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Fiction » Crime Novels

Most Recommended Books

The woman in white cover

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

“It’s credited with being the beginning of the whole genre of suspense. That’s why I picked it. I’ve only read it twice, but it’s lingered in my consciousness: the images and the feel of it. He really is a master of the tricks. I read somewhere that there are 40 cliff-hangers in it—he sort of invented the cliff-hanger. And I like the Russian doll structure of all the different accounts. You gradually lift off each little doll’s body and find another plot strand and another secret. I love that. It’s very cleverly done.”

Lucy Atkins, Journalist

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The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

“What I adore about the book is how brilliantly she explores the idea of moral grey areas and how the main character does things in a sort of neutral space—a psychopathic neutral space—and Highsmith writes this in a quite nonchalant way, while building this ongoing tension and horror. You sort of love Ripley, as the novel moves on, but you are also horrified by him. I just think that’s genius: when you can get me deeply caring about a character who I also find appalling and frightening.”

Lucy Atkins, Journalist

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The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

“Most people when you ask them what the best Sherlock Holmes story is will say The Hound of the Baskervilles. It’s one of the four novels featuring Holmes. Probably the best novel in my mind that he wrote, and probably the most atmospheric: the moor in Dartmoor with a convict prison nearby, and with very few potential suspects. I understand that Doyle went there on holiday and had a friend who told him the local lore about a hound from hell. The only downside to the novel is that there were so few people living there that the suspect pool was very limited.”

David Baldacci,

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Fiction

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Looking for the best crime books ever written? Look no further. We've searched far and wide to make reading lists of the best classic thrillers, along with old crime novel favourites like the best Sherlock Holmes books and the best of Wilkie Collins.

We also have country-specific recommendations, including the best Italian crime fiction, the best Australian crime and the best Norwegian crime writing. Don't know quite what you're looking for? That's fine, too: there are expert interviews recommending the best human drama books, and the best whodunnits. Our experts include many of the best crime novelists writing today, including Simon Brett, Lucy Atkins, Michael Dirda, Massimo Carlotto and even leading academics who study crime novels like Jason Hall.

We have a separate section for those of you looking for the best true crime books.

    Best Crime Fiction of 2020, recommended by Sophie Roell

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    Best Crime Fiction of 2020 - One by One by Ruth Ware

    1

    One by One
    by Ruth Ware

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    Best Crime Fiction of 2020 - Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins

    2

    Magpie Lane
    by Lucy Atkins

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    Best Crime Fiction of 2020 - A Place of Execution by Val McDermid

    3

    A Place of Execution
    by Val McDermid

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    Best Crime Fiction of 2020 - The Searcher: A Novel by Roger Clark (narrator) & Tana French

    4

    The Searcher: A Novel
    by Roger Clark (narrator) & Tana French

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    Best Crime Fiction of 2020 - Guilt at the Garage by Simon Brett

    5

    Guilt at the Garage
    by Simon Brett

Best Crime Fiction of 2020, recommended by Sophie Roell

If you’re looking for escapism, crime novels can be a good way to go. Which is strange, given that nearly all of them revolve around murder. Sophie Roell, editor of Five Books and an avid consumer of the genre, picks her personal favourites published in 2020.

    The Best Australian Crime Fiction, recommended by Emma Viskic

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    The Best Australian Crime Fiction - Truth by Peter Temple

    1

    Truth
    by Peter Temple

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    The Best Australian Crime Fiction - The Rules of Backyard Cricket by Jack Serong

    2

    The Rules of Backyard Cricket
    by Jack Serong

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    The Best Australian Crime Fiction - An Isolated Incident by Emily Maguire

    3

    An Isolated Incident
    by Emily Maguire

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    The Best Australian Crime Fiction - The Monkey's Mask by Dorothy Porter

    4

    The Monkey's Mask
    by Dorothy Porter

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    The Best Australian Crime Fiction - Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko

    5

    Too Much Lip
    by Melissa Lucashenko

The Best Australian Crime Fiction, recommended by Emma Viskic

Australian crime fiction—sometimes dubbed ‘Outback Noir’—is enjoying a boom, and its authors are rapturously received overseas. Emma Viskic, the award-winning crime writer, selects five of the best crime novels by her compatriots: outstanding books that blur the line between ‘literary’ and ‘genre’ fiction.

