Thought I'd give this thread a bump as i've still got some xmas book tokens in my wallet (gawd bless you, gran) and want to read some good crime fiction.
I've worked my way through the obvious American ones (Ellroy, Chandler, Hammet, Highsmith, Hiaasen, Leonard, Higgins, Parestsky) and would actually like to read something contemporary and British - not Rankin (who I've read plenty of), not whodunnit Sunday night algebra fiction, and pref not one of those smart, media-savvy types (Hawes, Brookmeyer) who improbably throw smart media-savvy MC types into deals with Russian gangsters and international terroristas.
Any suggestions?