There are quite a few. 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler is a classic English detective novel. It has a hard - boiled detective, Philip Marlowe. His character is really interesting as he navigates through the seedy underworld to solve crimes. Also, 'Gaudy Night' by Dorothy L. Sayers is a great example. It combines elements of detective work with an academic setting at Oxford University, making it a unique read in the detective novel genre.
The 'Hercule Poirot' series by Agatha Christie is also great. Poirot, a Belgian detective, uses his 'little grey cells' to figure out complex murders and disappearances. His character is very charming and the plots are full of twists and turns.
One of the most popular is 'Sherlock Holmes' series by Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes is a brilliant detective with his unique deductive reasoning skills. Another is 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins, which is often considered one of the first detective novels in English. And 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' is a well - known Sherlock Holmes story that features a mysterious and menacing hound on the moors.
Well, 'The Death of Mrs. Westaway' by Ruth Ware was quite popular in 2018. It had a young woman who received a mysterious letter which led her into a web of family secrets. Also, 'The Silent Patient' by Alex Michaelides was a hit. The story of a woman who killed her husband and then stopped talking was very engaging for detective novel fans. And 'The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' by Stuart Turton had a really unique premise with a time - loop aspect in a detective - style mystery.
Well, one characteristic is complex characters. Detectives often have their own flaws and backstories. For example, Sherlock Holmes has his eccentricities. Also, modern ones usually have intricate plots with lots of twists and turns to keep readers guessing.
The 'Sherlock Holmes' graphic novels are excellent. They adapt the classic detective stories of Sherlock Holmes into the graphic novel format. The detailed illustrations help bring the Victorian London setting and the brilliant deductions of Holmes to life. 'The Killing Joke' is also a well - known detective - related graphic novel. It delves deep into the relationship between Batman and the Joker, with Batman trying to solve the mystery of the Joker's actions and motives.
The narrative structure in English detective novels is often very well - crafted. They usually start with a crime being committed, then the detective starts to investigate. As the story progresses, more and more details are revealed. There is also a strong sense of mystery and suspense throughout the novel. The language used can be quite descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the settings, characters and events. For instance, in Arthur Conan Doyle's works, his descriptions of Victorian London add to the overall atmosphere of the stories.
Characteristics? Well, they commonly feature a detective figure who is intelligent and perceptive. This character drives the story forward as they search for the truth. Mystery and suspense are key elements. The novels keep readers guessing until the very end. There's often a detailed exploration of human nature as well. In the process of solving the mystery, the detective may encounter different types of people, and their behaviors and motives are often related to deeper aspects of human nature. For instance, in some novels, greed or revenge may be the underlying motives for the crimes.
One popular 2023 English novel is 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmus. It tells the story of a female chemist in a male - dominated field, with a unique blend of humor and feminism. Another is 'Victory City' by Salman Rushdie. This novel is set in a fictional, ancient Indian city and is filled with magical realism elements. And 'Yellowface' by R.F. Kuang also gained a lot of attention in 2023, exploring themes of cultural appropriation in the publishing world.
Sherlock Holmes stories are great. They are written in classic English and use a wide range of vocabulary. The Hound of the Baskervilles, for example, has a very engaging plot. Another one is Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express'. It has simple yet interesting language and the plot is full of twists. And then there is 'The Maltese Falcon' which is also a very well - known detective story with good English for learning.
One such novel could be 'The Stage Mystery' where the lead is an actor who gets embroiled in a thrilling detective case while working on a play.