What are the greatest hard boiled detective novels?

James M. Cain's 'Double Indemnity' is a great hard boiled detective novel. It tells the story of an insurance salesman who gets involved with a woman in a murder - for - insurance - money plot. It's a dark and suspenseful read.

The hard - boiled detective novel genre has some great works. 'The Long Goodbye' by Raymond Chandler is a very well - known one. Chandler's writing style is so distinct, and Marlowe's character is further developed in this novel. 'Farewell, My Lovely' by Chandler as well is excellent. It has all the elements of a great hard - boiled detective story, like a seedy underworld, a tough detective, and a mystery to solve. And Jim Thompson's 'The Killer Inside Me' is also considered one of the top ones. It gives a disturbing but fascinating look into the mind of a killer and the detective trying to solve the case.

A hard-boiled detective novel is a type of crime fiction featuring a tough, cynical, and often world-weary detective who operates in a gritty and corrupt urban environment.

Hard boiled detective fiction is a genre of crime fiction featuring tough, cynical detectives who operate in a gritty and often corrupt urban environment.

One of the best is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. The female character in it, Amy Dunne, is complex and manipulative. It's a psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns.

Well, 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' by James M. Cain is a classic hard boiled detective novel. It has a gritty and somewhat amoral atmosphere. Then there's 'I, the Jury' by Mickey Spillane. His detective, Mike Hammer, is a tough - as - nails character. And 'The Thin Man' by Dashiell Hammett (besides 'The Maltese Falcon') is also highly regarded for its engaging story and interesting characters.

Well, one characteristic is the tough and cynical detective. They've often seen the seedy side of life and are jaded. Another is the gritty settings, like dark alleys and smoky bars in big cities. Also, the plots usually involve complex mysteries, often with a touch of danger and violence.

One of the well - known bloodiest hard boiled detective novels is 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler. It has a lot of dark and violent elements, with complex characters involved in seedy underworld affairs.

Hard boiled historical detective novels often have a tough, cynical detective as the main character. They usually take place in a specific historical period, like the 1930s or 1940s. The settings are gritty, often showing the seedy side of cities. For example, in 'The Big Sleep', Philip Marlowe navigates the corrupt and dangerous world of Los Angeles in the 1930s.

Some of the great hard boiled detective novels include 'The Thin Man' by Dashiell Hammett. It combines mystery with a bit of humor. 'The Long Goodbye' by Raymond Chandler is another classic. Chandler's writing style is so evocative, and his detective Marlowe is a complex character. And 'A Rage in Harlem' by Chester Himes is also a notable one, with its unique take on the genre set in Harlem.