HRF Keating 100 Best Crime & Mystery Books

H.R.F Keating was an English crime fiction writer most notable for his series of novels featuring Inspector Ghote of the Bombay CID. He was also a crime books reviewer for The Times for fifteen years and published a book of his “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books” in 1987.

I needed a new reading challenge after completing my Top 100+ Crime and Mystery novel list challenge so decided to read through all 100 books in H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books”.

About H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books”

H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books” is based on his favorite books from the genre. His list is written in order of date published from Edgar Allan Poe (1845) through to P.D James (1986) with a two-page synopsis of his thoughts about the author and their novel. It’s a sort of history of crime writing using the exact approach I ended up following when I worked through my Top 100+ Crime and Mystery novel list challenge – except I wasn’t aware he had used the same approach until I brought his book!

His rules for selecting which books he included were based on:

No author should be represented by more than three titles.
Adding a few personal favorites that other reviewers mightn’t have included.
Books must have crime in them and weren’t pure thrillers, espionage novels, horror stories, pure suspense stories, or considered proper novels like Dostoiesvski’s “Crime and Punishment”. This is why authors like Dick Francis, Daphne Du Maurier, Mary Higgins Clark, and John Le Carre aren’t included in his list.
Books were also chosen on the basis that in 1987 you were still able to get hold of the book.

I started my H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books” reading challenge in August 2022. I’ve already read some of his books as they were in my Top 100+ Crime and Mystery novel list challenge. My H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books” reading challenge is documented on this page and includes a summary of each author and their novels as well as tips for finding the books from his list. I’ve focused on key points I felt would be helpful to others who might want to read the books from his list. For a more detailed review, you need to read H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books” two-page synopsis of each author and their novel.

I normally prefer reading physical versions of the books rather than e-books and in my previous reading challenge I was able to purchase the majority of the books from charity shops or second-hand book shops.

Books from H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books” have been harder to source and the harder to find ones I’ve borrowed from the Internet Archive using the one hour borrow option.

Here is H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books” for those wanting a copy of his list.

H.R.F Keating’s “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books”Download list

Edgar Allan Poe (1841)

Tales of Mystery and Imagination

The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841) – Classic
The Mystery of Marie Roget (1842) – Classic
The Purloined Letter (1844) – Classic
The Gold Bug (1843) – Classic

Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination is a compilation of Poe’s suspenseful tales. Poe is better known for his dark tales of terror and the supernatural however many consider Edgar Allan Poe’s three Auguste Dupin short stories as the first detective stories published.

I’ve listed the four short stories to read for those who prefer to read his key short stories rather than the entire Tales of Mystery and Imagination book.

His three Auguste Dupin short stories provide insight into early detective stories and it’s helpful to be aware of these stories because some of the early 1900’s crime novels reference Dupin. His “The Gold Bug” story was heavily nominated by the Mystery Writers of America and isn’t a detective story; it’s an old-fashioned deciphering of a cryptogram in a tale without a crime.

Below are links to free ebooks that include the short stories:

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe – Volume 1
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe – Volume 2 – The Purloined letter

Wilkie Collins (1860)

The Moonstone

Wilkie Collins was an English novelist and playwright whose two novels The Woman in White (1860) and The Moonstone (1868) are considered by many as the precursors of modern mystery novel and suspense novels.

The novel was originally published in serial form by Charles Dickens, a close friend of Wilkie Collins, in “All the Year Round” and afterward published in book form.

I was originally reluctant to read Wilkie Collins’s novels as I was worried being written in the 1800s that they would be hard to read and include content I couldn’t relate to. I love all his novels. “The Moonstone” uses the multi-narration method where different sections of the novel are told by different characters which isn’t commonly used nowadays but was very effective in developing the stories.

The Moonstone is about a priceless stone that goes missing soon after being given as a present on a birthday and the investigation to find what happened to the stone.

The book can be downloaded as free ebooks from Project Gutenberg. I sourced my paperback version from a charity shop.

Charles Dickens (1870)

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is the final novel written by Charles Dickens and he dies before he finished this novel. No one knows how he intended to end it and only six of the planned twelve installments were published.

An incredible novel that I really enjoyed reading. Wasn’t easy to find in charity shops and wish I had realized sooner that I could have downloaded the free ebook here.

Arthur Conan Doyle (1887)

The Complete Sherlock Holmes (1887-1927)

H.R.F Keating lists the following Arthur Conan Doyle books on his list:

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
The Hounds of the Baskerville (1902)

I’ve listed “The Complete Sherlock Holmes” book as that is the best way to read his stories if you are interested in his character development.

Being reluctant to read Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories after watching the different movie and TV adaptations, I now appreciate how amazing his stories are and how they’ve withstood the test of time.

Sherlock Holmes wasn’t the first fictional detective but he is the “most portrayed movie character” in history. The Sherlock Holmes stories have had a profound and lasting effect on mystery writing and popular culture.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Sherlock Holmes stories, has been credited as an influence on forensic science due to Holmes’ use of methods such as fingerprints, trace evidence, serology, ciphers, and footprints long before they were commonly used by the police.

You can read my detailed review of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his work here.

My hardest task was working out where to start so here’s my recommendation of order to read:

A Study in Scarlet (1887) – introduces Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.
The Sign of Four (1890) – introduces Dr. Watson’s future wife Mary.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – 12 short stories published in The Strand in 1891-1892 with the most famous being “A Scandal in Bohemia” which introduces Irene Adler.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes – 11 short stories published in The Strand in 1892-1893 with the most famous being “The Final Problem” which kills off Sherlock Holmes.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes – 13 short stories published in The Strand in 1903-1904 with the most famous being “The Adventures of the Empty House” where Sherlock Holmes is resurrected.
The Hound of the Baskervilles – serialized in the Strand in 1901-1902. Considered by many as the best Sherlock Holmes novel.
The Valley of Fear – serialized in The Strand from 1914–1915.
His Last Bow: Some Later Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes – stories published 1908–1917.
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes – stories published 1921–1927.

You can read as individual novels or you’ll find them all in The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. His books can be downloaded as free ebooks or easily found in charity shops.

