What are some classic crim novels that every mystery lover should read?

One classic is 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It introduced the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Watson. Another is 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie. It's a masterful tale of mystery on an isolated island. Also, 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett is a great pick, with its complex plot and hard - boiled detective.

One of the most famous is 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie. It's a masterpiece of the 'whodunit' genre, with a group of people trapped on an island and being killed off one by one, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

Well, 'The Maltese Falcon' is a must - read. It's set in a seedy underworld filled with double - crosses. Sam Spade is a detective who has to navigate through a web of lies to find the truth about the valuable falcon statue. 'The Big Sleep' is also excellent. Philip Marlowe gets involved in a convoluted case full of secrets and danger. 'Laura' is different as it has a more psychological aspect to its mystery.

One of the most well - known 'dark crime novels' is 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It features the infamous Hannibal Lecter and FBI trainee Clarice Starling. Another great one is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It has a complex plot full of twists and turns. And 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson is also a must - read. It delves into dark secrets and has a very unique female lead.

One of the great 'hard case crime novels' is 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' by James M. Cain. It's a classic noir story with a complex plot of love and murder. Another is 'Pulp' by Charles Bukowski. It gives a gritty look at crime and the seedy underbelly of society. And 'A Rage in Harlem' by Chester Himes is also notable, filled with vivid characters and a suspenseful plot.

One classic action novel is 'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas. It's full of revenge, mystery, and exciting escapes. Another is 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' by Jules Verne, which takes readers on a thrilling subterranean adventure. 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker also counts as it has a lot of action-packed moments as the characters battle the vampire.

Well, 'Persepolis' is a really good classical graphic novel. It's an autobiographical story about a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It gives a very personal and eye - opening view of that time and place. Then there's 'V for Vendetta' which is famous for its themes of resistance and the fight against a totalitarian regime. And 'Sandman' by Neil Gaiman is also a classic. It's a dark and fantastical journey through different realms of dreams and nightmares.

Well, '1984' by George Orwell is definitely a cult classic novel. It shows a terrifying totalitarian world where Big Brother is always watching. Its themes of government control, surveillance, and the loss of privacy are still relevant today. 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding is another one. It tells the story of a group of boys stranded on an island, and how they descend into savagery, which is a powerful exploration of human nature.

One of the must - read 'hard crime novels' is 'The Godfather' by Mario Puzo. It delves deep into the world of organized crime. Another is 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. The character of Hannibal Lecter is iconic in the crime genre. Also, 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn is a great example. It has a complex plot full of twists and turns.

Well, 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe is a must - read classic short fiction. Poe's masterful use of psychological horror makes it truly gripping. 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway is another notable one. It's a short but powerful piece that delves into complex relationships through very subtle dialogue. Also, 'Young Goodman Brown' by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a great example of American short fiction, dealing with themes of faith and the human condition.