Best Hardboiled & Noir fiction (770 books)

Listopia > Best Hardboiled & Noir fiction

This is a list for the best Noir and Hardboiled books

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1	The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe, #1) by Raymond Chandler 3.94 avg rating — 171,443 ratings score: 28,897, and 294 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett 3.86 avg rating — 117,581 ratings score: 20,656, and 211 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Long Goodbye (Philip Marlowe, #6) by Raymond Chandler 4.19 avg rating — 47,809 ratings score: 17,383, and 179 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Farewell, My Lovely (Philip Marlowe, #2) by Raymond Chandler 4.09 avg rating — 43,688 ratings score: 15,110, and 157 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain 3.76 avg rating — 49,888 ratings score: 14,732, and 154 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	American Tabloid (Underworld USA #1) by James Ellroy 4.19 avg rating — 24,535 ratings score: 12,510, and 136 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Double Indemnity by James M. Cain 4.05 avg rating — 29,066 ratings score: 12,381, and 130 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Elephant Tree by R.D. Ronald 3.93 avg rating — 44,403 ratings score: 10,131, and 111 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Lady in the Lake (Philip Marlowe, #4) by Raymond Chandler 4.06 avg rating — 28,806 ratings score: 9,699, and 105 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Red Harvest (The Continental Op #1) by Dashiell Hammett 3.94 avg rating — 30,360 ratings score: 9,591, and 101 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	L.A. Confidential (L.A. Quartet, #3) by James Ellroy 4.19 avg rating — 40,608 ratings score: 9,582, and 101 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson 3.89 avg rating — 29,757 ratings score: 9,248, and 97 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett 3.89 avg rating — 39,018 ratings score: 9,132, and 97 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Savages (Savages #2) by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 24,686 ratings score: 8,844, and 98 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis 3.62 avg rating — 104,169 ratings score: 8,013, and 88 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Secret History by Donna Tartt 4.15 avg rating — 1,081,959 ratings score: 7,998, and 88 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1) by James Ellroy 3.79 avg rating — 100,085 ratings score: 7,985, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Kill Your Friends by John Niven 3.88 avg rating — 14,956 ratings score: 7,823, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind 4.04 avg rating — 572,058 ratings score: 7,804, and 86 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	City of God by Paulo Lins 4.07 avg rating — 6,294 ratings score: 7,677, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 855,799 ratings score: 7,618, and 84 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr. 3.95 avg rating — 33,374 ratings score: 7,596, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Beach by Alex Garland really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 102,787 ratings score: 7,543, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh 4.12 avg rating — 183,685 ratings score: 7,448, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The High Window (Philip Marlowe, #3) by Raymond Chandler 4.04 avg rating — 26,102 ratings score: 7,412, and 82 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy 4.17 avg rating — 260,316 ratings score: 7,225, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Clockers by Richard Price 4.11 avg rating — 13,388 ratings score: 7,079, and 78 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Penance by Eliza Clark 3.86 avg rating — 52,106 ratings score: 6,995, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Talented Mr Ripley (Ripley, #1) by Patricia Highsmith 3.96 avg rating — 123,880 ratings score: 6,994, and 76 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Crash by J.G. Ballard 3.65 avg rating — 33,430 ratings score: 6,935, and 77 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	The Talented Mr. Ripley (Ripley, #1) by Patricia Highsmith 3.96 avg rating — 123,880 ratings score: 6,924, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Collector by John Fowles 3.97 avg rating — 98,962 ratings score: 6,835, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Black Dahlia Ellroy, James ( Author ) Aug-01-2006 Paperback by James Ellroy 3.79 avg rating — 100,085 ratings score: 6,832, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 153,977 ratings score: 6,820, and 75 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Little Sister (Philip Marlowe, #5) by Raymond Chandler 3.98 avg rating — 19,331 ratings score: 6,775, and 76 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 655,068 ratings score: 6,768, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	A Simple Plan by Scott Smith 3.93 avg rating — 37,690 ratings score: 6,702, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	[No Country for Old Men] (By: Cormac McCarthy) [published: December, 2007] by Cormac McCarthy 4.17 avg rating — 260,316 ratings score: 6,588, and 73 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Layer Cake by J.J. Connolly 4.11 avg rating — 5,865 ratings score: 6,585, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks 3.76 avg rating — 113,327 ratings score: 6,523, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	In Cold Blood by Truman Capote [Random,2002] by Truman Capote 4.09 avg rating — 744,877 ratings score: 5,906, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell 3.88 avg rating — 43,301 ratings score: 5,828, and 64 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Grifters by Jim Thompson 3.92 avg rating — 12,469 ratings score: 5,088, and 57 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Pop. 1280 by Jim Thompson 4.04 avg rating — 12,906 ratings score: 4,982, and 55 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Big Nowhere (L.A. Quartet, #2) by James Ellroy 4.09 avg rating — 19,077 ratings score: 4,833, and 53 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith 3.72 avg rating — 39,589 ratings score: 4,704, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy 3.86 avg rating — 12,102 ratings score: 4,684, and 52 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett 3.92 avg rating — 13,936 ratings score: 4,436, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Hunter (Parker, #1) by Richard Stark 3.98 avg rating — 15,305 ratings score: 4,328, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1) by Walter Mosley 3.87 avg rating — 30,915 ratings score: 4,154, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Trouble Is My Business (Philip Marlowe, #8) by Raymond Chandler 4.06 avg rating — 13,185 ratings score: 3,904, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Continental Op by Dashiell Hammett 4.14 avg rating — 6,648 ratings score: 3,810, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins 4.04 avg rating — 11,235 ratings score: 3,809, and 42 