Noir Books

Explore each book further by clicking on the covers!

The Big Sleep

Author: Raymond Chandler

Summary: Private detective Philip Marlowe dives into a murky world of corruption, crime, and murder while investigating a wealthy family's secrets.

Publication: 1939

The Maltese Falcon

Author: Dashiell Hammett

Summary: Sam Spade, a private investigator, becomes embroiled in a dangerous quest for a priceless statue with a dark past.

Publication: 1930

Double Indemnity

Author: James M. Cain

Summary: An insurance agent and a femme fatale plot to kill her husband for the insurance payout, leading to deception and betrayal.

Publication: 1943

In a Lonely Place

Author: Dorothy B. Hughes

Summary: A disillusioned ex-pilot is suspected of being a serial killer, blurring the lines between truth and deception in post-war Los Angeles.

Publication: 1947

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?

Author: Horace McCoy

Summary: A dark look at desperate lives during the Great Depression, set against the backdrop of a grueling dance marathon.

Publication: 1935

Farewell, My Lovely

Author: Raymond Chandler

Summary: Philip Marlowe’s investigation of a missing person leads him into the underworld of Los Angeles, where danger lurks around every corner.

Publication: 1940

The Postman Always Rings Twice

Author: James M. Cain

Summary: A drifter and a restless wife embark on a dangerous affair and plot murder, but their passion leads to unforeseen consequences.

Publication: 1934

LA Confidential

Author: James Ellroy

Summary: Three LAPD officers unravel a web of corruption and crime in 1950s Los Angeles, uncovering secrets that threaten their lives.

Publication: 1990

The Killer Inside Me

Author: Jim Thompson

Summary: A seemingly mild-mannered deputy sheriff hides a dark, violent side, leading to chilling consequences for those around him.

Publication: 1952

Red Harvest

Author: Dashiell Hammett

Summary: A private detective arrives in a corrupt town and finds himself pitting rival gangs against each other in a deadly game of survival.

Publication: 1929