Some of the well - known ones could be 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It has a complex plot with a female hacker and a journalist investigating a decades - old mystery. Another is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn, which plays with the concept of a missing wife and the husband as a suspect in a very twisty way.
One of the top crime fiction novels is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It has a complex plot full of mystery and a unique protagonist. Another great one is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn, which keeps you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns. And 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote is also a classic in the genre, as it's based on a real - life crime and has a very in - depth exploration of the crime and the criminals.
One of the top French crime novels is 'The Chalet' by Catherine Cooper. It has a great plot filled with mystery and intrigue. The setting in the French Alps adds a touch of isolation and danger to the story.
Some of the top selling crime fiction novels include 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown. It's full of mystery and conspiracy, which attracted a large number of readers all over the world. The complex plot and the combination of art history and crime-solving elements made it extremely popular.
Another great one is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. This novel is full of twists and turns. It tells the story of a man whose wife has disappeared, and as the plot unfolds, we discover that there are many secrets and lies beneath the surface. The characters are complex and the psychological aspects are very well - drawn.
Among the top 100 crime fiction novels, 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris stands out. The character of Hannibal Lecter is both fascinating and terrifying. The story of FBI trainee Clarice Starling seeking Lecter's help to catch a serial killer is gripping. Then there's 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler. It features the hard - boiled detective Philip Marlowe and is full of noir - like atmosphere, with a convoluted plot involving blackmail and murder.
These top 100 novels have set a standard for plot construction. For example, novels like 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' have a tight and suspenseful plot. Newer writers study how to create such engaging and unpredictable plots to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Also, they have influenced the way crime is presented, whether it's a gritty street - level crime or a high - society mystery.
Definitely 'Sherlock Holmes' stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes' brilliant deductive reasoning in solving various crimes has made these stories timeless. 'Crime and Punishment' by Fyodor Dostoevsky can also be considered. Although it's more of a psychological exploration of a crime, it's still a very important work in the crime - related literature genre. Raskolnikov's inner turmoil and his actions are deeply analyzed in this novel.
Well, Agatha Christie is definitely one of the top ones. Her mystery novels are full of clever twists and turns. Then there's James Patterson, who has written numerous best - selling crime novels. Michael Connelly is also highly regarded for his crime fiction works that often feature complex characters and engaging plots.
There are quite a few great ones. 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett is a classic noir crime novel. It introduced a lot of the tropes that we now associate with the genre. 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie is also a top pick. Christie is a master of the mystery genre, and this book has a really unique and suspenseful plot. 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' by James M. Cain is another that stands out, with its dark and seedy story of love and murder.