Best crime books – which ones are they? It’s easy to come up with this question. The answer is a little more difficult – after all, such a list is never complete, nor is it objective. Because tastes are simply different. Aaaabut … there are some crime fiction books that have met the taste of many crime fiction readers and are not considered classics of the genre for nothing. Have fun with our collection, which takes you to different locations around the world!
1 “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco
The setting alone is perfect for high tension. In an Italian monastery – we are in the year 1327 – a series of mysterious deaths occur that cry out to be solved. The astute monk William of Baskerville and his young novice Adson of Melk are hot on the trail of the truth. This thriller is particularly worth reading because it is packed full of philosophy and immerses you in the late Middle Ages. It is also peppered with allusions and quotations – a firework of intelligent entertainment.
2 “Venetian Finale” by Donna Leon
We stay in Italy and accompany Donna Leon’s Commissario Guido Brunetti through the picturesque streets next to the unique canals of Venice. In “Venetian Finale”, the first volume of the famous Brunetti series, the detective solves the murder of a German star conductor who had hidden dark secrets behind the glamor of the stage. The tension between the beauty of the city and the crime is an irresistible attraction.
3 “The Judge and his Executioner” by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
The story continues in the Swiss Alps with a classic detective novel – Inspector Bärlach wants to solve the murder of his colleague Schmied and has to make sense of complex issues. At the same time, he tries to triumph over an old adversary with whom he has a bet going as to whether there is a “perfect” crime that cannot be solved. A profound and multi-layered reading experience.
4 “The Reader” by Bernhard Schlink
Set in Germany, this novel tells an atmospheric story about love, guilt and forgiveness. Although it is not a crime thriller in the strict sense, but rather a courtroom novel and psychological drama, it deals with war crimes committed during the Nazi era. The young Michael Berg meets and falls in love with the mysterious Hanna Schmitz, who is 20 years his senior – after a wonderful time together, during which he regularly reads to her, she disappears and the two only meet again later under irritating circumstances. We don’t want to give too much away, so read for yourself!
5 The Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson
After Italy and Switzerland, our journey through the world of crime fiction takes us further north. The “Millennium Trilogy” by Swedish author Stieg Larsson belongs to the “Nordic Noir” genre and comprises three books: “Blindness”, “Damnation” and “Forgiveness”. These gripping thrillers follow the adventures of investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander, who work together to uncover corruption and crime. The trilogy is an international bestseller for a reason – it is told in an extremely exciting way and shines with complex characters.
6 “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie
We take a detour to the east in the truest sense of the word with an author who should not be missing from the best crime novels. Her shrewd and charismatic investigator, the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, solves a murder case on a train from Istanbul to Calais in France in his typically ingenious way. The ingenious plot and surprising twists and turns make this novel a must-read for every crime fiction fan.
7 “Perfume” by Patrick Süskind
Always follow your nose in this unique crime novel set in 18th century France. It is about an unusual criminal who is equipped with an unsurpassable sense of smell. The protagonist, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, wants to create the perfect perfume – a lofty goal that unfortunately claims murder victims. The abstruse story is gripping and entertaining and offers a fascinating journey into the world of smells and the French art of perfumery.
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8 “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Arthur Conan Doyle
We jump across the English Channel to one of THE classics of the genre – Sherlock Holmes and his detective companion Dr. Watson. In 19th century England, the brilliant duo solve the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville, whose family is surrounded by the legend of a monstrous ghost dog on the moor. An extremely British detective story that true crime fans should have read!
9 “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
We now travel across the pond to a small town in California – more precisely to the fictional Hampden College in Vermont. Richard Papen is accepted into an exclusive group of philology students at this elite college and becomes embroiled in a murderous dynamic, a maelstrom of secrets and crime. A novel that is grippingly told from the first to the last page.
10 “The Silence of the Lambs” by Thomas Harris
We end our tour at various locations in the USA. This world-famous thriller is about a disturbingly gruesome crime that young FBI agent Clarice Starling has to solve. In order to maneuver her way into the mind of the serial killer and thus get to the bottom of him, she enlists the help of the highly intelligent imprisoned serial killer Hannibal Lecter. A fascinating psychological game of cat-and-mouse that ensures high tension.
Escape room thrillers
Of course, we especially love it when you can immerse yourself in a criminal case and track down the culprit yourself as a team of investigators. The suspense is even greater when you have to actively solve puzzles to crack the case.
Escape room books are exactly the same, where you as the reader find yourself in a mysterious case and put the pieces of the puzzle together step by step.
You can find out which books we can recommend in this blog post:
Escape room book: Our five best puzzle books for escape room fans
Conclusion: Best crime books
In this blog article, we have introduced you to the best crime thriller books on a short trip around the world. Classics of the genre as well as exciting and entertaining literature on the borderline between crime and thriller.
If you want to investigate mysterious cases yourself and experience the thrill of live acting, just drop by our XXL Escape Room!
