s gifts out of the norm. I really enjoyed it but its definitely on the more serious side as Harper and her step brother have a pretty sad/tragic backstory and mystery of their own.
Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series has some mystery in each book (though the guild hunters are usually more bounty hunter than detective). And a lot of the series has to do with angelkind and/or vampire politics, but I find the UF/PNR parts kickass and the romance emotionally satisfying. And heartstring pulling.
TW: most of the characters are survivors of some sort of trauma, and there are flashbacks interspersed in the story.
Also, the series SHOULD BE READ IN ORDER, because the series overarching story builds with each book. Plus, spoilers.
I definitely would second the recommendations for a lot that have already been mentioned, especially JD Robb. One that hasn’t been mentioned is Victoria Laurie. She has the Psychic Eye series about a psychic who helps the police solve crimes. There’s a romance with a detective. She also has the Ghost Hunter mysteries where the main character can see ghosts. In some of them, there’s crimes but some are just trying to get rid of dangerous ghosts. They also have some romance.
I also enjoyed Southern Spirits by Angie Fox (free on Amazon at least) which is another one where the main character sees ghosts and uses them to help solve a mystery. There’s a love interest with a detective and quite a bit of humor. I have yet to read any other books in the series.
Alex Craft novels by Kalayna Price. She’s a detective with a secret. Devon Monk’s Ordinary Magic series. Small town sheriff from a family with a magical duty. I second the Harper Connelly series because it also leads into her current Midnight, Texas series which is definitely cozy paranormal mystery. Seconding Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series because it’s awesome and everyone should read it.
The biggest recommendation I have is Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series. Toby is a knight/detective and the series is long running so there are a TON of books to get through. It’s faerie based, but the intricacies of court politics, fae ‘rules’, and interpersonal histories make it a really compelling series. And there’s slow burn/romance. Just a warning, the first book is a HUGE world building dump. I almost didn’t make it through the first 1/4. But the books that follow get impressively better with each title.
Also, Gail Carriger’s Alexia Tarabotti’s series is steampunk, but definitely mysteries and crimes to be solved. Maybe Kristen Callihan’s Darkest London series. The steampunk/paranormal series changes couples every title, but there are definitely crimes to be solved and mysteries to be uncovered and lots of sexy times. Stacia Kane’s Unholy Ghosts I remember being procedural, with an almost unlikable heroine. I can’t remember if there was sexy times. I think it’s a slow burn series with possibilities for sexy times in the further titles.
Hope you find what you’re looking for!
I really like the Charley Davidson books by Darynda Jones. They’re pretty breezy and very easy to read.
Following up on Diandra’s comment, I haven’t read the Toby Daye books, but Seanan McGuire also has the Indexing series which is basically a police procedural about a unit who investigates fairy tale related crime. It has a little romance in it. They’re on Kindle Unlimited. Which leads me to Kate SeRine who has the Transplanted Tales series which is also about detectives solving fairy tale related crimes. I enjoyed the series quite a bit and all four books are currently .99.
I second the recommendation for Seanan Maguire’s Toby Daye series- great world building, kick ass heroine, mysteries and a slow burn romance – irresistible combination. Really good if you like audiobooks.
Also recommend the Chicago Vampires series by Chloe Neill. I have just visited Chicago for the first time and am motivated to reread them.
It is a while some I read the Harper Connelly serious bur Charlaine Harris does do mysteries well. I haven’t read the Midnight, Texas series, but based on the comments I will add them to my TBR list.
Oh! Oh!
The Immortals/Olympus Bound series by Jordanna Mx Brodsky. I’ve only read the first book but it was great.
The Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong. Connected world, and there’s always a mystery to solve but the main characters are not always police officers. Kind of have to read these in order as well. There’s a romantic couple in each book.
The Hollows Series/Rachel Morgan by Kim Harrison. She’s a bounty hunter, but she solves mysteries. Just a little bit of romance.
Prospero’s War/Kate Prospero Series by Jaye Wells. She’s an investigator in the magical enforcement agency. A little bit of romance.
Agent of Hel (not a typo) series by Jacqueline Carey. Heroine is connected to the police as well as the supernatural community.
Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter, heroine is an investigator and a skinwalker.
