On surfaces with p_g=2q-3

We study minimal complex surfaces S of general type with q(S)=q and p_g(S)=2q-3, q>= 5. We give a complete classification in case that S has a fibration onto a curve of genus >=2. For these surfaces K^2=8\chi. In general we prove that K^2>=7\chi-1 and that the stronger inequality K^2\ge 8\chi holds under extra assumptions (e.g., if the canonical system has no fixed part or the canonical map has even degree). We also describe the Albanese map of S.