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.
Here's something like a list of my favorite international crime fiction: http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/2006/09/detectives-beyond-borders.html#links
It's the introductory post from my blog. Two things helped me avoid the grief you've run into with your list: 1) I defined my criteria narrowly, acknowledging that my list would cover not just crime fiction from outside the United States, but crime fiction in which setting played an especially important role, and 2) I fudged like hell, in one case including the body of an author's work rather than a single title. I also gave myself an out by mentioning a few superb crime novels that did not meet my criteria for this particular list.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder is More Fun Away From Home"
Posted by: Peter | October 10, 2006 at 02:51 AM
I'm planning to write a list, as I said in my post about your list.
But I have a very demanding day job, a commute, and I'm a committed parent.
But I will get there!
Not just a carper, I hope.
all best
Maxine.
Posted by: Maxine | October 10, 2006 at 03:39 PM
I'm more of a bass man myself... but carp is okay.
:)
Posted by: David Montgomery | October 10, 2006 at 03:51 PM
Challenge ACCEPTED.
1)Everybody Dies by Lawrence Block
2)Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane
3) Farewell, my Lovely by Raymond Chandler
4) Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett
5) The Chill by Ross McDonald
6) Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker
7) Soul Circus by George Pelecanos
8) The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly
9) The Gaurds by Ken Bruen(Though this really should have been a stand alone because there has been little to no development to Jack Taylor since then)
10)Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem.
Posted by: Cameron Hughes | October 10, 2006 at 07:38 PM
I have a list up here:
http://jamesreasoner.blogspot.com/2006/10/ten-detective-novels.html
I don't claim they're the greatest detective novels, but they're ten that stand out in my memory.
Posted by: James Reasoner | October 11, 2006 at 07:25 PM
OK, I made my own list:
http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=1560
You may not like it, but maybe someone else will. I'd rather be boiled in oil than read another Ross Macdonald. Not really boiled, but one was enough.
Posted by: Sherry Early | October 12, 2006 at 09:57 PM
I don't care much for Ross Macdonald either. And no stealing my boiled in oil line. :)
Posted by: David Montgomery | October 13, 2006 at 08:41 AM