The Fever Series/MacKayla Lane by Karen Marie Moning, heroine is investigating the death of her sister in Dublin, Ireland
Succubus Series/Georgia Kincaid by Richelle Mead, heroine is a bookseller but she kind of solves mysteries.
I feel like I could keep going. What a great rec league. I obviously also reccomend Charley Davidson, Merch Thompson, and Kate Daniels.
Eileen Wilks – World of the Lupine
Faith Hunter – Jane Yellowrock
Jaye Wells – Sabina Kane (possibly not what you’re looking for)
Diana Rowland – Blood of the Demon
C.E. Murphy – The Walker Papers
Faith Hunter – Rogue Mage
Jenn Bennett has two series – one urban fantasy called the Arcadia Bell series and another called the Roaring Twenties series, as it’s set during that time. The Roaring Twenties is more romance-oriented, as it follows three separate couples in the trilogy. There is a romance in the Arcadia Bell series, but that’s more urban fantasy and follows the same couple. Bitter Spirits is the first in the Roaring Twenties: “When big, scarred bootlegger Winter Magnusson is cursed in Chinatown, his world is upended by spirit medium Aida Palmer, the speakeasy performer called in to exorcise ghosts from his past.” Grim Shadows is the second book “Opposites attract when icy curator Hadley Bacall teams up with roguish archaeologist Lowe Magnusson on urban treasure hunt around 1920s San Francisco”
There’s also the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. She’s a half-fae/changeling private investigator at the start of the series. There’s a romance that blooms a bit slowly, but it’s an *amazing* series. Start with Rosemary and Rue.
Lisa Shearin’s SPI files, starting with The Grendel Affair. The heroine sees through all magic and glamour and is just starting a job with the NY Supernatural Protection Investigation. The romance doesn’t come through until the third book, but it’s really good.
Eileen Wilks’ series World of the Lupi starts with Tempting Danger. The heroine, Lily Yu, is a police detective who becomes an FBI agent working on supernatural cases, as she’s unaffected by magic, but can sense it. The first 9 or so books are really good; later they start to drag out in plot. But they’re totally worth reading b/c the first half are SO good.
And of course anything by Ilona Andrews, including the Kate Daniels series (even the authors say to skip the first one and start with the second book, Magic Burns); the Innkeeper serial (it’s free online, but you can buy it on Amazon and other vendors if you want to keep it with you – and you will); the Hidden Legacy series (starting with Burn for Me; White Hot comes out at the end of the month and I’m salivating over it), and even her “rural fantasy” series The Edge – starting with On the Edge.
I really enjoyed the Esther Diamond books by Laura Resnick. I think that these are probably more urban fantasy than romance, but I found them very entertaining. Set in NYC with a heroine who is a struggling actress that stumbles into paranormal mysteries.
It seems to me that Moira Rogers (aka Kit Rocha) had a psychic detective in one or more of the Southern Arcana series. It has been a very long time since I read those books, but I think he was the hero in an early book and then a secondary character in others.
Jennifer Ashley’s Shifter books also have mysteries and some law enforcement or quasi law enforcement personnel (police, sherriff, attorneys). In at least two books, the heroine is the shapeshifter and the hero is human and law enforcement (which was a change from the usual human heroine and male shifter). I have trouble remembering titles, so I can’t remember which books have the law enforcement characters, but I have enjoyed just about all of them.
Kelly Gay – Charlie Madigan
Jocelyn Drake – Dark Days
Michelle Sagara – Chronicles of Elantra
Irregulars edited by Nicole Kimberling – shared universe mm anthology. About the NATO Irregulars, a secret division dealing with / investigating misc fey – like a fantasy version of Men In Black. All 4 stories have a good mix of romance and mystery. And it’s fantastic
Alexis Hall’s Kate Kane series is ff about an investigator who gets involved with a vampire queen.
Melissa Scott’s Astriant series (started with Lisa Barnett) is very good. It’s a fantasy police procedural series with a very understated mm romance between a police detective and former mercenary. It’s set in an alt version of early renaissance Eutope that’s matriarchal and where magic and especially astrology are real.
Jordan Castillo Price’s PsyCop series (mm) is set in near future Chicago about a psychic police detective working in the PsyCop division. There’s a mystery in every book and a developing romance between the two main characters. No fantasy characters but a lot of stuff happening on the psychic plane.
