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Home › What to Read

Hard Boiled Novels, Characters, & Authors

What do we mean by hard boiled? While there is no definitive answer and reviewers, authors, and readers may not agree on what is or is not “hard boiled,” it is generally accepted that:

Hard boiled is a style of writing that originated in early 20th century America. Typically, the setting is urban, grim, and gritty. The author writes unsentimentally (and often graphically) about violence and sex. Moral corruption is pervasive and the stories revolve around crime.

This list is not comprehensive, but rather a sampling of recent “hard boiled” novels, as described in the Library catalog or other sources. Titles are listed first. The names of the main character(s) are in italics, followed by the name of the author. For more hard boiled suggestions, Ask Readers Services!

Krapp’s Last Cassette Quinn, Seattle PI, Anne Argula Saturday’s Child Cal Innes, Ray Banks Sinner’s Ball Jackson “Jake” Steeg, Ira Berkowitz Sanctuary PI Jack Taylor, Ken Bruen
The Glass Rainbow Dave Robicheaux, James Lee Burke Day One Skin Kadash, Bill Cameron Luck of the Draw Deke Durgess, Anthony J. Cardieri Red Jade Jack Yu, Henry Chang
61 Hours Jack Reacher, Lee Child Nobody’s Angel Chicago cabbie Eddie Miles, Jack Clark Long Lost Myron Bolitar, Harlan Coben The Reapers Charlie Parker, John Connolly
Noir Philip M. Noir, Robert Coover Amberville Eric Bear, Tim Davys Babylon Nights David Spandau, Daniel Depp Bad Things Happen Loogan and Waishkey, Harry Dolan
Cape Disappointment Thomas Black, Earl Emerson Blood’s a Rover Dwight Holly, James Ellroy Gas City Russell & Zeno, Loren D. Estleman Sick Like That Alessandra “Al” Martillo, Norman Green
Silencer Thorn, James W. Hall Bones of the Rain: A Blue-Eyed Indian Mystery Travis Treegrow, Russ Hall The Third Rail Chicago PI Michael Kelly, Michael Harvey Jack Wakes Up Jack Palms, Seth Harwood
Cemetery Road Errol “Handy” White, Gar Anthony Haywood Blood Ties Noah Bishop, Kay Hooper The Taking of Libbie, SD Rushmore “Mac” McKenzie, David Housewright The Stone Gallows Cameron Stone, C. David Ingram
Voyeur Remer, D. Daniel Judson Hangman Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus, Faye Kellerman Dead Man’s Share Inspector Brahim Llob, Yasmina Khadra Crystal Death Conor Bard, Charles Kipps
This Wicked World Ex-con Jimmy Boone, Richard Lange Moonlight Mile Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro, Dennis Lehane Snakes Can’t Run Robert Chow, Ed Lin Blind Eye Logan McRae, Stuart MacBride
The Good Son J. McNee, Russel D. McLean Asia Hand Vincent Calvino, Christopher Moore Coming Back Sharon McCone, Marcia Muller Londongrad Artie Cohen, Reggie Nadelson
The Ghosts of Belfast Gerry Fegan, Stuart Neville Body Work Chicago PI V.I. Warshawski, Sara Paretsky Painted Ladies Spenser, Robert B. Parker Storm Prey Lucas Davenport, John Sandford
On the Nickel Jack Liffey, John Shannon Naked Moon Dante Mancuso, Domenic Stansberry Gone ‘Til November Billy Flynn & Sara Cross, Wallace Stroby Snow Angels Inspector Kari Vaara, James Thompson Killer Ex-con Leonard March, Dave Zeltserman