Can you recommend the greatest noir novels?

Sure. 'The Long Goodbye' by Raymond Chandler is great. It's got Chandler's signature style of hard - boiled detective fiction. Then there's 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene. It shows the seedy underbelly of Brighton and has a great exploration of crime and morality. Also, 'Red Harvest' by Dashiell Hammett is a must - read. It's set in a corrupt town and the story of the Continental Op trying to clean it up is really engaging.

Some of the greatest noir novels include 'I, the Jury' by Mickey Spillane. It's a hard - boiled detective story with Mike Hammer as the tough - as - nails protagonist. 'A Kiss Before Dying' by Ira Levin is also notable. It has a devious plot where a young man will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. And 'The Lady in the Lake' by Raymond Chandler, which offers a unique perspective as the detective goes undercover in a small town to solve a murder mystery.

One of the greatest is 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett. It's a classic with its complex characters like Sam Spade and the hunt for the valuable statuette. Another is 'Double Indemnity' by James M. Cain. The story of an insurance agent getting involved in a murder for insurance money is full of twists. And 'Laura' by Vera Caspary is also great, with its unique mystery surrounding the title character.

Sure. 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett is a very famous one. It's a classic noir with a complex plot centered around a valuable statuette.

Sure. 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler is a classic English noir novel. It features a private detective, Philip Marlowe, and is full of mystery and complex characters.

Well, 'Out of the Past' by Geoffrey Homes is a remarkable noir novel. It features a man with a past that comes back to haunt him in a very noir - ish way. Then there's 'I, the Jury' by Mickey Spillane. This one has a really gritty and violent tone that is typical of noir. And 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' by James M. Cain is also a must - read, with its themes of lust, greed and murder.

Sure. 'The Maltese Falcon' is a great start. It's not too complex in terms of language but has a really engaging plot. The characters are well - drawn and it gives a good taste of what noir is all about. Another good one is 'The Big Sleep'. It has a lot of the typical noir elements like a tough detective and a web of mystery.

Sure. 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett is a great one. It features a tough private detective and a complex web of mystery involving a valuable statuette.

One well - known gay noir novel is 'The City and the Pillar' by Gore Vidal. It explores themes of homosexuality in a rather complex and somewhat noir - ish context of post - war America.

Sure. 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler is a classic black noir novel. It features a private detective, Philip Marlowe, in a seedy and complex world filled with mystery and danger.