Mysteries are one of the most enduring forms of popular literature. And British mystery writers have been, and continue to be, a dominant force. It's hard to define exactly what ii is that makes them stand out, but most readers of mysteries will tell you that British mystery books have a special appeal.

Out of the current crop of British mystery writers, I think three of the best are Val McDermid, Peter Robinson, and Ian Rankin.

Val McDermid

Val McDermid is a Scottish-born writer who now lives in England. She is the author of three different series:

One series features Dr. Tony Hill, a clinical psychologist who works with the police department as a profiler.. Another features Kate Brannigan, a female private inspector. A third features LIndsay Gordon, a free lance journalist. She has also written several stand-alone mysteries, including her latest, A Darker Domain.

All of Val McDermid's books are page turners. Her plots are intricate enough to keep the readier guessing, without feeling totally confused. Her use of flashback is masterful. Rather than have someone describe what happened in the past, she re-enacts it and the result is very effective. And the transition is smooth, so the reader doesn't have to keep flipping back and forth.

Ms. McDermid is extremely effective in evoking mood and atmosphere. In A Darker Domain, she gives a gripping picture of the struggles of Scottish miners and their families during a national strike in 1984. Her characters are well-drawn and believable. Any Val McDermid book is a pleasure to read.

Peter Robinson is the author of a series of mysteries featuring police detective Alan Banks. The books are laid in Yorkshire. Throughout the series, we follow Banks' career, as he rises from detective inspector to detective chief inspector--not without some set-backs along the way.

We also follow Banks' personal life. He begins the series happily married. As the series progresses, his wife becomes involved with another man and eventually leaves him. Banks then has relationships with other women, but none of them last. He also has a crisis when his son wants to leave college to become a professional rock musician.

Robinson also features the professional and personal lives of Banks' fellow detectives. Prominently featured is Annie Cabot, an ambitious young policewoman, who has an affair with Banks, but ends it when she decides that she is endangering her career. And there is Winsome Jackman, a black woman fighting for acceptance not only in the police department, but in rural Yorkshire itself.

Robinson's plots are gripping and make his books almost impossible to put down. HIs characters are well-drawn and believable. Even the one you don't like are still interesting..A new Peter Robinson book is always a treat.

Ian Rankin is the best selling crime writer in the United Kingdom. He is the author of a series featuring Detective Inspector John Rebus. Rankin's books are laid in Edinburgh, Scotland, and frequently reflect current events on the political and social scene.

Rebus is the ultimate anti-hero. In his personal life, he's divorced, a heavy drinker, and basically a loner. In his professional life, he's the despair of his superiors. Following orders is not something he does well; he follows his own instincts, which frequently leads him into trouble. On the other hand, it also usually gets results!

Despite all his failings, Rebus is an appealing character, that the reader can relate to. You can sympathize with his impatience with bureaucracy, even while you cringe when he goes off on his own, knowing that he is going to get into hot water.

There is also an aspect of his personal life that can draw the reader to him. In the early books, Rebus is more or less estranged from his ex-wife and daughter. But as his daughter gets older, he begins to re-establish a relationship. Then she is injured in a car accident and becomes a paraplegic. Rebus's anguish is very real and gripping.

Ian Rankin's plots hold your attention to the very end. His characters are well-drawn and believable. Rankin's latest book,Exit Music,is the last in the Rebus series. Rebus finally retires--after successfully solving a case, of course. In the finest tradition of writers everywhere, Rankin leaves you wondering what will happen to Rebus. How will he survive without being a copper?

Presumably, Rankin will start a new series, or else go to stand-alone books. I am eager to see what he does next. But I will miss Rebus, as will all his other fans , I know.