But then there’s a murder. This is the first appearance of Pendergast, who is seen again in several later Preston and Child books. George Smiley is the main character, and the question is can George, now retired, pull himself back together to solve a crime that has been unsolved for at least 20 years and not get killed in the process. As it’s based on a real-life case that has already been solved, you might think all the mystery is taken out of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. Homecoming proves harder than she thought: Camille had been estranged from her family, and must now reconnect with them. The Moonstone is widely regarded as the first mystery novel ever published, and Wilkie Collins paved the way for subsequent books in this genre by introducing hallmark elements such as the large number of suspects, an incompetent constabulary force, and an exceptionally brilliant detective. For the purposes of this list, I’m grouping them all together and including some from several different classifications. The Dry is her first novel. However, as a body of work starting with The Blessing Way, his influence on the mystery genre cannot be overstated. Now in our list of the best mysteries ever written, we have to jump over the ocean to the United Kingdom and talk about Agatha Christie. While the signs he drops are not exactly there to help you find out “who done it”, it will definitely give you a foreboding awareness that makes it hard to put the book down. What’s suspenseful, but not too scary? 3. Another serial killer, Hannibal Lector, who is now sitting in jail for previous crimes, helps her to catch the bad guy. Gothic mystery Rebecca is a classic when it comes to telling bone-chilling stories set in an old, grand mansion. Tales of Mystery & Imagination (stories) Edgar Allan Poe: USA 1852 24 The Mask of … The main character, Jack Reacher, is a former military police guy who has never really integrated himself fully back into society since his tour of duty ended. No one ever displays their domestic problems in their totality to others, not even to friends, and that makes Big Little Lies so much more captivating. One of the most thrilling books in the queen of crime’s repertoire, and her bestselling title, is “And Then There Were None.” If you’re partial to courtroom mysteries/thrillers and authors like Scott Turow or John Grisham, you can thank Robert Traver, the pen name of Michigan Supreme Court Justice, John D. Voelker. Larsson’s story takes classic mystery tropes — family feud, blackmailing sequences — and spices them up with additional developments in the protagonists’ personal lives. The book is about a young woman who marries a much older man and accompanies him back to his manor, Manderley. Eventually, he retired from teaching to devote himself to writing. The author was originally an actress, who gave up acting to pursue writing. In other words, it’s subjective, not always fair, and occasionally corrupt. The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman, 1970, 12. Anatomy of a Murder is an early and great example of courtroom mysteries and the one that paved the way for future works in the subgenre. What sets Hill apart from other writers of his generation and his genre is his command of English and English literature. Conan Doyle's legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes, presumed dead, returns to the land of the living to shed light on the petrifying death of his friend, Charles Baskerville. Delve into the past once more as we explore the story of King Richard III in The Daughter of Time. Lee Child, the pen name of James Dover Grant, has written 24 books in the Jack Reacher series starting with Killing Floor in 1997. They don’t all have the same main character or characters like the John D. MacDonald series, although Skink does appear in a few as a minor character. So, don’t let that stop you from reading it. Deals. The Secrets of Harry Bright was Wambaugh’s seventh novel. And you probably wouldn’t find them in the mystery section, but rather in the fiction section. Korede doesn’t report or question this — her sister is family, after all, and Korede goes to great lengths to protect her family. The Moonstone is generally considered by scholars to be the first detective... 2. And then there’s a murder. Eye of the Needle is no exception — the tension and secrecy that plagued this tumultuous time is captured skillfully in this volume. Hint: while you’re reading watch for the themes of betrayal and redemption. If I want to read something critically, I read it twice. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, 1868. Perhaps better known by its major motion picture adaptation, Gone Girl is the ultimate mystery puzzle for the modern media age. Hillerman’s Leaphorn books have won all the major mystery prizes, including the Edgar, Nero, Macavity, Anthony, and several other prizes as well including the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, a major French literary prize. And McGee has a conscience and often gets emotionally involved in his cases against his better judgment. The Deep Blue Good-By is the first of the Travis McGee series, and it’s listed here because it’s also one of the best. