The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (Oxford, $13). The founding text for my whole genre. It’s all there—deduction, forensics, intelligence, action, the flawed hero, the balance of plot and character. Twelve seminal stories, including “The Red–Headed League” and “The Engineer’s Thumb.” Want to know where Law & Order and CSI came from? Read on!
The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler (Vintage, $14). Like hearing from Conan Doyle’s American cousin 50 years later ..… our genre’s other bookend. Sherlock Holmes has morphed into Philip Marlowe. All the Marlowe books are great, but this tale of the hapless Terry Lennox mixes great humanity with world–weary cynicism. Style, wit, grace, a seminal hero, and some of the loveliest writing ever committed to paper.
Sophie’s Choice by William Styron (Vintage, $15). One of the greatest–ever American novels, Southern novels, New York novels, European novels, World War II novels, suspense novels, fast reads, and languid reads all wrapped up in one stunning package. An achievement that may never be matched.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (Anchor, $14). A story of a dystopian future that makes you think, and choose, and then proves you wrong, whoever you thought you were. Educationally, it’s like four years of college in two days. This kind of book is what our brains were invented for.
The Good German by Joseph Kanon (St. Martin’s, $8). I was already a fan of Kanon’s books—suspense thrillers set against significant periods of recent history—when I met him years ago in L.A. We agreed that Berlin immediately after World War II was possibly the greatest dramatic backdrop. Imagine my delight when this book came out. Great atmosphere, great story, worth reading for either one. That you get both together is a bonus.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
-
French finances: what’s behind country’s debt problem?The Explainer Political paralysis has led to higher borrowing costs and blocked urgent deficit-reducing reforms to social protection
-
Climate change is getting under our skinUnder the radar Skin conditions are worsening because of warming temperatures
-
Sudoku hard: October 14, 2025The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetimeFeature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
-
Lou Berney’s 6 favorite books with powerful storytellingFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Dorothy B. Hughes, James McBride, and more
-
Elizabeth Gilbert’s favorite books about women overcoming difficultiesFeature The author recommends works by Tove Jansson, Lauren Groff, and more
-
Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imaginationFeature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
-
Jessica Francis Kane's 6 favorite books that prove less is moreFeature The author recommends works by Penelope Fitzgerald, Marie-Helene Bertino, and more
-
Keith McNally's 6 favorite books that have ambitious charactersFeature The London-born restaurateur recommends works by Leo Tolstoy, John le Carré, and more
-
Garrett Graff's 6 favorite books that shine new light on World War IIFeature The author recommends works by James D. Hornfischer, Craig L. Symonds, and more
-
Helen Schulman's 6 favorite collections of short storiesFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Raymond Carver, James Baldwin, and more