E.W. Hornung 1899-1904

The Collected Raffles

H.R.F Keating lists the novel as “The Amateur Cracksman” however it wasn’t until I read “The Amateur Cracksman” that I realized two of the stories, “The Fate of Faustina” and “A Jubilee Present”, he includes in his two-page synopsis of E.W. Hornung is from “The Black Mask”.

The best option is to read E.W. Hornung’s “The Collected Raffles” which includes his entire collection of Raffles stories – his character Raffles was referred to as the Amateur Cracksman. I’m assuming when H.R.F Keating lists “The Amateur Cracksman” he was actually referring to “The Collected Raffles”.

“The Collected Raffles” is E.W. Hornung’s collection of Raffles short stories and is based on A.J Raffles, a gentleman thief in late Victorian Great Britain who is assisted by his friend Harry “Bunny” Manders.

H.R.F Keating rates E.W. Hornung stories about A.J. Raffles, a gentleman burglar, squarely beside Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. E.W. Hornung was married to Arthur Conan Doyle’s sister. Holmes stories are narrated by Watson while Raffles stories are narrated by his sidekick Bunny. Holmes and Raffles are polar opposites with Raffles being like an inversion of Holmes. Holmes fights crime and Raffles plans crime.

In Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1924 autobiography, Memories and Adventures, he said “I told him so before he put pen to paper, and the result has, I fear, borne me out. You must not make the criminal a hero.” E.W. Hornung died in 1921 so I decided to find out what crime books reviewer said about E.W. Hornung’s Raffles stories around the time he died compared to H.R.F Keating’s review. I have the benefit of being able to find reviews that were published when E.W. Hornung died which H.R.F Keating didn’t have when he published his book in 1987.

An excerpt from The Passing of E.W. Hornung published on Thursday 16 June 1921 said “For Sherlock Holmes represented the reaction against crime, and lives in the public favor in virtue of his eccentric skill in fighting it. Raffles, the criminal, is as dead as any Deadwood Dick hero that ever had a brief hour of popularity. With the younger generation, a reference to him almost needs an explanatory note. Older readers and theatre-goers recall him with languid indifference. The vogue of Raffles only ran through a very few years and would have faded out still more quickly but for the clever stage presentation.

Arthur Conan Doyle’s comment in his 1924 autobiography was a reflection that by the time E.W. Hornung died Raffles was no longer popular.

“The Collected Raffles” contains:

The Amateur Cracksman (1899)
The Black Mask (1901)
A Thief in the Night (1905)

I’m not sure I would have appreciated the Raffles stories as much if I only read “The Amateur Cracksman” as the characters developed more with each book.

His books can be downloaded as free ebooks or occasionally found in charity shops/second-hand bookshops.

Jacques Futrelle (1907)

The Thinking Machine (1907)

Jacques Futrelle was an American journalist and mystery writer best known for his short detective stories featuring Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen who was known as “The Thinking Machine” for his use of logic when solving mysteries supported by his friend and companion, Hutchinson Hatch, reporter of a fictional newspaper called The Daily New Yorker. He died shortly after his thirty seventh birthday on board the Titanic.

The Thinking Machine book contains the following three short stories:

The Problem of Cell 13
The Case of the Flaming Phantom
The Mystery of the Silver Box

Here is a link for reading the Thinking Machine Book using the Internet Archive. I read it by purchasing The First Thinking Machine Omnibus: The Problem of Cell 13 & The Thinking Machine on the Case eBook as didn’t realize the book was available in the Internet Archive.

Mary Roberts Rinehart (1908)

The Circular Staircase (1908)

Mary Roberts Rinehart was considered America’s Agatha Christie. The Circular Staircase is considered the pioneer of “had I but known” mystery writing.

I love reading her novels as her style is similar to Agatha Christie. In addition to The Circular Staircase I’ve read the following novels:

The Man in Lower Ten (1909)
The Window at the White Cat (1910)
The Case of Jennie (1913)
The After House (1914)
Kings, Queens and Pawns: An American Woman at the Front (1915)
The Door (1930)

Enjoyed reading her autobiography My Story (1931) and the updated version of My Story (1948) that she published in later years.

All of her books I’ve read as ebooks as I’ve only once seen her books in a shop in Australia. Some of her ebooks can be downloaded for free here.

G.K Chesterton (1911)

The Innocence of Father Brown (1911)

The Father Brown short stories were originally published in various magazines and later collated into five books. The first of the books published was The Innocence of Father Brown in 1911.

Can’t decide how I feel about the Father Brown stories. I’ve only managed to get so far the series of stories each time I try to read The Innocence of Father Brown! Worth reading for those that enjoy the Father Brown TV series to see how the show evolved from the stories.

I might have had more luck if I downloaded the free ebook rather than forgetting which short story I was up in my book!

Melville Davisson Post (1918)

Uncle Abner (1918)

Melville Davisson Post was an American writer best known for his short stories based on Uncle Abner, a mystery solving, justice dispensing West Virginian backwoodsman. His Uncle Abner stories first appeared in American newspapers. He published 22 Uncle Abner stories between 1911 until 1928.

Here is a link to the Complete Uncle Abner book on the Internet Archive.

Edgar Wallace (1925)

The Mind of JG Reeder (1925)

Edgar Wallace was one of the most prolific thriller writers of the early 1900s. He was once considered second in popularity to Dickens and his popularity diminished after his death. At one stage he was producing one in every four novels sold in England.

The Four Just Man was the first novel of his I read and I really struggled reading it. It was only after reading some of his other novels that I appreciated how enjoyable his novels can be. Part of the issue may be I struggled to relate the earlier spy novels compared to crime novels.

The Mind of JG Reeder can be read online here and is a series of short stories featuring a police officer working for the Director of Public Prosecutions. It was published as The Mind of JG Reeder in the UK and The Murder Book of JG Reeder in USA. The order of the short stories varied between the UK and USA edition. The short stories were originally published in magazines before being published as a book.

It is common to see his books in charity shops. Some of his ebooks, including “Four Just Men”, can be downloaded for free here.