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Black Echo (Harry Bosch, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #1) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 219,817 ratings score: 3,440, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain 3.93 avg rating — 10,953 ratings score: 3,318, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Shoot the Piano Player by David Goodis 3.99 avg rating — 3,736 ratings score: 3,166, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	A Drink Before the War (Kenzie & Gennaro, #1) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 47,292 ratings score: 3,057, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	The Moving Target (Lew Archer, #1) by Ross Macdonald 3.80 avg rating — 5,250 ratings score: 2,719, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Getaway by Jim Thompson 3.85 avg rating — 9,566 ratings score: 2,676, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Bride Wore Black by Cornell Woolrich 3.87 avg rating — 2,890 ratings score: 2,659, and 32 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	White Jazz (L.A. Quartet, #4) by James Ellroy 3.92 avg rating — 10,293 ratings score: 2,579, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	The Cold Six Thousand (Underworld USA #2) by James Ellroy 4.03 avg rating — 8,537 ratings score: 2,573, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	The Chill (Lew Archer, #11) by Ross Macdonald 4.07 avg rating — 4,924 ratings score: 2,539, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Dain Curse (The Continental Op #2) by Dashiell Hammett 3.79 avg rating — 8,616 ratings score: 2,501, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	The Last Good Kiss (C.W. Sughrue, #1) by James Crumley 4.05 avg rating — 8,820 ratings score: 2,473, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Gone, Baby, Gone (Kenzie & Gennaro, #4) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 43,232 ratings score: 2,423, and 29 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Rear Window by Cornell Woolrich 3.98 avg rating — 2,006 ratings score: 2,379, and 28 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	I, the Jury (Mike Hammer, #1) by Mickey Spillane 3.62 avg rating — 6,904 ratings score: 2,216, and 27 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Shadow Roll (A Sam Russo Mystery, #1) by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 1,234 ratings score: 2,183, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Darkness, Take My Hand (Kenzie & Gennaro, #2) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 33,670 ratings score: 2,179, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	A Rage in Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #1) by Chester Himes 3.89 avg rating — 7,824 ratings score: 2,119, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes 4.12 avg rating — 9,612 ratings score: 1,976, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Berlin Noir: March Violets / The Pale Criminal / A German Requiem (Bernie Gunther #1-3) by Philip Kerr 4.21 avg rating — 11,914 ratings score: 1,973, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 3,508,951 ratings score: 1,960, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	The Galton Case (Lew Archer, #8) by Ross Macdonald 4.07 avg rating — 4,362 ratings score: 1,837, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Power of the Dog (Power of the Dog, #1) by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 50,612 ratings score: 1,824, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	The Guards (Jack Taylor, #1) by Ken Bruen 3.82 avg rating — 7,177 ratings score: 1,769, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	After Dark, My Sweet by Jim Thompson 3.90 avg rating — 4,835 ratings score: 1,754, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	The Outfit (Parker, #3) by Richard Stark 4.17 avg rating — 9,886 ratings score: 1,712, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs, #1) by Richard K. Morgan 4.03 avg rating — 116,870 ratings score: 1,702, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Rendezvous in Black by Cornell Woolrich 3.95 avg rating — 1,524 ratings score: 1,680, and 21 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	Good Dog, Bad Dog (A Sam Russo Mystery, #2) by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 1,083 ratings score: 1,628, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell 3.88 avg rating — 43,301 ratings score: 1,547, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	I Married a Dead Man by William Irish 3.84 avg rating — 1,451 ratings score: 1,529, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Blood's a Rover (Underworld USA, #3) by James Ellroy 3.93 avg rating — 5,759 ratings score: 1,501, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	The Man with the Getaway Face (Parker, #2) by Richard Stark (Pseudonym) 3.98 avg rating — 6,782 ratings score: 1,498, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	Grifter's Game by Lawrence Block (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 3,212 ratings score: 1,491, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead (Dave Robicheaux, #6) by James Lee Burke 4.17 avg rating — 11,119 ratings score: 1,436, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	The Drowning Pool (Lew Archer, #2) by Ross Macdonald 3.93 avg rating — 7,664 ratings score: 1,427, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham 3.82 avg rating — 7,469 ratings score: 1,414, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	The Meat Market (Jonathan Harkon Adventures #1) by James Chalk (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 481 ratings score: 1,400, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,256,442 ratings score: 1,387, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Eight Million Ways to Die (Matthew Scudder, #5) by Lawrence Block (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 7,447 ratings score: 1,368, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Pick-Up by Charles Willeford 4.01 avg rating — 2,292 ratings score: 1,362, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Sin City, Vol. 4: That Yellow Bastard (Sin City, #4) by Frank Miller 4.24 avg rating — 26,605 ratings score: 1,347, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Girl in the Next Room (A Sam Russo Mystery, #3) by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 1,032 ratings score: 1,339, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Cotton Comes to Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #7) by Chester Himes 3.80 avg rating — 2,605 ratings score: 1,312, and 17 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	A Hell of a Woman by Jim Thompson 3.94 avg rating — 3,938 ratings score: 1,279, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Miami Blues (Hoke Moseley #1) by Charles Willeford 3.90 avg rating — 5,322 ratings score: 1,271, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing 3.84 avg rating — 2,788 ratings score: 1,268, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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770 books · 1,013 voters · list created January 21st, 2009 by Mohammed Abdikhader Firdhiye (votes) .

