One characteristic is the presence of a mystery or crime at the core. Usually, there's a detective figure, who is intelligent and observant, trying to solve the case. For example, Sherlock Holmes in Conan Doyle's works.
One of the most popular ones is 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie. It's a chilling mystery where ten people are stranded on an island and start getting killed one by one. The suspense and the way Christie weaves the story are simply amazing. It has been adapted into various forms many times, which also shows its popularity.
One of the best detective novels is 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It introduced the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson. The complex mysteries and Holmes' deductive reasoning make it a classic.
Sure. 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle is a classic. It has a collection of short stories that showcase Holmes' brilliant detective skills.
Raymond Chandler is also famous for his hard - boiled detective novels. His character Philip Marlowe is a tough and cynical private detective. Chandler's works often explore the seedy side of urban life while still maintaining a strong mystery element.
Mediaeval detective novels have had a significant influence on modern detective fiction. For instance, the use of complex settings in mediaeval detective novels like the detailed monasteries in 'The Name of the Rose' inspired modern writers to create equally rich and detailed settings. It could be a small town in a modern detective story with its own unique social fabric and secrets.
They can also attract a wider range of readers. Some readers who are interested in exploring darker or more complex themes are drawn to controversial detective novels. This in turn can influence other writers in the genre to explore similar themes or to push the envelope further. For instance, after the success of 'Gone Girl', which had a controversial take on relationships and the idea of the 'unreliable narrator', many other detective novels started to play with the concept of unreliable characters.
You can start by asking for recommendations from avid readers or librarians. They often have a good knowledge of the genre and can suggest popular and critically acclaimed detective novels.
The main difference lies in the elements of speculation. Traditional detective novels rely on real - world settings and laws. Science - fiction detective novels, on the other hand, introduce speculative elements. In a traditional detective story, the detective uses normal investigative methods like interviewing witnesses and following clues. In a science - fiction detective novel, the detective might use mind - reading technology or time - travel devices to solve the case. Moreover, the motives behind the crimes in science - fiction detective novels can be related to things like power struggles in a galactic empire or control of a new energy source, which are not common in traditional detective novels.