Can’t believe no one has mentioned Kay Hooper’s long running Bishop series, featuring an FBI unit that solves weird crimes–all the members of Bishop’s group have psychic abilities. Short on sexytimes, though there is often a romance sub-plot. Who knew there were so many serial killers with psychic abilities out there?
Linda Poitevin’s Sins of the Angels has a similar vibe in the sense the main character is a detective paired with a supernatural being. It’s been a while since I read it and don’t remember the details of the story, but I enjoyed it. I believe the author was an RCMP officer and infused the story with that extra level of authenticity like Rowland did.
Yay! This was my question and I am so happy to see all of these awesome recommendations! My work day was kind of kicking my butt today too so this is especially welcome. I will definitely have some good reading to do tonight.
🙂 THANK YOU ALL!!
What about the Julia Grey series? Admittedly light on ‘paranormal’, but the love interest has visions. Good if you like historical/detective romance where the paranormal and love element is there but not out front.
There aren’t a lot of what I would call “paranormal police procedurals,” so I was disappointed when, although she had that category pretty much all to herself, Diana Rowland’s Kara Gillian series took a turn into straight urban fantasy. Anyway, to add a couple of other series (and I have an ulterior motive because neither has had an addition for a few years): Mary Stanton has a series,(Beaufort & Company) about a young lawyer who inherits her great-uncle’s law practice, and discovers that only half of it comes from living clients. The other part of her clients have died and need to be defended against charges that might land them in Hell–literally. There’s no romance–but there might have been if the series kept going. The other series is for younger readers (or older readers like me). It’s by R.L. LaFevers, and it’s about a frighteningly competent girl named Theodosia, the precocious child of a pair of Egyptologists, who has the ability to see ancient curses and can therefore neutralize them. (Come to think of it, she is probably around the same age as Rameses Emerson). The mysteries she gets involved in tend to have high stakes, like the fall of the British Empire, but they’re fun.
mmm. They are more fantasy with v little romance but I would suggest Annie Bellet’s Pyrrh novels and Michelle Sagara’s Elantra novels.
Oh! And Devon Monk’s Ordinary novels, and Diana Pharaoh Francis Diamond city novels.
Alyssa Day’s Private Eye novels are great too.
Laura Anne Gilman’s Sylvan investigation novellas are great, half-faun PI in NYC.
Goodness!! There are so many!!
The Stacy Justice series by Barbara Annino could fit – although a little more cozy mystery with a reluctant witch than procedural. Light, fun, and with a good romance woven through too.
Doesn’t exactly fit the bill, but Vicki Pettersson’s Celestial Blues trilogy has a bit of a Noir feel with a murdered P.I. from the 50s turned heavenly escort for the newly departed. Really, really good books.
*Shiloh Walker — FBI Psychics series.
*Seconding the Briggs Alpha and Omega series.
*Possibly JR Ward’s Angels series.
I haven’t read all of the comments, but wanted to recommend the Bishop SCU novels by Kay Hooper. There are a lot of them as the series started in the late 90’s with Stealing Shadows. I think many of the earlier books, especially Out of the Shadows (published in 2000, I think) and Chill of Fear are better than some of the newer ones, but those are still good. The series follows a special FBI unit made up of psychics of varying degrees. In the more recent books (released since 2005-ish), there has been a sub-plot following one specific agent throughout the entire series, so I would suggest starting from the beginning, so you won’t be confused. (The series was only supposed to be the first three books, but the fans convinced her to keep writing them.)
Dorinha Basarb by Karen Chance.
I’ll recommend KJ Charles’ The Magpie Lord and sequels.
@roserita, yes!! I freaking LOVED the first couple of Diana Rowland’s Kara Gillian books. But then things took a turn for the slightly weird, and when I left off in the fourth book she had totally stopped solving crimes altogether and was hanging out in the demon realm full time. They were good books and I will probably go back to them eventually but just not quite the magic of the first couple in that series. I used to be a huge fan of CSI (only the original CSI in Vegas, the spinoffs never worked for me) so the idea of combining CSI with romance was super attractive for me.
There isn’t romance in them as yet, but The Rook and Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley would certainly fit the bill for paranormal detecting. It’s a bonus that they’re both excellent.