Tags: hardboiled, mystery, noir, thriller

533 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (1013)

Mohammed 2040 books
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Bevin 2329 books
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Tom 3730 books
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Osvaldo 417 books
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Nick 659 books
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John 880 books
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jfjr 71 books
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N 639 books
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Comments Showing 1-42 of 42 (42 new)

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message 1: by Mohammed (new)

Jan 25, 2009 12:04PM

Hi Bevin

if you have read more Noir, it would be interesting to see other favs that make the list.

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message 2: by Tom (new)

Apr 18, 2009 07:15AM

How do we add to this list? The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler, also his The Lady in the Lake, The Little Sister, for that matter, everything by Chandler and Hammett, and then there is the author who created what is now known as noir: Cornell Woolrich.

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message 3: by Osvaldo (last edited Apr 18, 2009 07:35AM) (new)

Apr 18, 2009 07:32AM

I wonder if John D. McDonald's Travis McGee could be included in this list? If so, I'll throw some on there. Also I wonder if Burke's Robicheaux could fall into this genre. Though what is the difference between noir, and 1st person detective fiction. That opens up Spencer as well.

Perhaps not Noir but definitely hard-boiled!

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message 4: by Julie (new)

Apr 02, 2010 03:02PM

add PoisonvillePoisonville

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message 5: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Feb 04, 2011 10:20AM

You add books at the top of the list, at the tab labeled "add books to this list." It's next to "all votes."

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message 6: by Mr (new)

Jul 03, 2011 07:05PM

The difference between noir and 1st person detective fiction ?

Noir's about small, sometimes meaningless, battles in back-alleys and smokey rooms. Its about conflict between small people. You don't save the world. You are lucky if you save yourself.

So yeah, a lot of these titles wouldn't qualify - best crime/detective fiction would be more accurate.

Jim Thompson would be one of the exclusively noir writers on this list I'd reckon.

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message 7: by Timothy (new)

Jun 15, 2012 10:41PM

Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?

