Hardboiled crime fiction is a genre of crime writing that's known for its tough, gritty, and realistic portrayal of crime and criminals. It often features a cynical and world-weary detective as the protagonist.
Hardboiled crime novels often feature tough, cynical protagonists. They usually take place in gritty urban settings. The plots are full of mystery and often involve elements like murder, corruption, and betrayal.
Many consider 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett as the first hardboiled novel. It features a tough detective, Sam Spade, and is full of the gritty, cynical elements typical of the hardboiled genre.
One of the best is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It features the iconic detective Sam Spade and has a complex plot full of double - crosses and the search for a valuable statuette. Another great one is 'Red Harvest' also by Hammett, which showcases his gritty and violent noir style. Then there's 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler, with his famous detective Philip Marlowe navigating the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles.
Raymond Chandler's 'The Big Sleep' is also a great hardboiled detective novel. Philip Marlowe, the detective, navigates through a web of mystery, corruption, and femme fatales in Los Angeles. Chandler's writing style is both gritty and poetic, making the story engaging.
Dashiell Hammett is another great author of hardboiled crime novels. He wrote books like 'The Maltese Falcon' which is considered a classic in the genre. His writing was very influential in shaping the hardboiled style with its tough characters and complex plots.