In this article, I am going to discuss the top 10 crime novels of all time. Are you excited to know about these books?
Crime stories are liked by many people from the very beginning. In crime fiction, other genres such as suspense, thriller, horror, and suspense are also seen which makes it more interesting.
It has also psychological impacts. The crime enables readers to become mediated witnesses through identifying with eyewitnesses to a crime.
There are many tremendous benefits of reading crime novels such as it increases your logical ability and makes us stronger. That’s why I want you to start reading crime books.
These are the top 10 crime books listed below that you should read.
List of Top 10 Crime Novels of all time
- The Darkest Evening
- ‘The Lies You Told
- The Last Trial
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
- The Godfather
- The Lovely Bones
- Find Them Dead
- Dare Me
- The Man Who Loved Dogs
- The Daughter of Time
1.The Darkest Evening
| Author | Ann Cleeves |
| Publication | August 25, 2020 |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
About-
The protagonist Inspector Vera Stanhope decides to live in a house that is located in the hills. Although she is familiar with the road, one day, due to a snowstorm, she forgets a diversion for her house and goes on the wrong path. On the way, she finds a car parked in a secluded place with a child inside. She is surprised to see that child and thinks about who can bring it here. She takes him with her to where a party is going on. There he finds the corpse of a woman who is the mother of that child. The story is full of suspense and crime. Inspector Vera investigates the case and concludes the case.
2.The Lies You Told
| Author | Harriet Tyce |
| Publication | June 2020 |
| Rating | 4.1 out of 5 |
About-
It is a brilliant story of Sadie and her daughter Robin, in other words, the story of the return to Sadies childhood home after fleeing America. The story begins when Sadie decides to move back to London from America after the breakdown of her marriage. Another reason for returning to America is that her daughter Robin is accepted into the prestigious school.
Since her daughter is very little in age and has no understanding, therefore, she couldn’t tell her why her marriage breakoff? why her husband didn’t come with her to London? But she thinks when her daughter will grow old, she tells her about her problems.
3.The Last Trial
| Author- | Scott Turow |
| Publication | May 12, 2020 |
| Rating | 4.2 out of 5 |
About-
This book is one of the best crime novels of all time. It is, of course, well written and the story is well developed. It was interesting to see Sandy Stern as an old man arguing in his last case as a lawyer. The author has a poignant description of his relationships with his two deceased wives, his children, and granddaughter, as well as highlights Stern’s daily life. It is basically based on crime fiction but sometimes it shows suspense, emotions, and love with family.
4.The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
| Author | Agatha Christie |
| Publication | July 1926 |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
About-
The book ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd became so popular that had completely changed Agatha’s career. Roger Ackroyd is the protagonist of this crime novel. Her wife Mrs. Ferrars unexpectedly commits suicide which shocked Ackroyd much. After her suicide, he comes to know that somebody was blackmailing her, which upset her, and committed suicide. One evening a party is going on at his home in Fernly Park. He announces to everyone that he received a suicide letter from his woman from the post. After the party is over he goes to read that letter but after a few hours, everyone hears that Ackroyd is murdered by an unknown.
5.The Godfather
| Author | Mario Puzo |
| Publication | March 10, 1969 |
| Rating | 4.8 out of 5 |
About-
The Corleone family fights a mob war with the Five Families of the New York Mafia in the years after World War II. The main character of Corleone’s family is Don Corleone who is a friendly man, a just man, a reasonable man. He is murdered by some men working for drug dealers. That is very shocking for his family. His two sons Santino (“Sonny”) and Michael decides to the revenge for their father’s murder. Michael has killed some of them. And now the revenge from both sides has started.
6.The Lovely Bones
4.5 out of 5About-
It is the story of a teenage girl Susie Salmon who is murdered after being raped by her 36 years old neighbor. Once she is coming back from her school as usual. She is forcibly persuaded by him to look at an underground kid’s hideout he constructed in the field. When she enters there, he rapes and later murders her. He didn’t leave any evidence regarding her death. When Salmon’s family comes to know that his daughter is no more, they don’t believe until a neighbor’s dog finds Susie’s elbow. At the end of this story, the rapist is caught and is punished by law.
