50 Crime Writers to Read Before You Die

1.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5) 4.13 avg rating — 376,302 ratings
2.
The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon 3.87 avg rating — 113,193 ratings
3.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) 4.17 avg rating — 3,378,483 ratings
4.
Born Slippy
Born Slippy
by: Tom Lutz
3.88 avg rating — 100 ratings
5.
The Murders in the Rue Morgue: The Dupin Tales
The Murders in the Rue Morgue: The Dupin Tales 3.74 avg rating — 11,667 ratings
6.
The Big Sleep and Other Novels (Philip Marlowe #1-2, 6)
The Big Sleep and Other Novels (Philip Marlowe #1-2, 6) 4.32 avg rating — 3,254 ratings
7.
Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot, #8)
Peril at End House (Hercule Poirot, #8) 4.02 avg rating — 79,439 ratings
8.
Bleak House
Bleak House 4.02 avg rating — 112,455 ratings
9.
Double Whammy (Skink #1)
Double Whammy (Skink #1) 3.95 avg rating — 21,309 ratings
10.
The Pledge
The Pledge 3.90 avg rating — 10,418 ratings
11.
The Moonstone
The Moonstone 3.91 avg rating — 97,254 ratings
12.
The Crew
The Crew 3.44 avg rating — 1,012 ratings
13.
Top Dog
Top Dog 3.98 avg rating — 282 ratings
14.
The Godwulf Manuscript
The Godwulf Manuscript 3.92 avg rating — 20,949 ratings
15.
The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1)
The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1) 3.78 avg rating — 93,953 ratings
16.
Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens
Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens 4.14 avg rating — 118 ratings
17.
What's So Funny? (Dortmunder, #14)
What's So Funny? (Dortmunder, #14) 3.94 avg rating — 1,690 ratings
18.
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1) 3.87 avg rating — 29,362 ratings
19.
Faceless Killers (Kurt Wallender, #1)
Faceless Killers (Kurt Wallender, #1) 3.76 avg rating — 77,853 ratings
20.
The Getaway
The Getaway 3.91 avg rating — 7,169 ratings
20.
Burglars Can't Be Choosers (Rhodenbarr, #1)
Burglars Can't Be Choosers (Rhodenbarr, #1) 3.82 avg rating — 7,356 ratings
22.
Holy Disorders (Gervase Fen, #2)
Holy Disorders (Gervase Fen, #2) 3.64 avg rating — 1,674 ratings
23.
The Rat on Fire
The Rat on Fire 3.81 avg rating — 456 ratings
24.
Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories
Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories 4.28 avg rating — 6,601 ratings
25.
Maximum Bob
Maximum Bob 3.79 avg rating — 7,443 ratings
26.
The Complete Father Brown
The Complete Father Brown 4.03 avg rating — 10,583 ratings
26.
Bournemouth 90
Bournemouth 90 4.55 avg rating — 20 ratings
28.
King's Ransom (87th Precinct, #10)
King's Ransom (87th Precinct, #10)
by: Ed McBain
3.83 avg rating — 2,229 ratings
29.
The Mortdecai Trilogy (Charlie Mortdecai #1-3)
The Mortdecai Trilogy (Charlie Mortdecai #1-3) 3.89 avg rating — 592 ratings
30.
Duffy
Duffy 3.31 avg rating — 489 ratings
31.
Outsider in Amsterdam (Grijpstra & de Gier Mystery #1)
Outsider in Amsterdam (Grijpstra & de Gier Mystery #1) 3.62 avg rating — 1,872 ratings
32.
The Water's Lovely
The Water's Lovely 3.38 avg rating — 4,062 ratings
33.
Vintage Murder (Roderick Alleyn, #5)
Vintage Murder (Roderick Alleyn, #5) 3.83 avg rating — 4,083 ratings
34.
Christine Falls (Quirke, #1)
Christine Falls (Quirke, #1) 3.56 avg rating — 14,465 ratings
35.
The Hollow Man (Dr. Gideon Fell, #6)
The Hollow Man (Dr. Gideon Fell, #6) 3.80 avg rating — 3,989 ratings
36.
The Weight Of The Evidence (Sir John Appleby, #9)
The Weight Of The Evidence (Sir John Appleby, #9) 3.53 avg rating — 219 ratings
37.
Wild About Harry
Wild About Harry 3.72 avg rating — 197 ratings
38.
The Art of Drowning
The Art of Drowning 3.44 avg rating — 209 ratings
39.
Good Morning, Midnight (Dalziel & Pascoe, #21)
Good Morning, Midnight (Dalziel & Pascoe, #21) 3.98 avg rating — 1,904 ratings
40.
The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano, #1)
The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano, #1) 3.74 avg rating — 24,900 ratings
41.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (Ripley, #1)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (Ripley, #1) 3.95 avg rating — 110,518 ratings
42.
Black Cherry Blues (Dave Robicheaux, #3)
Black Cherry Blues (Dave Robicheaux, #3) 4.16 avg rating — 16,826 ratings
43.
Garnethill (Garnethill, #1)
Garnethill (Garnethill, #1) 3.84 avg rating — 9,739 ratings
44.
The Viaduct Murder
The Viaduct Murder 3.51 avg rating — 169 ratings
45.
Trent's Last Case (Philip Trent, #1)
Trent's Last Case (Philip Trent, #1) 3.76 avg rating — 4,070 ratings
46.
Laidlaw
Laidlaw 3.87 avg rating — 5,570 ratings
47.
The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars (Fergus O'Breen Mysteries #2)
The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars (Fergus O'Breen Mysteries #2) 3.65 avg rating — 354 ratings
48.
I, the Jury (Mike Hammer, #1)
I, the Jury (Mike Hammer, #1) 3.62 avg rating — 6,594 ratings
49.
Six Days of the Condor
Six Days of the Condor 4.08 avg rating — 19,354 ratings
50.
The Big Blowdown (D.C. Quartet #1)
The Big Blowdown (D.C. Quartet #1) 4.04 avg rating — 2,825 ratings
51.
The Watchman (Elvis Cole, #11; Joe Pike, #1)
The Watchman (Elvis Cole, #11; Joe Pike, #1) 4.14 avg rating — 27,906 ratings
52.
Black Out (Inspector Troy, #1)
Black Out (Inspector Troy, #1) 3.75 avg rating — 3,706 ratings
53.
The Tiger in the Smoke (Albert Campion Mystery, #14)
The Tiger in the Smoke (Albert Campion Mystery, #14) 3.90 avg rating — 5,859 ratings
54.
The Fifth Grave
The Fifth Grave 4.14 avg rating — 28 ratings
55.
The Yellow Dog (Maigret #6)
The Yellow Dog (Maigret #6) 3.69 avg rating — 5,608 ratings