Best Hardboiled & Noir fiction (705 books)

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 — 168,699 ratings score: 28,795, and 293 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 — 115,606 ratings score: 20,453, and 209 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 — 46,817 ratings score: 17,185, and 177 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 — 42,908 ratings score: 15,210, and 158 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 — 48,757 ratings score: 14,830, and 155 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	Double Indemnity by James M. Cain 4.06 avg rating — 28,482 ratings score: 12,179, and 128 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	The Lady in the Lake (Philip Marlowe, #4) by Raymond Chandler 4.06 avg rating — 28,122 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
8	L.A. Confidential (L.A. Quartet, #3) by James Ellroy 4.18 avg rating — 37,735 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
9	Red Harvest (The Continental Op #1) by Dashiell Hammett 3.94 avg rating — 29,793 ratings score: 9,491, and 100 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	The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson 3.87 avg rating — 26,603 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
11	The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett 3.90 avg rating — 38,319 ratings score: 8,937, and 95 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 Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1) by James Ellroy 3.78 avg rating — 96,613 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
13	The High Window (Philip Marlowe, #3) by Raymond Chandler 4.04 avg rating — 25,457 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
14	No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy 4.17 avg rating — 248,291 ratings score: 7,127, 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
15	The Talented Mr Ripley (Ripley, #1) by Patricia Highsmith 3.95 avg rating — 117,576 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
16	The Little Sister (Philip Marlowe, #5) by Raymond Chandler 3.98 avg rating — 18,877 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
17	American Tabloid (Underworld USA #1) by James Ellroy 4.19 avg rating — 21,776 ratings score: 5,131, 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
18	The Grifters by Jim Thompson 3.93 avg rating — 12,260 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
19	Pop. 1280 by Jim Thompson 4.04 avg rating — 12,406 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
20	The Big Nowhere (L.A. Quartet, #2) by James Ellroy 4.09 avg rating — 18,556 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
21	They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy 3.86 avg rating — 11,655 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
22	Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith 3.72 avg rating — 38,487 ratings score: 4,605, 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
23	The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett 3.92 avg rating — 13,646 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
24	The Hunter (Parker, #1) by Richard Stark 3.98 avg rating — 14,603 ratings score: 4,233, and 47 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	Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1) by Walter Mosley 3.87 avg rating — 30,219 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
26	Trouble Is My Business (Philip Marlowe, #8) by Raymond Chandler 4.06 avg rating — 13,087 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
27	The Continental Op by Dashiell Hammett 4.14 avg rating — 6,614 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
28	The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins 4.04 avg rating — 10,816 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
29	The Black Echo (Harry Bosch, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #1) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 216,653 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
30	Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain 3.93 avg rating — 10,778 ratings score: 3,328, 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
31	Shoot the Piano Player by David Goodis really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3,712 ratings score: 3,078, 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
32	A Drink Before the War (Kenzie & Gennaro, #1) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 46,343 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
33	The Moving Target (Lew Archer, #1) by Ross Macdonald 3.80 avg rating — 5,127 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
34	The Getaway by Jim Thompson 3.88 avg rating — 8,222 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
35	The Bride Wore Black by Cornell Woolrich 3.87 avg rating — 2,839 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
36	White Jazz (L.A. Quartet, #4) by James Ellroy 3.92 avg rating — 9,919 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
37	The Cold Six Thousand (Underworld USA #2) by James Ellroy 4.03 avg rating — 8,419 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
38	The Chill (Lew Archer, #11) by Ross Macdonald 4.07 avg rating — 4,814 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
39	The Dain Curse (The Continental Op #2) by Dashiell Hammett 3.79 avg rating — 8,504 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
40	Gone, Baby, Gone (Kenzie & Gennaro, #4) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 42,411 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
41	Rear Window by Cornell Woolrich 3.98 avg rating — 1,982 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
41	The Last Good Kiss (C.W. Sughrue, #1) by James Crumley 4.05 avg rating — 8,684 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
43	Shadow Roll (A Sam Russo Mystery, #1) by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 1,229 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
44	Darkness, Take My Hand (Kenzie & Gennaro, #2) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 33,030 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
45	I, the Jury (Mike Hammer, #1) by Mickey Spillane 3.62 avg rating — 6,767 ratings score: 2,026, 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
46	A Rage in Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #1) by Chester Himes 3.89 avg rating — 7,638 ratings score: 2,021, and 24 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	Berlin Noir: March Violets / The Pale Criminal / A German Requiem (Bernie Gunther #1-3) by Philip Kerr 4.22 avg rating — 11,714 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
48	Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 3,451,988 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
49	In a Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes 4.12 avg rating — 9,059 ratings score: 1,889, 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
50	The Galton Case (Lew Archer, #8) by Ross Macdonald 4.07 avg rating — 4,265 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
51	The Power of the Dog (Power of the Dog, #1) by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 48,721 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
52	The Guards (Jack Taylor, #1) by Ken Bruen 3.82 avg rating — 7,055 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
53	After Dark, My Sweet by Jim Thompson 3.90 avg rating — 4,756 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
54	Savages (Savages #2) by Don Winslow (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 22,107 ratings score: 1,746, 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
