After Robert Parker's Spenser... What???
 

After doing McDonald and moving on to Lee Childs and Robert Parker's fine series', What is next????

Sanford is good, but then???

chris

The Travis McGee books by John D. MacDonald. Set in South Florida in the 60s, they are genre setting books that are both time capsules and as fresh and relevant today as they were when they were written.

Elmore Leonard

Dick Francis

Tony Hillerman

I've been a longtime fan of the Spenser novels, but I think Parker ran off the rails a long time ago with excessive psychobabble and interaction between Spenser, who, oddly, never seemed to age, and Susan. Here are two other series that I think are quite well done - and there are others:

Robert Crais' Elvis Cole books
James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheau novels
If you can find them, try Peter Bowen's Gabriel Dupre novels. These are quirky but excellent - and I think maybe out of print. Should be available used and definately worth the effort.
Also, Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series.

These latter two have a very western, Americana, ethic to them, which I guess is one of the reasons I like them so much.

These are both serial in nature, so you'll want to start with the first ones written in order to maintain continuity.

Two years ago, I finished the last Travis McGee novel. It was a sad day when I had no more stories of Mr. McGee's "salvage and recovery" to read. I may have to start them over again.

Bingo! A moral man, Travis.

have you tried rex stout?

5string's mention of the Walt Longmire reminds me to mention that it been made into a TV series Named Longmire which is quite good!

If there is any interest in nautical themed historical novels. Two really good reads are
Patrick O Brian's Aubrey- Maturin series, starting with The master and commander.

And there is the Hornblower series by CS Forester.

There must be over 20 books in both series , so lot of good reading if you find them interesting.

Cheers Richard

Also Wilbur Smith Wrote a series of novels based in Africa about some dynastic families and their challenges thru the generations.

I'd second Herr oberst suggestion of Dick Francis, the world of high level horse racing in England. And Tony Hillerman. Both have some excellent books.

Cheers Richard

How about Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford? Similar vain as Travis McGee but set in current time on the opposite FL coast.

Or Carl Hiaasen... A couple of recurring characters, such as "The Captain" or "Twilly Spree" that aren't necessarily central to the plot but show themselves in multiple novels. Hiaasen is very satirical and will make you laugh. If you're familiar with the over-development of Florida, they will make you think, too.