The Necessary Library: Books To Die For

[bentley]

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CharlesArdai wrote:
It's going a little outside the boundaries of the "crime" genre (certainly outside "hardboiled," though possibly not outside "noir"), but I'd add Le Carre's THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD to the best-of-all-time list.

Also, you've got to have something from Graham Greene. Maybe BRIGHTON ROCK for its wonderfully cruel last lines, maybe A BURNT-OUT CASE (though it's not principally a crime novel), maybe THE TENTH MAN. I'm not a huge fan of ORIENT EXPRESS or THE MINISTRY OF FEAR, but they'd have their defenders, too. (There's always THE THIRD MAN, but that's only a novella, and people like it more because of the film than for its own merits as a story.)

--Charles

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Now these I have read. I agree with you about Le Carre and Greene.

[CharlesArdai]

Someone mentioned Paul Auster in a different discussion, and that reminded me to mention him here. He's an enormous talent, and though I wouldn't personally put his most mystery-themed books (the "New York Trilogy") on my all-time-best list -- they're a little too cute, a little to self-consciously tricky and postmodern -- I would definitely list one of THE MUSIC OF CHANCE or LEVIATHAN, both of which have noir and crime elements and both of which are just stunning.

--Charles

[Kent]

Aside from those mentioned, I would add:

Fast One by Paul Cain

Clean Break by Lionel White

and

The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 by John Godey

[JasonStarr]

Great list so far Tom, for Gil Brewer, while I'm a fan of Three Way Split, my favs are The Red Scarf and The Vengeful Virgin. And I think if we're going to do a noir top 10 Harry Whittington has to be on the list somewhere. I haven't read every Whittington novel (has anybody??? Well, maybe Bill Crider ) but my favorites are Web of Murder and The Devil has Wings. Web of Murder is a Cain-like story with dizzying plot twists. The Devil has Wings is a heist novel with an airplane as the getaway car! A terrific twist, I thought.

[JasonStarr]

Yes, definitely Leviathon by Auster. This is my favorite Auster and one of my all-time favorite novels period.

[SteveAllan]

There are some great books here. I'm really jealous of the people who haven't read them, I wish I could discover them all over again. And even if it isn't a crime novel, I'm glad Megan mentioned WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN? One of my favorites.

I'd have to add Daniel Woodrell's THE DEATH OF SWEET MISTER and TOMATO RED. Another I'd have to suggest is LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN, which has a definite noir feeling, even if it isn't a crime novel.

[Paul_Hochman]

Glad you mentioned Selby, Steve. His work is very noir.

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SteveAllan wrote:
There are some great books here. I'm really jealous of the people who haven't read them, I wish I could discover them all over again. And even if it isn't a crime novel, I'm glad Megan mentioned WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN? One of my favorites.

I'd have to add Daniel Woodrell's THE DEATH OF SWEET MISTER and TOMATO RED. Another I'd have to suggest is LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN, which has a definite noir feeling, even if it isn't a crime novel.

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[Kent]

Ack! The Devil Has Wings! How could I forget that? My absolute favorite Whittington novel (of the ones I've read).

And good call on Woodrell's The Death Of Sweet Mister and Tomato Red. I think, perosonally, I'd go with Tomato Red as the essential Woodrell title, but just by a hair.

[Peanutman]

I second THE GUARDS, which leads you into one of the best, most original series you will find.

[Peanutman]

I don't get the fascination with I, THE JURY. Mike Hammer is a vicious drunk and borderline rapist who careens around New York shooting and maiming at whim, all because his buddy was duped by a femme fatale. Big whoop.

[JuanchoS]

I really, really need to go get MIAMI PURITY and further support the good people at Busted Flush. The library I work at has an original trade copy, but it's pretty beat up, and I can't wait to own a nice new edition.

[Paul_Hochman]

And the new edition has a forward by Ken Bruen and an afterword by Megan Abbott.

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JuanchoS wrote:
I really, really need to go get MIAMI PURITY and further support the good people at Busted Flush. The library I work at has an original trade copy, but it's pretty beat up, and I can't wait to own a nice new edition.

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[CharlieHuston]

hey, guys, sorry I took so long to come by.

First off, great list, Paul.


