The book 'The Death of Mrs. Westaway' by Ruth Ware is also a good one. It's a mystery full of family secrets and a young woman who gets caught up in a web of lies. The atmosphere is spooky and the plot keeps you engaged as you try to figure out the truth behind Mrs. Westaway's death along with the main character.
In 2018, 'The Chalk Man' by C.J. Tudor was a great crime fiction. It has an interesting premise where a series of chalk drawings are linked to a mystery from the past. The characters are well - developed and the sense of dread builds up steadily as the story progresses.
One must - read is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It has a complex plot full of mystery and intrigue. Another is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn, which has a really twisted storyline that keeps you guessing. And 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote is a classic that is based on a real - life crime and is very well - written.
Another great one is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. The story is full of twists and turns. It starts as a missing person case but quickly evolves into a much more complex and disturbing web of lies and secrets between the two main characters, Nick and Amy.
One of the must - read books in Scandinavian crime fiction is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It has a complex mystery and strong, unique characters. Another great one is 'Smilla's Sense of Snow' by Peter Høeg. The story is full of intrigue and the main character, Smilla, is very engaging. Also, 'Jar City' by Arnaldur Indriðason is worth reading. It gives a great insight into Icelandic society while presenting a gripping crime plot.
I really like 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. The character of Hannibal Lecter is one of the most iconic in crime fiction. The cat - and - mouse game between Clarice Starling and Lecter as she tries to solve a serial killer case is gripping. The book also delves deep into the minds of the characters, which makes it even more interesting.
One must - read 2023 fiction book is 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmus. It tells a story of a female scientist in a male - dominated field, full of humor and inspiration. Another good one is 'Demon Copperhead' by Barbara Kingsolver which is a modern retelling of 'David Copperfield' set in Appalachia.
A top pick in the best fiction gangster books is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. This noir classic features Sam Spade, a private detective who gets entangled with gangsters while on the hunt for a valuable statue. Then there's 'American Tabloid' by James Ellroy. It weaves together multiple storylines of gangsters, cops, and the seedy underbelly of American society in the 1960s. Also, 'White Jazz' by the same author is a great read for those interested in fictional gangster tales.
Another great one is 'The Alienist' by Caleb Carr. Set in 1896 New York, it follows a team of investigators trying to solve a series of grisly murders. It has a great atmosphere, with the seedy underbelly of the city and the emerging field of criminal psychology playing important roles.
Well, 'The Name of the Rose' by Umberto Eco is a must - read. It combines crime fiction with historical and philosophical elements, set in a medieval monastery. The detective, William of Baskerville, tries to solve a series of murders while also dealing with the complex religious and intellectual environment. Also, 'Devil in a Blue Dress' by Walter Mosley is great. It features Easy Rawlins, an African - American detective in 1940s Los Angeles, and shows the racial and social tensions of the time.
One must - read crime fiction book is 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It features the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson as they solve complex mysteries in Victorian London. Another great one is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. This modern classic has a complex plot full of twists and turns regarding a missing woman and the secrets within her marriage. Also, 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson is a must. It's a dark and gripping tale of a journalist and a hacker investigating a decades - old disappearance.
One of the best is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It has a complex mystery involving a decades - old disappearance, a troubled journalist, and a brilliant but damaged hacker. The story is full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.