Here are the choices of Nero Wolfe creator Rex Stout for the ten best detective stories (qtd. in Vincent Starrett, Books and Bipeds [New York: Argus, 1947] 82):The Moonstone (Wilkie Collins, 1868)
The Maltese Falcon (Dashiell Hammett, 1930)
The Benson Murder Case (S. S. Van Dine [Willard Huntington Wright], 1926)
The Documents in the Case (Dorothy L. Sayers and Robert Eustace [Eustace Robert Barton], 1930)
The Innocence of Father Brown (G. K. Chesterton, 1911)
Call Mr. Fortune (H. C. Bailey, 1920)
The Bellamy Trial (Frances [Newbold] Noyes Hart, 1927)
The Cask (Freeman Wills Crofts, 1920)
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie, 1926)
Lament for a Maker (Michael Innes [J. I. M. Stewart], 1938)
2 comments:
Looks like every major mystery writer of the era had to device his/her own list of all-time best detective stories; Rex's I think is one of the few that stand the test of time as most of the items still ring a bell today and are currently in print. Also there are some surprises, as I'd never thought Stout to be a fan of Father Brown - also, where is Sherlock?
I find such lists interesting, and they always beef up my "to be read" stack. Considering Stout wrote the classic essay "Watson Was a Woman," I believe he has a healthy respect (or sense of humor) about Holmes.
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