Sherlock is possibly one of the most iconic fictional crime shows out there. As the series comes to an end (sadly) what better way to honor 10 years of a great show than with book recs inspired by it! Below is a list of books that fans of the show or crime enthusiasts in general would love.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The mysterious disapperance of wealthy Swedish heiress Harriet Vanger over 40 years ago is re-examined by investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist who with the help of genius hacker Lisbeth Salander aim to solve the cold case but what they find is a family history more twisted than your worst nightmares.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, rape, sexual abuse, incest, and violence.
The Corset by Laura Purcell
This is the novel that will unsettle you. The one where you feel the chill in your bones even though it isn’t cold. It follows amateur phrenologist Dorothea Truelove when her charity prison visits leads her to Ruth Butterham; a confessed murderer who admitted to killing her master seamstress. However Dorothea questions the woman’s tales: Could it be true? Is she a murderess, a mad woman, or something far deadlier?
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence, psychological and physical abuse
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Here we follow “alienist” (aka psychologist) Dr. Lazlo Kreisler, and his best friend reporter John Moore alongside NYPD’s first female secretary Sara Howard as they’ve been called to investigate the gruesome killings and mutilations of underaged boys. The dynamic between Kreisler and Moore greatly remind me that of Sherlock and Watson. (FYI You can find the TV adaptation on Netflix which I hugely recommend).
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence, pedophilia, sexual and physical abuse, rape, and gore.
The Snowman by Joe Nesbø
Okay so technically this is book 7 of the Harry Hole series; the detective crime novels that features lead detective Harry Hole. I read this as a standalone and was my introduction to Jo Nesbo’s dark thrillers. The Snowman features Hole investigating the link between a suspicious letter he received and the sudden disappearance of a woman. The case leads to a startling findings and connections to 11 other women all whom vanished on the same day.
Trigger Warnings: Murder, violence, alcohol abuse, there may have been sexual abuse I don’t remember tbh.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (Or any book of hers really)
The queen of crime fiction. Her books are the equivalent of wrapping yourself up in a cozy blanket while sipping a strong cup of tea as the autumn rain and winds rattles your windows and the fireplace caresses you with its warmth. Murder on the Orient Express follows enigmatic detective Hercule Poirot as he utilizes his unorthodox methods to solve the murder of a train passenger in plain sight aboard the Orient Express.
Trigger Warnings: Murder
