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Best Hardboiled Books

December 2024

The Cuckoo’s Calling

Cormoran Strike, a war veteran turned private detective, is barely scraping by when a new case falls into his lap. The supposed suicide of a supermodel draws him into a world of multimillionaires, rock stars, and desperate designers. As Strike delves deeper, he uncovers a tangled web of secrets and lies. With his determined assistant Robin by his side, Strike must navigate London’s seedy underbelly to unravel the truth. This gripping mystery had me hooked from the first page, with its vivid characters and unexpected twists. Galbraith’s attention to detail brings the gritty streets of London to life.

The Maltese Falcon

Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon” is a gritty, hard-boiled detective novel that grabs you from the first page. Sam Spade, the cynical private eye, gets tangled in a web of lies and murder while hunting for a priceless statuette. I couldn’t put it down, staying up late to unravel the mystery. Hammett’s terse prose and vivid characters bring 1920s San Francisco to life. It’s no wonder this book defined the noir genre and still captivates readers today.

P Is for Peril

Kinsey Millhone’s latest case plunges her into a web of deceit and danger. When a prominent doctor vanishes without a trace, Kinsey’s investigation uncovers a tangled mess of family secrets, financial fraud, and possible murder. As she delves deeper, the stakes rise, and Kinsey finds herself in the crosshairs of ruthless adversaries. With her trademark wit and tenacity, she must navigate treacherous waters to unravel the mystery before it’s too late. Grafton’s sharp prose and intricate plotting keep readers on edge until the very last page.