LEHMAN'S RECOMMENDED DETECTIVE NOVELS AND STORIES
In his book, The Perfect Murder: A study in Detection (1989), David Lehman provides a list of recommended titles. They "were chosen for their importance in the evolution of the mystery genre or simply for the pleasure they reliably give; in many cases, both reasons apply."
BOOKSELLERS’ 100 FAVORITE MYSTERIES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
Members of the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association compiled a list released in January 2000 of their 100 Favorite Mysteries of the century. It was agreed that each author would appear on the list only once. The Association is a trade association for owners of businesses wholly or substantially devoted to the sale of mysteries. As of January 2000 the group represented 58 stores in the United States and Canada.
KEATING’S 100 BEST CRIME AND MYSTERY BOOKS
H. R. F. Keating was the crime books reviewer for the London Times for 15 years, a former chairman of the British Crime Writers’ Association, and a past president of the Detection Club. His 100 Best Crime and Mystery Books was published 1987. Keating provides a page discussion of each of the titles that are listed below.
BOURGEAU'S CLASSIC MYSTERY BOOKS
In his Mystery Lovers Companion of 1986, Art Bourgeau uses a rating scheme of one to five daggers to indicate the quality of the work he lists and briefly describes. The Mystery Lover's Companion reviews and rates some 2500 books. His highest rating, five daggers, is used to indicate “A True Classic.” These Classics are listed below
WINKS' PERSONAL FAVORITES IN DETECTIVE FICTION
In the Appendix to his Detective Fiction, A Collection of Critical Essays, Robin W. Winks includes "A Personal List of Favorites." He writes that “the following list of titles is provided … as a point of entry; authors are limited to no more than three titles. The editor regards all of the books as good, although for a variety of reasons. Not all have contributed to the history of the field and not all are written with equal grace, but each has substantial merit, whether for plot, well-realized setting, characterization, detection, or even trickery. For the most part, books from the early classic period (pre-1930) are omitted.”
BARZUN AND TAYLOR'S CLASSIC CRIME NOVELS
Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor in their A Catalogue of Crime (Rev. & Enl. Edition, 1989) include descriptions of works the authors consider Classics of Crime, 1900-1975. Ninety novels are selected by them and are listed below. In the Preface to their indispensable book, the authors write:"...the novice eager to explore can by browsing through our pages discover examples of the type of story he might like. The brief comments give a glimpse of contents and quality, and by stressing certain points help to develop a critical taste. As for the collector who regularly scans dealers' catalogues, he can, by consulting the index and the entry, ascertain facts to guide his purchases. Finally, students of the literature - a growing body inside and outside the academy - will find here a storehouse of materials usable in teaching and research."
HAYCRAFT-QUEEN CORNERSTONES, A DEFINITIVE LIBRARY OF DETECTIVE, CRIME AND MYSTERY FICTION 1748-1952
In 1941, Howard Haycraft compiled a list of detective stories for a book entitled Murder for Pleasure: The Life and Times of the Detective Story. The list was prepared for “unpretentious detective story fans who may care to assemble for their own pleasure ‘cornerstone’ libraries of the best and most influential writing in the medium.” Ellery Queen (the writing team of Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee) revised the Haycraft list several times expanding it to include a broader range of crime and mystery fiction. The list below is the final revision and includes books from 1748 to 1952. Any entry followed by an * indicates it was added by Ellery Queen.
Agatha Award for Best Cozy Mystery Novel, 1989-2003
"The Agatha Awards, named for MALICE inspiration Agatha Christie, are awarded for the Best Novel, First Mystery Novel, Nonfiction, and Short Story in the genre for the previous year. Presentation is made at the MALICE convention in April. The award is a teapot with MALICE's skull and crossbones on the side." "An eligible book must have been published in the United States between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year and be a Malice Domestic book. This is loosely translated as no explicit sex, gore or violence, an amateur detective (usually), a confined setting, and characters who know each other. The Agatha Awards Committee reviews all nominated books for appropriateness and oversees the entire awards process."
SYMONS’ 100 BEST CRIME STORIES
Julian Symons was awarded the British Crime Writer's Association Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement, named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, served as President of the Detection Club in London and was a distinguished critic of the mystery genre. In 1957-58, Julian Symons selected the 100 Best Crime Stories for the London Sunday Times. That list follows.
Anthony Award for Best Mystery Novel, 1986-2002
This award for the Best Novel of the Year is named for Anthony Boucher, a writer, critic, and fan of the mystery genre. The Anthony is presented each year during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention for a novel published in the previous year.
CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION'S CARTIER DIAMOND DAGGER PRIZE 1986-2003
This Crime Writers' Association award, The Crime Writers' Association award, sponsored by Cartier, is given to a writer in recognition for a lifetime's achievement in the genre of crime writing. For this coveted award the CWA selects writers who meet two essential criteria. First, their careers must be marked by sustained excellence, and second, they must have made a significant contribution to crime fiction published in the English language, whether originally or in translation. The award is made purely on merit without reference to age, gender or nationality.