Agatha Christie (1926)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) Poirot novel – The Golden Age
Murder on the Orient Express (1934) Poirot novel – The Golden Age
Sleeping Murder (1976) – stand-alone novel

I’m probably classified as an Agatha Christie fan based on my collection of her novels and other books related to her work and life. I read a selection of her novels when I was a teenager and initially started by reading “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” in my Top 100+ Crime and Mystery novel list challenge and ended up reading over 50 of her books.

I feel I would have appreciated “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” if I had read the Hercule Poirot novels in order of date published. The four novels included in this list are considered the best but aren’t my favorites. At least two of these novels represent a unique or different approach to crime writing that hadn’t been done before.

My recommendation is to start with “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” in the Hercule Poirot series. You can download a Poirot Reading List here which includes tips on the order and which to read. Here is the Miss Marple Reading list and you’ll find the complete Agatha Christie Reading list here.

“Sleeping Murder” was written during the Second World War but published after her death. Some consider this book one of her best.

You can download a few of her books as free ebooks here or buy them from charity shops. There is always a wide selection of her books being sold cheaply in charity shops due to their popularity. I was lucky enough to have purchased almost a complete collection of her Agatha Christie Crime Collection series at a charity shop.

Her An Autobiography is the best autobiography I’ve read written by an author and well worth reading once you’ve read some of her novels.

Dashiell Hammett (1929)

Red Harvest (1929) – hard-boiled detective
The Maltese Falcon (1929) – hard-boiled detective

Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and is widely considered one of the finest mystery writers of all time.

In hard-boiled detective novels, the typical protagonist is a detective who battles the violence of organized crime while dealing with a legal system that has become as corrupt as organized crime itself.

I’ve read all of Dashiell Hammett’s novels. My favorite is the “Maltese Falcon”.

You can borrow his novels from the Internet Archive or download his ebooks for free here. It’s fairly common to see his novels in charity shops.

CHD Kitchin (1929)

Death of My Aunt (1929) – The Golden Age

CHD Kitchin was a British novelist best known for his four detective stories featuring amateur sleuth Malcolm Warren, a stockbroker.

Death of My Aunt was his first Malcolm Warren novel. The story is based around Malcolm Warren, a conservative stockbroker, solving the mystery of his aunt’s murder before he becomes the prime suspect after being tricked into delivering a fatal dose of poison to his wealthy aunt.

Dorothy L Sayers (1930)

Documents in the Case (1930) – The Golden Age
The Nine Tailors (1934) – The Golden Age

“Documents in The Case” was written by Dorothy L Sayers and Robert Eustace. It is her only novel that doesn’t include Lord Wimsey, her most famous detective character. I would start by reading her Lord Wimsey novels before reading “Documents in The Case” as it isn’t like her other books and is very different from how most novels are written. It is an epistolary novel where the novel is written as a series of letters. This is the same style of writing used in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1987). Robert Eustace was an English doctor and writer who often collaborated with other writers. He supplied the main plot idea and supporting medical and scientific details for “Documents in The Case”. I’m not sure if I would have included “Documents in The Case” in a list of “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books”. It wasn’t as well-written an epistolary novel as Dracula or as good as other crime and mystery books that weren’t included in the list.

‘Gaudy Night’ was the first Dorothy L Sayers novel I read and I read this book first as it was her highest-ranked novel on my Top 100+ Crime and Mystery novel list challenge but is the tenth novel in her Lord Wimsey series. I would have appreciated ‘Gaudy Night’ if had read her novels in order of the Lord Wimsey series.

I recommend starting with ‘Whose Body?’ first as an introduction to the Lord Wimsey characters and then reading “The Nine Tailors” if you don’t want to read all the books in the series.

Here’s the complete list of her detective novels:

Whose Body? (1923)
Clouds of Witness (1926)
Unnatural Death (1927)
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1928)
Strong Poison (1930)
The Documents in the Case (1930) – stand-alone
The Five Red Herrings (1931)
Have His Carcase (1932)
Murder Must Advertise (1933)
The Nine Tailors (1934)
Gaudy Night (1935)
Busman’s Honeymoon: A Love Story With Detective Interruptions (1937)

‘Whose Body?’ can be downloaded as a free ebook. Some of her books can be borrowed from the Internet Archive or downloaded as ebooks here. Most of her books I sourced from libraries or brought from second-hand shops/charity shops. I’ve read and enjoyed all her novels.

Arthur W Upfield (1931)

The Sands of Windee (1931) – The Golden Age

Arthur Upfield was an English Australian writer best known for his detective fiction featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon “Bony” Bonaparte of the Queensland Police Force, a mixed-race Indigenous Australian.

“The Sands of Windee” was his second book in the Detective Inspector Napoleon “Bony” Bonaparte series and was a a story about a “perfect murder”, where Upfield invented a method to destroy carefully all evidence of the crime.

As an Australian I really enjoyed reading “The Sands of Windee” as I could relate to the Australian characters and story. It was also interesting to learn that the murder plot used for the book was used in a murder before the book was published. Upfield had been having trouble with the plot of planning the perfect murder and had discussed ideas with other people. “Snowy” Rowles, an itinerant stockman, was at one of the discussions and committed a series of three murders known as the Murchison Murders using the murder methods they had discussed which he described a foolproof way to dispose of a body and thus commit the perfect murder which Upfield published in his The Sands of Windee novel.

Frances Iles (1929)

Before the fact (1932) Frances Iles – Psychological suspense

Anthony Berkeley Cox was an English crime writer who wrote under several pen names, including Francis Iles, Anthony Berkeley, and A. Monmouth Platts.

His book “Malice Aforethought” was on The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time created by the British-based Crime Writers Association and I loved Lesley Grant-Adamson’s comment in her Psychological suspense chapter in Hatchards Crime Companion where she says I don’t like “Malice Aforethought”. “Malice Aforethought” had 30% more votes than any of the rest in the British Crime Writers ‘Psychological suspense category’ and I also wouldn’t clarify this as his best novel. The novel was unique for its time and is credited as being the first book to tell the reader from the onset what happened and then spent the remainder of the book sharing details of how it happened. “Before the Fact” was selected by H.R.F Keating for his “The 100 Best Crime & Mystery books”. I enjoyed reading “Before the Fact” more than “Malice Aforethought”.

You can borrow a few of his novels from the Internet Archive. The books I’ve read have been sourced from second-hand bookshops or charity shops.

