Books like The Great Detectives by Julian Symons


Julian Symons guides readers through the basements of detective lore, offering amusing and revealing anecdotes about iconic sleuths such as Miss Marple, Archie Goodwin, Nero Wolfe, Poirot and Ellery Queen. He dissects the myths and unearths previously undocumented case histories, making the book a must‑read for seasoned aficionados while serving as an engaging introduction for newcomers. Symons presents his research in a readable, anecdotal style, inviting readers to walk St. Mary Mead with the vicar, quiz Goodwin in his den, and uncover the truth behind Poirot’s career. The book blends humor with scholarly insight, giving readers an authentic look at the detectives that have shaped English mystery literature.
First publish date: 1981
Genre: Mystery & Detective/Private Investigator
Authors: Julian Symons
0.0 (0 community ratings)

The Great Detectives by Julian Symons

How are these books recommended?

The books recommended for The Great Detectives by Julian Symons are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.


Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.

Books similar to The Great Detectives (10 similar books)

The Hound of the Baskervilles by 5902998|Arthur Conan Doyle book cover

📘 The Hound of the Baskervilles

Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective tale follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they investigate the legend of an undead hound on Dartmoor, revealing secrets that threaten a family’s legacy.

3.9 (48 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The Complete Sherlock Holmes [4 novels, 56 stories] by 5902998|Arthur Conan Doyle book cover

📘 The Complete Sherlock Holmes [4 novels, 56 stories]

A complete anthology of Sherlock Holmes, featuring four classic novels and 56 short stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Includes famous cases such as 'A Study in Scarlet,' 'The Hound of the Baskervilles,' and the 'Return of Sherlock Holmes.'

4.5 (44 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The Maltese Falcon by 7123380|Dashiell Hammett book cover

📘 The Maltese Falcon

Hard‑boiled detective Sam Spade races to recover a priceless, gem‑encrusted statuette while double‑crosses and danger creep from every corner.

3.4 (31 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The Moonstone by 6566222|Wilkie Collins book cover

📘 The Moonstone

A pioneering English detective story in which a priceless diamond, once stolen from a Hindu idol and presented to a young woman on her eighteenth birthday, disappears again, sparking intrigue and danger.

4.0 (21 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The Woman in White by 6566222|Wilkie Collins book cover

📘 The Woman in White

Walter Hartright, a drawing master, becomes entangled with Laura Fairlie, Sir Percival Glyde, and the scheming Count Fosco as questions of identity and madness intertwine in 19th‑century England.

3.9 (18 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The Black Dahlia by 8393825|James Ellroy book cover

📘 The Black Dahlia

James Ellroy’s hard‑boiled crime novel follows detectives as they unravel Los Angeles’s darkest mystery, the unsolved murder of the Black Dahlia, blending gritty police work with atmospheric noir.

3.8 (16 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The World of Sherlock Holmes by 2126551|Michael Harrison book cover

📘 The World of Sherlock Holmes

> A triumph of dedicated detective work, set against the romantic nostalgic splendor of Victorian England, *The World of Sherlock Holmes* reveals a wealth of unsuspected facts about the master sleuth. What was the scandal involving Queen Victoria's son and grandson? Why did Holmes visit the United States, and what did he do for Vanderbilt? Why did he remain silent about the identity of Jack the Ripper? What was the secret of the Vatican cameos? Why did the kings of Denmark, Sweden and Holland, the Sultan of Turkey, the Czar of Russia and the President of the United States confer on Sherlock Holmes their countries' highest decorations? >Mr. Harrison also sheds new light on Holmes' youth, including the unusual nature of his university career, his brilliant achievements at the top level of Victorian diplomacy and his close and curious relations with the Britsh crown.

2.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple by 9061168|Anne Hart book cover

📘 The Life and Times of Miss Jane Marple
 by Anne Hart

An authorised biography that charts Miss Jane Marple’s over‑four‑decade career, exploring the mysteries she solved in St Mary Mead, London and beyond.

4.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Great Detectives by 6750510|Ray Bradbury book cover

📘 Great Detectives

A collection of classic detective stories featuring star sleuths from the 20th century, including Dashiell Hammett's 'The Sam Spade stories' and Dorothy L. Sayers's 'The Invisible Man'.

3.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana by 802924|Jack Tracy book cover

📘 The Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana
 by Jack Tracy

>This widely acclaimed encyclopaedia - complete with full biographies of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, John H. Watson, and Professor Moriarty - examines every facet of Holmes' universe and will be enjoyed with equal pleasure by dyed-in-the-wool Sherlockians and unsuspecting newcomers to the cozy warmth of 221B Baker Street.

0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0

Some Other Similar Books

The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
The Whodunit Casebook by Martin Edwards

Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!

Please login to submit books!