Julian Symons 100 Best Crime & Mystery Books

1.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5) 4.13 avg rating — 376,344 ratings
2.
Rebecca
Rebecca 4.25 avg rating — 697,923 ratings
3.
The Woman in White
The Woman in White 4.01 avg rating — 162,727 ratings
4.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4)
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot, #4) 4.26 avg rating — 327,615 ratings
5.
The Daughter of Time (Inspector Alan Grant, #5)
The Daughter of Time (Inspector Alan Grant, #5) 3.89 avg rating — 37,204 ratings
6.
The Moonstone
The Moonstone 3.91 avg rating — 97,260 ratings
7.
Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment 4.28 avg rating — 1,024,871 ratings
8.
The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, #1)
The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, #1) 3.59 avg rating — 45,018 ratings
9.
The Long Goodbye (Philip Marlowe, #6)
The Long Goodbye (Philip Marlowe, #6) 4.19 avg rating — 45,504 ratings
10.
Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey, #12)
Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey, #12) 4.20 avg rating — 31,539 ratings
11.
Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, #10)
Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey, #10) 4.17 avg rating — 24,406 ratings
12.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes, #4)
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes, #4) 4.29 avg rating — 103,211 ratings
13.
The Moving Toyshop (Gervase Fen, #3)
The Moving Toyshop (Gervase Fen, #3) 3.75 avg rating — 7,616 ratings
14.
The Innocence of Father Brown (Father Brown, #1)
The Innocence of Father Brown (Father Brown, #1) 3.81 avg rating — 18,294 ratings
15.
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Postman Always Rings Twice 3.76 avg rating — 47,128 ratings
16.
Rogue Male (Rogue Male, #1)
Rogue Male (Rogue Male, #1) 3.92 avg rating — 5,357 ratings
17.
The High Window (Philip Marlowe, #3)
The High Window (Philip Marlowe, #3) 4.04 avg rating — 24,733 ratings
18.
The Greek Coffin Mystery (Ellery Queen Detective, #4)
The Greek Coffin Mystery (Ellery Queen Detective, #4) 3.68 avg rating — 1,889 ratings
19.
The Old Man in the Corner (Teahouse Detective, #1)
The Old Man in the Corner (Teahouse Detective, #1) 3.57 avg rating — 1,265 ratings
20.
A Gun for Sale
A Gun for Sale 3.63 avg rating — 4,014 ratings
21.
Overture to Death (Roderick Alleyn, #8)
Overture to Death (Roderick Alleyn, #8) 3.96 avg rating — 4,707 ratings
22.
The Mask of Dimitrios (Charles Latimer, #1)
The Mask of Dimitrios (Charles Latimer, #1) 3.92 avg rating — 11,527 ratings
23.
Death Comes as the End
Death Comes as the End 3.85 avg rating — 26,783 ratings
24.
The Big Clock
The Big Clock 3.84 avg rating — 2,651 ratings
25.
Smallbone Deceased (Inspector Hazlerigg, #4)
Smallbone Deceased (Inspector Hazlerigg, #4) 4.06 avg rating — 2,651 ratings
26.
The Ivory Grin (Lew Archer, #4)
The Ivory Grin (Lew Archer, #4) 3.98 avg rating — 2,697 ratings
27.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Mystery of Edwin Drood 3.66 avg rating — 12,948 ratings
28.
Uncle Silas
Uncle Silas 3.74 avg rating — 6,997 ratings
29.
The Exploits of Arsene Lupin
The Exploits of Arsene Lupin 3.97 avg rating — 339 ratings
30.
Tales of Mystery and Imagination
Tales of Mystery and Imagination 4.09 avg rating — 10,388 ratings
31.
Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman (Raffles, #1)
Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman (Raffles, #1) 3.57 avg rating — 2,617 ratings
32.
Bulldog Drummond (Bulldog Drummond #1)
Bulldog Drummond (Bulldog Drummond #1)
by: Sapper
3.59 avg rating — 717 ratings
33.