Erle Stanley Gardner (1933)

The Case of the Sulky Girl (1933) – Legal

Erle Stanley Gardner, a former lawyer and prolific American author, is best known for his Perry Mason legal detective series. He published 87 books in his Perry Mason series and “The Case of the Sulky Girl” is his second book in the series. His approach to each story follows a similar format, a very formula fiction approach, with a different plot to solve.

“The Case of the Sulky Girl” is a fast enjoyable read.

James M Cain (1934)

The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934) – criminal

James M Cain was an American author most commonly associated with hardboiled American crime fiction. Both of these novels are typical of his writing style that show the crime and its consequences from the point of view of the criminal.

“The Postman Always Rings Twice” was his first novel and is considered one of the more important crime novels of the 20th Century. Its title is a red herring as a postman doesn’t appear in the novel or is alluded to. The saying refers to “The postman used to ring twice if there was something that needed an answer or signing for.” The story is narrated by a drifter who ends up working in a diner and conspires with the beautiful young wife, the operator of the dinner, to kill her older husband.

This novel was made into films and can be borrowed from the Internet Archive.

John Dickson Carr (1933)

Three Coffins (USA) The Hollow Man (UK) (1935)– The Golden Age

John Dickson Carr is an American author who lived for years in England and most of his novels have English settings with English characters. He is considered one of the greater “Golden age mystery” writers with plot-driven stories with complex puzzles. He was considered the master of the locked room mystery where a detective solves an apparently impossible crime.

“Three Coffins” published as “The Hollow Man” in the UK is a classic example of his locked room mystery. The story revolves around how Gideon Fell solves two murders to explain how Professor Charles Grimaud received his visitor in his study and when a gunshot is heard from the study, the alarm is raised – the door is broken down and Grimaud is found, shot dead, and alone. While just as nobody could have left that room, nobody could have murdered Pierre Fley in Cagliostro Street, shot at close range in front of witnesses but with nobody in sight and again, surrounded by undisturbed snow.

“Three Coffins” published as “The Hollow Man” in the UK is part of his Dr Gideon Fell series so I started by reading his earlier Fell novels before reading this one:

Hag’s Nook – 1933
The Mad Hatter Mystery – 1933
The Eight of Swords – 1934
The Blind Barber – 1934
Death-Watch – 1935
The Hollow Man – 1935 (US title: The Three Coffins)

Many of his novels can be borrowed from the Internet Archive. It’s fairly common to see his novels in charity shops. I borrowed “The Devil in Velvet” from a local library. He also published under the pseudonyms Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson, and Roger Fairbairn.

Rex Stout (1935)

The League of Frightened Men (1935) – Detective

Rex Stout was an American author best known for his detective stories based on Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin. He published over 40 novels based on Nero Wolfe and “The League of Frightened Men” is his second in the series which was originally published as “The Frightened Men” in six issues in the “Saturday Evening Post”.

Fast paced enjoyable novel!

Ethel Lina White (1936)

The Wheel Spins (1936) – The Golden Age

Ethel Lina White was a British crime writer best known for “The Wheel Spins” which Alfred Hitchcock based his “The Lady Vanishes” movie on.

“The Wheel Spins” is based on protagonist Iris Carr a beautiful, young socialite on her way back home to England after vacationing in the mountains of central Europe travelling alone on a train through Europe. She befriends Miss Froy, who disappears without a trace. No one on the train believes that Miss Foy is missing in fact they don’t believe she even exists.

Fast moving enjoyable story.

Nicholas Blake (1938)

The Beast Must Die (1938) – The Golden Age
The Private Wound (1968) – Whodunnit

Nicholas Blake is the pseudonym of Cecil Day-Lewis, the famous poet.

“The Beast Must Die” is a clever novel about a mystery novelist investigating who was responsible for the hit-and-run accident that killed his son. Packed full of twists and turns – very engaging and fast-moving.

“The Private Wound” is very different from the “The Beast Must Die”. Set in the summer of 1939 and it tells the story of an English writer, Dominic Eyre, who, while staying in a small village in the West of Ireland, gets entangled in a love affair with the wife of a former IRA commander. The wife, Harriet Leeson, known as Harry ends up being murdered and Dominic becomes involved with trying to solve the crime to clear his name. Well written mystery novel.

Cornell Woolrich (1940)

The Bride Wore Black (1940) – Thriller

Cornell Woolrich was an American author who originally published “The Bride Wore Black” under the pseudonym William Irish.

The novel is based on a bride whose husband was killed by a shot as they were leaving the church. She spends the next few years tracking down and killing the men she believed were responsible for her husband’s death.

Fast moving enjoyable novel.

Ngaio March (1940)

Surfeit of Lampreys or Death of a Peer (1940) – The Golden Age

Ngaio Marsh was a New Zealand mystery writer and theater director. She was primarily known for her Inspector Roderick Alleyn, a gentleman detective who works for the Metropolitan Police in London and was considered as a queen of crime along with Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Margery Allingham.

“Surfeit of Lampreys” published as “Death of a Peer” in USA, was the tenth novel in the Roderick Alleyn series. The plot is about solving who murders an English peer and the title “Surfeit of Lampreys” is a reference to the abundance of Lamprey relatives who were present at the time of the murder and who made solving the crime complicated.

I’m wondering if I had read the Inspector Roderick Alleyn novels in order if I would have enjoyed it more?

Raymond Chandler (1942, 1953)

The High Window (1942) – Hard-boiled/Private Eye
The Long Goodbye (1953) – Hard-boiled/Private Eye

I’ve read all of Raymond Chandler’s novels. “The Big Sleep” was the first hard-boiled/Private Eye novel I read and it is an absolute classic. His ability to describe and set scenes, and create the imaginary, in this novel is incredible. The ending frustrated me as someone more used to Golden Age novels. Hard-boiled incorporates the tone of realism and is more cynical, and hard-edged. Golden Age Crime fiction is based on a puzzle plot detective storyline with elements of whodunnit and fair play.

He originally published stories in the pulp magazine Black Mask and most of his novels were written by cannibalizing these short stories into his novels. The plot was less important to him than the atmosphere and the characters. When he merged the short stories together he spent most of the time on the descriptions of people and places and less time on the plot – which is why there can be gaps in his plots.

