Crime Noir

Derived from the term “roman noir,” French for black novel, this is gritty hardboiled fiction where themes of loneliness, despair, sexual obsession, and hard luck prevail. A fatalistic hero, who is often more victim or perpetrator than detective, tries to save those at the margins of society. All of these titles can be found in the Adult Mystery section unless otherwise noted.

Abbott, Megan. Die a Little. 2005. (Fiction ABB).

Atwood, Russell. East of A. 1999.

Block, Lawrence. Grifter’s Game. 1961. Also available: CD

Brewer, Gil. Wild to Possess; A Taste for Sin. 1959, 1961.

Brooklyn Noir. 2004. (Mystery 813.0872 B).

Bruen, Ken. The Guards. 2001.

Cain, James M. The Postman Always Rings Twice. 1934. (Fiction CAI).

Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep. 1939. Also available: Casette, eBook, eAudiobook

Chicago Noir. 2005. (Mystery 813.0872 C).

Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s. 1997. (Mystery 813.0872 C).

Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1950s. 1997. (Mystery 813.0872 C).

Ellroy, James. The Black Dahlia. 1987. Also available: Large Type, CD, eAudiobook

Ellroy, James. L.A. Confidential. 1990. Also available: Cassette

Fearing, Kenneth. The Big Clock. 1946.

Hammett, Dashiell. The Maltese Falcon. 1930. Also available: Large Type, CD, Cassette

Highsmith, Patricia. The Talented Mr. Ripley.  1963. Also available: Large Type, Cassette

Lehane, Dennis. Shutter Island. 2003.
Also available: Large Type, CD, Cassette, eBook, Digital Player

Levin, Ira. A Kiss Before Dying. 1953. (Fiction LEV).

Matheson, Richard. Noir: Three Novels of Suspense. 1997. (Fiction MAT).

Monroe, Steve. ‘57, Chicago. 2001. (Fiction MON).

O’Connell, Carol. Mallory’s Oracle. 1994.

Parker, T. Jefferson. Silent Joe. 2001. Also available: Cassette

Pelecanos, George. The Big Blowdown. 1996.

Phillips, Scott. The Ice Harvest. 2000. (Fiction PHI).

Sallis, James. Drive. 2005.

Siler, Jenny. Iced. 2000.

Stansberry, Domenic. The Confession. 2004.

Starr, Jason. Twisted City. 2004. (Fiction STA).

Thompson, Jim. After Dark, My Sweet. 1990.

Thompson, Jim. The Getaway. 1958.

Vachss, Andrew. The Getaway Man. 2003.

Walter, Jess. Citizen Vince. 2005. (Fiction WAL).

Willeford, Charles. Pick-Up. 1990.

Winter, Douglas E. Run. 2000. (Fiction WIN).

Woolrich, Cornell. I Married A Dead Man. 1983.