    The Best Crime Fiction of 2019, recommended by Val McDermid

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    The Best Crime Fiction of 2019 - My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

    1

    My Sister, the Serial Killer
    by Oyinkan Braithwaite

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    The Best Crime Fiction of 2019 - This Mortal Boy by Fiona Kidman

    2

    This Mortal Boy
    by Fiona Kidman

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    The Best Crime Fiction of 2019 - The Lost Man by Jane Harper

    3

    The Lost Man
    by Jane Harper

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    The Best Crime Fiction of 2019 - American by Day by Derek B Miller

    4

    American by Day
    by Derek B Miller

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    The Best Crime Fiction of 2019 - A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone

    5

    A Dark Matter
    by Doug Johnstone

The Best Crime Fiction of 2019, recommended by Val McDermid

It’s been a great year for crime fiction – with soaring sales and global bestsellers emerging from writers all over the world. Crime writing is rightly in the ascendancy, says the celebrated Scottish novelist Val McDermid as she selects the best crime fiction of 2019: five books that stand as great novels in their own right.

    The Best Classic Thrillers, recommended by Lucy Atkins

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    The Best Classic Thrillers - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

    1

    Rebecca
    by Daphne Du Maurier

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    The Best Classic Thrillers - The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

    2

    The Talented Mr Ripley
    by Patricia Highsmith

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    The Best Classic Thrillers - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

    3

    We Have Always Lived in the Castle
    by Shirley Jackson

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    The Best Classic Thrillers - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

    4

    Jane Eyre
    by Charlotte Brontë

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    The Best Classic Thrillers - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

    5

    The Woman in White
    by Wilkie Collins

The Best Classic Thrillers, recommended by Lucy Atkins

Every week, dozens of new thrillers appear in bookshops. But, often, the classic ones are the best of all. If you haven’t read any of these five yet, you have a treat in store.

    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - Per sempre by Piergiorgio Pulixi

    1

    Per sempre
    by Piergiorgio Pulixi

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - Prima di dirti addio by Piergiorgio Pulixi

    2

    Prima di dirti addio
    by Piergiorgio Pulixi

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - La buona legge di Mariasole by L. R. Carrino

    3

    La buona legge di Mariasole
    by L. R. Carrino

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - Un caso come gli altri by Pasquale Ruju

    4

    Un caso come gli altri
    by Pasquale Ruju

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    Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction - I pregiudizi di Dio by Luca Poldelmengo

    5

    I pregiudizi di Dio
    by Luca Poldelmengo

Massimo Carlotto recommends the best Italian Crime Fiction

Journalists are no longer able to properly investigate organised crime in modern Italy — leaving it to crime fiction writers to pick up the slack, says the acclaimed Italian novelist, Massimo Carlotto. Here he chooses five noir novels that explore the reality of Italian corruption in highly original ways.

    The Best Books by Wilkie Collins, recommended by Jason Hall

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    The Best Books by Wilkie Collins - Rambles Beyond Railways by Wilkie Collins

    1

    Rambles Beyond Railways
    by Wilkie Collins

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    The Best Books by Wilkie Collins - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

    2

    The Woman in White
    by Wilkie Collins

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    The Best Books by Wilkie Collins - The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

    3

    The Moonstone
    by Wilkie Collins

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    The Best Books by Wilkie Collins - Poor Miss Finch by Wilkie Collins

    4

    Poor Miss Finch
    by Wilkie Collins

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    The Best Books by Wilkie Collins - Heart and Science by Wilkie Collins

    5

    Heart and Science
    by Wilkie Collins

The Best Books by Wilkie Collins, recommended by Jason Hall

Wilkie Collins, the sensationalist author and inventor of the detective novel, knew precisely how to “make ’em laugh, make ’em cry, make ’em wait”. Jason Hall, Victorian literature expert and editor of a new edition of Jezebel’s Daughter, chooses the five best books from Collins’s extensive oeuvre – and considers the voracious appetites and unorthodox lifestyle of this intriguing Englishman.