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great mystery books to read, you can also take our 1-minute quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized mystery book recommendation . As he and sidekick cryptologist Neveu tries to decode the artistic riddles left at the scene, all of which are related to the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Dan Brown takes readers scrambling through the City of Love, speechless (because of the shrewd puzzles and not Paris’ beauty, of course). Told without a single paragraph dedicated to the thoughts of any of the characters, this is truly an enigma that keeps you guessing. This mystery book has everything from psychological analysis to breath-taking chases through New York’s grimy streets. Conan Doyle invented Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, his... 3. First I read a book for the story, and then I read it to analyze it. Some have found Hillerman’s books preachy, and he was accused more than once of getting a few cultural facts wrong. And won a few prizes, too. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, 1980, 15. From murder mysteries, to spy stories, the mystery books on this list are the best of the best. If you want to read the best mysteries from the beginning of time, The Moonstone is the one to start with. The third book in the Dave Robicheaux series, which won an Edgar Award. Best Mystery Books: Our Recommendations for You A good mystery is both captivating and thought-provoking. From deceit to elaborate tricks, le Carré’s espionage masterpiece will not only keep you on your toes because of the constant suspicion, it will also shed some light on the incredible social tension that existed in the 1970s at the height of the Cold War. The Kate Shackleton Mysteries by Frances Brody. Following two separate strings of events, the characters eventually find themselves both trying to find the person who, forty years ago, supposedly killed Harriet Vanger — niece of one of the wealthiest men in Sweden. However, because of the underlying indigenous flavor to his themes, he had difficulty selling the first book to a publisher, and Robert Redford, who held most of the movie rights for many years similarly had difficulty getting the films made. The unnamed protagonist of the tale becomes the wife of a widowed, wealthy man, Mr. de Winter, and moves into the Manderly, his stately home. It’s definitely a crossover book in that it could just as easily be found on a list of great books from the twentieth century, English literature, or gothic literature. The story thus produced is shockingly satisfying to read, and it will no doubt leave you wanting to travel to France’s capital just to retrace Langdon’s steps. Raymond Chandler’s idea of mystery strays from conventions — for him it’s less about the intricate plot and more about the atmosphere and characters. There are (I think) 55 books in the series, written over about 50 years. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. The mysterious hosts of this strange party are not present, but left instructions for two of the ten to tend the house as the housekeeper and cook. Personally, I think Jodie Foster was miscast as Clarice Starling, but I digress. Maigret tries to understand the psychology of the situation, the perpetrators, the victims, and motives in order to figure out what happened. Amongst all of her works, none has a story quite as impeccably crafted as And Then There Were None, which explains why it is the best selling mystery book of all time. The books are funny in a weird, outrageous, crazy kind of way. The mystery genre has been around for over two centuries, with pioneers like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins, Edgar Allan Poe and G.K. Chesterton leading the way. For those who are partial to newer books, I offer you The Drifter. However, what’s different about these books is that the police procedural does not take place in an urban setting, but rather in the vast American Southwest—and on the Navajo reservation. He was not a sleepyhead. I included this book on my list because it’s so good and so different from anything that has come before or after it. However, as Maigret patiently eliminates suspects, the reader is offered insight into the criminal mind, the mind of a compassionate detective, and the greater world at large. Light-hearted as it may sound, this novel’s puzzle is incredibly well-crafted and its classical mystery style, reminiscent of the works of Agatha Christie and Josephine Tey, makes it easy to finish the volume in one sitting. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. It’s generally considered a historical mystery, sometimes considered a post-modern mystery, and I just plain consider it the best historical mystery ever written. The Moonstone is generally considered by scholars to be the first detective book in the English language. Laura was betrothed to Sir Percival Glyde and yet she was mysteriously warned not to proceed with the marriage. As Jane Eyre says: “It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied ... From fantasy adventure to autobiographical comics to historical fiction to, yes, superheroes and monsters, this list of the best manga has stories for readers of every genre and age. I wouldn’t say these are the best mystery books ever written on a short list of 25, but they are so good, that I couldn’t leave them behind either. Sinister supernatural forces appear to be the only explanation for this mystery, but the supremely rational Sherlock Holmes is not going to give up on his quest to find the one and only truth. It’s a book that you may need to read several times to understand it fully. As haunting as it is alluring, In the Woods is more than just a mystery book. And that’s all I’m going to tell you about the plot. This book is not high literature. 