Best Hardboiled Crime Novels

1.
The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1)
The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1) 3.94 avg rating — 165,222 ratings
2.
The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon 3.87 avg rating — 113,184 ratings
3.
Farewell, My Lovely (Philip Marlowe, #2)
Farewell, My Lovely (Philip Marlowe, #2) 4.09 avg rating — 41,871 ratings
4.
The Long Good-bye (Philip Marlowe, #6)
The Long Good-bye (Philip Marlowe, #6) 4.19 avg rating — 45,500 ratings
5.
Red Harvest (The Continental Op #1)
Red Harvest (The Continental Op #1) 3.95 avg rating — 29,079 ratings
6.
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Postman Always Rings Twice 3.76 avg rating — 47,111 ratings
7.
The Grifters
The Grifters 3.93 avg rating — 11,971 ratings
8.
The Killer Inside Me
The Killer Inside Me 3.85 avg rating — 24,518 ratings
9.
The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1)
The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1) 3.78 avg rating — 93,950 ratings
10.
The Mike Hammer Collection, Volume 1: I,the Jury / My Gun is Quick / Vengeance is Mine!
The Mike Hammer Collection, Volume 1: I,the Jury / My Gun is Quick / Vengeance is Mine! 3.93 avg rating — 2,201 ratings
10.
The Drowning Pool (Lew Archer, #2)
The Drowning Pool (Lew Archer, #2) 3.93 avg rating — 7,420 ratings
12.
Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity 4.06 avg rating — 27,751 ratings
13.
The Thin Man
The Thin Man 3.90 avg rating — 37,389 ratings
14.
The Getaway
The Getaway 3.91 avg rating — 7,169 ratings
15.
A Taste of Shotgun
A Taste of Shotgun 3.96 avg rating — 26 ratings
16.
So Many Things To Bury
So Many Things To Bury it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 8 ratings
17.
The Little Sister (Philip Marlowe, #5)
The Little Sister (Philip Marlowe, #5) 3.98 avg rating — 18,416 ratings
18.
After Dark, My Sweet
After Dark, My Sweet 3.90 avg rating — 4,658 ratings
19.
Mildred Pierce
Mildred Pierce 3.93 avg rating — 10,537 ratings
20.
Swell-Looking Babe
Swell-Looking Babe 3.79 avg rating — 2,046 ratings
21.
Strangers on a Train
Strangers on a Train 3.72 avg rating — 36,828 ratings
22.
Fast One
Fast One
by: Paul Cain
3.65 avg rating — 469 ratings
23.
Savages (Savages #2)
Savages (Savages #2) 3.86 avg rating — 20,271 ratings
23.
Born Slippy
Born Slippy
by: Tom Lutz
3.88 avg rating — 100 ratings
23.
My Dirty California
My Dirty California 3.94 avg rating — 315 ratings
26.
The Winter of Frankie Machine
The Winter of Frankie Machine 4.19 avg rating — 12,073 ratings
27.
Act of Fear (Dan Fortune, #1)
Act of Fear (Dan Fortune, #1) 3.64 avg rating — 204 ratings
28.
The High Window (Philip Marlowe, #3)
The High Window (Philip Marlowe, #3) 4.04 avg rating — 24,730 ratings
29.
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
The Friends of Eddie Coyle 4.05 avg rating — 10,370 ratings
30.
Box Nine
Box Nine 3.52 avg rating — 226 ratings
31.
Cassidy's Girl
Cassidy's Girl 3.78 avg rating — 519 ratings
32.
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye 3.85 avg rating — 502 ratings
32.
A Rage in Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #1)
A Rage in Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #1) 3.89 avg rating — 7,428 ratings
34.
Cockfighter
Cockfighter 4.13 avg rating — 1,559 ratings
35.
The Shark-Infested Custard
The Shark-Infested Custard 3.79 avg rating — 773 ratings
36.