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message 8: by Mohammed (new)

Sep 08, 2012 02:38PM

Alberto wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

No, you aren't. I agree with you."

I havent read the LOng Goodbye but i thought Farewell,My Lady was stronger,less convulted than Big Sleep.

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message 9: by Mohammed (last edited Sep 10, 2012 08:16AM) (new)

Sep 10, 2012 08:16AM

Alberto wrote: "The Long Goodbye is simply perfect. Strong plot and chandlerish prose at its best."

I will get back to Chandler soon, Ross Macdonald is my second fav PI author from the old school so i have been focusing on Lew Archer. But i do miss Marlowe.

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message 10: by Robert (new)

Dec 18, 2012 11:59PM

Great list of reads!

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message 11: by Still (last edited Feb 17, 2013 08:41PM) (new)

Feb 17, 2013 08:40PM

Mohammed wrote: "Alberto wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

No, you aren't. I agree with you."

I havent read the LOng Goodbye but i thoug..."

Mohammed wrote: "Alberto wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

No, you aren't. I agree with you."

I havent read the LOng Goodbye but i thoug..."

Mohammed wrote: "Alberto wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

No, you aren't. I agree with you."

I havent read the LOng Goodbye but i thoug..."

Mohammed wrote: "Alberto wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

No, you aren't. I agree with you."

"I havent read the LOng Goodbye but i thought Farewell,My Lady was stronger,less convulted than Big Sleep. "

I've read all of the Chandler novels and all of the various short stories and novellas.
For some reason Farewell My Lovely remains my all time favorite Raymond Chandler item.

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message 12: by Dan (new)

Apr 04, 2013 09:15AM

andrew vachss
george pellacanos
henning mankell
lawrence block's scudder series

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message 13: by Jools (new)

Oct 14, 2013 11:26PM

I am reading my first Chandler book at the moment - Farewell My Lovely and really enjoying it. Hope it doesn't disappoint as crime noir is not really my forte but needed something fun to get my had around.

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message 14: by Matt (new)

Apr 08, 2014 06:56PM

Mr wrote: "The difference between noir and 1st person detective fiction ?

Noir's about small, sometimes meaningless, battles in back-alleys and smokey rooms. Its about conflict between small people. You don..."

Agreed. While I am a big fan of many of these, I would argue some of them don't make the "Noir" definition, despite the underlying flavor...

I will get back to Chandler soon, Ross Macdonald is my second fav PI author from the old school..."

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message 15: by Tom (new)

Apr 08, 2014 07:21PM

Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

No. I think The Long Goodbye is one of the best American novels - not just detective/mystery but best American - ever written.

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message 16: by Bettie (last edited Apr 15, 2014 03:31PM) (new)

Apr 15, 2014 03:29PM

How nice to see Norton's The Borrowers at #204

and The Little Prince @ #325

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message 17: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 15, 2014 03:30PM

!?!?

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message 18: by Bettie (new)

Apr 15, 2014 03:33PM

Susanna - Censored by GoodReads wrote: "!?!?"

Fun to see what others consider as 'noir'
;OD

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message 19: by Mohammed (new)

Aug 19, 2014 05:51AM

Talk about this list of mine is a beast that grew and grew. 447 books added!

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message 20: by Paul (new)

Sep 27, 2014 10:33AM

Checked for duplicates: 14 books removed.

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message 21: by Paul (new)

Sep 27, 2014 10:54AM

Removed five miscategorized books.

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message 22: by Paul (new)

Dec 14, 2014 07:04AM

Checked for duplicates: 1 book removed.

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message 23: by Mohammed (last edited Jan 27, 2015 12:07PM) (new)

Jan 27, 2015 12:06PM

I feel like the popular vote is betraying Red Harvest:p

Sure its not as popular as Bogart /Spade book Maltese Falcon but the third popular Hammett after Thin Man come on people forget the movies hehe

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message 24: by Saumitra (new)

Aug 30, 2015 10:40AM

excellent reading

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message 25: by Mizuki (new)

Sep 07, 2015 08:12AM

How about noir written by Asian authors, can they be listed here?

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message 26: by Mohammed (new)

Sep 16, 2015 04:21AM

Mizuki wrote: "How about noir written by Asian authors, can they be listed here?"

Why not this list is for noir from the whole world.

