10 Best Hardboiled Detective Stories | TheReviewGeek Recommends

When we say hardboiled detective, you instantly think of the detectives from noirs, inner monologues, femme fatales and gritty underground crime-ridden streets of some big city. And you would be right in some cases, but noir fiction is its own subgenre, following a different point of view than the detective.

However, noir is so closely related to hardboiled fiction that you wouldn’t be mistaken for believing they are similar. There is a lot that be said about film noir’s hand in this assumption, but we aren’t here for that. Instead, if you’re looking for hardboiled detective stories, here are a few of the best hardboiled detective novels you should check out:


The Big Sleep (Philip Marlowe) by Raymond Chandler

This is the book that introduces us to the iconic Philip Marlowe, a private investigator who embodies the Code of the Private Eye as defined by Chandler himself. Marlowe is not mean, tarnished or afraid. He is an everyman, who happens to be a heroic type. In his first appearance on the page, The Big Sleep, Marlowe is hired by wealthy General Guy Sternwood to deal with a blackmail case involving his daughter Carmen.

As Marlowe ventures deeper into the investigation, he becomes entangled in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder. Amidst a labyrinth of femme fatales, double-crossing, and gritty noir atmosphere, Marlowe navigates the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles in his relentless pursuit of the truth.


Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins) by Walter Mosley

Set in 1940s Los Angeles, Devil in a Blue Dress follows Ezekiel ‘Easy’ Rawlins, an unemployed black war veteran, who is hired by a dubious white businessman to find a missing woman, Miss Daphne Monet, a woman known to frequent black jazz clubs. As Easy delves deeper into the mystery, he unravels a web of corruption, and violence.

Navigating the racially divided city and encountering a cast of intriguing characters, Easy must use his wit and resourcefulness to survive and solve the case.


The Moving Target (Lew Archer) by Ross Macdonald

Introducing us to the private investigator Lew Archer, The Moving Target is another great hard-boiled detective story. Ralph Sampson, a wealthy Southern California millionaire, finds himself surrounded by an eccentric and questionable circle of acquaintances, including a sun-worshipping holy man and a fading actress with unconventional interests.

When one of Sampson’s friends becomes a kidnapping victim, Archer is hired to solve the case. Following clues from luxurious canyon retreats to gritty jazz joints, Archer has his work cut out for him as he tries to navigate the fine line between criminal guilt and human sin.


The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

The Maltese Falcon introduces us to Sam Spade, a hard-boiled private investigator, who is initially hired by Miss Wonderley to find her sister and her lover. However, it soon becomes clear that Miss Wonderley, actually Brigid O’Shaughnessy, is deceitful and alluring. She is a femme fatale.

When Spade’s partner is killed while trailing the man the sister eloped with, Spade finds himself in a dangerous situation. As both hunter and hunted, he must race against time to locate the highly coveted jewel-encrusted falcon, a priceless artifact with a deadly allure.


Who Censored Roger Rabbit? (Roger Rabbit) by Gary K Wolf

Private eye Eddie Valiant reluctantly takes on a case involving Roger Rabbit, a Toon from the Baby Herman cartoon series. Someone has been trying to buy Roger’s contract, and when Rocco DeGreasy, a member of the DeGreasy Brothers syndicate, is murdered, Roger becomes the prime suspect.

As Eddie investigates, he uncovers a web of art thefts, blackmail plots, and a treacherous killer. Along the way, he questions why Jessica Rabbit, a sultry Toon, married Roger in the first place and why everyone is after Roger’s old teakettle. Eddie must navigate the eccentricities of Toon town to unravel the mystery and catch the elusive culprit.


The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet) by James Eliroy

James Eliroy’s gripping crime fiction novel The Black Dahlia follows the investigation into the gruesome murder of the Black Dahlia on January 15, 1947. Two cops, Bucky Bleichert and Lee Blanchard, become consumed with the case, driven by an obsession to uncover the truth about the victim’s twisted past and to see her killer brought to justice.

As they delve deeper into the seedy underbelly of postwar Hollywood, they must confront their own inner demons and desires. The novel is a dark and intense thriller, filled with complex characters and a haunting atmosphere that will keep readers hooked until the very end.


I, The Jury (Mike Hammer) by Mickey Spillane

When Jack Williams, the closest friend of private investigator Mike Hammer, is found murdered, Hammer is determined to find the killer before the police do. Mike is one of the most brutal investigators and I, The Jury showcases this. Hammer, who lost his arm while serving in the Marines with Jack, is fueled by a desire for revenge.

His investigation starts with the list of guests from a party at Jack’s apartment on the night of his death, including Jack’s fiancée, a recovering drug addict, a psychiatrist, twin socialite sisters, a college student, and a mobster. However, as Hammer gets closer to the truth, the murderer begins targeting him, putting Hammer in grave danger.


Act of Fear by Michael Collins

In Michael Collins’ Act of Fear, Dan Fortune, a one-armed former crook turned private investigator, takes on a case involving a mugged cop and a missing witness named Jo-Jo Olsen. In his pursuit of Olsen, Fortune uncovers shocking secrets and hidden truths about the rundown neighbourhood of Chelsea, Manhattan.

 As he delves deeper into the case, Fortune must confront his own past as a criminal, as well as the darker side of the community he inhabits.


Box Nine by Jack O’Connell

In Box Nine, narcotics detective Lenore becomes embroiled in a battle against a dangerous new drug called Lingo. This potent substance enhances language skills to a remarkable degree, but it also triggers intense euphoria and murderous rage. As Lingo spreads through the town of Quinsigamond, Lenore, armed with her own addictions and a fervent love for her gun, teams up with Dr. Frederick Woo, a linguist, to put an end to the drug’s destructive influence.

As Lenore and Woo investigate, they find themselves at risk of succumbing to the allure of Lingo themselves. Will they be able to conquer the drug before it tears their town apart?


Knots and Crosses (Inspector Rebus) by Ian Rankin

Detective John Rebus, makes his first appearance in Knots and Crosses, and finds himself in the midst of a city plagued by a perplexing string of murders. Unbeknownst to Rebus, he has a personal connection to the deranged killer through a hidden bond of blood. As a former member of Britain’s elite SAS, Rebus has chosen to become an Edinburgh cop, attempting to escape his haunting memories, disregarding promotions, and dismissing strange letters.

However, as the gruesome murders continue and the media frenzy escalates, Rebus’s own inner demons begin to torment him. He quickly realizes that he is not only a detective on the hunt for a killer, but the individual who possesses all the crucial pieces to solving the disturbing puzzle.


There we have it! The best hardboiled detective stories to sink your teeth into! Have you read any of these novels? Were there any that we missed? Comment below and let us know!


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