What are some of the books in 'the best american crime novels'?

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.

One of the best is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It has a complex plot full of twists and turns. The characters are well - developed, especially the two main characters whose relationship is full of secrets and lies.

One of the well - known ones is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It features the tough private detective Sam Spade and a complex web of crime involving a valuable statuette.

Another great one from that list might be 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. This novel is famous for its unreliable narrators and mind - bending twists. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure out what really happened to the missing woman.

The best American crime fiction novels often have complex characters. For example, in 'The Godfather', the characters are multi - faceted, not simply good or bad. They also usually have a gripping plot. 'Gone Girl' keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its unexpected twists. And many feature a sense of place, like 'Chinatown Beat' which vividly portrays the Chinatown area.

Some of the best crime novels books include 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It's a hard - boiled detective story that's both gritty and intelligent. 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie is also excellent. Christie is a master of the mystery genre, and this book has a great setup with a group of people on an island and a series of murders. 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' by Alexander McCall Smith is a more light - hearted take on crime novels, set in Botswana and following the adventures of Precious Ramotswe.

One of the well - known ones could be 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It has a really intense plot full of twists and turns that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

I would recommend 'The Buenos Aires Quintet' by Manuel Puig. It's a unique crime novel that delves deep into the psychology of the characters. Set in Argentina, it presents a web of relationships and secrets that are gradually uncovered.

There are many great novels in it. For instance, 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. This novel is not only about a man's obsessive hunt for a white whale but also delves deep into themes of fate, nature, and the human condition. 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J. D. Salinger is also in there. It follows the story of a disillusioned teenager, Holden Caulfield, and his experiences in New York City.

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.