Another example could be 'Strong Poison' by Dorothy L. Sayers. The title itself gives a hint about the use of poison. The female character in the story is suspected of using poison as a murder weapon, and the detective has to unravel the truth among many twists and turns. It shows how poison can be a subtle and deadly weapon in the hands of a woman in a detective story.
One of the well - known ones is 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' by Agatha Christie. In this novel, poison is used in a rather devious way by a female character. Christie is a master at creating such intricate plots where poison becomes a key element in the mystery.
In 'A is for Alibi' by Sue Grafton, poison also plays a role as a possible murder weapon associated with a female suspect. Grafton's Kinsey Millhone has to dig deep into the case to figure out if the woman really used poison to commit the crime. This novel, like many detective novels, uses the idea of poison as a weapon that can be easily concealed and used by a woman, adding an element of mystery and danger to the plot.
It adds mystery. Poison is often a silent and unseen killer. When a woman uses it as a murder weapon in a detective novel, it becomes harder to detect. For example, it can be slipped into a drink unnoticed, making it difficult for the detective to immediately figure out how the victim was killed.
Hercule Poirot is well - known too. He is a meticulous detective with an emphasis on psychology. In 'Murder on the Orient Express', he analyzes the motives and personalities of the suspects to solve the case.
Some great 1940s murder mystery novels include 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler. It's a hard - boiled detective story with Philip Marlowe as the main character. He has to deal with a web of lies and murder in Los Angeles. Also, 'Strangers on a Train' by Patricia Highsmith is quite famous. The concept of two strangers swapping murders is really intriguing. It's a great exploration of the darker side of human nature.
The 'Sherlock Holmes' series by Arthur Conan Doyle can also be considered. Although not all are strictly about murder, many stories involve Holmes solving complex murder cases with his brilliant deductive reasoning. For example, 'A Study in Scarlet' is an early work that showcases his unique skills in unravelling a murder mystery.
The big murder weapon of the village was often called the " king of the village " or " overlord of the village." In different novels, it may be given other different names such as "village bully","village demon king", etc.
One of the most famous is 'Sherlock Holmes' series by Arthur Conan Doyle. It features brilliant detective work by Holmes and his loyal friend Watson in Victorian London, full of mystery and intrigue.
Another great murder mystery novel is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the hacker Lisbeth Salander as they investigate a decades - old disappearance that is linked to a string of murders.
Precious Ramotswe from 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' is a famous female detective. She uses her common sense and understanding of her community to solve cases. Another one is Mary Russell from 'The Beekeeper's Apprentice'. She starts as a young girl learning from Sherlock Holmes and grows into a formidable detective in her own right.
One of the most famous detective novels is 'Sherlock Holmes' series by Arthur Conan Doyle. It features the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson, solving various complex mysteries in Victorian London.
Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' is also extremely well - known. The story takes place on a train where a murder occurs, and detective Hercule Poirot has to figure out who the killer is among a group of suspects with their own secrets. Christie is a master of creating intricate plots and misdirections.