best first mystery novel

In the case of a first mystery novel, it can vary. But typically, between 65,000 and 90,000 words. The length should be sufficient to build the mystery's atmosphere. You need to describe the crime scene, the detective's process of investigation, and the various red herrings. If it's too short, say 50,000 words or less, you may not be able to fully develop these elements. If it's over 100,000 words, you risk losing the tight pacing that is crucial for a mystery. Publishers also generally prefer mystery novels in this range for first - time authors as it's more marketable.

Sure. 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett is an excellent choice. It features the hard - boiled detective Sam Spade. The story is filled with intrigue as Spade gets involved in a search for a valuable statuette. Hammett's writing is gritty and gives a great sense of the noir genre, which is a big part of mystery literature.

The significance is that it gives new mystery writers a chance to shine. It's like a stepping - stone in their career.

The Macavity Awards for best first mystery novel is an important part of the mystery literary scene. It provides a platform for new authors to gain recognition. When a first - time author wins this award, it not only validates their work but also gives them more exposure. This can lead to increased book sales and a wider readership. The award criteria likely include elements such as strong writing style, a captivating mystery at the heart of the story, well - developed characters, and an ability to keep the reader guessing until the end. It's a great incentive for new mystery writers to strive for excellence in their debut novels.

One of the best first mystery novels is 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' by Agatha Christie. It introduced the famous detective Hercule Poirot. The plot is full of twists and turns, with a classic whodunit setup. Christie's writing style is engaging and easy to follow, making it a great starting point for mystery lovers.

One of the great ones is 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger. Although it's not a traditional mystery in the sense of a detective story, it has an element of mystery about the main character Holden Caulfield's state of mind. Another is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. The first - person perspectives of Nick and Amy keep you guessing throughout the story. And 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier also fits the bill. The unnamed narrator draws you into the mystery of the past at Manderley.

The first line of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson - 'During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country.' This line sets a desolate and mysterious mood, making the reader curious about what will happen in such a gloomy setting.

Well, it has encouraged new talent. By awarding new authors for their first novels, it gives them recognition. This in turn makes more people aware of new voices in the mystery genre. For example, when a new author wins, readers are more likely to pick up their book, which can lead to new trends in the genre.

Some of the most popular mystery novels in the country were well received. Among them,'The Night Is Hard to Awaken' was considered to be one of the best domestic mystery novels, with a Douban score of 8.6. The novel was also adapted into a popular online drama, The Silent Truth, which received a lot of attention. In addition," Crime Without Evidence " was the work of the author, Zi Jin Chen. It was also well received and had a Douban rating of more than 7 points. In addition, there were other mystery novels, such as " Mental Crime " and " 19 Years of Murder ", which were also loved by readers. However, the search results provided did not clearly list the overall ranking of the best mystery novels, so it was impossible to give a specific ranking list.

Mystery novels are a kind of literary work that reveals the truth through logical reasoning and puzzles. There are many classic works, some of which are considered to be the best mystery novels, including Sherlock Holmes, Murder on the Oriental Express, Mysterious Island, Three Coffins, and so on. These works are full of suspense and interest, and readers can improve their reasoning ability by reading them.