Crime Fiction Dossier

The list that wouldn't die -- and a new blog

Jerome Weeks, formerly the book critic for the Dallas Morning News, has started a blog to share his thoughts on publishing, books and literacy.

One of the first topics he visited is my ever-popular list of the 10 Greatest Detective Novels. He then followed that up with a second post, the latter including his own list of favorite literary thrillers.

I could quibble and say that the books he cites are, for the most part, mysteries (or noir novels), not thrillers...But it's a very good list, so why complain?

He also has some very interesting commentary that I found thought-provoking. I didn't need another blog to read, but I think I'm going to enjoy this one.

Welcome to the blogosphere, Jerome.

More lists of the best detective novels

In response to my own 10 Greatest Detective Novels list, Maxine Clark offers up a list of her 10 Favourite Detective Authors, James Reasoner shares 10 Detective Novels that stand out in his memory, and Sherry Early passes along her Best 10 Detective Novels.

I suppose I wouldn't enjoy this nearly so much if I weren't obsessed with lists, but I am. I find it fascinating to see which novels other people consider great, and how much we all disagree on them.

I'm especially pleased to see how often Rex Stout's name is mentioned. Stout was a wonderful writer who produced many fine books, but it seems that he is little read these days, which is a shame.

What's on your list?

My list of the 10 Greatest Detective Novels has sparked much dissent and distaste on a few blogs I've seen, mainly because it doesn't include any books written by women.

What I haven't seen much of by the dissenters are lists of their own. I suppose it's always easier to carp than to create -- after all, that's why I became a critic -- but I'm hoping that those who don't like my list will offer up ones of their own. That way, we can all comment on and discuss them. (The whole point of this list in the first place was to prompt discussion about books.)

So, for anyone who disagrees with my selections, please post a list of your own choices for the 10 Greatest Detective Novels. If you've got your own blog, post them there and then put a link in the comments section below. If you don't have a blog, you can post your list here.

10 Greatest Detective Novels -- The List

It proved to be a nearly impossible task, but after much thought and consideration, here is my list:

10 Greatest Detective Novels (in alphabetical order):

• Lawrence Block - When the Sacred Ginmill Closes
• Raymond Chandler - The Long Goodbye
• Michael Connelly - The Black Echo
• Robert Crais - L.A. Requiem
• James Crumley - The Last Good Kiss
• Dashiell Hammett - The Maltese Falcon
• John D. MacDonald -- The Dreadful Lemon Sky
• Walter Mosley - Devil in a Blue Dress
• Robert B. Parker - Looking for Rachel Wallace
• Rex Stout - The League of Frightened Men

If you asked me again in a year, a couple of the individual books might change, but I feel pretty good about the line-up of authors. I also could think of some more books that I'd like to add on to expand the list, but I haven't come up with anything that I would prefer to what's already on there.

As soon as I summon my strength, I think I'm going to shoot for the 10 Greatest Assassin Novels.

10 Greatest Detective Novels -- Dennis Lehane

After much urging from the commenters in the previous discussion on the 10 Greatest Detective Novels, I went back to read Dennis Lehane's A Drink Before the War, the first book in the Kenzie-Gennaro series.

I've read a couple of Lehane's books before (Sacred and Mystic River) without being blown away. Although I liked this one much better -- and can see why he has his legions of fans -- I didn't think this was at the level of the other books included on my list.

Lehane's a fine writer; I don't think there's any doubt about that. And A Drink Before the War is a quality, entertaining detective novel. But it's not a great detective novel.

The plot of Drink is on the simple side. (That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's worth mentioning.) The characters are fine, but not particularly original. The prose quality is generally high, and the setting is used well. In no area, however, does it rise to the level of extraordinary, which is what I'm looking for on this list.

One area of weakness is that much of the writing is heavy-handed and overdone. Whether the topic is race, abuse or politics, Lehane makes his points with a cudgel, when a scalpel is what's really needed. (I contrast this to the work of George Pelecanos, for example, which is much subtler.)

While reading it, I couldn't help but notice that although Lehane is working in similar territory, with similar characters, and exploring similar themes as the best of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, he doesn't pull it off quite as well as Parker did.

Granted, this was Lehane's first novel. And, considering that, it's a damn fine achievement. Having read this book, I would certainly read him again.