New Hope for the Dead (Hoke Mosely #2)
New Hope for the Dead (Hoke Mosely #2) 3.82 avg rating — 1,837 ratings
37.
Floater
Floater 3.48 avg rating — 33 ratings
38.
A Morbid Taste for Bones (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #1)
A Morbid Taste for Bones (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #1) 3.96 avg rating — 43,628 ratings
39.
A Flower in the Desert: A Joshua Croft Mystery (The Joshua Croft Mysteries Book 3)
A Flower in the Desert: A Joshua Croft Mystery (The Joshua Croft Mysteries Book 3) 3.74 avg rating — 99 ratings
40.
Blue Eyes (Isaac Sidel #1)
Blue Eyes (Isaac Sidel #1) 3.41 avg rating — 140 ratings
41.
Done for a Dime: A Novel
Done for a Dime: A Novel 3.72 avg rating — 78 ratings
41.
In a Lonely Place
In a Lonely Place 4.12 avg rating — 8,478 ratings
43.
Tender Is LeVine
Tender Is LeVine 3.74 avg rating — 39 ratings
44.
Candleland (The Stephen Larkin Mysteries Book 3)
Candleland (The Stephen Larkin Mysteries Book 3) 4.05 avg rating — 38 ratings
45.
The Chill (Lew Archer, #11)
The Chill (Lew Archer, #11) 4.07 avg rating — 4,658 ratings
46.
Her Last Call to Louis MacNeice
Her Last Call to Louis MacNeice
by: Ken Bruen
3.72 avg rating — 230 ratings
47.
Body Guard
Body Guard
by: Rex Burns
3.71 avg rating — 7 ratings
48.
The Last Good Kiss (C.W. Sughrue, #1)
The Last Good Kiss (C.W. Sughrue, #1) 4.05 avg rating — 8,495 ratings
49.
The Glitter Dome
The Glitter Dome 3.80 avg rating — 1,626 ratings
50.
The Lady in the Lake (Philip Marlowe, #4)
The Lady in the Lake (Philip Marlowe, #4) 4.06 avg rating — 27,283 ratings
51.
Death Wish
Death Wish 3.73 avg rating — 1,816 ratings
51.
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1) 3.87 avg rating — 29,358 ratings
51.
Playback (Philip Marlowe, #7)
Playback (Philip Marlowe, #7) 3.79 avg rating — 10,811 ratings
54.
The Fifth Key
The Fifth Key really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 43 ratings
54.
The Glass Key
The Glass Key 3.92 avg rating — 13,389 ratings
54.
The Death Wish / Net of Cobwebs
The Death Wish / Net of Cobwebs 3.70 avg rating — 10 ratings
57.
Jeopardy Is My Job
Jeopardy Is My Job really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 12 ratings
58.
The Big Clock
The Big Clock 3.84 avg rating — 2,650 ratings
59.
Lonely Hearts (Charlie Resnick #1)
Lonely Hearts (Charlie Resnick #1) 3.80 avg rating — 2,569 ratings
60.
When Last Seen Alive
When Last Seen Alive 3.84 avg rating — 37 ratings
61.
The Harker File (The Harker Files #1)
The Harker File (The Harker Files #1) 3.40 avg rating — 10 ratings
61.
Word Made Flesh
Word Made Flesh 3.78 avg rating — 192 ratings
63.
Telling Lies (A Maggie MacGowen Mystery #1)
Telling Lies (A Maggie MacGowen Mystery #1) 3.53 avg rating — 112 ratings
63.
Falling Angel
Falling Angel 3.90 avg rating — 5,604 ratings
65.
Smugglers Notch
Smugglers Notch 3.42 avg rating — 60 ratings
65.
Ride the Pink Horse
Ride the Pink Horse 3.80 avg rating — 1,044 ratings
67.
The Hot Spot
The Hot Spot 4.06 avg rating — 1,326 ratings
68.
Lady Killer
Lady Killer 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings
68.