    Lynda La Plante recommends the best Crime Novels

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    Lynda La Plante recommends the best Crime Novels - The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler

    1

    The Long Goodbye
    by Raymond Chandler

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    Lynda La Plante recommends the best Crime Novels - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

    2

    In Cold Blood
    by Truman Capote

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    Lynda La Plante recommends the best Crime Novels - Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

    3

    Year of Wonders
    by Geraldine Brooks

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    Lynda La Plante recommends the best Crime Novels - The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky

    4

    The Gambler
    by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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    Lynda La Plante recommends the best Crime Novels - The Crimes of Charlotte Bronte by James Tully

    5

    The Crimes of Charlotte Bronte
    by James Tully

Lynda La Plante recommends the best Crime Novels

The writer of the hugely successful Prime Suspect television series, Lynda La Plante, selects her own favourite crime novels. We haven’t completed the interview with her yet, but her brief email comments appear beside her choices.

    The best books on Sherlock Holmes, recommended by Michael Dirda

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    The best books on Sherlock Holmes - A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    1

    A Study in Scarlet
    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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    The best books on Sherlock Holmes - The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    2

    The Complete Sherlock Holmes
    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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    The best books on Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    3

    The Hound of the Baskervilles
    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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    The best books on Sherlock Holmes - The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    4

    The Lost World
    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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    The best books on Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle by D Stashower & C Foley & J Lellenberg

    5

    Arthur Conan Doyle
    by D Stashower & C Foley & J Lellenberg

The best books on Sherlock Holmes, recommended by Michael Dirda

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote 56 short stories and four novels starring his fictional sleuth. Michael Dirda – Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, writer and lifelong Sherlockian – gives us his personal choice of the best Sherlock Holmes books and tells us more about their creator.

    The best books on Swedish Crime Writing, recommended by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström

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    The best books on Swedish Crime Writing - The Laughing Policemen by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö

    1

    The Laughing Policemen
    by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö

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    The best books on Swedish Crime Writing - One Step Behind by Henning Mankell

    2

    One Step Behind
    by Henning Mankell

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    The best books on Swedish Crime Writing - Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

    3

    Shutter Island
    by Dennis Lehane

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    The best books on Swedish Crime Writing - The Abominable Man by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö

    4

    The Abominable Man
    by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö

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    The best books on Swedish Crime Writing - The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

    5

    The Raven
    by Edgar Allan Poe

The best books on Swedish Crime Writing, recommended by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström

The celebrated Swedish crime-writing duo take turns to recommend gripping and grisly Scandinavian thrillers, as well as to tell us about visiting prison – and being in it

    The Best Crime Fiction, recommended by Peter James

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    The Best Crime Fiction - Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

    1

    Brighton Rock
    by Graham Greene

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    The Best Crime Fiction - The Con Man by Ed McBain

    2

    The Con Man
    by Ed McBain

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    The Best Crime Fiction - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    3

    The Hound of the Baskervilles
    by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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    The Best Crime Fiction - The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

    4

    The Silence of the Lambs
    by Thomas Harris

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    The Best Crime Fiction - The Reversal by Michael Connelly

    5

    The Reversal
    by Michael Connelly

The Best Crime Fiction, recommended by Peter James

The best crime novels grip you right from the first sentence and don’t let go, says bestselling crime author, Peter James. He picks his own favourite crime novels.

    The Best Agatha Christie Books, recommended by Mathew Prichard

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    The Best Agatha Christie Books - Endless Night by Agatha Christie

    1

    Endless Night
    by Agatha Christie

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    The Best Agatha Christie Books - The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

    2

    The ABC Murders
    by Agatha Christie

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    The Best Agatha Christie Books - A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie

    3

    A Murder is Announced
    by Agatha Christie

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    The Best Agatha Christie Books - Agatha Christie: An English Mystery by Laura Thompson

    4

    Agatha Christie: An English Mystery
    by Laura Thompson

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    The Best Agatha Christie Books - The Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie

    5

    The Witness for the Prosecution
    by Agatha Christie

The Best Agatha Christie Books, recommended by Mathew Prichard

Agatha Christie was a shy, unassuming woman who likely remains the bestselling novelist of all time. Here her grandson, Mathew Prichard, talks us through his favourite Agatha Christie books.

