best christmas crime fiction

Agatha Christie's 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' is also a top pick. It's set during Christmas and features Poirot solving a murder in a family gathering. The closed - in family setting and the holiday backdrop add to the intrigue and tension of the mystery.

Another hidden gem could be 'Christmas Crimes at Castle Court' by Elizabeth Kane. This book focuses on a series of thefts and a possible murder in an old castle during Christmas. The descriptions of the castle and the Christmas festivities within it are really vivid.

One of the best Christmas crime novels is 'The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It has a great mystery set during the Christmas season. Sherlock Holmes uses his brilliant deductive skills to solve the case of a stolen jewel found in a goose. Another good one is 'Silent Night' by Mary Higgins Clark. It weaves a tale of mystery and danger with a Christmas backdrop. And then there's 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas' by Agatha Christie. Poirot has to solve a murder that occurs during the holiday, with all the family drama and secrets that come with it.

One great Christmas crime novel is 'Silent Night' by Mary Higgins Clark. It combines the festive season with mystery and suspense. The setting during Christmas adds an interesting backdrop to the crimes that unfold in the story.

Well, secrecy is a big theme. People are hiding things during Christmas in these fictions, whether it's a present - related secret or something more sinister like a crime they committed. Another is the idea of isolation. Even though Christmas is a time of togetherness, some characters in the crime fiction might feel isolated, and this can be related to their motives for committing a crime or being a victim. Also, the theme of justice. Christmas is a time of giving and goodwill, but the stories often focus on ensuring justice is served for the crime that has occurred.

Dashiell Hammett is also highly regarded. His novel 'The Maltese Falcon' introduced Sam Spade, a private detective who has to navigate through a web of lies and deception. Hammett's writing style is terse and impactful, and his stories are full of moral ambiguity.

Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' is also a classic. It features the famous detective Hercule Poirot. The confined setting of the train and the numerous suspects create an intricate web of mystery that Christie expertly unravels.

One of the best London crime fictions is 'Sherlock Holmes' series by Arthur Conan Doyle. It features the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson solving various mysteries in London. The detailed descriptions of London's foggy streets and Victorian-era settings add to the charm. Another great one is 'The Jack the Ripper' novels which are often based on the real - life unsolved crimes of Jack the Ripper in London. They offer a dark and gritty look at the underbelly of the city.

One way to mark best crime fiction is by looking at the complexity of the plot. A great crime novel often has a plot full of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end. For example, 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' has a very intricate plot.

J.K. Rowling. She is well - known for her 'Harry Potter' series which is a fantasy series far from crime fiction. Her books are full of magic, adventure, and themes of friendship and good versus evil.