Detective and crime series keep you on your sofas edge when your watching them . Never miss an opportunity when there is an American Thriller movies or novel when in display . They are are wholesome and worth watching or reading . This article includes all you need to know about the best American Detective and Crime Novels that are famous worldwide.
The Best American Detective and Crime Novels – The Top 8
- The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
The Maltese Falcon is a detective novel by Dashiell Hammett. It was published in 1929 and has been adapted into several motion pictures.
The Maltese Falcon is an epistolary novel, with the story told as a series of letters written by private investigator Sam Spade to his partner, Miles Archer. In the novel, Spade investigates the murder of Joel Cairo and his partner’s disappearance with his partner’s wife Brigid O’Shaughnessy and her lover, Kasper Gutman.
- The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
Hammett’s novel, “The Thin Man,” is a detective story that follows Nick Charles and Nora Charles as they investigate the death of a wealthy woman. The two are caught up in an elaborate murder plot that leads them to their own deaths.
This is one of the most famous detective stories ever written. Dashiell Hammett’s writing style has been imitated by many other writers and his work has been adapted into films, television shows, plays, comic books and video games.
- The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
The Big Sleep is a detective novel by Raymond Chandler, first published in 1939. It is considered to be one of the greatest American detective novels and has been adapted for film twice: once in 1946 with Humphrey Bogart as Philip Marlowe and again in 1989 with Robert Mitchum as Philip Marlowe.
The protagonist, Philip Marlowe, is a private investigator who specializes in finding people who have “disappeared”. He works at night because he thinks that during the day people are too busy to notice what he does for them.
- The Black Dahlia by James Elroy
The Black Dahlia is a crime novel written by James Elroy. It was first published in 1947 and is set in Los Angeles, California. The novel follows the investigation of the murder of Elizabeth Short, also known as “The Black Dahlia”.
- In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
In Cold Blood is a novel written by Truman Capote in 1966. It is considered to be one of the most influential works in crime fiction.
The mystery begins with the brutal murder of a farmer, Perry Smith, and his teenage companion, Dick Hickcock. The two are found dead on a country road on Christmas Eve. The killer has taken their car and left them for dead. They are discovered in an abandoned shack by the side of the road with their throats slashed and their bodies frozen solid from exposure to the cold night air.
- Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
The protagonist is a young woman, newly arrived in Cairo and looking for work as a secretary. Her life is thrown into turmoil when she finds herself accused of murdering her employer, Mr. Ratchet, on board the Nile steamer he had chartered for his forthcoming trip to England.
Hercules Poirot, an elderly Belgian detective who has been retired for many years and now lives in Styles Court in London, agrees to take on the case and help clear her name.
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s murder mystery, “Murder on the Orient Express,” is a classic that has been adapted multiple times into films, TV shows and plays. In this section, we will take a look at the different adaptations of the novel.
The first adaptation was a film in 1934 with an all-star cast including Kenneth More, Sidney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Frank Faylen. The film was directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Alexander Korda. It is considered to be one of the top 25 best British films ever made.
- The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother, Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes”
Sherlock Holmes’ smarter brother, Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes”, is a story that follows the detective when he’s not around.
Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Exploits of Sherlock Holmes” is an adventure novel with a different perspective. It tells the story of how Sherlock would have solved cases if he were alive.
Final Words on the best American Detectives and Crime novels
In this long-form piece, we have compiled the best American crime novels written by famous and not so famous authors.
If you are looking for a good read, take a look at our list of some of the best American detective and crime novels. Whether you are in need of some light summer reading or want to learn more about our country’s history, these books will provide you with hours of entertainment and education.