I've not read the McKinty, MacDonald, or (dare I say it?) Spillane entries, but you got 7 all time greats up there. That said, I agree to some extent with Charles on The Last Good Kiss. I really **bleep**ing like that book, but if our "necessary" library is limited to ten books, I'd probably leave it at home, close my eyes, and take any random Patricia Highsmith on my shelf in its place. Her ability to create quiet, ceaseless dread with a minimum of fireworks is second to none. none of the traditional stylistlic flare of noir, little in the way of plot twists, just stripped-bare portrayals a human beings in desperate circumstances. Most often of their own making. I put her right next to Thompson as writers more interested in using genre conventions to untwist crooked souls than in the conventions themselves. In fact, that's a quality I see reflected in many of the choices on your list. Certainly I'd say it was on Crumley's agenda as well.

My only other comment regards The Big Sleep. Amazing book. And if you gave both it and The Long Goodbye a switchblade and set them at each other, The Big Sleep would come out on top. But when The Big Sleep went on the lame to beat the rap, and The Long Goodbye was put in its six feet of earth, I'd miss The Long Goodbye far more.

[Paul_Hochman]

Charlie,

If anyone would appreciate McKinty's Dead I Well May Be, it's you. The main character Michael Forsythe and your own Hank Thompson may have been separated at birth!

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CharlieHuston wrote:
hey, guys, sorry I took so long to come by.

First off, great list, Paul.


I've not read the McKinty, MacDonald, or (dare I say it?) Spillane entries, but you got 7 all time greats up there. That said, I agree to some extent with Charles on The Last Good Kiss. I really **bleep**ing like that book, but if our "necessary" library is limited to ten books, I'd probably leave it at home, close my eyes, and take any random Patricia Highsmith on my shelf in its place. Her ability to create quiet, ceaseless dread with a minimum of fireworks is second to none. none of the traditional stylistlic flare of noir, little in the way of plot twists, just stripped-bare portrayals a human beings in desperate circumstances. Most often of their own making. I put her right next to Thompson as writers more interested in using genre conventions to untwist crooked souls than in the conventions themselves. In fact, that's a quality I see reflected in many of the choices on your list. Certainly I'd say it was on Crumley's agenda as well.

My only other comment regards The Big Sleep. Amazing book. And if you gave both it and The Long Goodbye a switchblade and set them at each other, The Big Sleep would come out on top. But when The Big Sleep went on the lame to beat the rap, and The Long Goodbye was put in its six feet of earth, I'd miss The Long Goodbye far more.

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Message Edited by PaulH on 10-01-2007 04:47 PM

[ROCKETRAY55]

Having only found Chandler and there by the crime novel only a few years ago. I find it good to know I have read 5 of your top list and will add the others to my to get list. I do have to say I love The Maltese Falcon, I prefer Red Harvest to it though. I am glad to see The Killer Inside Of Me on your list. I picked it up on a whim, and could not put it down once I started.

On a personal note, I am glad to see all the input on this tread, My to pick up list is getting longer everyday!

-Ray

[JasonStarr]

Yes, Charlie, Highsmith for sure, but which one? I love The Sweet Sickness, but it probably wouldn't be everyone's first choice. One thing about Highsmith--I prefer her standalones to her Ripley novels (aside from The Talented Mr. Ripley, a total classic. I felt the other Ripley novels weren't nearly as interesting but novels like Deep Water and The Glass Cell and Found in the Street are amazing.

[arhwriter]

Three titles that are vital to add on:

The first 3 books in the Nathan Heller series by Max Allan Collins.

True Detective

True Crime

The Million-Dollar Wound

I-Books re-released these titles as "The Frank Nitti Trilogy".

[CraigClarke]

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arhwriter wrote:
Three titles that are vital to add on:

The first 3 books in the Nathan Heller series by Max Allan Collins.

True Detective

True Crime

The Million-Dollar Wound

I-Books re-released these titles as "The Frank Nitti Trilogy".

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I consider anything by Max Allan Collins must reading, but these three are definitely a great introduction to his style. I'll also recommend TWO FOR THE MONEY for the unfamiliar, especially since it's the one that got me started.

[Paul_Hochman]

I love Collins' The Last Quarry.

Charles, didn't you mention Max is writing The First Quarry?

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CraigClarke wrote:

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arhwriter wrote:
Three titles that are vital to add on:

The first 3 books in the Nathan Heller series by Max Allan Collins.

True Detective

True Crime

The Million-Dollar Wound

I-Books re-released these titles as "The Frank Nitti Trilogy".

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I consider anything by Max Allan Collins must reading, but these three are definitely a great introduction to his style. I'll also recommend TWO FOR THE MONEY for the unfamiliar, especially since it's the one that got me started.

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[CharlesArdai]

> Charles, didn't you mention Max is writing The First Quarry?

Yes. He hasn't actually started writing it yet, but he and I have talked about the plot and we have one of our artists working on the cover painting as we speak. It's going to be a good one...

--Charles