Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'Sherlock Holmes' series can also be considered among the best. Holmes, with his brilliant deductive reasoning, has become an iconic detective. Each story in the series presents a unique mystery for him to solve, and the way he pieces together the clues is fascinating. For example, in 'A Study in Scarlet', we see how he starts his detective career and his unique approach to solving crimes.
'The Snowman' by Jo Nesbø is also highly regarded. The detective Harry Hole has to track down a serial killer who leaves behind snowmen at the crime scenes. Nesbø's writing is gripping, and he creates a very tense and cold - feeling atmosphere throughout the novel, which adds to the overall sense of mystery and danger.
Boris Akunin's 'Erast Fandorin' series is also highly regarded. These novels are set in different historical periods of Russia. Fandorin is a very intelligent and resourceful detective. Akunin's writing combines mystery, adventure, and historical details. His books are full of twists and turns, which keep the readers on their toes.
Michael Connelly's 'The Black Echo' is a great choice. It features detective Hieronymus 'Harry' Bosch. The novel has a gritty and realistic portrayal of police work in Los Angeles. It's full of twists and turns as Bosch tries to solve a murder case that has ties to his past in the Vietnam War.
One of the top noir detective novels is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It's a classic with its hard - boiled detective Sam Spade and the complex search for a valuable statuette. Another great one is 'Raymond Chandler's 'The Big Sleep'. It features Philip Marlowe and has a convoluted plot full of mystery and crime in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles. Then there's 'Laura' by Vera Caspary, which has a unique narrative structure and a great sense of atmosphere.
I think 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' by Junot Díaz is a top - notch 21st - century novel. It's about a Dominican - American family and their experiences, with Díaz's unique writing style that combines humor and tragedy. 'My Year of Rest and Relaxation' by Ottessa Moshfegh is also great. It delves into the mind of a young woman who decides to hibernate for a year. And 'Gilead' by Marilynne Robinson is a beautiful, introspective novel about a pastor writing letters to his son.
Another great one is 'A Tale of Two Cities'. It's set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. The story of Sydney Carton's sacrifice is both tragic and heroic. Dickens' ability to weave historical events with fictional characters is masterful here. It's full of drama, love, and political unrest.
'Misery' is also highly regarded. It's a nerve - wracking tale about a writer held captive by his so - called 'number one fan'. The relationship between the two characters is both disturbing and fascinating, and it really shows King's ability to create tense and claustrophobic situations.
Another great one is 'Angels & Demons'. It has a fast - paced story set in the world of secret societies and Vatican politics. The way Brown weaves together fact and fiction is really engaging. There are a lot of thrilling chase scenes and mind - boggling puzzles throughout the book.
One of the well - regarded NTR visual novels could be 'Katawa Shoujo'. It has a deep and engaging story that really draws players in. The characters are well - developed and the art style is appealing. Another great one might be 'Clannad'. It's famous for its emotional storylines that can make players experience a wide range of emotions. There's also 'Fate/stay night' which has complex relationships and a rich world - building that makes it stand out in the visual novel genre.
Well, 'Mystic River' by Dennis Lehane is really good. It delves deep into the lives of the characters, who are affected by a tragic event in their past. The detective work is intertwined with the emotional journey of the characters, making it a very engaging novel. It shows how the NYPD detective has to navigate through personal relationships while solving the case.