What are the greatest hard boiled detective novels?

James M. Cain's 'Double Indemnity' is a great hard boiled detective novel. It tells the story of an insurance salesman who gets involved with a woman in a murder - for - insurance - money plot. It's a dark and suspenseful read.

The hard - boiled detective novel genre has some great works. 'The Long Goodbye' by Raymond Chandler is a very well - known one. Chandler's writing style is so distinct, and Marlowe's character is further developed in this novel. 'Farewell, My Lovely' by Chandler as well is excellent. It has all the elements of a great hard - boiled detective story, like a seedy underworld, a tough detective, and a mystery to solve. And Jim Thompson's 'The Killer Inside Me' is also considered one of the top ones. It gives a disturbing but fascinating look into the mind of a killer and the detective trying to solve the case.

A hard-boiled detective novel is a type of crime fiction featuring a tough, cynical, and often world-weary detective who operates in a gritty and corrupt urban environment.

Hard boiled detective fiction is a genre of crime fiction featuring tough, cynical detectives who operate in a gritty and often corrupt urban environment.

Well, 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' by James M. Cain is a classic hard boiled detective novel. It has a gritty and somewhat amoral atmosphere. Then there's 'I, the Jury' by Mickey Spillane. His detective, Mike Hammer, is a tough - as - nails character. And 'The Thin Man' by Dashiell Hammett (besides 'The Maltese Falcon') is also highly regarded for its engaging story and interesting characters.

One of the best is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. The female character in it, Amy Dunne, is complex and manipulative. It's a psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns.

In horror hard boiled detective novels, the main character, the detective, is often jaded and cynical. He or she has to deal with not only the regular criminal elements but also something that sends shivers down the spine. The plots usually involve a mystery that needs to be solved, but there are always horror - inducing twists. For example, the crime scenes might be extremely gruesome, or there could be an unseen force that seems to be manipulating the events. The writing style is often terse and direct, adding to the sense of unease. These novels combine the classic detective story structure with elements of horror to create a unique and thrilling reading experience.

One characteristic is the tough and cynical detective. These detectives often have a jaded view of the world and are street - smart. For example, Sam Spade in 'The Maltese Falcon' is a classic hard - boiled detective who is both cunning and morally ambiguous.

Some of the great hard boiled detective novels include 'The Thin Man' by Dashiell Hammett. It combines mystery with a bit of humor. 'The Long Goodbye' by Raymond Chandler is another classic. Chandler's writing style is so evocative, and his detective Marlowe is a complex character. And 'A Rage in Harlem' by Chester Himes is also a notable one, with its unique take on the genre set in Harlem.

Classic hard boiled detective novels typically feature a morally ambiguous world. The detective is not always a paragon of virtue but is more of a realist trying to survive in a corrupt world. The stories are filled with action and suspense. There is also a sense of fatalism in these novels, as if the characters are often at the mercy of forces beyond their control, yet they keep fighting to solve the mystery and get justice, or at least their own version of it.