“The Long Goodbye” is one of his last novels and the hardest to read. Some reviewers consider this his best novel and others consider it the worst. My mum’s comment on reading it was it should have been called “The Painful Goodbye”. She didn’t like it whereas I enjoyed it more because of the insight into the author. It is longer than his other novels and dragged on.

You can borrow his novels from the Open Library or download his ebooks for free here. It’s fairly common to see his novels in charity shops.

Cyril Hare (1942)

Tragedy at Law (1942) – Detective

Cyril Hare was the pseudonym for Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark who was an English judge. “Tragedy at Law” is his best-known crime novel and is considered among the best whodunnits set in the legal world. Enjoy able novel that kept me guessing.

You can borrow this novel from the Open Library or download the ebook for free here.

Ellery Queen (1942)

Calamity Town (1942) – The Golden Age

Ellery Queen was the pseudonym of two American writers cousins Manfred B. Lee and Frederic Dannay and also the name of their main fictional detective, a mystery writer in New York City who helps his police inspector father solve baffling murder cases. They wrote more than thirty novels and their books were among the most popular of American mysteries published between 1929 and 1971.

There is differing opinions on which are the best Ellery Queen novels to read. Below is a list of their more popular books.

The French Powder Mystery (1930) – Ellery Queen Detective #2
The Tragedy of X (1932) – Drury Lane #1
The Siamese Twin Mystery (1933) – Ellery Queen Detective #7
The Adventures of Ellery Queen (1934) – short stories
The New Adventures of Ellery Queen (1940) – short stories
Calamity Town (1942) – Ellery Queen Detective #16
Ten Days’ Wonder (1948) – Ellery Queen Detective #19

“Calamity Town” is the sixteenth novel in the Ellery Queen Detective series and is set in the fictional town of Wrightsville where Ellery Queen moves to get some peace and quiet to write a book. The novel doesn’t include his police inspector father Richard Queen.

Christianna Brand (1943)

Green For Danger (1943) – The Golden Age

Wasn’t easy finding a paper-based version of the novel. Finally found a copy late 2020. Murder mystery based in a wartime hospital.

You can borrow this novel from the Open Library.

Michael Innes (1937)

Appleby’s End (1945) – The Golden Age
The New Sonia Wayward (1960) – The Golden Age

Michael Innes was a Scottish novelist and academic who published crime fiction under this pseudonym. His academic work was published under his real name J.I.M Stewart (John Innes Mackintosh Stewart). He was a lecturer in English at the University of Leeds from 1930 to 1935, then became Jury Professor of English in the University of Adelaide, South Australia. He returned to the United Kingdom in 1946 where he continued to lecture in English.

John Appleby is his best-known series.

I started by reading his first John Appleby novel “Death at the President’s Lodging” (1936) (also known as Seven Suspects). Appleby’s End is the tenth novel in his Appleby’s series.

Some of Michael Innes’s novels can be borrowed from the Internet Archive. It’s fairly common to see his novels in charity shops.

Edmund Crispen (1946)

The Moving Toyshop (1946) – Whodunnit

I’ve read most of Edmund Crispin’s novels. I find his novels less enjoyable compared to other Golden Age crime writers as characters and plot development aren’t as good.

You can borrow this novel from the Open Library .

Elizabeth Ferrars (1946)

Murder Among Friends (1946) – Whodunnit

Elizabeth Ferrars was a British crime writer. “Murder Among Friends” is an exploration of love, friendship, betrayal set in London during World War II.

Helen Eustis (1946)

The Horizontal Man (1946) – Whodunnit

Helen Eustis was an American writer who only published two novels. “The Horizontal Man” was her first novel, and only crime novel, won Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1946. The story is set on the campus of a New England women’s college where a young, womanizing English professor is murdered. The novel is written in experimental format without chapters and line breaks and is one of the earliest psychological studies in murder mystery format.

Fredric Brown (1947)

The Fabulous Clipjoint (1947) – Hardboiled Detective

Fredric Brown was an American science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writer. “The Fabulous Clipjoint” was his first mystery novel and won the Edgar Award for outstanding first mystery novel. It is both a coming-of-age story and a murder mystery set in the underbelly of Chicago, navigating a world of seedy bars, gambling dens, and suspicious characters.

Margery Allingham (1948)

More Work for The Undertaker (1948) – Golden Age
Tiger in the Smoke (1952) – Golden Age

Margery Allingham is another of the well-known English novelists from the “Golden Age of Detective Fiction. I’ve read 16 of her novels.

“More Work for the Undertaker” and “Tiger in the Smoke” are part of her Albert Campion novel series so if you wanted to read in the order published you would read:

The Crime at Black Dudley (1929: US title The Black Dudley Murder)
Mystery Mile (1930)
Look to the Lady (1931: US title The Gyrth Chalice Mystery)
Police at the Funeral (1931)
Sweet Danger (1933: US title Kingdom of Death/The Fear Sign)
Death of a Ghost (1934)
Flowers for the Judge (1936: US title Legacy in Blood)
Dancers in Mourning (1937: US title Who Killed Chloe?)
Mr. Campion: Criminologist (1937: short stories)
The Case of the Late Pig (1937: originally appeared in Mr Campion: Criminologist)
The Fashion in Shrouds (1938)
Mr. Campion and Others (1939: short stories)
Traitor’s Purse (1941: US title The Sabotage Murder Mystery)
Coroner’s Pidgin (1945: US title Pearls Before Swine)
The Casebook of Mr Campion (1947: short stories)
More Work for the Undertaker (1948)
The Tiger in the Smoke (1952: serialised in US newspapers as Tiger Loose)

Frequently see her books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops. You can borrow her novel from the Open Library .

Josephine Tey (1948)

The Franchise Affair (1948) – Whodunnit
The Daughter of Time (1951) – History Mystery

Josephine Tey was a pseudonym used by Elizabeth MacKintosh, a Scottish author. She also wrote plays under the name of Gordon Daviot.

I’ve read all Josephine Tey’s novels and this is another example of where I should have read her novels in order of the series rather than reading what was considered her best novel first.

