What Are the Must Read Books For Fans of Noir Fiction? I’m running down all the different types of Mysteries. You could argue that Noir Mysteries are a subset of Procedural Mysteries, but they have their own unique qualities and criteria, so let’s discuss!
Hello! If you got here directly, you might also want to check out my quiz on What Kind of a Mystery Thriller Reader Are You?
And then explore my Master Post of Different Types of Mystery Novels
But if you are just here to learn about Noir Mysteries, that’s great! Let’s begin!
What is a Noir Mystery?
- Noir Mysteries (sometimes called “hard-boiled mysteries”) feature tough, cynical, and often morally ambiguous protagonists, such as private detectives or police officers.
- The tone is dark, as is the crime being investigated.
- Noir Fiction often takes place in an impoverished urban or hardscrabble rural landscape
- Morally ambiguity is also a common feature.
Jen’s Must-Read Books For Fans of Noir Fiction
Noir is both a narrow and broad genre. The most interesting thing to me about Noir Fiction is its regional bent. Just like there are variations of Gothic Fiction (like Southern Gothic), each regional Noir is deeply rooted in a particular culture and landscape.
Nordic Noir
Also called Scandi or Scandinavian Noir, Nordic Noir is defined by:
- A chilling and atmospheric setting that draws upon the beauty and harshness of the Scandinavian landscape, its long winters and unique patterns of day and night.
- A dark crime (in Noir this is often corruption or some kind of abuse of power)
- The incorporation of political or social issues (Nordic Noirs often have to do with political corruption)
- A main character grappling with their own inner demons or personal trauma: addiction, family issues, career problems, or health issues.
- An inclusion of social issues like political corruption, social inequality, misogyny, and other darker aspects of society.
Notable Nordic Noir Authors:
Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series, which kicked off with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo put Nordic Noir into the spotlight. I read and loved these books which also seemed to me to be inspired by American Serial Killer Fiction. Larsson’s books have been made into movies in both Sweden and the U.S.
Henning Mankell’s Kurt Wallander series follows a Swedish detective solving crimes in the town of Ystad. These books have also been adapted as a series and you can find out more details on my post on Nordic Noir Movies and Streaming Series.
Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole series features a brilliant yet obsessive Oslo detective who investigates crimes.
Camilla Läckberg’s Fjällbacka series features detective Patrik Hedström and writer Erika Falck. Läckberg has also written standalones like The Golden Cage.
Jørn Lier Horst’s William Wisting series focuses on a Norwegian detective navigating criminal cases and personal challenges. These books have also been adapted as a series and you can find out more details on my post on Nordic Noir Movies and Streaming Series.
American Noir Fiction to Read:
Inspired by film noir in the 1940s and 50s, American Noir Fiction features cynical, morally gray detectives navigating a gritty and corrupt world.
Authors like Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, James Ellroy, and Raymond Chandler are classic examples of in this genre.
Modern American Noir Fiction:
Modern American Noir fiction can follow the traditional urban crime path, or it can explore the seedy underbelly of small towns and/or look at more modern issues like generational poverty and addiction. Here are some sample titles to check out.
Long Bright River by Liz Moore. I absolutely loved this gritty and heartbreaking story about a police officer searching for her missing sister with a gritty urban Philadelphia backdrop.
Dennis Lehane’s Kenzie and Gennaro PI procedurals are a gritty noir series, but all of his Boston-set fiction has a noir feel.
Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell centers around an Ozark family who runs a meth lab and was made into a movie starring Jennifer Lawrence.
Lawrence Block’s Matthew Scudder series features a PI who is a recovering alcoholic living in Hell’s Kitchen, taking cases, and meting out some rough justice.
Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins series is set in the 1940s (a nod to classic Noir) and centers around a Black war veteran turned investigator.
S.A. Cosby’s books are Southern Noir, with a strong regional feel and many Noir characteristics. Check out my review of All The Sinners Bleed and my Readers Guide to King of Ashes.
James Crumley’s books (the Sughrue series and the Milo Milodragovitch series) also have strong Noir characteristics and influences.
Gillian Flynn’s books could be considered suspense or psychological thrillers, but I also think you could argue that her earlier books have a strong Noir element.
European and Commonwealth Noir:
“Polar” is French crime fiction that explores urban settings, political corruption, and societal issues.
Italian Noir: often revolves around organized crime and corruption in Italian society.
Australian or Outback Noir explores the vast and empty landscapes of the Outback. Check out my review of The Survivors by Jane Harper.
Do the Canadians have Noir? Canada seems too wholesome for that!
If you have comments or favorite Noir books, please tell me in comments!