Elaine Flinn

There are many great books that can help mystery writers improve their craft and find inspiration for their own work. Here are a few classic and contemporary mystery novels that are highly regarded in the genre:

1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle – This collection of short stories features the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, and is a great example of the detective story genre.
2. In the Woods by Tana French – This psychological thriller follows a detective who is trying to solve a murder that is connected to a traumatic event from his own childhood.
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson – This bestselling novel follows a journalist and a computer hacker as they investigate a decades-old mystery involving a wealthy family.
4. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris – This suspenseful novel follows an FBI trainee who is tasked with seeking the help of a cannibalistic serial killer in order to catch another killer.
5. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – This mystery novel centers around a code hidden within the works of Leonardo da Vinci, and has become a modern classic in the genre.
6. The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling) – This detective novel follows a private investigator who is hired to investigate the death of a supermodel, and uncovers a web of lies and deceit.

These are just a few examples, but there are many other great mystery novels out there to explore.