Flavorwire's 50 Essential Mystery Novels

1.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5) 4.13 avg rating — 376,311 ratings
2.
Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)
Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10) 4.20 avg rating — 702,535 ratings
3.
Rebecca
Rebecca 4.25 avg rating — 697,828 ratings
4.
The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1)
The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1) 3.94 avg rating — 165,240 ratings
5.
The Woman in White
The Woman in White 4.01 avg rating — 162,717 ratings
6.
The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon 3.87 avg rating — 113,194 ratings
7.
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (George Smiley, #3)
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (George Smiley, #3) 4.09 avg rating — 122,070 ratings
8.
The Daughter of Time (Inspector Alan Grant, #5)
The Daughter of Time (Inspector Alan Grant, #5) 3.89 avg rating — 37,199 ratings
9.
Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey, #12)
Gaudy Night (Lord Peter Wimsey, #12) 4.20 avg rating — 31,535 ratings
10.
The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1)
The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1) 4.06 avg rating — 179,480 ratings
11.
The Day of the Jackal
The Day of the Jackal 4.27 avg rating — 142,724 ratings
12.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1) 3.81 avg rating — 273,172 ratings
13.
The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, #1)
The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, #1) 3.59 avg rating — 45,009 ratings
14.
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, #1)
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, #1) 3.82 avg rating — 20,012 ratings
15.
The Murders in the Rue Morgue: The Dupin Tales (C. Auguste Dupin, #1-3)
The Murders in the Rue Morgue: The Dupin Tales (C. Auguste Dupin, #1-3) 3.74 avg rating — 11,667 ratings
16.
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Postman Always Rings Twice 3.76 avg rating — 47,119 ratings
17.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) 4.17 avg rating — 3,378,547 ratings
18.
Smilla's Sense of Snow
Smilla's Sense of Snow 3.73 avg rating — 51,270 ratings
19.
The Name of the Rose
The Name of the Rose 4.14 avg rating — 387,280 ratings
20.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (Ripley, #1)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (Ripley, #1) 3.95 avg rating — 110,525 ratings
21.
The Third Man
The Third Man 3.79 avg rating — 16,176 ratings
22.
The Mask of Dimitrios (Charles Latimer, #1)
The Mask of Dimitrios (Charles Latimer, #1) 3.92 avg rating — 11,523 ratings
23.
When We Were Orphans
When We Were Orphans 3.54 avg rating — 45,947 ratings
24.
The Circular Staircase (Miss Cornelia Van Gorder Trilogy #2)
The Circular Staircase (Miss Cornelia Van Gorder Trilogy #2) 3.62 avg rating — 6,799 ratings
25.
Mystic River
Mystic River 4.17 avg rating — 159,010 ratings
26.
In the Woods
In the Woods 3.78 avg rating — 429,623 ratings
27.
The Secret Agent
The Secret Agent 3.58 avg rating — 24,255 ratings
28.
Laura
Laura 3.97 avg rating — 3,848 ratings
29.
The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1)
The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1) 3.78 avg rating — 93,954 ratings
30.
Eye of the Needle
Eye of the Needle 4.21 avg rating — 165,991 ratings
31.
Anatomy of a Murder
Anatomy of a Murder 4.05 avg rating — 3,587 ratings
32.
A Dark-Adapted Eye
A Dark-Adapted Eye 3.93 avg rating — 9,914 ratings
33.
The Snowman (Harry Hole, #7)
The Snowman (Harry Hole, #7)
by: Jo Nesbø
4.02 avg rating — 148,069 ratings
34.
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1) 3.87 avg rating — 29,362 ratings
35.
Arthur & George
Arthur & George 3.72 avg rating — 18,626 ratings
36.
The New York Trilogy (New York Trilogy, #1-3)
The New York Trilogy (New York Trilogy, #1-3) 3.86 avg rating — 84,265 ratings
37.
From Russia with Love (James Bond, #5)
From Russia with Love (James Bond, #5) 3.91 avg rating — 37,934 ratings
38.
LaBrava
LaBrava 3.81 avg rating — 4,157 ratings
39.
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
The Yiddish Policemen's Union 3.72 avg rating — 79,300 ratings
40.
Presumed Innocent (Kindle County Legal Thriller, #1)
Presumed Innocent (Kindle County Legal Thriller, #1) 4.09 avg rating — 124,244 ratings
41.
Sneaky People
Sneaky People 3.48 avg rating — 404 ratings
42.
Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson
Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson 3.99 avg rating — 8,616 ratings
43.
I, the Jury (Mike Hammer, #1)
I, the Jury (Mike Hammer, #1) 3.62 avg rating — 6,594 ratings
44.
The Blue Hammer (Lew Archer, #18)
The Blue Hammer (Lew Archer, #18) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2,251 ratings
45.
The Intuitionist
The Intuitionist 3.62 avg rating — 16,071 ratings
46.
A Rage in Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #1)
A Rage in Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #1) 3.89 avg rating — 7,429 ratings
47.
Fadeout (Dave Brandstetter, #1)
Fadeout (Dave Brandstetter, #1) 3.91 avg rating — 2,427 ratings
48.
True Confessions
True Confessions 3.81 avg rating — 736 ratings
49.
Beast In View
Beast In View 3.72 avg rating — 2,452 ratings
50.
Blanche on the Lam (Blanche White #1)
Blanche on the Lam (Blanche White #1) 3.76 avg rating — 5,130 ratings