Ashenden
Ashenden 3.86 avg rating — 3,853 ratings
33.
The Glass Key
The Glass Key 3.92 avg rating — 13,391 ratings
35.
The Lady Vanishes
The Lady Vanishes 3.75 avg rating — 2,769 ratings
36.
Death of a Ghost (Albert Campion Mystery, #6)
Death of a Ghost (Albert Campion Mystery, #6) 3.92 avg rating — 3,165 ratings
37.
Hangover Square
Hangover Square 4.13 avg rating — 5,637 ratings
38.
Beast In View
Beast In View 3.72 avg rating — 2,452 ratings
39.
The Poisoned Chocolates Case
The Poisoned Chocolates Case 3.78 avg rating — 3,579 ratings
40.
The Red House Mystery
The Red House Mystery 3.68 avg rating — 14,040 ratings
41.
The Three Coffins (Dr. Gideon Fell, #6)
The Three Coffins (Dr. Gideon Fell, #6) 3.80 avg rating — 3,991 ratings
42.
Sanctuary
Sanctuary 3.63 avg rating — 14,462 ratings
43.
The Adventures of Ellery Queen
The Adventures of Ellery Queen 3.87 avg rating — 990 ratings
44.
The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece (Perry Mason, #8)
The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece (Perry Mason, #8) 3.93 avg rating — 1,494 ratings
45.
Phantom Lady (Definitive Series)
Phantom Lady (Definitive Series) 3.93 avg rating — 890 ratings
46.
Hamlet, Revenge! (Sir John Appleby, #2)
Hamlet, Revenge! (Sir John Appleby, #2) 3.77 avg rating — 1,097 ratings
47.
Last Seen Wearing
Last Seen Wearing 3.84 avg rating — 1,177 ratings
48.
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (Melbourne Trilogy, #1)
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (Melbourne Trilogy, #1) 3.57 avg rating — 1,790 ratings
49.
A Kiss Before Dying
A Kiss Before Dying
by: Ira Levin
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 13,924 ratings
50.
The Mystery of the Yellow Room (Joseph Rouletabille #1)
The Mystery of the Yellow Room (Joseph Rouletabille #1) 3.65 avg rating — 13,479 ratings
51.
New Arabian Nights
New Arabian Nights 3.67 avg rating — 950 ratings
52.
The Three Impostors
The Three Impostors 3.85 avg rating — 1,389 ratings
53.
The Bellamy Trial
The Bellamy Trial 3.81 avg rating — 550 ratings
54.
Trent's Last Case (Philip Trent, #1)
Trent's Last Case (Philip Trent, #1) 3.76 avg rating — 4,073 ratings
55.
Payment Deferred
Payment Deferred 3.74 avg rating — 695 ratings
56.
Max Carrados
Max Carrados 3.50 avg rating — 237 ratings
57.
Fer-de-Lance (Nero Wolfe, #1)
Fer-de-Lance (Nero Wolfe, #1)
by: Rex Stout
3.97 avg rating — 16,287 ratings
58.
The Greene Murder Case (A Philo Vance Mystery #3)
The Greene Murder Case (A Philo Vance Mystery #3) 3.78 avg rating — 703 ratings
59.
Mr. Fortune Speaking
Mr. Fortune Speaking 3.95 avg rating — 19 ratings
59.
Verdict of Twelve
Verdict of Twelve 3.78 avg rating — 763 ratings
61.
Laura
Laura 3.97 avg rating — 3,848 ratings
61.
The Horizontal Man
The Horizontal Man 3.41 avg rating — 463 ratings
63.
Tragedy at Law (Francis Pettigrew, #1)
Tragedy at Law (Francis Pettigrew, #1) 3.80 avg rating — 815 ratings
64.
Mischief
Mischief 3.64 avg rating — 466 ratings
65.
Cat and Mouse
Cat and Mouse 3.45 avg rating — 186 ratings
66.
Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams 3.45 avg rating — 4,802 ratings
66.