The first novel of hers that I read was “The Daughter of Time” which I am sure I would have appreciated more if I had read the earlier novels first. I encourage anyone who reads this novel to research the background behind the story and the influence this novel had. The story is entirely based on the detective stuck in a hospital bed researching the mystery of Richard III.

Incredible author and I enjoyed reading the biography of her life.

I often see her books in charity shops and you can download her ebooks for free here.

John Frankin Bardin (1948)

Devil Take the Blue-Tail Fly (1948) – Psychological suspense

John Franklin Bardin was an American crime writer. “Devil Take the Blue-Tail Fly” dives into the psychological torment of Ellen, a talented harpsichordist released from a mental institution. Returning to her seemingly perfect life with her conductor husband Basil, a dark secret from her past resurfaces.

Ellen encounters Jimmy Shad, a folk singer she had a passionate but destructive affair with during her youth. This encounter throws her fragile sanity into question. The narrative blurs the lines between reality and delusion as Ellen grapples with her past trauma and a possible alternate personality named Nelle.

As Ellen attempts to resume her musical career, the pressure mounts. The reappearance of Jimmy and the doubts about her sanity lead to a chilling climax. The novel explores themes of mental illness, guilt, and the destructive power of the past, leaving the reader to question the truth and Ellen’s ultimate fate.

Georges Simenon (1949)

My Friend Maigret (1949) – Police Procedural
The Stain On The Snow (1950) – psychological crime fiction, hardboiled detective
Maigret in Court (1960) – Police Procedural

Georges Simenon’s crime novels can be categorized into two main areas:

Inspector Maigret Series – These were Georges Simenon’s most famous work, featuring the iconic Parisian detective Jules Maigret. Maigret is a methodical detective who relies on observation, intuition, and understanding human psychology to solve crimes. The stories typically focus on character development and revealing the motivations behind the crime, rather than intricate puzzles or action sequences.
Standalone Novels (Romans Durs) – These are independent stories outside the Maigret series. They often fall under the umbrella of psychological crime fiction or hardboiled detective fiction. The “hardboiled” elements can include gritty settings, morally ambiguous characters, and a focus on the underbelly of society. However, Simenon goes beyond the typical hardboiled trope by adding a deeper psychological exploration of his characters and their motivations. These novels delve into themes of social alienation, mental illness, and the destructive power of the past.

“My Friend Maigret” and “Maigret in Court” are part of his Inspector Maigret series while “Stain on The Snow” is one of his standalone novels.

WR Burnett (1949)

The Asphalt Jungle (1949) – Criminal
Burnett was a prolific American author known for his contributions to crime fiction and noir literature. His writing career spanned from the 1920s to the 1950s, and he was highly regarded for his gritty realism and ability to depict the criminal underworld with authenticity.

Burnett’s novels often featured hardened criminals, detectives, and ordinary people caught up in dangerous situations. His works are characterized by their strong narratives, vivid characters, and sharp dialogue. He is perhaps best known for writing “Little Caesar” (1929), a seminal work in the genre that explores the rise and fall of a mobster named Rico.

“The Asphalt Jungle” (1949) was adapted into a classic film directed by John Huston. His stories typically delve into themes of greed, betrayal, and the consequences of criminal behavior, portraying a world where moral ambiguity reigns and characters must navigate complex ethical dilemmas.

Michael Gilbert (1950)

Smallbone Deceased (1950) – Whodunnit

Unable to find a paperback version I read it via Amazon Unlimited. A very enjoyable murder mystery set in a lawyer’s office that kept you guessing.

Hillary Waugh (1952)

Last Seen Wearing (1952) – Police Procedural

Last Seen Wearing is generally considered the finest early example of the police procedural. Excellent novel. Unable to find an ebook or paperback ending up borrowing from the Internet Archive. Based on the disappearance of a female freshman, the search into her disappearance, the discovery of her body, the inquest, and the subsequent police investigation to find her murderer.

Guy Cullingford (1953)

Post Mortem (1953) -Golden Age

Constance Lindsay Taylor was a British writer, playwright and screenwriter who wrote under the pseudonym Guy Cullingford.

“Post Mortem” is a crime novel that centers around Detective Chief Inspector David Morgan. The story begins with Morgan investigating the murder of a wealthy woman named Lady Caroline Faye. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of deceit, jealousy, and secrets among the elite social circles of London.

The novel explores the complexities of the investigation as Morgan navigates through various suspects and motives. It also delves into the personal lives of the characters, revealing their vulnerabilities and hidden agendas. Throughout the narrative, Cullingford weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, keeping the reader guessing about the true identity of the murderer until the very end.

“Post Mortem” is praised for its intricate plotting, well-developed characters, and the atmospheric depiction of London’s high society. It combines elements of traditional detective fiction with psychological insights into human behavior, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre.

John Bingham (1953)

Five Roundabouts to Heaven (1953) – Cold War-era spy fiction

John Bingham was a British crime and espionage author.

“Five Roundabouts to Heaven” follows Bill Howard, a seemingly ordinary man who becomes entangled in a web of intrigue and danger when he encounters a mysterious woman named Sally. As their relationship develops, Bill finds himself drawn into a world of espionage and betrayal.

Set against the backdrop of post-World War II Europe, the novel explores themes of identity, trust, and the consequences of one’s actions. Bill’s journey takes him through various European cities, each represented metaphorically as “roundabouts,” where he navigates through twists and turns of both physical and emotional landscapes.

Bingham’s narrative is known for its atmospheric prose, complex characters, and suspenseful plot twists. “Five Roundabouts to Heaven” is regarded as a compelling example of Cold War-era spy fiction, blending elements of thriller and psychological drama to create a gripping story of intrigue and moral dilemmas.

Shelley Smith (1954)

The Party at No. 5 (1954) – psychological thriller

Shelley Smith was a British crime and mystery writer.

“The Party at No. 5” story revolves around a group of people attending a party at a house numbered 5, where tensions and secrets among the guests quickly escalate into a deadly confrontation.

The novel unfolds as various characters with their own motives and hidden agendas navigate through the evening. When a murder occurs during the party, suspicion falls on each guest as they try to unravel the truth behind the crime.

