Top 10 Foreign Detective Books

The relatively young detective genre took root in literature at the beginning of the 19th century. The progenitors were Agatha Christie, Edgar Alan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, and continued by Stephen King, Kate Atkinson, Yu Nesbø. The detective reader has the opportunity to test his logical and deductive skills by trying to guess who will be the criminal; develop mindfulness. The most addictive is the constant intrigue. This is the whole point of detective stories - to anticipate and excite the reader. Realities of life, crime, gothic - the detective story has practically no plot restrictions.

For more than a century, the genre has been one of the most sought after and once again proves that reading is much more interesting than watching TV. There are not so few worthy detectives, but sometimes it is difficult to choose what to start reading. We present to your attention the rating of the best foreign detectives.The selection will be useful both for beginners in the genre who cannot choose where to start, and for avid fans of pulp fiction who do not know how to read a new one.

Best Old Foreign Detectives

5 If death slept

The book is part of a cycle of works about the legendary detective Nero Wolfe and his right hand, Archie Goodwin. The book is characterized by a special "stout" style, humor, charisma of the main characters. The family of a millionaire is looking for a good reason to divorce his son from his wife. In the house of a wealthy family, a secretary comes to work, who was supposed to look for this reason - Archie Goodwin, under the false name of Alan Green.

Once the office of the head of the family was broken into, and he turns to Mr. Alan. As a result of the search, it turns out that only the pistol has disappeared. The surveillance camera showed only a moving carpet. This means that the one who was aware of the presence of cameras deliberately took the carpet from the floor and covered it from the camera. Suspicion falls on the family and staff. In the book, the reader will not meet bright versions. This is a good deep investigation of the crime. Based on the feedback from readers, despite the lengthy plot, it is interesting to read the detective story.

4 Death is a lonely affair

For more than 20 years in a row, the work has been a leader in the rankings of the best foreign detectives. Actions will be played out in a small American town - Venice, located in California. The year of the events described is 1949. The main character is a young aspiring writer who writes fantastic stories for second-rate magazines.Readers should pay attention to the fact that in the book the author has never voiced the name of the protagonist.

One day our hero finds a dead man in the canal. The police arrive at the scene of the crime, extremely skeptical about everything that is happening. The young writer is sure that this death is not accidental and tries to convince them of this. After that, the corpses begin to appear one after another, and the investigator decides to take up the investigation. Based on the reviews, most readers were impressed by the atmosphere of the work, the author skillfully describes the mood, landscapes, thoughts of the characters.

3 The whole world in your pocket

This is not a detective in the classical sense of the genre: bad criminals, good and zealous police officers with an analytical mindset. On the contrary, the author evokes in the reader a feeling of empathy for a gang of criminals of five people. Each character has his own character, which reveals itself differently in various extreme situations. Positive Kitson, self-confident Ginny, good guys Black and Jilo, formidable ringleader Morgan.

The storyline develops as follows: five robbers decided to attack the cash-in-transit car and steal a million dollars. They counted on a further rich life, they were sure that the whole world would be in their pocket. But something didn't go according to plan. It became clear that without a team spirit, mutual assistance is indispensable. Life puts everything in its place. According to the ratings of literary forums, this is the most recommended book for reading for beginners in the detective genre.

2 Hound of the Baskervilles

The book is part of a cycle of stories about the famous Sherlock Holmes. On the territory of an old English manor, the mystical death of Sir Charles Baskerville takes place. A family curse hung over the Baskerville family in the form of an infernal big black dog with luminous eyes and a mouth that punishes all men of the family. It was from the paws of the ghostly dog ​​that Charles Baskerville died. The estate and its inhabitants are waiting for a new owner - Sir Henry Baskerville.

A local doctor named James Mortimer, in order to avoid the future death of Sir Henry, asks Sherlock Holmes for help in investigating a mysterious crime. A medieval castle, mysterious legends, swamps covered with duckweed, moorlands allow the reader to feel the spirit of England at the end of the 19th century. The book captivates and reads in one breath. For more than a hundred years, the work has been in the leading positions in the ranking of the best foreign detectives.

1 Ten blacks

"Ten Little Indians" is the famous book by Agatha Christie, one of the most famous prose writers in the detective genre. The plot is extremely intriguing and remains so until the very end. A large house full of mysticism, located on a rocky island and ten strangers, completely different from each other, who received an invitation to this hospitable atmospheric house. Here they expect comfortable conditions of stay, luxurious furnishings, delicious food.

