What are some popular South American crime novels?

Another great one is 'Darkly Dreaming Dexter' by Jeff Lindsay. It's set in Miami and follows the story of Dexter, a forensic analyst with a dark secret. The South Florida setting adds an extra layer of atmosphere to the dark and thrilling plot. The book also gives insights into the criminal underworld in that area.

One of the best South American novels is 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel García Márquez. It's a masterpiece that weaves a complex web of family history and magical realism in the fictional town of Macondo.

One popular author is Gillian Flynn. Her novels like 'Gone Girl' are full of mystery and complex relationships within a crime - centered story. Another is James Ellroy. His works are known for their noir - like atmosphere.

South American novels often have rich descriptions of the local landscapes, from the lush jungles to the arid deserts. For example, in 'One Hundred Years of Solitude', the setting of Macondo is so vividly described that it becomes like a character itself.

Roberto Bolaño is a well - known South American crime novel author. His works often have complex plots and characters. Another is Leonardo Padura. His detective novels set in Cuba are quite popular. And then there's Paulo Lins who gives a vivid picture of the criminal underworld in Rio de Janeiro through his writing.

One great South American travel novel is 'The Motorcycle Diaries' by Che Guevara. It chronicles his journey across South America on a motorcycle, providing insights into the diverse cultures, landscapes, and social conditions of the continent.

Another good one is 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold' by Gabriel García Márquez. It's a short but powerful mystery where the entire town seems to know about a coming death yet does nothing to prevent it. Márquez's use of magical realism adds an extra layer of mystery to the already puzzling situation. The way he describes the characters and the events leading up to the death keeps the reader guessing about the true nature of what's really going on.

One classic American crime novel is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It features the detective Sam Spade and a complex web of mystery involving a valuable statuette. Another is 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote, which is a non - fictional crime account that reads like a novel. It delves deep into the real - life murders of a Kansas family.

Another might be something that was perhaps less well - known but still part of the crime genre in 1934. There were likely many pulp crime novels published during that time. Some of them might have focused on gangsters and the seedy underworld of American cities. However, without more in - depth research, it's hard to name specific ones other than the more famous ones like Hammett's work.

I also recommend 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It features the iconic character Hannibal Lecter. The cat - and - mouse game between Clarice Starling and Lecter while she tries to solve a serial killer case is gripping.