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List of Top Crime and Mystery Books of All Time

by David Grann, March 11, 2010 1:59 PM

I've written each day about my new book The Devil and Sherlock Holmes, which contains a dozen stories about mystery and intrigue. So today I thought I would list ten of my favorite crime and mystery books of all time (both fiction and nonfiction), which I look to for inspiration.

In no particular order, they include:

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Epitaph for a Spy by Eric Ambler

The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer

The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection by Arthur Conan Doyle

Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

Double Indemnity by James M. Cain

Killshot by Elmore Leonard

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

Who did I leave off? Who are your favorite crime and mystery writers? Let me know.

Books mentioned in this post

The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection Arthur Conan Doyle	In Cold Blood A True Account of a Multiple Murder & Its Consequences Truman Capote	Crime & Punishment Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Fyodor Dostoevsky
Devil & Sherlock Holmes Tales of Murder Madness & Obsession David Grann	Epitaph for a Spy Ambler, Eric	Executioners Song Norman Mailer
Killshot Elmore Leonard	Presumed Innocent Scott Turow	Lady in the Lake the Little Sister the Long Goodbye Playback Raymond Chandler
Brighton Rock Penguin Classic Deluxe Edition Graham Greene	Double Indemnity Unabridged Cd James M Cain

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16 Responses to "List of Top Crime and Mystery Books of All Time"

BAB June 9, 2012 at 09:43 AM

Any crime/mystery list should include Rocambole by Poson du Terrial. It is accredited with starting the whole genre of heroic crime fiction.

Angela March 23, 2010 at 01:49 PM

The Four Adventures of Richard Hannay: The Thirty-Nine Steps/Greenmantle/Mr. Standfast/the Three Hostages by John Buchan John Buchan is the father of spy fiction!

Emily Nesbitt March 16, 2010 at 10:52 AM

How are people forgetting "The Talented Mr. Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith? Or "Strangers On a Train"?

Stephen March 15, 2010 at 11:24 PM

I like some of your choices, but how about: Neon Rain by James Lee Burke The Wrong Case by James Crumley When the Sacred Gin Mill Closes by Lawrence Block The Long Legged Fly by James Sallis Strange Loyalties by William McIlvanney The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler The Dragon Murder Case by S.S. Van Dine L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy The Guards by Ken Bruen

Ann March 15, 2010 at 10:33 PM

Gaudy Night - Dorothy Sayers

Russ Cashon March 15, 2010 at 04:28 PM

I love mysteries and histories. I hated "The Devil in the White City." The writing was bloated and boring and I couldn't finish it. Better by far was "The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of OED" by Simon Winchester. Others I'd add: The Night Gardnener by George Pelacanos Count Zero by William Gibson Skinwalkers by Tony Hillerman The Galton Case by Ross Macdonald

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List of Top Crime and Mystery Books of All Time

Books mentioned in this post

The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection

In Cold Blood A True Account of a Multiple Murder & Its Consequences

Crime & Punishment

Devil & Sherlock Holmes Tales of Murder Madness & Obsession

Epitaph for a Spy

Executioners Song

Killshot

Presumed Innocent

Lady in the Lake the Little Sister the Long Goodbye Playback

Brighton Rock Penguin Classic Deluxe Edition

Double Indemnity Unabridged Cd

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16 Responses to "List of Top Crime and Mystery Books of All Time"

Post a comment:

PowellsBooks.Blog Authors, readers, critics, media − and booksellers.

Books mentioned in this post

Most Read

Blog Categories

16 Responses to "List of Top Crime and Mystery Books of All Time"

Post a comment:

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Authors, readers, critics, media − and booksellers.