Detectives by the Book

Avid readers can attest to the fact that many movies and television shows are based on books. For example, three incredibly popular movies, Mystic River, Gone, Baby, Gone and Shutter Island, were all based on books written by Dennis Lehane. The list of movies and television shows based on books is impressive, but this post is all about detective fiction that has been translated to the small screen.

There is something intrisically interesting about solving a mystery. Keys to success in both detective series' and TV shows include quirky characters, puzzling crimes and an evolving storyline...of course, some romantic tension never hurts. Shows based on books already have a built in audience - the legions of fans who love the books. Who wouldn't like to see their beloved characters in real life? This doesn't always keep a show on air, however, as was the case for Women's Murder Club - the ABC drama based on James Patterson's series of the same name that only ran for a year. Other stories enjoy long-lasting popularity in both book and TV format.

*Here are a few TV detective shows based on books:

Bones (FOX) - based on the Temperance Brennan series written by Kathy Reichs and based on the author, herself

Jesse Stone made-for-TV movies (CBS) - based on Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (HBO) - based on Alexander McCall Smith's series by the same name

Rizzoli and Isles (TNT) - based on the Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series by Tess Gerritsen

*On the flip side, here are some books that were inspired by TV shows:

Heat Wave by Richard Castle - based on the ABC show Castle

Mr. Monk series by Lee Goldberg - based on the USA Network show Monk

Murder, She Wrote series by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain - based on the CBS Network show Murder, She Wrote

What are your favorite detective novels and/or TV shows?