I need more recs for noir from Asia anyway. I love reading several japanese authors for example and i need to try their hardcore crime authors.

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message 27: by Mizuki (last edited Sep 16, 2015 05:18AM) (new)

Sep 16, 2015 05:16AM

Mohammed wrote: "Mizuki wrote: "How about noir written by Asian authors, can they be listed here?"

Why not this list is for noir from the whole world.

I need more recs for noir from Asia anyway. I love readin..."

Thanks, I will bring them on. In fact I'd already added a few into the list.

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message 28: by Mark (new)

May 11, 2016 05:16PM

Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

Definitely better

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message 29: by Mohammed (new)

May 17, 2016 01:52PM

Mark wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

Definitely better"

I agree too and i was surprised how clear it was that the Long Goodbye was better.

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message 30: by Manray9 (new)

Jun 12, 2016 08:28AM

I suppose many readers don't understand the definition of noir with respect to fiction or cinema?

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message 31: by [deleted user] (last edited Aug 21, 2018 11:59AM) (new)

Aug 21, 2018 11:59AM

I feel like Crime and Punishment shouldn't be on this list. It's not a noir book or hard boiled crime.

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message 32: by Greg (new)

Oct 10, 2018 04:51PM

Mohammed wrote: "Mark wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

Definitely better"

I agree too and i was surprised how clear it was that the Lon..."

Absolutely! I found "Big Sleep" to be just okay and actually gave it 2.6 in my rating system. And I like Chandler's later book, "Playback" and his screenplay for "Double Indemnity" to be his best 2 of all.

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message 33: by Greg (new)

Oct 10, 2018 04:53PM

Good grief. Another goodreads list that eventually turns into every book ever published in the history of humanity, rendering it pointless.

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message 34: by Greg (new)

Oct 10, 2018 04:53PM

Morgan wrote: "I feel like Crime and Punishment shouldn't be on this list. It's not a noir book or hard boiled crime."

Morgan, agreed. And Gillian Flynn does not author noir books.

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message 35: by Greg (new)

Oct 10, 2018 04:55PM

Manray9 wrote: "I suppose many readers don't understand the definition of noir with respect to fiction or cinema?"

Manray9, you're right. But it's just like every other list on goodreads: eventually it turns into every book ever published and Hunger Games or To Kill a Mockingbird as #1. Love your name!

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message 36: by Greg (new)

Oct 10, 2018 04:58PM

Mistry's "A Fine Balance" is noir? Might just be better off, like I said above, to list every book ever published. Mohammed, GREAT effort, thanks!

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message 37: by Greg (new)

Jan 23, 2019 02:18PM

Mohammed wrote: "I feel like the popular vote is betraying Red Harvest:p

Sure its not as popular as Bogart /Spade book Maltese Falcon but the third popular Hammett after Thin Man come on people forget the movies ..."

Red Harvest sensational and Hammett's best. Here, I think, people think more about the very good film.

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message 38: by Melisende (new)

Apr 16, 2019 05:16AM

I would also add:

- The Price You Pay by Aidan Truhen
- The Driver by Hart Hanson
- A Man with one of those faces by Caimh McDonnell

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message 39: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Apr 16, 2019 08:51AM

You could add them to the list. It's easy to add books to lists; at the top of the list, at the tab next to 'all votes.'

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message 40: by Greg (new)

Apr 03, 2021 08:43AM

Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

Timothy, at first read, "Big Sleep" mystified me. And yes, I thought "Long Goodbye" better. Then, I read "The Annotated Big Sleep" and "Big Sleep" a second time. After reading all of Chandler's novels except "Poodle Springs" (not completed by author), my favorite is "Little Sister", and "Big Sleep" second. And "Annotated Big Sleep" serves as an "Annotated American Mid-Century Noir Study", really.

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message 41: by Greg (new)

Apr 03, 2021 08:49AM

Tom wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Am I the only one who thinks that The Long Goodbye is WAY better than The Big Sleep?"

No. I think The Long Goodbye is one of the best American novels - not just detective/mystery b..."

Tom, I do think that THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL can probably be found within the P.I/Noir genre. And I'd say it might be Hammett's "Red Harvest". Or maybe the very overlooked "Black Wings Hath My Angel" by Elliot Chaz. Then again, Thompson's "The Nothing Man" is sensational.

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message 42: by Greg (new)

Jun 16, 2022 06:21AM

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