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5 Must-Read Classic Mystery Novels

Looking for a good page-turner, full of murder and mystery? Look no further than these five must-read mystery recommendations from Hall Honda Virginia Beach.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. The novel's protagonist, Hercule Poirot, attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of an American named Ratchett, who is found murdered on...you guessed it...the Orient Express. Before detective Poirot can solve the murder, however, he must find out exactly who this Ratchett fellow is. The more he discovers about Ratchett, the more he realizes why he was murdered. Most of Agatha Christie's mystery novels fall into the category of must-read classics, including And Then There were None, The ABC Murders, and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. The first time you read The Maltese Falcon, you may think it's full of clichés. Technically you'd be correct. This novel created the clichés—clichés that include the rough-hewn private-eye; the mysterious, alluring damsel in distress whose offer of love just might be a trap; the search for an exotic icon worth killing for; and a detective who plays both sides of the law to get what he needs, but who is ultimately driven by a strong moral code. Not only did The Maltese Falcon introduce common elements of private-eye novels, it presented them better than many that copied them later.

The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M Cain. Deception, cheating, and fraud are cornerstones of mystery novels. The Postman Always Rings Twice is no exception. Frank Chalmers is a drifter who works at a California diner and falls in love with the owner's wife. As far as firing offenses go, an affair with the boss's wife is near the top of the list. The two lovers, therefore, murder the owner. This, by the way, is at the top of firing offenses list. Cain's classic mystery set the standard for the roman noir (“black novel”).

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. The reader knows Raskolnikov committed the murder. The mystery is why and whether his crime will be discovered. Dostoevsky looks into the psychological workings of a murderer and how he eventually gives himself away. The novel focuses on how Raskolnikov tortures himself with guilt and how he unsuccessfully attempts to rationalize his crime.

Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. No detective—literary or real—has quite reached the fame accorded Sherlock Holmes, the main character in several Arthur Conan Doyle short stories and novels, including Hound of the Baskervilles. Holmes' detective skills originate from his ability to use logic and reasoning to solve crimes. In this classic, Holmes is hired by James Mortimer to investigate the Baskerville family curse caused by Hugo Baskerville. According to legend, Hugo tied up a young country lady and fell victim to a hell hound while searching for her on the moors after her escape. Holmes, however, looks for a logical explanation to solve the mystery.