Shelley Smith’s narrative skillfully blends elements of mystery and psychological suspense, exploring themes of deception, betrayal, and the consequences of past actions. The novel is known for its intricate plotting, well-developed characters, and the atmospheric portrayal of the party setting, which serves as a microcosm of society’s darker impulses and desires.

Margaret Millar (1955)

Beast in View (1955) – Psychological suspense
Beyond This Point (1970) – Psychological suspense

Margaret Millar was one of the leading American ladies of crime writing and this is considered her best work. “Beast in View” won the Edgar Award in 1956 and was adapted into an episode in Alfred Hitchock Hour. Margaret Millar published under her married name. Her husband Kenneth Millar was also a crime novelist better known under the pen name Ross MacDonald.

“Beast in View” was enjoyable fast-reading novel that I completed within a day. I found a copy in a second-hand book shop and it can be borrowed as a free ebook from Open Library.

Patricia Highsmith (1950)

The Talented Mr Ripley (1955) – Psychological suspense
The Tremor of Forgery (1969) – Psychological suspense

Patricia Highsmith was an American novelist widely known for her psychological thrillers. Many of her novels have been made into popular movies but I’m not a fan of her obsessive, disturbing characters in her novels I’ve read so far.

She is considered the queen of the modern psychological thriller; her focus is more on the investigation of the human mind rather than the crime puzzle. What is interesting is Patricia Highsmith’s novels were more popular in Europe than in USA. This trend was highlighted in the two crime lists with her novels ranking higher on the UK list vs the USA crime writers list.

Frequently see her books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops. You can borrow her novel from the Open Library.

J.J. Marric (1955)

Gideon’s Day (1955) – Police Procedural
Gideon’s Week (1956) – Police Procedural

I read “Gideon’s Day” on my Top 100+ Crime and Mystery novel list challenge. Written under the pseudonym J.J Marric by John Creasy, the Gideon series is considered his best-known. “Gideon’s Day” is a police procedural based on telling the story of the main character Gideon with a glimpse into his personal life while juggling overseeing a series of different crimes. Quick and easy read – read within 24 hours.

Ellin Stanley (1956)

Mystery Stories
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Dorothy Hughes (1963)

The Expendable Man

Nicholas Freeling (1963)

Gun Before Butter

Jim Thompson (1964)

Pop. 1280

EB Eberhart (1966)

R.S.V.P. Murder

Emma Lathen (1967)

Murder Against the Grain

George Sims (1967)

The Last Best Friend

Julian Symons (1967)

The Man Who Killed
The Players and the Game

Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö (1965)

Roseanna (1965)- Police Procedural

Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö were Swedish authors, and partners, who are best known for their series based on police detective Martin Beck. Their novels are an example of nordic noir, a genre of crime fiction usually written from a police point of view and set in Scandinavia or Nordic countries.

They wrote 10 novels in the Martin Beck series and Per Wahloo died just before the last book in the series was published:

Roseanna (1965)
The Man Who Went Up in Smoke (1966)
The Man on the Balcony (1967)
The Laughing Policeman (1968)
The Fire Engine That Disappeared (1969)
Murder at the Savoy (1970)
The Abominable Man (1972)
The Locked Room (1973)
Cop Killer (1975)
The Terrorists (1976)

“The Laughing Policeman” won the Edgar Award in 1971 for Best Mystery Novel.

I occasionally see their books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.

Helen McCoy (1968)

Mr. Splitfoot

Peter Dickinson (1968)

The Glass-Sided Ants’ Nest (1968) – The Whodunnit
The Poison Oracle (1974)

Peter Dickinson was an English author and The Glass-Sided Ants’ Nest was his first novel in the Jimmy Peddle detective series.

“The Glass-Sided Ants’ Nest” introduces Superintendent Jimmy Pibble who is called in to investigate the murder of tribal leader of a group of indigenous people who have lived in England after migrating with the daughter of an English missionary who had lived with the tribe in Papua New Guinea. The leader of the tribe decided to migrate after members of the tribe and the missionary were murdered by the Japanese during World War II.

The title “The Glass-Sided Ants’ Nest” is in reference to the fact that the daughter becomes an anthropologist and lives with the tribe where she is able to observe them living an adapted life while maintaining their customs like you might ants in a glass-sided ants’ nest.

Story line was bizarre.

Chester Himes (1969)

Blind Man With a Pistol (1969) – Police Procedural

Chester Himes was an American author best known for his Harlem Detective novels featuring Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones.

“Blind Man with a Pistol” was his eight novel and final novel in the series. The novel tells the story of one night and a day in Harlem, and includes several murders, riots and looting. None of the murders, or who is responsible for the riots is answered in the story because Chester Himes wasn’t really interested in solving the mysteries. He is making a sociological and philosophical on white and black worlds. His goal is to make the point that most violence is like a blind man shooting a pistol, without aim, without strategy, without a point.

I listened to this book on Audible. You need to accept when reading it that is isn’t a typical crime novel; the storyline is chaotic and it’s was his way of making a statement about violence, crime and what life was like for those living in Harlem in the late 60’s.

Joan Flemming (1970)

Young Man, I Think You’re Dying

Ed McBain (1956)

Sadie When She Died (1972) – Police Procedural

Ed McBain was considered the author who perfected the police procedural sub-genre – where the crime is solved by an entire police department as opposed to a single detective.

Cop Hater was his first novel in the 87th Precinct series. I read numerous Ed McBain novels when I was younger. Cop Hater didn’t engage me until almost the end of the novel; maybe the ones I read in my younger years had evolved more or my tastes changed?

Frequently see his books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.

George V Higgins (1970)

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1970) – Criminal

George V Higgins was an American author and lawyer best known for his crime novels that established the Boston noir genre of gangster tales.

“The Friends of Eddie Coyle” was his debut novel published when he as an Assistant United States Attorney in Boston.

Think I might have brought the ebook from Amazon after being unsuccessful in finding a physical copy of the novel.

Tony Hillerman (1973)

Dance Hall of the Dead (1972) – Police Procedural

Tony Hillerman was an American author best known for his detective series featuring Navajo Tribal Police Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.

“Dance Hall of the Dead” was his second novel and featured only Joe Leaphorn.

