Happy Tuesday everyone! This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is Books Every X Should Read so we have some free reign this week. After plenty of thought, I decided to go with Books Every Noir Fan Should Read. Personally, I love the genre when it comes to hard-boiled crime fiction books (and film noir they inspired), and those I have listed below are some of my favorites.
Classics:
The Maltese Falcom by Dashiell Hammett
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
Leave Her To Heaven by Ben Ames Williams - Much less well known than the above, but still a must-read (and watch).
Modern:
Don't Dare a Dame (Maggie Sullivan Mystery #3) by M. Ruth Myers - 2013 release, Depression-era setting - Maggie Sullivan is billed as "Sam Spade in a skirt" - definitely makes me think of a mix of River Song from "The Angels Take Manhattan" from the seventh season of Doctor Who and Peggy Carter of Agent Carter.
Fantasy:
The Last Hot Time by John M. Ford - Very interesting read alike for The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher (great fan art by Mika-Blackfield) - and both are set in Chicago.
Dead Things (Eric Carter #1) by Stephen Blackmoore - If you enjoyed Constantine, you would probably like the Eric Carter series.
For Kids:
The Case of the Flapjack Flop (Humpty Dumpty: Hardboiled Detective #1) by Nate Evans, Vince Evans, and Paul W. Hindman - A hilarious fractured fairy tale twist on the genre. A must-read for fans of the Chet Gecko Mysteries by Bruce Hale.
Bonus:
Cape Fear (1962 and 1991) - I've never read the source material by John D. MacDonald, but I love the two movie adaptations of the tense noir thriller. The 1962 film stars Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck and the 1991 version stars Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte. Based on how much I like the original and the remake (I think I actually prefer the remake), I need to try the source material.
So, what do you think of my list this week? Are you a fan of noir, or hard-boiled crime fiction? Have you read or watched any of my picks? What recommendations do you have for me? As always, thanks for visiting my blog - all comments are appreciated and I try to respond to everyone!
I have never read a Noir book, but these look like a great place to start.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT:Marie @ Pages to Explore
If you ever want to, you have a place to start. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI've only read The Maltese Falcon on your list but I loved it so I should check out more. My TTT Award Books
ReplyDeleteMy list makes me want to reread all of these.... :)
DeleteThanks for sharing!
I haven't read much in this genre although recently finished Eileen (I think that counts??) and really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT - https://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wordpress.com/2016/04/12/memoir-fans-remember-to-put-these-books-on-your-reading-list/
I haven't read that one yet, but from what I have heard it definitely fits the bill.
DeleteThanks for sharing.
I like this topic, I haven't read a lot of noir but I like it and I like the idea of futuristic noir as well. I really need to read The Maltese Falcon...
ReplyDeleteIt's a great place to start. :)
DeleteI haven't read any of these! I love the gifs though (especially the first few)!
ReplyDeleteStacy Renee @ Lazy Day Literature
The gifs from the first four are from the movie adaptations. :)
DeleteThanks for sharing!
Great choice in theme! I love the recommendations. Thank you for stopping by my blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog, too! :)
DeleteThen you definitely can't miss No Country for Old Men. Hope you like it!
ReplyDeleteI have never read a Noir book, but I have seen several of these movies. Great list!
ReplyDeleteYou can't go wrong with any of them! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteWow! What a unique list. I haven't read a Noir book before. :-)
ReplyDeleteI figured it would be. :) Always good to try something a little different.
DeleteGreat list! I think Hammett and Chandler will always be my favorites. I just love that time period and their minimal approach to language!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Mine, too, I expect! I haven't been able to find anyone that's quite been able to recreate that. :)
DeleteThat last comment was from Eva Flynn, haven't managed the technology here yet. LOL!
ReplyDeleteAh! Thanks for stopping by, Eva!
DeleteI like film noir, but I don't think I've ever read any fictional noir. Thanks for all the recommendations!
ReplyDeleteNow you have a decent place to start. :)
DeleteThanks for visiting!
Love your theme and list this week!
ReplyDeleteOoh, good list. I know some of these, but there are some I should definitely check out.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by!
DeleteLove this topic and the gifs, Lauren! Also, that River Song and Agent Carter comparison!? Sounds amazing! :) Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the perfect character combination, right! :)
DeleteThanks for visiting my blog, too!
I don't really read Noir a lot! I love the look of some of these with magic, especially as I did enjoy the film 'Constantine' a lot!
ReplyDeleteKatrina @ Chased By My Imagination
Thanks for visiting my blog, Katrina!
DeleteOoh this is definitely a genre I am not familiar with at all. It was really fun to read this list because I haven't heard of any of these books. It sounds like a really interesting topic. I'll definitely have to try and give some of these a go eventually.
ReplyDeleteYou just might find one you like! :)
DeleteI am not a fan of noir, in part because I've never read any... though I always enjoyed Garrison Keillor's serial spoof of the genre on A Prairie Home Companion ("Guy Noir".) The Dresden Files are on my TBR list, though, and I've always meant to read The Maltese Falcon. A cross between River Song and Peggy Carter is almost irresistible -- I'll have to check out that Maggie Sullivan series!
ReplyDeleteI hope you like getting to know Maggie Sullivan! :)
DeleteI haven't read through any Noir, but the Eric Carter Series, sounds good. I will check it out!!
ReplyDeleteTori @InToriLex
Hope you like it! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI don't really read Noir, it's just not my thing. However The Last Hot Time sounds intriguing because I LOVE The Dresden Files!
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it if you get to it! :)
DeleteJust added Dead Things and That Last Hot Time to my TBR! They both look very good (plus, you know I love Dresden Files)
ReplyDeleteThey are both awesome! Hope you get to them - I'd be very interested to hear what you think!
DeleteI love River Song and Doctor Who and was so happy and surprised to see her up there! Lovely list!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Erin!
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