The best crime book you have read

[Sagheer]

Hello everyone. My name is Sagheer Afzal. I am a UK based author of 'THE RELUCTANT MULLAH' I have decided that my next book is going to be a crime/thriller.
Please can you give me some suggestions of great and memorable crime books you have read.

Thanks for all your help

Sagheer

[Charles]

Well, I can't help weighing in with mine, though you would hardly want to use it as a model. Probably it is inimitable. It is Carlo Emilio Gadda, That Awful Mess On the Via Merulana. Among other things, he runs through all 50+ dialects spoken in Rome. The translation is by William Weaver. In Barzun's Catalogue Of Crime, he complains harshly about this book. You might look into Barzun and Taylor for ideas.

[Rob]

Fatal Vision,, by Joe McGinniss

[Rachel]

i believe i read thatIn Cold Blood is the 1st non fiction novel ever written- either way it's a great book

[Charles]

Rachel wrote: "i believe i read that In Cold Blood is the 1st non fiction novel ever written- either way it's a great book"

That was what it was called at the time, anyway. Since then we have had some notable abuses and non-disclosures. Capote is a good read but straight history can be, too.

[Brian]

THE GLASS KEY by Dashiell Hammett.