But all this is an illusion. Guests in a trap cleverly built by the killer. It is impossible to escape from the island, there is nowhere to wait for help. The trap closed.Suspicion, fear, foreboding of death are all around - and only a terrifying counting rhyme and disappearing porcelain figurines of negro children count down the time until the terrible finale. The book is literally read in one sitting. The work rightfully occupies a leading position in the world rankings of the most widely read foreign detective stories.

Best New Foreign Detectives

5 Snowman

The novel "The Snowman" by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø is part of a series of seven books about the detective Harry Hall. The protagonist of the book is investigating the case of the disappearance of Birta Becker and suddenly it dawns on him that for many years, when the first snow falls, married women disappear. The detective realizes that this is a serial maniac. The offender was nicknamed "Snowman" because the police found a snowman at the crime scene after each murder.

During the investigation, Harry and his partner Katrina Bratt find out that all the children of the victims have fathers that are not the men they consider fathers. But the height of passions will begin when Katrina Bratt tries to set up one of the main suspects, which will turn sideways to her. The author of the novel makes the reader guess and doubt everything and everyone. It seems that the author is purposefully confusing - they often write in reviews.

4 Thirteen hours

A detective story written by Deon Meyer, a foreign writer from South Africa, tells the story of a tourist from the United States who flees through the mountains of South Africa from killers who slaughtered her friend in front of her eyes.At the same time, Benny Grissell, an inspector of the Cape Town Police Department of Especially Serious Crimes, is investigating the murder of popular producer Adam. His wife, who is addicted to alcohol, is suspected of committing the murder.

The inspector himself, both in his personal and professional life, is also not going well. His wife kicked him out of the house because of drunkenness, at work, a promotion is threatened. The plot, the criminal, the motives are a little far from the classic detective story. Reviews sometimes complain that it is difficult to adapt to the concept of the book - two plots in one work. Only by the end of the detective story will it become clear what unites the tourist running away from persecution and the producer. In online bookstores, a work always has a high rating.

3 sharp objects

The work is not so much a detective as a mix of drama and thriller. The main character is journalist Camilla Parker. She works for a medium-sized Chicago newspaper. Her dream is a successful journalistic career. Suddenly, she receives an assignment to go to a remote town and write an article about a maniac who kills little girls and pulls out their teeth. A Pulitzer Prize loomed on the horizon for Camilla.

The intrigue is added by the fact that the main character herself comes from this town. It seemed that it would be easier for her to gain confidence in the locals. In fact, Camilla was immersed in a sinister and terrifying reality that turned into fears for her. The book begins to read in a new way when it turned out that the main character had a mental disorder, expressed in the fact that she cut herself. Probably, it is her illness that refers us to the title of the work.The book is very popular, sold out in bookstores instantly.

2 Crimes of the past

The plot is based on three crimes that were committed in the past, but were never investigated. Years have passed and all three cases fall into the hands of the charming private detective Jackson Brody. At the same time, he is running a case: he is following his wife, who may be cheating on her husband. There are many crimes, suspicions, interviews of witnesses and sex in the book. One gets the impression that the whole life of the protagonist is connected with sex.

The author also approached the topic of crimes fundamentally. During the investigation, as one would expect, secret skeletons were found in the cabinets. The investigation drags on slowly and for a long time, suddenly interesting clues appear leading to its source. The author manages to confuse the reader in the case of the Land sisters, and in the case of Michelle, and in the case of Laura. It should be noted the psychological component of the detective, which is here at the highest level.

1 Jump over the abyss

The work is not a classic detective story in the usual sense. It mixed thriller, detective story, love story, social drama. The main characters of the book are Vera and Ross Ransom, as well as their son Alec. The husband of the main character is a sought-after plastic surgeon who made a beautiful doll out of his wife. But no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. Ross becomes a real monster. He seeks to enslave his wife and child; abnormal obsession with cleanliness and order. All these are the consequences of psychological traumas received in childhood.In addition, he has a terrible secret...

Vera dreams of a divorce, but she understands perfectly well that her husband will never give her son to her. Unexpectedly, she meets Oliver, the man of her dreams, who is the exact opposite of her husband. Further - more: murders, a psychiatric clinic, abductions. The book is easy to read thanks to the simple style of the author.

Popular vote - which foreign detective is the best?
Vote!

Ten blacks

Hound of the Baskervilles

The whole world in your pocket

Death is a lonely affair

If death slept

Jump over the abyss

Crimes of the past

sharp objects

Thirteen hours

Snowman

Total voted: 19

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