1. The story follows Frank Chambers and his roadside encounter with diner owner Cora Papadakis. Good stories, beautifully written—that’s what great mysteries are all about. Raymond Chandler’s idea of mystery strays from conventions Before that he got a degree in English and taught English for years. The reason why McBain belongs on this list is that McBain was one of the earliest mystery authors to give us a police procedural, one in which cops are real people. He is a respected expert on medical ethics in the UK, but starting in 1998, at the age of 50, he began writing books for the non-academic public. 3. Anatomy of a Murder, written by a Supreme Court Justice under the pseudonym Robert Traver, is such a classic. Locus 1998 Poll, All-Time Best Fantasy Novel Before 1990. I don’t know if she plagiarized anything or not; but I don’t care, either, because Rebecca is still good enough to find a place on this list. I hesitated between Double Whammy or Tourist Season, but I decided on Double Whammy because it’s his first novel in which the character, Skink, is introduced. Definitely watch the movie if you can. Single mother Jane sends her son to kindergarten and befriends two mothers — Madeleine and Celeste. Period. Many of his books have been adapted to film or television. Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver, 1958, 7. The book was translated from Italian to English in 1983. As soon as I started this article, I knew that one Hiaasen book needed to be on this list. It’s a great book being adapted to a movie right now. Georges Simenon was a prolific Belgian writer, best known for his series of detective or mystery novels with the main character of Superintendent (or Commissaire) Jules Maigret in France. You’ll probably want to read The Maltese Falcon several times just to be able to memorize some of the dialogue and toss out some winners at cocktail parties. All of the Sherlock Holmes stories have nice and neat endings, and you will find it refreshing to read a good mystery that has a sensible solution to it like a neatly wrapped Christmas gift. Probably a thrilling tale that keeps you wondering who the culprit was. And the mystery is solved purely by deductive reasoning and intellect, something that was most welcome in the Victorian era, which was a tough time for the average man. Yet, as dense as it is, and despite taking place in a monastery where there isn’t too much cheerful conversation, the book is not all somber. I’m going to fix that. People dressed differently, and in some cases, spoke differently. Our best mystery books of all time are care selected based on opinion of mystery book lovers and fans. The Chimney-sweeper’s Boy was one of Rendell’s later books. The stakes, however, are raised when he found out that his own brother is somehow involved in the mystery, and the murder he is falssely accused of is nowhere near as simple as he thought. Just read the book; it’s the best of its type ever written. The Whistler by John Grisham The first in a great series of historical mysteries set in the twelfth century featuring the monk, Brother Cadfael. The book has sold over 50 million copies, been translated into several languages, and it has also won a bunch of prizes. So, Reacher travels across the states, living a nomadic life with as small a footprint as possible while he solves some mysteries and rights some wrongs along the way. Because after reading thousands of mysteries, I think it’s one of the best ever written. In another first book to a detective series we have Killing Floor, a novel full of action and secrets. 1-16 of over 4,000 results for "best mystery books of all time" Skip to main search results Eligible for Free Shipping. You can always go back and read them all starting with the first, Cop Hater, if you like it. So, if you like this one, there are plenty more. However, I chose The Moonstone for this list because I think it’s better than The Woman in White. Maigret is a large, plodding character, who doesn’t have a clear recipe for solving crimes like Sherlock Holmes did, for example. While the case is overwhelmingly against Manion, his unreliable behavior leaves room for challenges against conviction, and that’s where Biegler and his seemingly laid-back attitude comes in. The Name of the Rose was his debut novel. The case is more complicated than it seems, especially since the Moonstone has a mysterious history Rachel doesn’t yet know of. Men were typically the breadwinners, and women wore lots of aprons and carried cigarettes in gold cases. S, in some short stories Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, and there ’ s book... Wanting to learn more about him, too bar on writing about serial killers Carl! 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