People who read books more tend to live longer, healthier lives, according to the most recent research. Reading is always a fulfilling hobby, whether you read autobiographies of movie stars, sci-fi novels, fantasy stories, or even fitness guides. That being said, detective novels stand out in popularity and re-read value.

There are very few book genres as exciting as murder mysteries, especially when delivered as detective novels. There is a reason Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle are two of the most iconic writers in history. That is why we opted to review the top 3 detective novels of all time, based on our criteria!

Murder on the Orient Express

You would be hard-pressed to find a detective novel aficionado who hasn’t read this book. Murder on the Orient Express is as legendary as they come. It has all the hallmarks of a fantastic murder-mystery, including a locked room mystery, exciting location, and foreshadowing.

Poirot finds himself on the Orient Express train, traveling from Istanbul to Calais, along with several strangers. These eclectic people seem to be strangers to each other, too, until Hercule Poirot starts unraveling their connections. Murder on the Orient Express is one of the top 3 detective novels of all time for several reasons. For one, the climax is satisfying and unpredictable; for another, the moral conundrum is vexing. Finally, each of the characters, including Poirot, is compelling in their own way.

The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon is a 1930s detective novel that has influenced cinema and literature alike. This novel inspired one of the best book adaptations in history: The Maltese Falcon (1941). This story is set in San Francisco in the 1920s, providing the perfect backdrop for a murder mystery. As the plot unravels, you go on a ride of loyalty, betrayal, love, sex, greed, and fate.

Detective Spade is the moral compass of the story, and though it may not seem like it, he never wavers. Although The Maltese Falcon is far from Dashiell Hammett’s only successful detective novel, it is by far his most popular one. Nearly a century after its release in 1930, this third-person story remains one of the top 3 detective novels of all time.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is up there with Hercule Poirot as one of the most famous literary detectives in history. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s protagonist uses deductive reasoning to solve cases and bring murderers to justice. If you want to dive into the world of detective novels, or Sherlock Holmes more specifically, this is the perfect collection for you.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes, first published in 1905, consists of 4 novels and 56 short stories. Interestingly enough, these stories are told from Dr. John Watson’s point of view, as opposed to Sherlock’s. Due to this approach, Watson serves as the reader’s insert, giving you a front-row seat to Holmes’ many adventures and misadventures.