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Detective and mystery stories Books
Best books
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Crime and Punishment
"Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novel published in 1866. It follows Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished former law student in Saint Petersburg who plans to murder an unscrupulous pawnbroker. He convinces himself that certain crimes are justifiable if committed by "extraordinary" men pursuing higher goals. Once the deed is done, however, he is consumed by confusion, paranoia, and guilt as his theoretical justifications crumble and he faces the internal and external consequences of his actions.
Arthur Conan Doyle
A Study in Scarlet
"A Study in Scarlet" by Arthur Conan Doyle is a detective novel published in 1887. This groundbreaking work introduces Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they investigate a mysterious murder in London. When a man is found dead with the word "RACHE" written in blood, Holmes must unravel the scarlet thread of murder running through the case. The investigation leads to a dramatic tale of revenge spanning two continents, connecting a London crime scene to events in Utah's Salt Lake Valley decades earlier.
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Hound of the Baskervilles
"The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Arthur Conan Doyle is a crime novel serialized from 1901 to 1902. Sherlock Holmes and Watson investigate a centuries-old legend of a demonic hound haunting the Baskerville family on the desolate moors of Dartmoor. When Sir Charles Baskerville dies under mysterious circumstances, his heir Sir Henry arrives from Canada to claim his inheritance—only to face strange threats and supernatural dangers. Holmes must determine whether the curse is real or if a cunning murderer lurks behind the legend.
Agatha Christie
The murder of Roger Ackroyd
"The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" by Agatha Christie is a detective novel published in 1926. When wealthy Roger Ackroyd is found stabbed in his study, the recently retired Hercule Poirot is called to investigate. The victim had recently learned the identity of a blackmailer from his fiancée, a widow who poisoned her husband. As Poirot unravels a complex web of secrets among the household guests and staff, the novel's narrator, local doctor James Sheppard, chronicles the investigation that leads to one of detective fiction's most controversial and groundbreaking conclusions.
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Sign of the Four
"The Sign of the Four" by Arthur Conan Doyle is a detective novel published in 1890. When Mary Morstan seeks Sherlock Holmes's help regarding her missing father and mysterious annual gifts of pearls, the investigation leads to a buried treasure, a vengeful one-legged man, and murder. Holmes and Watson must pursue suspects through London, unraveling a decades-old conspiracy that stretches from India's colonial past to the Thames. The case tests both Holmes's deductive powers and Watson's loyalty to their intriguing client.
Agatha Christie
The Secret of Chimneys
"The Secret of Chimneys" by Agatha Christie is a suspenseful detective novel written in the early 20th century. The story introduces the charming Anthony Cade, who finds himself embroiled in a web of intrigue involving royal secrets and political machinations in a fictional Balkan nation known as Herzoslovakia. As he sets off on a journey to deliver a manuscript of memoirs, he stumbles into a world of blackmail, missing persons, and a potential restoration of a monarchy. At the start of the novel, we meet Anthony Cade while he is working as a tour guide in Africa, where he encounters an old friend, Jimmy McGrath. After a light-hearted exchange, McGrath reveals a plan that involves the delivery of Count Stylptitch's memoirs to a publisher in London, which promises a reward of a thousand pounds. Intrigued, Anthony agrees to take on the task, unaware of the dangerous implications, including confrontation with various factions, including a mysterious former royal and potential assassins. The opening sets the stage for a captivating interplay of romance, adventure, and the classic whodunit elements that Agatha Christie is known for.
Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
"The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie is a detective novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around the mysterious death of an elderly matriarch, Mrs. Inglethorp, at Styles Court, her estate in Essex, and the subsequent investigation into the incident. The main character is Captain Arthur Hastings, who narrates the tale and has a close association with the famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, who takes on the role of sleuthing to uncover the truth surrounding Mrs. Inglethorp's demise. The beginning of the novel introduces Captain Hastings, who has returned from the front lines of World War I for a period of convalescence. He visits Styles Court at the invitation of an old acquaintance, John Cavendish, only to find himself embroiled in the complex family dynamics and tensions at play within the household. Mrs. Inglethorp's recent marriage to a much younger man, Alfred, triggers friction among the family members, particularly with her stepchildren, John and Lawrence. The narrative foreshadows underlying tensions that have escalated into a quarrel just before the tragedy strikes. Mrs. Inglethorp's sudden and dramatic transformation from a commanding presence to that of a victim sets the stage for an investigation marked by motives of greed, jealousy, and potential foul play. As Hastings recounts the sinister atmosphere enveloping Styles Court, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, and Poirot's keen observational skills will be needed to piece together the puzzle of the murder.
G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton
The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare
"The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare" by G. K. Chesterton is a philosophical novel with elements of adventure and satire, written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around the enigmatic character Gabriel Syme, a police detective who infiltrates a group of anarchists in London to uncover their plans and identities. As the narrative unfolds, it explores complex themes of order, chaos, and the nature of evil, often through witty dialogue and absurd situations that challenge conventional thinking. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to the suburb of Saffron Park, with its colorful and eccentric inhabitants, primarily poets and artists. One evening, during a striking sunset, the anarchistic poet Lucian Gregory meets Gabriel Syme, who surprises him with bold arguments in favor of law and order, challenging Gregory's views. Their conversation escalates into a duel of ideologies when Gregory reveals his deep commitment to anarchism, which leads to a confrontation between the two. In a twist of fate, Syme's true identity as a detective is disclosed, and as he joins the anarchists disguised as one of them, the stage is set for a profound exploration of the philosophical conflict between chaos and structure in society.
Fergus Hume
The Green Mummy
"The Green Mummy" by Fergus Hume is a novel likely written during the late 19th century. The story revolves around a young couple, Archie Hope and Lucy Kendal, as they navigate romance against a backdrop filled with mystery and intrigue, particularly centering on a rare mummy that Lucy's archaeologist stepfather, Professor Braddock, is eager to acquire. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to Archie and Lucy, who share a playful yet serious conversation about their engagement. Archie reveals the lengths he has gone to in order to gain Professor Braddock’s consent to marry Lucy, involving the purchase of a valuable Peruvian mummy from Malta. Their lighthearted banter is soon overshadowed by more foreboding concerns regarding the mysterious mummy, as Lucy expresses unease about her stepfather's obsession with archaeology. The opening establishes a combination of romantic elements and hints at darker, unforeseen complications, setting the stage for a larger mystery involving the disappearance of the mummy and the tragic fate of Braddock’s assistant, which subsequently unfolds.
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Valley of Fear
"The Valley of Fear" by Arthur Conan Doyle is a novel first published in 1915. In this fourth Sherlock Holmes mystery, the detective receives a coded warning about a plot against a country gentleman named Douglas. When Holmes arrives to investigate, he discovers Douglas has been murdered at his moated manor house. The case leads to dark secrets involving American coal miners, a corrupt trade union, and the dangerous Professor Moriarty. Holmes must unravel a mystery that spans two continents and threatens more lives.
Agatha Christie
The Secret Adversary
"The Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie is a detective novel published in January 1922. Two unemployed young friends, Tommy and Tuppence, form a business seeking adventure and quickly find themselves entangled in a dangerous conspiracy involving a missing woman, a secret treaty from the Lusitania, and a mysterious criminal mastermind known only as "Mr. Brown." Their investigation leads them through deception, kidnapping, and betrayal as they race to recover the treaty before it destabilizes the British government.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
El crimen y el castigo
"El crimen y el castigo" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a novel first published in 1866. An impoverished former law student in Saint Petersburg plans to murder a pawnbroker, convincing himself that certain crimes are justifiable when committed by "extraordinary" men for higher purposes. But once the deed is done, he finds himself consumed by confusion, paranoia, and guilt. His theoretical justifications crumble as he confronts the internal and external consequences of his actions, plunging into profound mental anguish and moral turmoil.
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