Best mysteries of Twentieth Century

Nearly 10 years ago, the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association's online membership compiled a list of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century.

Based on a quick edit of the list, it appears as if I've read the following 16 books (including a couple marked with ** read in 2009):

Cain, James M.. The Postman Always Rings Twice (Vintage/Black Lizard)
Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep (Vintage)
Crumley, James. The Last Good Kiss (Vintage)
Hammett, Dashiell. The Maltese Falcon (Vintage)
Harris, Thomas. The Silence of the Lambs (St. Martin's)
Hiaasen, Carl. Tourist Season (Warner)
Highsmith, Patricia. The Talented Mr. Ripley (Vintage) **
le Carre, John. The Spy Who Came in From The Cold (Ballantine)
Leonard, Elmore. Get Shorty (Delta)
Grafton, Sue. "A" is for Alibi (Bantam)
James, P.D.. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Warner)
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird (Warner)
MacDonald, John D.. The Deep Blue Good-by (Fawcett)
Mosley, Walter. Devil in a Blue Dress (Pocket) **
Paretsky, Sara. Deadlock (Dell)
Rosen, Richard. Strike Three You're Dead

There are some excellent stories there. Most have also been made into films, which are also typically very good and worth viewing.

I may have read these 2 books as a teen, but I do not remember with certainty:

Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskervilles (Berkley)
Queen, Ellery. Cat of Many Tails

These books are on nearby shelves, so I should be reading them soon:

Ambler, Eric. A Coffin for Dimitrios (Carroll & Graf)
Crais, Robert. The Monkey's Raincoat (Bantam)
Macdonald, Ross. The Chill (Vintage/Black Lizard)
Turow, Scott. Presumed Innocent (Warner)

There are many more books on the list that I intend to read eventually.

Disclosure: This blog receives a 7.5% commission on any books purchased through these recommended links to Powell's bookstore.


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