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The Greatest Crime and Mystery Fiction of All Time

The most popular genre of writing today goes under several names, including crime, detective fiction, mystery and whodunits. It overlaps every other publishing category, including mainstream literary works, thrillers, espionage, horror, romance and speculative fiction. You could argue that all literature belongs to this genre. Doesn't every piece of creative writing involve violation of some written or unwritten moral code, or an attempt to detect and solve certain mysteries of life?

For this list, however, we are considering the works a consensus of readers and critics place in this genre, as well as writing that was seminal in originating the genre. For convenience, we call this grouping "Crime and Mystery".

The works on this list have been selected through the same extensive research and surveys, carried out over two decades, that spawned all our lists.

The Greatest Crime and Mystery list focuses on major works—mainly novels, novellas and collections—as we have recently split off a separate list for the greatest short stories in the field.

Popular as it is, this genre developing quickly. This "greatest" list is always undergoing updates and revisions as new works are discovered and appreciation of old works evolves.

Latest update: February 9, 2024

The 222 greatest works of crime and mystery
in chronological order

1829
The Rector of Veilbye
Steen Steensen Blicher
Denmark
novella
1842
Annette von Droste-Hülshoff
Germany
novella
Critique   • Quotes   • Buy the book
1860
England
novel
1863
Les Habits Noirs
Paul Féval
France
novel
1866
Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoevski
Russia
novel
1868
England
novel
 
Monsieur Lecoq
Émile Gaboriau
France
novel
1870
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
England
novel
 
The Leavenworth Case
Anna Katherine Green
United States
novel
1887
A Study in Scarlet
England
novel
1890
The Sign of Four
England
novel
1892
England
story collection
including A Scandal in Bohemia, The Red-Headed League, The Adventure of the Speckled Band, and others
Critique   • Quotes   • Text   • At the movies   • Buy the book
1894
Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
United States
story collection
 
Pudd'nhead Wilson
Mark Twain
United States
novel
1899
The Amateur Cracksman
E.W. Hornung
England
story collection
1903
The Riddle of the Sands
Erskine Childers
England
novel
1894
The Return of Sherlock Holmes
United States
story collection
1907
England
novel
 
Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Thief
Maurice Leblanc
France
novel
 
The Thinking Machine
Jacques Futrelle
United States
story collection
 
The Circular Staircase
Mary Roberts Rinehart
United States
novel
1911
England
story collection
including The Blue Cross, The Invisible Man, The Hammer of God, and others
Critique   • Quotes   • Text   • Buy the book
1913
Trent's Last Case
E.C. Bentley
England
novel
1915
Scotland
novel
1918
Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries
Melville Davisson Post
United States
story collection
including The Doomdorf Mystery, The Wrong Hand, The House of the Dead Man, and others
1925
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
England
novel
 
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder
Edgar Wallace
England
story collection
1927
The Bellamy Trial
Frances Noyes Haart
United States
novel
1928
Ashenden, or the British Agent
W. Somerset Maugham
England
story collection
1929
The Poisoned Chocolates Case
Anthony Berkeley
England
novel
 
Death of My Aunt
C.H.B. Kitchin
England
story collection
 
Little Caesar
W.R. Burnett
United States
novel
 
Red Harvest
United States
novel
1930
Strong Poison
Dorothy L. Sayers
England
novel
 
The Documents in the Case
Dorothy Sayers, Robert Eustace
England
novel
 
United States
novel
1931
The Sands of Windee
Arthur Upfield
Australia
novel
 
Malice Aforethought
Francis Iles
England
novel
 
The Glass Key
United States
novel
 
Guys and Dolls
Damon Runyon
United States
story collection
1932
Before the Fact
Francis Iles
England
novel
 
The Madman of Bergerac
Georges Simenon
Belgium
novel
1933
Murder Must Advertise
Dorothy L. Sayers
England
novel
 
The Case of the Sulky Girl
Erle Stanley Gardner
United States
novel
 
The Case of the Velvet Claws
Erle Stanley Gardner
United States
novel
1934
Death of a Ghost
Margery Allingham
England
novel
 
The Nine Tailors
Dorothy L. Sayers
England
novel
 
United States
novel
1935
Dorothy L. Sayers
England
novel
 
The Three Coffins
John Dickson Carr
United States
novel
 
The League of the Frightened Men
Rex Stout
United States
novel
1936
The Wheel Spins
Ethel Lina White
England
novel
1938
Rebecca
Daphne du Maurier
England
novel
 
Brighton Rock
Graham Greene
England
novel
 
The Beast Must Die
Nicholas Blake
Ireland
novel
 
Death from a Top Hat
Clayton Lawson
United States
novel
1939
The Mask of Dimitrios
Eric Ambler
England
novel
 
Rogue Male
Geoffrey Household
England
novel
 
United States
novel
Critique   • Quotes   • At the movies   • Buy the book
1940
Farewell, My Lovely
United States
novel
 
