jonathan Raban - Waxwings (expatriate Brit now resident: brilliant non-fiction writer, too)

Some of the early JA Jance books featuring Dect Beaumont (sp?) were set in downtown Seattle and surrounding areas. Since we know all the places she is writing about, even some of the dive resturants, it makes the easy reading fictional story come alive more easily. She still is a good writer but many of her newer books are set in Arizona so not quite as FLW in my opinion.

Jim DeVleming

"Snow Falling on Cedars" by David Guterson was based not specifically in Seattle but in the Puget Sound area during the build-up to WWII through the 1950's. The author did lots of research on the Japanese community in the area at the time and it shows. Some of his other books-maybe all-are based in the area but I've only read the one.

Some of Amy Bloom's book "Away" is set in Seattle.

I also really like Richelle Mead's Succubus series which is set in Seattle and makes several references to local landmarks that I had to Google. I like these books even though I have sworn off paranormal fiction. Maybe that's not your thing but they are good for the genre they are in. The author has an MA in Comparative Religion (by that I'm trying to say that she's smart.)

Mysteries by Ridley Pearson, the Lou Boldt detective series. If you've never read them, start with the first in the series. Pearson is wonderful with character development, and we gradually get to know the players and their relationships and their dreams and disappointments - and, oh yeah - someone gets dead and they catch the killer. Usually.

Just finished another great book set in Seattle area "The Art of Racing in the Rain". Good triumphs over "evil" as told from a brilliant dog's perspective. If you don't shed a tear (or thousand) by the end, you may not be breathing...

By Earl Emerson, the Thomas Black series about a Seattle PI (start with The Rainy City), and the Mac Fontana series (start with Black Hearts and Slow Dancing) about a small town fire chief set in the fictional Staircase WA, which is a stand in for Seattle suburbs like North Bend and Fall City. He also writes stand alone firefighter myteries.

Madison House by Peter Donahue. What happens to neighbors when their neighborhood is altered? The book is set in the early 20th century and centers around the regrading of Denny Hill. It made me want to visit Seattle.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford is set in Seattle.

Snow Falling on Cedars by Guterson

Night Stalker, Donna Anders is a suspense novel, set in and around Seattle, Whidbey Island, and so on. References are made to Ivars, the "Ferry", and other local places.

Steampunk/zombie excellence in Boneshaker by Cherie Priest