Ultimately, A Drink Before the War is a solid example of a detective novel, well-written and enjoyable. But it's not one of the 10 Greatest.

10 Greatest Detective Novels -- follow-up

Okay, the debate on my list of the 10 Greatest Detective Novels has been raging for a while now... Let's see if we've come to any conclusions.

Here is my original list of seven, which I'm still feeling pretty good about:

10 Greatest Detective Novels (in alphabetical order):

• Lawrence Block - When the Sacred Ginmill Closes
• Raymond Chandler - The Long Goodbye
• Michael Connelly - The Black Echo
• Robert Crais - L.A. Requiem
• Dashiell Hammett - The Maltese Falcon
• Walter Mosley - Devil in a Blue Dress
• Robert B. Parker - Looking for Rachel Wallace

To that list, I want to add:

• James Crumley - The Last Good Kiss

(Thanks to folks for pointing out that omission. Although the ending of LGK stinks, it's a powerful book.)

We also need a Travis McGee novel, so for now I'm going to add:

• John D. MacDonald -- The Dreadful Lemon Sky

(Guyot! Should I pick a different one?)

I haven't yet been persuaded to change any of the original picks, although I'm open to it. A couple people suggested Parker's Early Autumn rather than Looking for Rachel Wallace. Early Autumn is a great book, and it would be my second pick of a Spenser novel. I think that, on the level of a pure detective story, however, Rachel Wallace is superior.

As for Connelly...Most of the Bosch books are excellent, and I could pick a different one from The Black Echo. But that book is so damn good, and it also has the advantage to being the first, so I'm tempted to keep it for now.

Let's assume that I'm going to keep these same authors. That gives me nine books, with space for one more. There have been strong votes for both Dennis Lehane and Dorothy L. Sayers. I need to try to find the time to read a couple of theirs. I'm not holding out much hope, though.

I'm tempted to add Laura Lippman's Every Secret Thing to the list, but it's so recent, and I'm also not sure it qualifies as a detective novel. In fact, the more I think about it, I don't believe it does. The Tess Monaghan books certainly would, but I don't know if I could single out one of those. By a Spider's Thread maybe?

Again, though... it's so recent. Same thing goes for Denise Hamilton's work. I'd like to have at least a decade's worth of separation from the book -- and hopefully a subsequent re-reading -- in order to be certain of its lasting power.

I love George Pelecanos, whom someone suggested in the comments section, but I just don't think of him as a detective writer. While it's true that he has on occasion written about detectives, his books still don't strike me as detective novels. I might need to rethink that, though.

Part of the problem here is that there are just so many people that I haven't read. When you think of all the detective novels that have been published in the last 60 years, it's an impossible task.

Even so, though, I think this list is shaping up nicely...

10 Greatest Detective Novels -- let the debate begin!

I've decided to compile a list of the 10 Greatest Detective Novels ever written. And you can help! I'll give my preliminary list below. Feel free to use the comments section to argue over the choices. Your suggestions and contributions are welcome. I want to put together the definitive list...Well, at least, the CFD's definitive list.

The only requirements are: the book must feature a detective; it must be written in English; and I have to have read it. (I know, you don't know what I've read. We'll figure it out.)

So, here goes...

10 Greatest Detective Novels (in alphabetical order):

• Lawrence Block - When the Sacred Ginmill Closes
• Raymond Chandler - The Long Goodbye
• Michael Connelly - The Black Echo
• Robert Crais - L.A. Requiem
• Dashiell Hammett - The Maltese Falcon
• Walter Mosley - Devil in a Blue Dress
• Robert B. Parker - Looking for Rachel Wallace

Okay, that's only seven. I think we need a Rex Stout (maybe Black Mountain?) and a John D. MacDonald (Dreadful Lemon Sky, maybe?). I'm not that big a fan of Ross Macdonald or Mickey Spillane, but maybe you can convince me otherwise.

It's all men so far, so do any books by women belong? I don't think Agatha Christie is good enough to make the cut. Never read Dorothy L. Sayers. Laura Lippman or Denise Hamilton, maybe? They're both top-notch.

Oh, and I was never much of a fan of Arthur Conan Doyle or Ed McBain. What about Dick Francis, though?

Thoughts?? Who have I left out? What books should be on here?