The thrill of turning each page as a mystery gets untangled by the coolest detectives is truly unmatched. Best Detective Books are captivating as they help us uncover the motives and methods of crime most excitingly. Crime fiction is one of the most popular genres; you can enjoy novels on detectives without any boredom.
With so many best mystery books flooding the bookstores, it is a tough job to compile the best ones into one list. However, we still made this list of the 9 Best Detective Novels of all time so you can satisfy your inner thirst for mystery.
The 9 Best Detective Books Of All Times–
1. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Did you know? There’s a highly acclaimed TV series based on Sherlock Holmes, released in 1988, which includes a gripping episode on The Hound of the Baskervilles. This series has garnered an impressive 8.7/10 rating on IMDb
This book is regarded as one of the greatest investigative thrillers ever written. The suspense ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ creates and the way it handles the twist at the conclusion, everyone has given it high praise. This book is different from the majority of other novels on detectives in the archive since a large chunk of it was experienced by Watson himself.
Holmes and Watson leave when it is determined that there is too much work to be done in London, and Watson is to make as much progress in his investigation of the beast in Devonshire. This deprives the reader of the assurance that Sherlock’s sharp mind and rapid reasoning afford to arrive at swift conclusions.
2. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Did you know? The 2017 movie Murder on the Orient Express, based on Agatha Christie’s famous novel of the same name, brings the classic mystery to life. The film has earned a 6.6/10 rating on IMDb.
The detective Hercule Poirot is the focus of the book’s plot, which centers on his quest to solve a murder case while the Orient Express train is stopped by snow. Once one understands the narrative and characters, the arcs, storyline, and plot are so captivating that it is impossible to put the book down. The language in this classic best detective fiction is also simple to understand. If you enjoy thriller mysteries and Agatha Christie, you should read this. Only an author as talented as her can pull off something like this.
3. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
A contemporary, noir-style detective thriller that introduces us to the world of Philip Marlowe. Rather than being tasked with solving the case of a missing individual, Marlowe finds himself in the middle of three murders and numerous mobsters on his tail. He is on his own, with little support from District Attorney Ohls, and is considered a nuisance by the Los Angeles Police.
The author, Chandler is descriptive without committing the folly of being uselessly exhaustive. Instead, he intersperses the plot with continual doses of sarcasm, mystery, and hilarious counterpoint between his investigator, Phil Marlowe, and the cast of strange individuals with whom he has to deal.
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Did you know? The 2011 mystery thriller film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, directed by David Fincher and starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, is based on Stieg Larsson’s novel. It has a 7.8/10 rating on IMDb.
This is more than simply a Swedish story; it is about the monster that resides within each of us. The author captures a criminal’s raw brilliance with the perfect balance of spice and fragility. Steig Larsson’s characters are still with us today. He is the man who transformed best detective fiction into a horrific legend. We all experience fear, but this novel transports it to the realms of desire and imagination, painting a larger-than-life image of a pitiful world. It is a fantastic piece of work that is as horrifying as it is realistic and as interesting as it is humorous.
5. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Truly a classic mystery with a plot full of bizarre turns and twists. The book has incredibly good, straightforward, and understandable writing. The plot revolves around hardboiled detective Sam Spade, who is recruited to track down a client’s sister by following her companion. Miles Archer, Spade’s partner, accepts the job, and shortly after, both Archer and the man he is observing are killed. A diverse cast of people surrounds Spade as he investigates the mystery behind his partner’s death; they are all pursuing a fabled figurine of a falcon that was once created for King Charles of Spain. This is truly a gem of a read.
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6. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
Despite being Agatha Christie’s debut novel, it reads like a masterpiece. Similar to most of her best detective novels, the mystery initially appears unduly challenging, and after you discover the solution, you’ll feel foolish for missing something so simple. Additionally, this marks the debut of Hercule Poirot, her renowned eccentric Belgian detective.
Poirot leaves retirement plans to pursue the murderer of a wealthy heiress. The great investigator discovers the answer in a meticulously thought-out plot that is nearly impossible to believe. He works through the list of possibilities. He makes every effort to guide the reader through the confusing web of leads and potential suspects.
7. Still Life by Louise Penny
Did you know? There is a movie titled Still Life: A Three Pines Mystery, released in 2013, based on the novel. In it, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team arrive in Three Pines to solve the unusual murder of a much-loved woman, uncovering dark secrets in this usually peaceful village. It has a 5.8/10 rating on IMDb.
This book is a fantastic read; the prose is beautiful, elegant, and a little wandering. The good and dark sides of each character are brilliantly portrayed, making for an enjoyable read.
The story begins as the locals believe Miss Jane Neal’s death in the forest during Thanksgiving weekend—who was likely shot by an arrow—to be the result of a hunting mishap. Chief Inspector Gamache, however, after being dispatched from Montreal to conduct an investigation, quickly learned that it would have been extremely difficult for the shooting to have been an accident. Philosophical in tone, this cozy crime has art at its core.
8. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
This is a really enjoyable read. Pleasant, fast-paced, and a little quirky—in the repressed, ironically blind kind of way that the British are known for. The landscape is incredibly English, and the language is flawless. The writing is thoughtful and subdued. The fact that three murders figure into the plot and that this book contains another novel adds to its allure. The author of the narrative passes away, and this is oddly reflected in the plot he wrote. A mystery within a mystery, where you discover that you are both the reader and the detective!
9. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Did you know? In Cold Blood is a 1967 American neo-noir crime film based on the novel by Truman Capote. It has a 7.9/10 rating on IMDb.
This is an incredibly well-written work that deserves recognition. It is regarded as the first of its kind, a “true” crime book, and it adheres extremely closely to the facts. Capote narrates the events leading up to the arrest, prosecution, and execution of the killers responsible for the brutal shooting deaths of four Clutter family members, who were struck only inches from their faces by shotgun blasts. It is long, but all the details add to the overall story that leads to the uncovering of the killer’s motives.
Conclusion-
The best detective books have the potential to keep us hooked on our seats with our hands repeatedly flipping the pages until we lose track of time. The whole case is gradually uncovered by a detective who keeps track of every clue.
These best detective novels offer a refreshment from other genres and provide a glimpse into the psyche of criminals. From fiction to nonfiction, these chilling stories will surely keep you up at night, wondering what humans are capable of!
If you are on the hunt for the best mystery books, this list of novels on detectives is a perfect place to start!
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