Featured Mystery Author

The Postman Always Rings Twice

James M. Cain

This novel with its stark tale of lust and murder, established Cain's literary credentials in the field of crime writing and probably served as a template for much of the noir fiction of his day.
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The Moving Target (Lew Archer Series #1)

Ross Macdonald

This is the first novel in which private investigator, Lew Archer, appeared. While the tone of Macdonald's novels isn't as tough and world-weary as those of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, the books hold up better, probably because his style was not so easily imitated and therefore seems less dated as the years go by.
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Strangers on a Train

Patricia Highsmith

A chilling tale of the pact made by an architect and a playboy, who meet and chat on a train, the latter proposing that they each murder the person considered an impediment by the other, thus eliminating any apparent motive. The architect assumes the agreement was wry and hypothetical until the playboy kills his fiancé and demands that he follow suit.
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Dead Cert

Dick Francis

The crime novels of Dick Francis are set in the world of British steeple-chasing and while I never imagined I had any interest in the sport, I was entertained by his variations on a theme and the authority with which he wrote.
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

John le Carre

John Le Carre is the master of the dark depiction of spy-craft during the Cold War, wherein love, betrayal, deceit, and death are suspended in a delicate balance.
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Berlin Game

Len Deighton

I'm actually recommending three different novels here: Berlin Game, Mexico Set, and London Match. However, the stories are so carefully linked that when I reached the last page of London Match, I went right back to the first page of Berlin Game and read the three again.
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A Dark-Adapted Eye

Ruth Rendell

This is the first of the crime novels by Ruth Rendell, writing as Barbara Vine, in which the style is unobtrusive, the storytelling is impeccable, and the psychological under-pinnings are complex.
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Killshot

Elmore Leonard

I have another confession here. I love all of Elmore Leonard's novels and cited this one in particular because I've learned so much from him. His delineation of the mind-set of low-level criminals and his ear for dialogue are without equal.
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The Lincoln Lawyer (Mickey Haller Series #1)

Michael Connelly

I'm also a fan of all of Michael Connelly's work and include this novel because it's a good example of his quiet tone and solid craftsmanship. Always a good read.
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