3 Great Noir Books From 2020

Few genres have the longevity or the breadth within crime fiction than noir—from the hardboiled classics of yesteryear to the dazzling modern interpretations showcased here. These three books are amongst the best noir titles from 2020 you can snap up now!

Louise Candlish-The Other Passenger

One of the hottest trends in mystery fiction is ‘domestic noir’—and there are few better exponents of this than Louise Candlish, and her most recent book ‘The Other Passenger’ is no exception. Set in London’s Docklands, with archetypal millennial couple Jamie, a barista, and Clare, an estate agent—only for their lives to unravel when they strike up a friendship with a charismatic couple, one of whom disappears.

The Lady Upstairs-Halley Sutton

A timely and exhilarating affair—one that embroils all the corrupt and twisted power machinations of Hollywood in classic noir fashion, with a sharp modern feminist edge on things. When a young con artist stumbles onto a murder plot, she soon finds herself the target of powerful enemies, but can she work her way out from under their thumb? Read to find out.

Blacktop Wasteland-S.A Cosby

Catapulted into popular consciousness by the likes of Fargo and True Detective, rural noir has become a genre tradition all unto itself, and this masterpiece from S.A Cosby is sure to go down as one of the classics. Set in the sweltering heat of North Carolina, this is an unflinching look at the cost of capitalism and class, as well as a pacy thriller that never lets up.

No matter what mystery gets your mind racing, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at Plottake, click through to find the best mystery and thriller books to download today!

Quotes on Mystery Fiction form the greatest crime fiction novelists

Here are some great quotes on mystery fiction from some of the greatest crime fiction novelists ever.

“The crime novel is the great moral literature of our time.” – JEAN-PATRICK MANCHETTE

“Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it’s a letdown, they won’t buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book.” – MICKEY SPILLANE

 

“To be honest, I have never thought highly of detective novels, and I rather regret that you, too, write them…. I don’t even mean the fact that your criminals are always brought to justice. It’s nice fairy tale and probably morally necessary….No, what really bothers me about your novels is the story line, the plot. There the lying just takes over, it’s shameless. You set up your stories logically, like a chess game: here’s the criminal, there’s the victim, here’s an accomplice, there’s a beneficiary; and all the detective needs to know is the rules, he replays the moves of the game, and checkmate, the criminal is caught and justice has triumphed. This fantasy drives me crazy. You can’t come to grips with reality by logic alone.” – FRIEDRICH DÜRRENMATT

“Detective stories have nothing to do with works of art.” – W.H. AUDEN

“The conventional view of mysteries, as explained by Auden, for example, is as an essentially conservative genre. A crime disturbs the status quo; we readers get to enjoy the transgressive thrill, then observe approvingly as the detective, agent of social order, sets things right at the end. We finish our coca and tuck ourselves in, safe and sound….But what this theory fails to take into account is the next book, the next murder, and the next. When you line up all the Poirots, all the Maigrets, all the Lew Archers and Matt Scudders, what you get is something far stranger and more familiar: a world where mysterious destructive forces are constantly erupting and where all solutions are temporary, slight pauses during which we take a breath before the next case.” – DAVID GORDON

“I’ve been as bad an influence on American literature as anyone I can think of.” – DASHIELL HAMMETT

“[Dashiell Hammett’s] The Glass Key is better than anything Hemingway ever wrote.” – REX STOUT

“A detective novel should contain no long descriptive passages, no literary dallying with side-issues, no subtly worked-out character analyses, no ‘atmospheric’ preoccupations. Such matters have no vital place in a record of crime and deduction. They hold up the action and introduce issues irrelevant to the main purpose, which is to state a problem, analyze it, and bring it to a successful conclusion. To be sure, there must be a sufficient descriptiveness and character delineation to give the novel verisimilitude.” – S.S. VAN DINE

For more mystery, head on over to www.plottake.com today.

Incredible Real-Life Libraries You’ll Definitely Want to Visit

If you love to read, the local library is always a bit of a special place, even if the setting is unspectacular. However, if you venture outside Canada you’ll find some libraries which really are out of this world. Here are some incredible real-life libraries that you’ll definitely want to visit.

Trinity College Library, Dublin

This library wouldn’t look out of place at Hogwarts with its beautiful high-arched ceiling and multiple floors. It serves two universities and dates back to when the first university, Trinity College, was created in 1592. As well as the 200,000 books it contains, it’s decorated with period marble busts and includes the stunning 213-foot “Long Room”. Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, studied here too which has undoubtedly contributed to the many rumored ghost sightings.

King Fahd National Library, Riyadh

There’s arguably no other modern library that’s as striking as this one in Saudi Arabia. A fabric covering protects the interior from the glare of the harsh desert sun without blocking out any of the light. During the night, a soothing light show is played on the fabric which has earned the nickname of “Riyadh’s cultural lighthouse”.

Taipei Public Library, Beitou

Located in Taiwan, this modern library is an eco-friendly endeavor, protecting the planet while still offering a relaxing setting to read. Sited within Beitou Park in Beitou Hot Spring, it’s made completely from sustainable wood and also relies on solar power for electricity. Rainfall is caught and recycled, and there are glorious large windows which let in natural sunlight.

There are many other stunning library settings in the world, if you’re ever planning a trip, but while you’re at home you can still enjoy a great choice of books. Check out www.plottake.com for online books and other entertainment you can indulge in at any time of the day or night.