    The Best Whodunnits, recommended by Simon Brett

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    The Best Whodunnits - A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine

    1

    A Dark-Adapted Eye
    by Barbara Vine

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    The Best Whodunnits - Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton

    2

    Hangover Square
    by Patrick Hamilton

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    The Best Whodunnits - A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin

    3

    A Kiss Before Dying
    by Ira Levin

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    The Best Whodunnits - The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

    4

    The Big Sleep
    by Raymond Chandler

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    The Best Whodunnits - The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

    5

    The Talented Mr Ripley
    by Patricia Highsmith

The Best Whodunnits, recommended by Simon Brett

When it comes to whodunnits, the latest ones aren’t always the best. Veteran crime writer Simon Brett talks us through some of his all-time favourites.

    Irvine Welsh recommends the best Crime Novels

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    Irvine Welsh recommends the best Crime Novels - Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

    1

    Crime and Punishment
    by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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    Irvine Welsh recommends the best Crime Novels - The Cutting Room by Louise Welsh

    2

    The Cutting Room
    by Louise Welsh

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    Irvine Welsh recommends the best Crime Novels - The Glister by John Burnside

    3

    The Glister
    by John Burnside

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    Irvine Welsh recommends the best Crime Novels - Gone Baby Gone by Dennis Lehane

    4

    Gone Baby Gone
    by Dennis Lehane

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    Irvine Welsh recommends the best Crime Novels - Loss by Tony Black

    5

    Loss
    by Tony Black

Irvine Welsh recommends the best Crime Novels

We learn much more from failure than we do from success, says Irvine Welsh. The author of Trainspotting recommends his own favourite crime novels.

    Jo Nesbø recommends the best Norwegian Crime Writing

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    Jo Nesbø recommends the best Norwegian Crime Writing - Cops and Robbers by Kjetil Stensvik Østli

    1

    Cops and Robbers
    by Kjetil Stensvik Østli

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    Jo Nesbø recommends the best Norwegian Crime Writing - When the Devil Holds the Candle by Karin Fossum

    2

    When the Devil Holds the Candle
    by Karin Fossum

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    Jo Nesbø recommends the best Norwegian Crime Writing - White as Snow by Jon Michelet

    3

    White as Snow
    by Jon Michelet

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    Jo Nesbø recommends the best Norwegian Crime Writing - At Night All Wolves Are Grey by Gunnar Staalesen

    4

    At Night All Wolves Are Grey
    by Gunnar Staalesen

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    Jo Nesbø recommends the best Norwegian Crime Writing - The Iron Chariot by Stein Riverton

    5

    The Iron Chariot
    by Stein Riverton

Jo Nesbø recommends the best Norwegian Crime Writing

The bestselling Norwegian crime writer, Jo Nesbø, recommends some of the classics of his genre, many of which have not (yet) been translated into English.

    The Best Nordic Crime Fiction, recommended by Ann Cleeves

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    The Best Nordic Crime Fiction - Sidetracked by Henning Mankell

    1

    Sidetracked
    by Henning Mankell

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    The Best Nordic Crime Fiction - The Minds Eye by Nesser Hakan

    2

    The Minds Eye
    by Nesser Hakan

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    The Best Nordic Crime Fiction - The Water's Edge by Karin Fossum

    3

    The Water's Edge
    by Karin Fossum

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    The Best Nordic Crime Fiction - Jar City by Arnaldur Indridason

    4

    Jar City
    by Arnaldur Indridason

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    The Best Nordic Crime Fiction - Echoes From the Dead by Johan Theorin

    5

    Echoes From the Dead
    by Johan Theorin

The Best Nordic Crime Fiction, recommended by Ann Cleeves

Crime writer and Golden Dagger winner, Ann Cleeves, insists the bleak, snowy, wild spaces of Nordic crime fiction are more than a backdrop. The environment really affects the people that grow out of that landscape.

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