7. Find Them Dead
| Author | Peter James |
| Publication | May 12, 2020 |
| Rating | 4.2 out of 5 |
About-
This story reflects a court scene. A widowed woman lives with her daughter Laura after the accidental death of her husband and son. Once he receives a jury summons. And this summons seems to be an opportunity for her to do something interesting before getting a new job. The story not only prevails in the UK but also on criminal justice and the judicial system in general. It slowly touches the depths and is presented to us as a new and poignant story. The style of it is very interesting and also it is well written. It is undoubtedly one of the best crime novels ever written.
8.Dare Me
| Author | Megan Abbott |
| Publication | May 10, 2012 |
| Rating | 4.0 out of 5 |
About-
The felony book ‘Dare me‘ is centered on American cheerleading and it explores themes of friendship, obsession, and power that are the core of this story.
The protagonist Addy is the 16-year-old narrator. Other main characters of this story are her friend Beth and the cheerleading coach. Addy and Beth are childhood friends. But when they find a new coach then gradually their friendship becomes insipid. Addy spends much time with her coach while Beth enjoys with other friends. After sometimes Beth starts to jealous of Addy.
The author has drawn the characters insightfully with a real depth of feeling so that you believe and you understand them. The characters are so realistic that have attracted anyone the most.
9.The Man Who Loved Dogs
| Author | Leonardo Padura |
| Publication | 2009 |
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
About-
The book “The Man Who Loved Dogs” is one of the best crime books to read. This is an entertaining novel about the murder of Leon Trotsky in Mexico City in 1940. It is the story of three men whose lives have become intertwined across decades and continents.
One of them was Iván Cárdenas Maturell who is the writer of modern Cuban literature. He is considered a failed writer by many people that have decreased his confidence. He decides not to write any words in the future.
Once his wife is dying, he tells a story to her about a man who loved dogs. He tells that when he was young a man comes to him who is into the shade of his death and told him that he was the killer of Leon Trotsky. This was shocking to him.
10.The Daughter of Time
| Author | Josephine Tey |
| Publication | 1951 |
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
About-
The Daughter of Time explains the alleged crimes of King Richard III of England concerning the investigation of the modern police officer. Alan Grant, an inspector hospitalized due to a broken leg. His friend suggests viewing Richard III’s history. Before studying about him, he doesn’t believe that Richard III is cruel, selfish, and materialistic. In this book along with crime, many other genres take place such as thriller, suspense, mystery, and also fear.
FAQ
What was the first crime novel?
The earliest known crime novel is "The Rector of Veilbye" by Steen Steensen Blicher that was published in 1829.
What was the first detective novel?
“The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe is considered the first detective novel that is published in April 1841.
What is the difference between crime fiction and detective fiction?
Crime fiction is all about crime incidents. When the author portrays a crime that is committed by an amateur or a professional criminal in the written form, it is said to be crime fiction. Whereas, detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction that shows how the investigation is performed by an investigator or a detective.
How long should a crime novel be?
Authors have been surveyed by goodreads.com about the length of crime novels. The question was "How long do you think a crime novel should be?" Then, the authors replied that a minimum of 300 to 400 pages is good for crime novels.
Who are the best crime writers today?
Agatha Christie, Robert B. Parker, Robert Crais, Jim Thompson, John le Carre, and Graham Greene are some of the crime writers who established a new ideology in crime writing.
Why are crime novels so popular?
Usually, a lot of suspense is hidden in crime novels. This suspense attracts people the most and makes them addicted to crime novels. To get to know that mystery and suspense, people become very curious, which is why crime novels are so popular.
Conclusion
There are many films in front of us that completely adopted the story of books. But it is not possible to show the entire story of a book in a film. Therefore, the book is a good option to know about the whole story.
Now, you have known the best crime novels of all time. You should read at least one book out of them for improving your logical ability and also your readability.
Let me know in the comment box what book you are going to read. Also mention those books that you have already read.
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