Well, there's 'The Shape of the Ruins' by Juan Gabriel Vásquez. It has elements of crime and mystery as it delves into Colombian history. Then there's 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold' by Gabriel García Márquez. Although it's not a typical crime novel, it does deal with a murder and the events leading up to it in a small South American town. Also, 'Killing Pablo' by Mark Bowden, which is about the hunt for the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Another great one is 'Darkly Dreaming Dexter' by Jeff Lindsay. It's set in Miami and follows the story of Dexter, a forensic analyst with a dark secret. The South Florida setting adds an extra layer of atmosphere to the dark and thrilling plot. The book also gives insights into the criminal underworld in that area.
One popular author is Gillian Flynn. Her novels like 'Gone Girl' are full of mystery and complex relationships within a crime - centered story. Another is James Ellroy. His works are known for their noir - like atmosphere.
One of the best South American novels is 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel García Márquez. It's a masterpiece that weaves a complex web of family history and magical realism in the fictional town of Macondo.
Roberto Bolaño is a well - known South American crime novel author. His works often have complex plots and characters. Another is Leonardo Padura. His detective novels set in Cuba are quite popular. And then there's Paulo Lins who gives a vivid picture of the criminal underworld in Rio de Janeiro through his writing.
One classic American crime novel is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It features the detective Sam Spade and a complex web of mystery involving a valuable statuette. Another is 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote, which is a non - fictional crime account that reads like a novel. It delves deep into the real - life murders of a Kansas family.
Another might be something that was perhaps less well - known but still part of the crime genre in 1934. There were likely many pulp crime novels published during that time. Some of them might have focused on gangsters and the seedy underworld of American cities. However, without more in - depth research, it's hard to name specific ones other than the more famous ones like Hammett's work.
I also recommend 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It features the iconic character Hannibal Lecter. The cat - and - mouse game between Clarice Starling and Lecter while she tries to solve a serial killer case is gripping.
One classic American crime novel is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It features the hard - boiled detective Sam Spade and a complex web of crime involving a valuable statuette. Another is 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote, which is a non - fictional account that reads like a crime thriller. And 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler, with its detective Philip Marlowe solving mysteries in a seedy underworld.
Dashiell Hammett was a popular author in 1934 with his crime novels. His works were known for their hard - boiled detective stories and complex characters.
Maybe it's because they offer unique and thrilling storylines that capture the imagination of readers from different cultures.