55	The Outfit (Parker, #3) by Richard Stark 4.17 avg rating — 9,638 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
56	Rendezvous in Black by Cornell Woolrich 3.95 avg rating — 1,507 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
57	Good Dog, Bad Dog (A Sam Russo Mystery, #2) by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 1,079 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
58	Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs, #1) by Richard K. Morgan 4.03 avg rating — 115,130 ratings score: 1,610, 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
59	Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell 3.87 avg rating — 40,550 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
60	I Married a Dead Man by William Irish 3.83 avg rating — 1,418 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
61	Blood's a Rover (Underworld USA, #3) by James Ellroy 3.93 avg rating — 5,676 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
62	The Man with the Getaway Face (Parker, #2) by Richard Stark (Pseudonym) 3.99 avg rating — 6,555 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
63	Grifter's Game by Lawrence Block (Goodreads Author) 3.68 avg rating — 3,197 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
64	In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead (Dave Robicheaux, #6) by James Lee Burke 4.17 avg rating — 10,987 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
65	The Drowning Pool (Lew Archer, #2) by Ross Macdonald 3.93 avg rating — 7,569 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
66	Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham 3.82 avg rating — 7,315 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
67	The Meat Market (Jonathan Harkon Adventures #1) by James Chalk (Goodreads Author) 3.70 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
68	Eight Million Ways to Die (Matthew Scudder, #5) by Lawrence Block (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 7,345 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
69	Pick-Up by Charles Willeford 4.01 avg rating — 2,260 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
70	The Girl in the Next Room (A Sam Russo Mystery, #3) by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 1,030 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
71	Cotton Comes to Harlem (Harlem Cycle, #7) by Chester Himes 3.81 avg rating — 2,534 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
72	Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 1,225,558 ratings score: 1,296, 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
73	A Hell of a Woman by Jim Thompson 3.94 avg rating — 3,865 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
74	Miami Blues (Hoke Moseley #1) by Charles Willeford 3.90 avg rating — 5,234 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
75	The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing 3.84 avg rating — 2,724 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
76	Sin City, Vol. 4: That Yellow Bastard (Sin City, #4) by Frank Miller 4.24 avg rating — 26,524 ratings score: 1,257, 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
77	Paper Targets: Art Can Be Murder by Steve S. Saroff (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 409 ratings score: 1,200, and 12 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	Nightmare Town: Stories by Dashiell Hammett 4.05 avg rating — 2,306 ratings score: 1,128, 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
79	Laura by Vera Caspary 3.97 avg rating — 3,967 ratings score: 1,127, 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
80	Drive (Drive, #1) by James Sallis 3.47 avg rating — 10,171 ratings score: 1,084, and 13 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	Three to Kill by Jean-Patrick Manchette 3.88 avg rating — 1,270 ratings score: 1,061, and 12 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	Trunk Music (Harry Bosch, #5; Harry Bosch Universe, #6) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 77,364 ratings score: 1,056, and 13 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	Kiss Me, Deadly (Mike Hammer #6) by Mickey Spillane 3.68 avg rating — 1,536 ratings score: 1,049, 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
84	Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1950s by Jim Thompson 4.38 avg rating — 489 ratings score: 1,041, and 12 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	The Poet (Jack McEvoy, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #5) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 109,475 ratings score: 1,029, and 13 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	Clandestine by James Ellroy 3.73 avg rating — 4,346 ratings score: 1,003, and 12 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	He Died With His Eyes Open by Derek Raymond 3.73 avg rating — 2,589 ratings score: 992, and 12 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	The Goodbye Look (Lew Archer, #15) by Ross Macdonald 3.96 avg rating — 1,815 ratings score: 980, 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
89	Right as Rain (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #1) by George P. Pelecanos 3.88 avg rating — 5,454 ratings score: 949, and 12 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	Prayers for Rain (Kenzie & Gennaro, #5) by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 24,058 ratings score: 926, and 12 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	Queenpin by Megan Abbott (Goodreads Author) 3.76 avg rating — 4,999 ratings score: 922, and 12 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	The Deep Blue Good-By (Travis McGee, #1) by John D. MacDonald 3.91 avg rating — 20,174 ratings score: 916, and 11 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	Dark Passage by David Goodis 3.96 avg rating — 1,386 ratings score: 903, and 12 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	City of Champions by Daniel Stanton (Goodreads Author) 3.71 avg rating — 84 ratings score: 900, and 9 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	The Narrows (Harry Bosch, #10; Harry Bosch Universe, #14) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 65,911 ratings score: 899, and 12 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	Eloise - Loving a Sociopath by Catherine Lockwood (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 126 ratings score: 899, and 9 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	The Underground Man (Lew Archer, #16) by Ross Macdonald 3.94 avg rating — 2,656 ratings score: 867, and 11 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	The Ivory Grin (Lew Archer, #4) by Ross Macdonald 3.99 avg rating — 2,768 ratings score: 865, and 10 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	The Zebra-Striped Hearse (Lew Archer, #10) by Ross Macdonald 4.10 avg rating — 2,805 ratings score: 860, and 12 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	Phantom Lady (Definitive Series) by Cornell Woolrich 3.92 avg rating — 943 ratings score: 859, and 12 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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705 books · 881 voters · list created January 21st, 2009 by Mohammed Abdikhader Firdhiye (votes) .

Tags: hardboiled, mystery, noir, thriller

535 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (881)

Mohammed 2009 books
281 friends

Bevin 2288 books
57 friends

Tom 3694 books
19 friends

Osvaldo 417 books
33 friends

Nick 659 books
163 friends

John 862 books
53 friends

jfjr 71 books
23 friends

N 639 books
76 friends

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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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