Post Pattern (Burnside Series #1)
Post Pattern (Burnside Series #1) 4.09 avg rating — 1,394 ratings
68.
Colorado Noir
Colorado Noir really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 15 ratings
68.
Sin City Volume 1: The Hard Goodbye
Sin City Volume 1: The Hard Goodbye 4.17 avg rating — 68,198 ratings
68.
Berlin Noir: March Violets / The Pale Criminal / A German Requiem (Bernie Gunther #1-3)
Berlin Noir: March Violets / The Pale Criminal / A German Requiem (Bernie Gunther #1-3) 4.22 avg rating — 11,435 ratings
68.
Shamus Dust
Shamus Dust 4.29 avg rating — 551 ratings
68.
Blood Mug (Red Farlow Mysteries: #4)
Blood Mug (Red Farlow Mysteries: #4) 4.39 avg rating — 33 ratings
75.
A Question of Blood (Inspector Rebus, #14)
A Question of Blood (Inspector Rebus, #14) 4.08 avg rating — 14,262 ratings
75.
A Man Without Breath (Bernie Gunther #9)
A Man Without Breath (Bernie Gunther #9) 4.18 avg rating — 6,597 ratings
75.
Sin City, Vol. 4: That Yellow Bastard (Sin City, #4)
Sin City, Vol. 4: That Yellow Bastard (Sin City, #4) 4.24 avg rating — 26,353 ratings
78.
The Blonde
The Blonde 3.82 avg rating — 1,597 ratings
78.
In the Pines
In the Pines 4.55 avg rating — 11 ratings
80.
Fleshmarket Close (Inspector Rebus, #15)
Fleshmarket Close (Inspector Rebus, #15) 4.01 avg rating — 14,033 ratings
80.
Prince of Thieves
Prince of Thieves 3.98 avg rating — 6,261 ratings
80.
The Wheelman: A Novel
The Wheelman: A Novel 3.85 avg rating — 2,752 ratings
83.
The First Quarry (Hard Case Crime #48)
The First Quarry (Hard Case Crime #48) 4.01 avg rating — 1,353 ratings
84.
Amateur City (Kate Delafield, #1)
Amateur City (Kate Delafield, #1) 3.71 avg rating — 1,139 ratings
84.
The Magician's Wife
The Magician's Wife 3.19 avg rating — 86 ratings
86.
Halo in Blood (Paul Pine #1)
Halo in Blood (Paul Pine #1) 3.67 avg rating — 67 ratings
86.
Black Money (Lew Archer, #13)
Black Money (Lew Archer, #13) 3.95 avg rating — 2,415 ratings
86.
The Getaway
The Getaway 3.91 avg rating — 7,169 ratings
89.
Junky
Junky 3.85 avg rating — 69,882 ratings
89.
In a Lonely Place
In a Lonely Place 4.12 avg rating — 8,478 ratings
91.
L.A. Confidential (L.A. Quartet, #3)
L.A. Confidential (L.A. Quartet, #3) 4.18 avg rating — 35,727 ratings
91.
The Goodbye Look (Lew Archer, #15)
The Goodbye Look (Lew Archer, #15) 3.95 avg rating — 1,771 ratings
91.
The Blackbirder
The Blackbirder 3.71 avg rating — 532 ratings
94.
All the Lonely People (Harry Devlin, #1)
All the Lonely People (Harry Devlin, #1) 3.40 avg rating — 511 ratings
95.
Bedelia
Bedelia 3.71 avg rating — 424 ratings
96.
Laura
Laura 3.97 avg rating — 3,848 ratings
97.
The Taking Of Pelham 123
The Taking Of Pelham 123 3.75 avg rating — 2,403 ratings
98.
The Blank Wall
The Blank Wall 3.82 avg rating — 1,005 ratings
99.
The Death Wish
The Death Wish 3.67 avg rating — 18 ratings
100.
The Far Cry
The Far Cry 3.76 avg rating — 412 ratings
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