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/lit/ - Literature

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[ERROR] No.2143641 [Reply] [Original]

Just finished reading a detective novel for the first time in my life. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie was utter crap, any recommendations for good crime/detective novels?

If not this is a sign to stay away from this genre forever.

>> No.2143643

U.N. Owen here.

Fuck you.

>> No.2143645

>>2143641
Just read Sherlock Holmes. Thats all you need. Anything else is shit.

>> No.2143642

There's a reason the genre has been spat on since its inception.

>> No.2143648

>>2143643
Well, at least I won't become an hero.

>> No.2143657

Raymond Chandler

>> No.2143658

>>2143645
I've heard enough queer things about Sherlock Holmes, but it's probably an essential reading.

I must say, I have no idea why crime/detective fiction is so popular. It's junk.

>> No.2143659

Tell us what was crap and what did you like in that book. Then maybe someone will point you in the right direction.

>> No.2143663

Go back to the OG.

Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Purloined Letter by E.A. Poe

Otherwise, it's a genre meant for middle aged housewives to read so that they think they're getting in some intellectual reading between Romance novel porns.

>> No.2143667

>>2143659
What I liked:
- Solid characterization of 10 very different character.
- A very quick read

What I didn't like:
-The motives are petty (herpderp I lust after killing other people or OMG he has a child, let the boy drown)
-how everything was so damn convenient for the perpetrator (they all acted like expected)
-lack of suspense, I mean things just happened after one another, but there was no atmosphere
-An hero so that the murder looks perfect, that's just retarded
-Lack of hints for the reader that Dr. Armstrong and Judge where fooling the others.

I just don't like epilogue with the explanations "I did this and than I did that", that's stupid, anyone could have done it with very minor variations if they had collaborated with the Dr..

>> No.2143672

>>2143663
>Otherwise, it's a genre meant for middle aged housewives to read so that they think they're getting in some intellectual reading between Romance novel porns.
Should have figured that, but I was trying to read books outside of my usual genres and picked the best-selling detective novel never. I didn't expect it to be that bad, even Detective Conan is more enjoyable.

>> No.2143675

>>2143667
>characters
>then
Excuse my typos, I'm just very disappointed right now.

>> No.2143694

>>2143667

A few things to remember:

- Agatha Christie was notorious for leaving out vital clues that could allow the reader to solve the crime themselves. Previously, crime novels presented all clues for the reader to observe and solve.
- Motives always suck ass in these books. Everything exists only to execute the 'genius' plot of the story.
-Congratulations! You've just read 80% of Agatha Christie's books! The formula repeats itself over and over. This book is probably the most original. This and Orient Express. Express actually does have some larger social implications involved, but is too interested in it's crime to care.

The last really goo crime novel I read was L.A. Confidential. Not so caught up in it's silly plot like most mysteries. A very dark, gritty, classic noir tone. Raymond Chandler is also an option.

>> No.2143700

Give up. The wonder of detective novels, genre novels for that matter, is reserved for that wide-eyed moment when a 9 year old first picks up and tackles a 300-pager. If you don't fall in love with their world then you'll never get the feel. Try glossing over your crappy childhood first with the Dangerous Book for Boys, or work as a scoutmaster for a year then try Holmes again. All else fails, rerun The Wire.

>> No.2143706

Agatha Christie is shit in general. Try some Patricia Highsmith.

>> No.2143711
File: 36 KB, 328x500, 9780312094409.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
[ERROR]

John Wainwright - Brainwash

>> No.2143716

>>2143700

I'm inclined to agree. Either a genre/formula works for you or it doesn't. While I don't have much stomach for the mystery genre as a whole, I have a better stomach for it than romance just based on my reading history going back to kidhood.

>> No.2143721

>>2143694
>- Agatha Christie was notorious for leaving out vital clues that could allow the reader to solve the crime themselves.
Well, shit. I expected some form of cheap enjoyment by looking for non-existent clues.

I heard that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was pretty well received, we had started reading the novel when one of my classmates spoiled the ending and read Dead Poets Society in class instead.
Did I dodge a bullet at that time?

>>2143700
I see, guess it's too late for my 20yo self now.

I will check out the recs posted in this thread, though.

>> No.2143746

>>2143721

I meant that she would hold back important clues until the reveal. The detective will all of sudden at the end reveal that they found a handkerchief of the killer on the body to support everything else they've discovered. Duh. If I had found that I'd figure it out, too.

I'm not sure if you dodged bullet, but the books are what they are. Cheap, quick, fun reads. I don't think you're life would have been benefited or depreciated from finishing Ackroyd.

Good luck with the reading.

>> No.2143762

Have any of you read a detective novel where all the clues were present durning the story? Something that could case a "Why couldn't I see it?" effect.

>> No.2143769

New York trilogy by Paul Auster is pretty badass, especially City of Glass.
Also Pulp by Bukowski.

Not sure how to recommend them, though you probably wouldn't like Pulp if you don't like the Buke already.