Mystery, secrets, twists, suspects, lies, evidence, a motive – crime novels have it all. From Jo Nesbo to Agatha Christie, this is a list of some of the most rewarding contemporary and classic crime novels of all time.
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (1887)
The Scottish author is one of the greatest masters of crime, known to this day for his exceptional novels and Sherlock Holmes books. Published in 1887, A Study in Scarlet turned into a literature debut. The enigmatic detective and his acquaintance Dr John Watson form an investigative partnership to solve a mysterious crime. A dead man was found in south-east London with an expression of horror on his face and the word ‘revenge’ written with blood on the wall in his house. Doyle’s novel created the start of a series of books revolving around the most popular fictional detective in history.