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The Ultimate Must-Read List of Crime, Mystery & Thriller Novels

This list is comprised of many authors, and provides a guide to the best novels from each of these authors if they're prolific writers. Some authors, on the other hand, have had one-off successes. Just a couple of things to note - firstly, I acknowledge that the list is primarily focused on English-written novels, so my apologies to those great novels that haven't made the list. I have lists for great novels from countries all around the world, though, so they can be found there. Secondly, I'm not a massive science fiction or fantasy fan, so please don't expect to see such novels. I think there may just be two or three novels I think that fall into those genres. Otherwise, it's pure, realistic crime, mystery and thrillers!
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1
11/22/63 (Stephen King)
11/22/63
Stephen King
2
1st to Die (James Patterson)
1st to Die
James Patterson
3
The 39 Steps (John Buchan)
The 39 Steps
John Buchan
4
4.50 From Paddington (Agatha Christie)
4.50 From Paddington
Agatha Christie
5
The ABC Murders (Agatha Christie)
The ABC Murders
Agatha Christie
6
Absolute Power (David Baldacci)
Absolute Power
David Baldacci
7
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan Doyle
8
The Affair (Lee Child)
The Affair
Lee Child
9
After the Funeral (Agatha Christie)
After the Funeral
Agatha Christie
10
All That Is Mine I Carry With Me (William Landay)
All That Is Mine I Carry With Me
William Landay
11
All That Remains (Patricia Cormwell)
All That Remains
Patricia Cormwell
12
Along Came a Spider (James Patterson, 1993)
Along Came a Spider
James Patterson, 1993
13
Altered Carbon (Richard K. Morgan)
Altered Carbon
Richard K. Morgan
14
American Psycho (Bret Easton Ellis)
American Psycho
Bret Easton Ellis
15
American Tabloid (James Ellroy)
American Tabloid
James Ellroy
16
An Officer an a Spy (Robert Harris)
An Officer an a Spy
Robert Harris
17
Anatomy of a Murder (Robert Traver)
Anatomy of a Murder
Robert Traver
18
And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie)
And Then There Were None
Agatha Christie
19
Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
Angels and Demons
Dan Brown
20
Angels Flight (Michael Connelly)
Angels Flight
Michael Connelly
21
The Appeal (John Grisham)
The Appeal
John Grisham
22
Appointment With Death (Agatha Christie)
Appointment With Death
Agatha Christie
23
The Aquitaine Progression (Robert Ludlum)
The Aquitaine Progression
Robert Ludlum
24
Archangel (Robert Harris)
Archangel
Robert Harris
25
Area 7 (Matthew Reilly)
Area 7
Matthew Reilly
26
The Associate (John Grisham)
The Associate
John Grisham
27
At Bertram's Hotel (Agatha Christie)
At Bertram's Hotel
Agatha Christie
28
The Attorney (Steve Martini)
The Attorney
Steve Martini
29
Bad Luck and Trouble (Lee Child)
Bad Luck and Trouble
Lee Child
30
Balance of Power (Richard North Patterson)
Balance of Power
Richard North Patterson
31
The Bat (Jo Nesbø)
The Bat
Jo Nesbø
32
The Big Nowhere (James Ellroy)
The Big Nowhere
James Ellroy
33
The Big Sleep (Raymond Chandler)
The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler
34
The Birds (Daphne Du Maurier)
The Birds
Daphne Du Maurier
35
The Black Dahlia (James Ellroy)
The Black Dahlia
James Ellroy
36
The Black Echo (Michael Connelly)
The Black Echo
Michael Connelly
37
Blacktop Wasteland (S.A. Cosby)
Blacktop Wasteland
S.A. Cosby
38
Blood Defense (Marcia Clark)
Blood Defense
Marcia Clark
39
Blood's a Rover (James Ellroy)
Blood's a Rover
James Ellroy
40
The Blunderer (Patricia Highsmith)
The Blunderer
Patricia Highsmith
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