Adam Sternbergh's 6 favorite crime novels that double as great literature

The culture editor of The New York Times Magazine recommends crime titles that deliver a little extra

Sternbergh

The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead (Anchor, $15). Alternate realities, conspiracies and cover-ups, and elevator repair: What more could you want from a novel? Whitehead's debut is the fantastic (and fantastical) story of Lila Mae Watson, a young black elevator repairwoman whose quest to unravel a mysterious crash doubles as a soaring allegory about race.

Nobody Move by Denis Johnson (Picador, $14). A crackling caper from an author better known for the seminal short story collection Jesus' Son and the National Book Award winner Tree of Smoke. Nobody Move is loaded with familiar noir figures, each given a delirious twist. A gambling barbershop-quartet member, a dangerous debt-collector, a booze-brined bombshell — all are loosed in a lyric poem of sour despair that's also laugh-out-loud funny.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us