Trying to find the perfect novel to read can be a never-ending task. Even after hours spent in the book shop, you might not find what you’re looking for. If you love the crime-fiction genre, but are unable to find the suspense thriller you desire, this article will solve that problem. Here are the best crime fiction authors, and their most popular books.

My love for a gripping and enthralling novel is unparalleled, but I always struggle to find novels that suit my interests. It is crucial to find an author whose writing intrigues you, because different authors have diverse writing styles. By reading several books from different authors, you will know the writing style that you love most.

The following list comprises of the best crime-fiction authors, and some of their masterpieces. After reading countless crime-fiction authors, these are some of them that stand out to me personally. The following books are some of these authors’ best works (in my humbles opinion!). I find them extremely riveting, and some of the endings will truly leave you in utter disbelief.

Find the time to read these books, believe me, You WILL NOT regret it! Read ‘How to better at time management‘, to make some time for yourself!

The best crime fiction authors, and their most popular books

• Agatha Christie

• Linwood Barclay

• Stephen King

• David Baldacci

• John Grisham

1. Agatha Christie:

When talking about crime-fiction authors, it is impossible to miss out on the legend herself. Agatha Christie undoubtedly writes the best suspense thrillers, with the most gripping stories. If you are new to the crime-fiction genre, this is where you need to start off.

Her characters, like M. Poirot are world famous. I have read a couple of her books, and I have absolutely devoured them. Her best and most renowned book is ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. Her books truly are page turners, with each chapter bringing in a new element of surprise. Believe me, you can’t go wrong with an Agatha Christie book! I highly recommend reading these two books of hers in particular:

• Murder on the Orient Express (I recommend watching the movie too)
• The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

2. Linwood Barclay:

Personally, Linwood Barclay is my all-time favourite author! I have read too many of his books, and loved every single one of them. Barclay’s writing style is what I love the most. His consistent writing style helps the readers form a connection with the book, which makes reading it even more enjoyable.

Another aspect that I truly love of his writing, is the way there are multiple stories taking place in just one book. There is a different story taking place in every chapter, and at the end, all of these stories magically combine, making the perfect novel. Barclay’s books always have unimaginable twists, and leave the reader wondering what will happen next.

My favourite books of his, and ones I highly recommend you read are:

• Elevator Pitch
• A Noise Downstairs
• The Twenty-Three

My description of his books do not do justice to these masterpieces. Take my word for it, read any Linwood Barclay book, and you will become a forever fan of his!

3. Stephen King:

Another brilliant author, whose books are worth the praise they receive. Stephen King is a true legend in this genre, and every single book of his is a skilfully crafted masterpiece, that never fails to impress. His highly renowned book, ‘It’, is a suspense roller coaster, filled with twists and heart wrenching surprises at every turn. King’s books are the definition of a classic crime fiction novel, depicting the entire genre perfectly. I most certainly recommend reading his books. The best place to start will be with his most famous novel:

• It (a classic for only £5)

• Fairy Tale (MY TOP RECOMMENDATION IN THIS LIST)

I cannot stress how much I love Stephen King, and in particular, his masterpiece, ‘Fairy Tale’. This book is without doubt my favourite book of all-time.

Stephen King has the gift of crafting absolutely thrilling stories. In the aforementioned book, he meticulously crafts an entire new world, and spares no detail. His books are quite long, but that’s their beauty. You form a connection with the characters. 600-700 pages seem short when it’s Stephen King.

Trust me, you will not regret reading Stephen King’s books.

4. David Baldacci:

I will be extremely shocked if someone hasn’t heard of the best-selling author, David Baldacci. Walking into a book store, it feels like his novels have raided all of the shelves. Baldacci is everywhere! He has a simple writing style, and stunning plots that will leave you in disbelief. I definitely recommend reading his books, in particular:

• The Atlee Pine series (4 book series)
• A Calamity of Souls

5. John Grisham:

Words fail to describe just how famous he is. In attempt to do so, his top selling book, The Firm, inspired a movie adaptation of a Tom Cruise film. I think this fact alone is a good enough reason to read this book:

• The Firm

Summary:

These are the best crime fiction authors of all time, in my opinion of course. There are so many more renowned authors in this genre, but I decided not to add too many of them to this list. There are several more articles on the net, regarding this topic, and they all include A LOT of authors. Why make life confusing?

Believe me, read any book mentioned above, and you will cherish it for the rest of your life.