Classic mystery novels are typically defined as being published prior to 1990. Focusing mainly on detective narratives, these tales often center around murder, disappearances, theft, or other crimes and circumstances that can be investigated. A broader category containing several of its own subgenres, classic mysteries can span from clever procedurals to delightful cozies.
Of course, classic doesn’t refer merely to an older body of work. Dubbing a novel—or author—a classic typically implies the work was foundational or otherwise essential to the genre. Heavyhitters like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are frequent pillars of the classic mystery genre, but there are plenty of other novels and short stories with less immediate name recognition that were seminal works.
Here are some great places to start for new and mystery lovers alike.
And don’t forget to peruse the stories below for all the best in classic mystery fiction.
The novel is Graham Greene's first on a journey to literary acclaim and widespread popularity.
By Ella Burch
The first in a series from Agatha Christie’s favorite American author.
By Grace Felder
A curated guide to the best books in the most beloved mystery subgenres.
Decode Daly's literary mysteries with amateur sleuth Henry Gamadge.
By Grace Felder
Without the guiding hand of this Bostonian gothic, the modern detective genre would be very different.
The young minds within old favorites.
Clever characters create lasting stories.
These tried and true mystery books are sure to become new favorites.
Having more than one narrator makes these mysteries even tougher to solve.
The 19th-century author of the macabre exerts enormous influence over the detective fiction we know today.
Sometimes reality and fiction are intertwined.
An eccentric diplomat from the Netherlands exposed the West to Chinese detective fiction—some of the oldest in the world.
Jacques Futrelle was lost to tragedy, but his captivating works live on.
How a haunting crime inspired an author of classic detective fiction.
A prolific author and his charmingly vivid detective.
A champion of the downtrodden with remarkable sense-driven deductions.