From Russia with Love (James Bond, #5)
From Russia with Love (James Bond, #5) 3.91 avg rating — 37,938 ratings
68.
Maigret in Montmartre (Inspector Maigret #36)
Maigret in Montmartre (Inspector Maigret #36) 3.80 avg rating — 2,338 ratings
69.
Mystery of Orcival (Monsieur Lecoq #2)
Mystery of Orcival (Monsieur Lecoq #2) 3.88 avg rating — 328 ratings
69.
The Man from the Sea
The Man from the Sea 3.50 avg rating — 123 ratings
71.
The Blunderer
The Blunderer 3.70 avg rating — 3,398 ratings
72.
The Thinking Machine
The Thinking Machine 3.67 avg rating — 926 ratings
73.
At the Villa Rose
At the Villa Rose 3.42 avg rating — 486 ratings
74.
The Singing Bone (Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries, #5)
The Singing Bone (Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries, #5) 3.81 avg rating — 255 ratings
75.
The Crimson Circle
The Crimson Circle 3.67 avg rating — 610 ratings
76.
The Pit Prop Syndicate
The Pit Prop Syndicate 3.39 avg rating — 282 ratings
77.
The House of the Arrow
The House of the Arrow 3.45 avg rating — 157 ratings
78.
The Pleasantries of Old Quong (Short Story Index Reprint Series)
The Pleasantries of Old Quong (Short Story Index Reprint Series) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating
79.
Malice Aforethought
Malice Aforethought 3.93 avg rating — 1,992 ratings
80.
Above the Dark Circus
Above the Dark Circus 3.02 avg rating — 83 ratings
81.
A Pin to See the Peepshow
A Pin to See the Peepshow 4.04 avg rating — 388 ratings
82.
We, the Accused
We, the Accused 4.06 avg rating — 68 ratings
83.
Lady in the Morgue (Bill Crane, #3)
Lady in the Morgue (Bill Crane, #3) 3.87 avg rating — 134 ratings
84.
The Nursemaid Who Disappeared (Colonel Gethryn #11)
The Nursemaid Who Disappeared (Colonel Gethryn #11) 3.67 avg rating — 86 ratings
85.
Never Come Back
Never Come Back
by: John Mair
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 33 ratings
86.
Le locataire
Le locataire 3.44 avg rating — 349 ratings
87.
A case to answer, (A Fingerprint book)
A case to answer, (A Fingerprint book) 3.62 avg rating — 32 ratings
88.
Devil Take the Blue-tail Fly
Devil Take the Blue-tail Fly 3.45 avg rating — 257 ratings
89.
With My Little Eye: A Mystery Story for Teenagers
With My Little Eye: A Mystery Story for Teenagers 3.50 avg rating — 6 ratings
90.
Department of Dead Ends: 14 Detective Stories
Department of Dead Ends: 14 Detective Stories 3.77 avg rating — 52 ratings
91.
The Asphalt Jungle
The Asphalt Jungle 3.93 avg rating — 2,341 ratings
92.
Venetian Bird
Venetian Bird 3.83 avg rating — 24 ratings
93.
My Name Is Michael Sibley
My Name Is Michael Sibley 3.76 avg rating — 93 ratings
94.
Reputation for a Song
Reputation for a Song 3.59 avg rating — 22 ratings
95.
The Man Who Didn't Fly
The Man Who Didn't Fly 3.18 avg rating — 300 ratings
96.
The Man with Two Wives (Timothy Trant #6)
The Man with Two Wives (Timothy Trant #6) 3.65 avg rating — 40 ratings
97.
A Tangled Web
A Tangled Web 3.46 avg rating — 59 ratings
98.
The Lord Have Mercy
The Lord Have Mercy 3.31 avg rating — 32 ratings
99.
The Specialty of the House and Other Stories: The Complete Mystery Tales, 1948-1978
The Specialty of the House and Other Stories: The Complete Mystery Tales, 1948-1978 4.18 avg rating — 255 ratings
100.
Compulsion
Compulsion 4.09 avg rating — 1,854 ratings