The Bride Wore Black
Cornell Woolrich
United States
novel
1941
The Case of the Abominable Snowman
Nicholas Blake
Ireland
novel
 
Surfeit of Lampreys
Ngaio Marsh
New Zealand
novel
1942
Tragedy at Law
Cyril Hare
England
novel
 
The High Window
United States
novel
 
Calamity Town
Ellery Queen
United States
novel
1943
Double Indemnity
United States
novel
 
Laura
Vera Caspary
United States
novel
 
The Lady in the Lake
United States
novel
 
A Kiss Before Dying
Ira Levin
United States
novel
1944
Green for Danger
Christianna Brand
England
novel
 
Home Sweet Homicide
Craig Rice
United States
novel
1945
Appleby's End
Michael Innes
Scotland
novel
 
The Shadow of the Wind
Carlos Luiz Zafón
Spain
novel
 
The Continental Op
United States
story collection
1946
The Moving Toyshop
Edmund Crispin
England
novel
 
The Honshin Murders
Seisha Yokomizo
Japan
novel
 
Murder Among Friends
Elizabeth Ferrars
United States
novel
 
Horizontal Man
Helen Eustis
United States
novel
1947
A Case to Answer
Edgar Lustgarten
England
novel
 
The Fabulous Clipjoint
Fredric Brown
United States
novel
 
I, the Jury
Mickey Spillane
United States
novel
1948
More Work for the Undertaker
Margery Allingham
England
novella
 
The Franchise Affair
Josephine Tey
Scotland
novella
 
Devil Take the Blue-Tale Fly
John Franklin Bardin
United States
novel
1949
The Third Man
Graham Greene
England
novella
 
George Simenon
Belgium
novel
 
The Journeying Boy
Michael Innes
Scotland
novel
 
The Asphalt Jungle
W.R. Burnett
United States
novel
1950
Smallbone Deceased
Michael Gilbert
England
novel
 
Strangers on a Train
Patricia Highsmith
United States
novel
1951
The Daughter of Time
Josephine Tey
Scotland
novel
 
The Devil in Velvet
John Dickson Carr
United States
novel
1952
Beat Not the Bones
Charlotte Jay
Australia
novel
 
The Tiger in the Smoke
Margery Allingham
England
novel
 
The Mousetrap
England
play
 
Killer Inside Me
Jim Thompson
United States
novel
 
Last Seen Wearing…
Hilary Waugh
United States
novel
1953
Five Roundabouts to Heaven
John Bingham
England
novel
 
Post Mortem
Guy Cullingford
England
novel
 
United States
novel
1954
United States
novel
 
Twelve Angry Men
Reginald Rose
United States
play
1955
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Patricia Highsmith
United States
novel
 
Beast in View
Margaret Millar
United States
novel
1956
Gideon's Week
J.J. Marric (John Creasey)
England
novel
 
A Dram of Poison
Charlotte Armstrong
United States
novel
 
Mystery Stories
Stanley Ellin
United States
story collection
 
Cop Hater
Ed McBain
United States
novel
1957
From Russia With Love
Ian Fleming
England
novel
1958
Nine Coaches Waiting
Mary Stewart
England
novel
 
Anatomy of a Murder
Robert Traver
United States
novel
1959
My Brother Michael
Mary Stewart
England
novel
 
United States
novel
 
Plot It Yourself
Rex Stout
United States
novel
1960
Maigret in Court
Georges Simenon
Belgium
novel
 
The New Sonia Wayward
Michael Innes
Scotland
novel
1962
The Rose of Tibet
Lionel Davidson
England
novel
 
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Shirley Jackson
United States
novel
1963
Gun Before Butter
Nicolas Freeling
England
novel
 
The Expendable Man
Dorothy B. Hughes
United States
novel
1964
The Cellar at No. 5
Shelley Smith
England
novel
 
Pop. 1280
Jim Thompson
United States
novel
1965
The Berlin Memorandum
Brian Hall
England
novel
 
Roseanna
Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö
Sweden
novel
 
RSVP Murder
Mignon G. Eberhart
United States
novel
 
The Doorbell Rang
Rex Stout
United States
novel
1966
In Cold Blood
Truman Capote
United States
Non-fiction novel
1967
The Man Who Killed Himself
Julian Symons
England
novel
 
Murder Against the Grain
Emma Lathen
United States
novel
 
God Save the Mark
Donal E. Westlake
United States
novel
1968
To Each His Own
Leonardo Sciascia
Sweden
novel
 
The Laughing Policeman
Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö
Sweden
novel
1969
Blind Man with a Pistol
Chester Himes
United States
novel
 
The Godfather
Mario Puzo
United States
novel
1970
Wobble to Death
Peter Lovesey
England
novel
 
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
George V. Higgins
United States
novel
 
