One of the best Christmas crime novels is 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It has a great mystery set during the Christmas season. Sherlock Holmes uses his brilliant deductive skills to solve the case of a stolen jewel found in a goose. Another good one is 'Silent Night' by Mary Higgins Clark. It weaves a tale of mystery and danger with a Christmas backdrop. And then there's 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' by Agatha Christie. Poirot has to solve a murder that occurs during the holiday, with all the family drama and secrets that come with it.
Agatha Christie's 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' is a top pick. The murder mystery unfolds in a family gathering during Christmas. Poirot has to dig through the complex relationships and motives of the family members. 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' is also great. It's a short story that shows Holmes at his best during Christmas time, solving a curious case. Also, 'A Christmas Carol Murder' by Christopher Fowler is worth mentioning. It combines the classic Dickensian Christmas feel with a modern crime-solving narrative.
One great Christmas crime novel is 'Silent Night' by Mary Higgins Clark. It combines the festive season with mystery and suspense. The setting during Christmas adds an interesting backdrop to the crimes that unfold in the story.
Some great Christmas crime novels include 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' where Poirot has to deal with a family full of secrets and a murder during the holidays. 'Silent Night' by Mary Higgins Clark is a page - turner with a Christmas - themed mystery. And 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' is a wonderful Sherlock Holmes story set during Christmas, with Holmes using his sharp mind to solve the case of a stolen jewel.
Some of the 2021 best crime novels could be 'The Night She Disappeared' by Lisa Jewell. It has a gripping plot with mystery and suspense that keeps readers on their toes.
The best 2020 crime novels include 'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig. It's a bit different as it combines elements of mystery with a more philosophical exploration. Then there's 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' by V. E. Schwab. While not a traditional crime novel, it has some mystery elements and a very engaging story about a woman who makes a deal and has to live with the consequences. Also, 'Mexican Gothic' by Silvia Moreno - Garcia is great. It has a spooky and mysterious setting in an old mansion in Mexico and some dark family secrets.
Some of the well - known ones could be 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It has a brilliant portrayal of the serial killer and the detective trying to catch him. Another is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn, which has a complex plot full of twists and turns. 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote is also great as it's based on a real - life crime and shows a detailed account of the investigation.
One of the best true crime novels is 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote. It's a classic that delves into the brutal murders of a Kansas family. Another great one is 'Helter Skelter' which details the Manson Family murders. And 'The Devil in the White City' by Erik Larson is also highly regarded as it combines the story of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with the serial killings of H. H. Holmes.
There's also 'Such a Fun Age' by Kiley Reid. While it's not a traditional crime novel in the sense of a detective chasing a murderer, it deals with issues of race and privilege in a story that has elements of a crime - like false accusations and the consequences of misunderstandings.
Agatha Christie's 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' is also a top pick. It's set during Christmas and features Poirot solving a murder in a family gathering. The closed - in family setting and the holiday backdrop add to the intrigue and tension of the mystery.
They often have a festive backdrop. For example, the story may be set in a snowy Christmas town or a big city decorated for the holidays. This setting adds a contrast to the dark nature of crime.
One of the best is 'Mystic River' by Dennis Lehane. It's a dark and gripping tale set in Boston that delves deep into the lives of its characters and the city's underbelly. The story of three childhood friends and how a tragic event in their past resurfaces in a brutal murder case is both heart - wrenching and suspenseful.