There was no ebook version of this novel and I think I brought it online as secondhand books.

Gregory Mcdonald (1974)

Fletch (1974) – Humorous

Gregory Mcdonald was an American mystery writer best known for his comic investigative reporter Irwin Maurice “Fletch” Fletcher.

“Fletch” is a fast-moving enjoyable novel and was Edgar Awards winner for Best First Novel.

Think I might have brought the ebook.

Celia Fremlin (1975)

The Long

Colin Watson (1975)

The Naked Nuns

P.D James (1971)

Black Tower– The Whodunnit
A Taste of Death (1986) – The Whodunnit

P.D James was an English novelist known for her detective novels featuring Adam Dalgliesh, a police commander, and poet.

To the best of my knowledge, I read all the P.D James novels when I was younger. Always enjoyable reads.

Her Adam Dalgliesh series in order is:

Cover Her Face (1962)
A Mind to Murder (1963)
Unnatural Causes (1967)
Shroud for a Nightingale (1971)
The Black Tower (1975)
Death of an Expert Witness (1977)
A Taste for Death (1986)
Devices and Desires (1989)
Original Sin (1994)
A Certain Justice (1997)
Death in Holy Orders (2001)
The Murder Room (2003)
The Lighthouse (2005)
The Private Patient (2008)

Common to see her books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.

Dorothy Salisbury Davis (1976)

A Death in the Life

Dorothy Uhnak (1976)

The Investigation

Ross Macdonald (1976)

The Blue Hammer (1976) – Hardboiled Detective

Ross Macdonald was the main pseudonym used by the American-Canadian writer of crime fiction Kenneth Millar known for his hardboiled novels set in Southern California. He was married to Margaret Millar who was one of the leading American ladies of crime writing.

Ruth Rendell / Barbara Vine (1976)

A Judgement in Stone (1977) Ruth Rendell – Psychological thriller

Ruth Rendelll was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries. I read most of her and PD James novels when I was younger.

She published her novels that explored the psychological background of criminals and their victims under the pseudonym Barbara Vine.

“A Judgement in Stone” is a fast moving suspense thriller where you know the killers at the start and the plot is about the events that lead to the murders and the eventual capture of the killers.

Common to see her books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.

William McIvanney (1977)

Laidlaw

Donald E Westlake (1967)

Nobody’s Perfect – Humorous

Donal E Westlake was an American writer who specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers.

“God Save The Mark” is a classic Donald Westlake comic crime novel and Edgar award winner for best novel;. The main character is a person who is often taken advantage of by cons. He inherits money from an Uncle he never knew, who was a well-known conman, and ends up being entwined in murders and being harassed as people try to recover the money he has inherited.

“The Hot Rock” is an enjoyable read about a team of criminals trying to steal an emerald and having trouble constantly losing it. Multiple heists to finally steal it. “Bank Shot” is a hilarious comic caper of a group of thieves stealing a bank. These two novels are part of his well known Dortmunder series.

Common to see his books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.

Reginal Hill (1978)

A Pinch of Snuff (1978) – Police Procedural

Reginal Hill was an English crime writer best known for his Dalziel and Pascoe series.

I read most or all of his Dalziel and Pascoe novels when I was younger. I also loved watching the TV series but was annoyed that the TV story lines didn’t follow the novels.

Here is his series in order of date published for those interested in reading the series:

A Clubbable Woman (1970)
An Advancement of Learning (1971)
Ruling Passion (1973)
An April Shroud (1975)
A Pinch of Snuff (1978)
A Killing Kindness (1980)
Deadheads (1983)
Exit Lines (1984)
Child’s Play (1987)
Underworld (1988)
Bones and Silence (1990)
One Small Step (1990), novella
Recalled to Life (1992)
Pictures of Perfection (1994)
The Wood Beyond (1995)
Asking for the Moon (1996), short stories
- “The Last National Service Man”
- “Pascoe’s Ghost”
- “Dalziel’s Ghost”
- “One Small Step”
On Beulah Height (1998)
Arms and the Women (1999)
Dialogues of the Dead (2002)
Death’s Jest-Book (2003)
Good Morning, Midnight (2004)
The Death of Dalziel (2007), Canada and US Title: Death Comes for the Fat Man
A Cure for All Diseases (Canada and US title: The Price of Butcher’s Meat) (2008)
Midnight Fugue (2009)

Common to see his books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.

John D MacDonald (1979)

The Green Ripper (1979) – Hardboiled/ Private Eye

John D MacDonald was one of the most successful novels of his time.

“The Dreadful Lemon Sky” is the 16th novel in his Travis McGee series. Enjoyable read like reading a Sue Grafton novel. Former friend Carrie asks Travis to safe keep some money and when she dies 2 weeks later he and his friend Meyer investigate her death and where the money came from.

I occasionally see his books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.

Joseph Hansen (1979)

Skinflick

PM Hubbard (1979)

Kill Claudio

Amanda Cross (1981)

Death in a Tenured Position

John Wainwright (1981)

All On a Summers Day

Joseph Wambaugh (1981)

The Glitter Dome (1981) – Police Procedural

Joseph Wambaugh is an American writer best known for writing about police work in the United States.

Joseph Wambaugh is considered the father of modern-day police novels and started writing while working as a policeman for the LAPD. Reason he left he said was “I knew that when I wrote “The Choirboys,” it would be very hard to maintain my job, because “The Choirboys” was absolutely outrageous black comedy. Dark, dark comedy that ends up as a tragedy. I knew that I couldn’t write that book I envisioned and stay a cop with the LAPD.”

I struggled reading “The Choirboys”.

Common to see his books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.

Peter Lovesey (1970)

The False Detective Dew (1982) – Historical

Peter Lovesey is a British writer known for his historical and contemporary detective novels.

“The False Detective Dew” was the Gold Dagger award by the Crime Writers’ Association in 1982. It’s a very clever story with multiple unexpected twists. For those intereted in history Inspector Dew was the detective who apprehended at sea American dentist Dr. Crippen and his mistress who murdered his wife in 1910 and escaped by ship on the S.S. Mauritania.

I occasionally see his books in charity shops and second-hand bookshops.