JOHN CREASEY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR BEST FIRST CRIME NOVEL 1973-2002
While the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain began presenting awards for excellence in crime writing in 1955, the John Creasey Memorial Award was not instituted until 1973. It is made for the best crime novel by an author who has not previously published a full-length work of fiction. John Creasey (1908-1973) was an English author of mystery, crime, suspense, and detective novels. Creasey was the most prolific writer in the genre, with close to 600 books published under twenty-eight pseudonyms.
CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION'S MACALLAN GOLD DAGGER FOR FICTION 1955-2002
The Crime Writers’ Association of Great Britain was founded in 1953 and is open to published writers of crime fiction and non-fiction. The Macallan Daggers are sponsored by The Macallan, distillers of the single Highland malt whiskey, in association with the Crime Writers' Association. The CWA Gold Dagger is awarded for the best crime novel of the year.
EDGAR ALLAN POE AWARD FOR BEST FIRST MYSTERY NOVEL 1946-2003
Founded in 1945, the Mystery Writers of America is the preeminent American organization of mystery writers. Each April, the MWA bestows the coveted Edgar Allan Poe Awards for achievement in various categories. The award for Best First Mystery Novel by an American Author was inaugurated in 1946.
EDGAR ALLAN POE AWARD FOR BEST MYSTERY NOVEL 1954-2003
The Edgar awards are presented in the year after that of the publication of the work. The following is the list for the year’s best novel as determined by the Mystery Writers of America, the preeminent American organization for mystery writers. The most recent awards were presented at the MWA's 57th Gala Banquet May 1, 2003 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.
ELLERY QUEEN'S TWELVE BEST DETECTIVE STORIES
In 1950, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine took a vote of 11 experts, among them Vincent Starrett, Charles Honce, and Lew D. Feldman asking for the experts' pick of the best detective stories ever written. There were 83 detective stories nominated. The final selection of the best was as shown below. The results were published in the July 1950 issue of the magazine.
HAYCRAFT’S DETECTIVE STORY BOOKSHELF
This list was compiled by Howard Haycraft and published in 1941 in Murder for Pleasure: The Life and Times of the Detective Story. The list was prepared for “unpretentious detective story fans who may care to assemble for their own pleasure ‘cornerstone’ libraries of the best and most influential writing in the medium.” The titles were published 1841-1938. See also the Haycraft-Queen Cornerstones.
LACHMAN'S ONE HUNDRED NOTABLE AMERICAN NOVELS OF DETECTION
In his A Reader's Guide to the American Novel of Detection (1993), Marvin Lachman includes a list of "One Hundred Notable Novels of Detection." He writes: "Though I did consider historical importance, my primary concern was quality... The detective plot and the ingenuity and fairness of the solution are also basic to the detective story, so certain writers of the Golden Age of Detection (Queen, Carr and Stout) appear frequently. Yet also included are many more recent writers, people who have substituted regional insights, humor and exploration of social problems for sheer brilliance of puzzle. Though this list is, of course, subjective, it is based on 50 years of reading mysteries and 25 years of reviewing them."
MACAVITY AWARD FOR BEST MYSTERY NOVEL 1987-2002
Nominees for and the winners of the Macavity Awards are selected by the members of Mystery Readers International, the largest of all mystery fan organizations. The Macavity Award is named for the "mystery cat" of T.S. Eliot (Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats).
NERO WOLFE AWARD FOR BEST "FAIR-PLAY" MYSTERY NOVEL 1979-2002
Presented annually for the novel that best captures the spirit and fair-play aspects of the Nero Wolfe novels. The award is presented at the Black Orchid Banquet, which is traditionally held on the first Saturday in December in New York City.
OLEKSIW'S 100 CLASSIC BRITISH MYSTERY NOVELS
In A Reader’s Guide to the Classic British Mystery (1988), Susan Oleksiw listed “one hundred novels that are outstanding for various reasons: some are historically important as well as being well written; some are fascinating stories; and others are ingenious tales that capture and hold the reader until the surprise ending.” In her book each title is discussed.
SHAMUS AWARD FOR BEST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL 1982-2002
The Private Eye Writers of America confer the Shamus Award. Eligible novels feature a "private eye" character who is an investigator, but does not work for a government or police agency. Winners are selected by committees of writers. The award for Best Novel is listed below (best hardback Novel beginning in 2001).
REX STOUT'S TEN FAVORITE DETECTIVE NOVELS
Rex Todhunter Stout (1886-1975) was an American detective story writer and creator Nero Wolfe. The selection of his ten favorite detective novels was published in Vincent Starrett's Books and Bipeds in 1947.