The Hot Rock
Donald E. Westlake
United States
novel
1971
The Day of the Jackal
Frederick Forsyth
England
novel
 
Shroud for a Nightingale
P.D. James
England
novel
1972
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Stanley Ellin
United States
novel
 
Sadie When She Died
Ed McBain
United States
novel
1973
Dance Hall of the Dead
Tony Hillerman
United States
novel
1974
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
John Le Carré
England
novel
 
A Running Duck
Paula Gosling
United States
novel
 
Fletch
Gregory Mcdonald
United States
novel
 
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution
Nicholas Meyer
United States
novel
1975
The Eagle Has Landed
Jack Higgins
England
novel
 
Where Are the Children?
Mary Higgins Clark
United States
novel
 
John D. MacDonald
United States
novel
1976
A Demon in My View
Ruth Rendell
England
novel
 
The Blue Hammer
Ros Macdonald
United States
novel
1977
A Morbid Taste for Bones
Ellis Peters
England
novel
 
A Judgement in Stone
Ruth Rendell
England
novel
1978
Eye of the Needle
Ken Follett
England
novel
 
Rumpole of the Bailey
John Mortimer
England
story collection
1979
The Southern Seas
Manuel Vázquez Montalbán
Spain
novel
 
The Executioner's Song
United States
novel
1980
The Murder of the Maharajah
H.R.F. Keating
England
novel
 
The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco
Italy
novel
1981
The Dead of Jericho
Colin Dexter
England
novel
 
Leper of Saint Giles
Ellis Peters
England
novel
 
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard
Anatole France
France
novel
 
Red Dragon
Thomas Harris
United States
novel
 
The First Deadly Sin
Lawrence Sanders
United States
novel
 
Martin Cruz Smith
United States
novel
1982
The False Inspector Dew
Peter Lovesey
England
novel
 
A Is for Alibi
Sue Grafton
United States
novel
 
Bank Shot
Donald E. Westlake
United States
novel
1983
The Danger
Dick Francis
England
novel
 
The Little Drummer Girl
John le Carré
England
novel
 
LaBrava
Elmore Leonard
United States
novel
1984
Penny Black
Susan Moody
England
novel
1985
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Patricvk Suskind
Germany
novel
1985–1986
The New York Trilogy
Paul Auster
United States
novel series
1986
A Taste for Death
P.D. James
England
novel
 
A Dark-Adapted Eye
Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell)
England
novel
 
Who Killed Palomiono Molero?
Mario Vargas Llosa
Peru
novel
1987
The Killings at Badger's Drift
Caroline Graham
England
novel
 
Bertie and the Tin Man
Peter Lovesey
England
novel
 
A Fatal Inversion
Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell)
England
novel
 
The Deacon House Murders
Yukito Ayatsuji
Japan
novel
 
The Black Dahlia
James Ellroy
United States
novel
 
Misery
Stephen King
United States
novel
 
Presumed Innocent
Scott Turow
United States
novel
1988
Under World
Reginald Hill
England
novel
 
Black Cherry Blues
James Lee Burke
United States
novel
 
The Silence of the Lambs
Thomas Harris
United States
novel
 
A Thief of Time
Tony Hillerman
United States
novel
1989
Devices and Desires
P.D. James
England
novel
1990
L.A. Confidential
James Ellroy
United States
novel
 
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard
United States
novel
 
Devil in a Blue Dress
Walter Mosley
United States
novel
1991
Faceless Killers
Henning Mankell
Sweden
novel
 
The Firm
John Grisham
United States
novel
1992
Smilla's Sense of Snow
Peter Hoeg
Denmark
novel
 
Fatherland
Robert Harris
England
novel
 
The Secret History
Donna Tartt
United States
novel
1994
The Shape of Water
Andrea Camilleri
Italy
novel
1998
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Alexander McCall Smith
Scotland
novel
 
My Name Is Red
Orhan Pamuk
Turkey
novel
2001
True History of the Kelly Gang
Peter Carey
Australia
novel
2002
Fingersmith
Sarah Waters
Wales
novel
2003
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Mark Haddon
England
novel
 
The Ice Princess
Camilla Läckberg
Sweden
novel
2005
Steig Larsson
Sweden
novel
2006
The Thirteenth Tale
Diane Setterfield
England
novel
 
Steig Larsson
Sweden
novel
Critique   • Quotes   • Buy the book
2007
In the Woods
Tana French
Ireland
novel
 
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
Michael Chabon
United States
novel
2008
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher
Kate Summerscale
England
nonfiction novel
2009
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
Olga Tokarczuk
Poland
novel
2012
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
United States
novel
2014
Mr. Mercedes
Stephen King
United States
novel
2015
The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins
England
novel
2017
Bluebird, Bluebird
Attica Locke
United States
novel
2020
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
Deepa Anaparra
India
novel