Another great one is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It combines mystery with elements of thriller and delves into the dark secrets of a wealthy Swedish family. The main character, Lisbeth Salander, is a complex and fascinating figure who helps in the investigation.
One notable mystery novel 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 various complex cases in Victorian London.
The use of red herrings was quite common in 1800 mystery novels. This means there are false clues that mislead the reader and the characters in the story. For instance, a character might be framed with false evidence that seems to point to their guilt. Moreover, the language used was more formal and elaborate compared to modern mystery novels, which added to the overall charm and sophistication of the stories.
One of the well - known 1970s mystery novels is 'The Godfather' by Mario Puzo. It's not a traditional mystery in the sense of a whodunit, but it has elements of mystery within the complex world of the mafia. Another is 'Chinatown Beat' by Henry Chang, which offers a look into the Chinese - American community in New York City with a mystery at its core. Also, 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' by John le Carré is a classic spy mystery of the 1970s, full of intrigue and complex characters.
Well, 'Mystic River' by Dennis Lehane is also a great pick from 1985 crime mystery novels. It's a story about three childhood friends whose lives are forever changed when a young girl is murdered. The novel delves deep into the psyches of the characters, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the long - lasting effects of trauma in the context of a crime mystery.
One of the great 2017 mystery thriller novels is 'The Dry' by Jane Harper. It's set in a drought - stricken Australian town where a police officer returns to investigate a murder - suicide case that soon reveals much deeper and darker secrets. Another one is 'Final Girls' by Riley Sager. It plays with the concept of the 'final girl' from horror movies and turns it into a gripping mystery thriller. And 'Into the Water' by Paula Hawkins is also quite popular. It involves the mystery of deaths in a river, with a complex web of characters and motives.
One notable mystery novel from 1900 could be 'The House on the Borderland' by William Hope Hodgson. It has elements of mystery and the supernatural that keep readers on their toes.
Some Pulitzer Prize mystery novels are truly remarkable. For example, 'The Sympathizer' by Viet Thanh Nguyen has elements of mystery within its exploration of identity and the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The narrative is filled with intrigue as the protagonist navigates a complex web of loyalties and secrets. Also, 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead, which has mystery elements as it tells the story of a slave's journey on a literal underground railroad, a secret network for slaves to escape to freedom.
One of Toni Morrison's works that has elements of mystery is 'Beloved'. The mystery in it lies in the figure of Beloved herself. Is she a real person, a ghost, or a manifestation of the past? It's a complex exploration of the aftereffects of slavery on the human psyche. Another could be 'Jazz', which has a sense of mystery in the way the characters' relationships and pasts are gradually revealed. The story unfolds in a non - linear way, making the readers piece together the mystery of the characters' lives.
One of the notable novels is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It's a classic hard - boiled detective story with a complex plot and a memorable protagonist, Sam Spade. Another great one is 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie. It has a very unique and suspenseful premise where people on an isolated island start getting killed one by one.
One of the well - known 18th century English mystery novels is 'The Castle of Otranto' by Horace Walpole. It is often considered the first Gothic novel which contains elements of mystery.
Well, these novels might have complex characters. Since they are mystery novels, the characters could be hiding secrets. In the context of 'a minute to midnight', perhaps their secrets are related to some impending doom or a time - sensitive mystery. The characters' motives and actions could all be building towards that moment when everything is revealed, just before midnight.