The books listed below rate 4 or 5 on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is best. My ratings are based entirely on my reading experience. I rarely finish books I would rate below 4. I will occasionally finish a mediocre-but-somehow-culturally-significant book (e.g., Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale), but will not list it. Books that have wakened me to something are listed in red.
The following lists most recently read to least.
2026
89. The Quiet American by Graham Greene (1955) Literary Fiction: Novel
88. A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
87. Silverview by John le Carré (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
86. Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley (1990) Mystery Fiction: Novel
85. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (1898) Horror, Literary Fiction: Novella (first read when I was 14 years old)
84. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (1940) Literary Fiction: Novel (first read when I was 13 years old)
83. Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett (1929) Mystery Fiction: Novel
82. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett (1934) Mystery Fiction: Novel
81. Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
80. Max and His Cats by Moacyr Scliar, English translation by Eloah F. Giacomelli (1990) Literary Fiction: Novella
79. Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler (1940) Mystery Fiction: Novel
78. Death of a Doxy (Nero Wolfe 42) by Rex Stout (1966) Mystery Fiction: Novel
77. The Lady in the Lake by Raymond Chandler (1943) Mystery Fiction: Novel
76. Daisy Miller by Henry James (1878) Literary Fiction: Novella
75. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (1955) Literary Fiction: Novel
74. The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett (1929) Mystery Fiction: Novel
73. Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
72. The Doorbell Rang (Nero Wolfe 41) by Rex Stout (1965) Thriller, Mystery Fiction: Novel
71. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
70. Flashlight by Susan Choi (2025) Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction: Novel
69. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018) Literary Fiction: Novel
68. A Right to Die (Nero Wolfe 40) by Rex Stout (1964) Mystery Fiction: Novel
67. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) Literary Fiction: Novel (frequently re-read)
66. The Missing Kidney and Other Stories by Maxine Rosaler (2025) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
65. Unless by Carol Shields (2002) Literary Fiction: Novel
64 The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead (2019) Literary / Historical Fiction: Novel
63. Trio for Blunt Instruments (Nero Wolfe 39) by Rex Stout (1963) Mystery Fiction: Three Novellas (Kill Now — Pay Later, Murder Is Corny, Blood Will Tell)
62. The Mother Hunt (Nero Wolfe 38) by Rex Stout (1963) Mystery Fiction: Novel
61. How Like a God by Rex Stout (1929) Psychological Thriller Fiction: Novel
60. Gambit (Nero Wolfe 37) by Rex Stout (1962) Mystery Fiction: Novel
59. Homicide Trinity (Nero Wolfe 36) by Rex Stout (1962) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
58. Too Many Clients (Nero Wolfe 34) by Rex Stout (1960) Mystery Fiction: Novel
57. The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson (2012) Literary Fiction: Novel
56. Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (2014) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
55. Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel (2010) Literary Fiction: Novel
54. Queen for a Day: A Novel in Stories by Maxine Rosaler (2018) Literary Fiction: Novel
53. The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
52. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2001) Literary Fiction: Novel
50. When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro (2000) Literary Fiction / Mystery Fiction: Novel
49. Three at Wolfe’s Door (Nero Wolfe 32) by Rex Stout (1958) Mystery Fiction: Novel
48. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) Science Fiction: Novel
47. MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood (2013) Speculative Fiction: Novel
46. Champagne for One (Nero Wolfe 31) by Rex Stout (1958) Mystery Fiction: Novel
45. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (2009) Speculative Fiction: Novel
44. Three for the Chair (Nero Wolfe 28) by Rex Stout (1957) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
43. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (2003) Speculative Fiction: Novel
42. The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (2025) Mystery Fiction: Novel
41. If Death Ever Slept (Nero Wolfe 29) by Rex Stout (1957) Mystery Fiction: Novel
40. The Sea by John Banville (2005) Literary Fiction: Novel
39. Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry (2022) Literary Fiction: Novel
38. Snow by John Banville (2020) Mystery Fiction: Novel
37. Might as Well be Dead (Nero Wolfe 27) by Rex Stout (1956) Mystery Fiction: Novel
36. The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life by John le Carré (2016) Nonfiction: Memoir
35. My Friends by Fredrik Backman (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
34. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (1939)
33. The March by E. L. Doctorow (2005)
32. The Long Good-Bye by Raymond Chandler (1953) Mystery/Thriller Fiction: Novel
31. Charlie’s Good Tonight: The Life, the Times, and the Rolling Stones: The Authorized Biography of Charlie Watts by Paul Sexton (2022) Nonfiction: Biography
30. Trip by Amie Barrodale (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
29. Playground by Richard Powers (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
28. Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
27. Three Witnesses (Nero Wolfe 26) by Rex Stout (1956) Mystery Fiction: Novel
26. Users by Colin Winnette (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
25. The New Iberia Blues (Dave Robicheaux 22) by James Lee Burke (2019) Mystery Fiction: Novel
24. Before Midnight (Nero Wolfe 25) by Rex Stout (1955) Mystery Fiction: Novel
23. The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides (2024) Historical Nonfiction: Book
22. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) Historical Fiction/Science Fiction: Novel
21. The Tower of the Antilles by Achy Obejas (2017) Literary Fiction/Lesbian Fiction: Short Stories
20. You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership by Jim Ferrell (2015) Nonfiction: Book
19. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
18. The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
17. The Black Mountain (Nero Wolfe 24) by Rex Stout (1954) Mystery Fiction: Novel
16. The Dark Dark by Samantha Hunt (2024) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
15. Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead (2009) Literary Fiction: Novel
14. Three Men Out (Nero Wolfe 23) by Rex Stout (1954) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
13. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
12. Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli, translated by Simon Carnell and Erica Segre (2016) Nonfiction: Book
11. Devil is Fine by John Vercher (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
10. Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
9. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2010) Literary Fiction: Novel
8. A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore (2009) Literary Fiction: Novel
7. The Deal of a Lifetime by Frederick Backman (2017) Literary Fiction: Novella
6. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) Literary Fiction: Novel
5. The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
4. The Prisoner’s Base (Nero Wolfe 21) by Rex Stout (1952) Mystery Fiction
3. Yellowface by RF Kuang (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
2. The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
1. Triple Jeopardy by Rex Stout (1952) (Nero Wolfe 20) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
2025
63. The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
62. Murder By the Book (Nero Wolfe 19) by Rex Stout (1951) Mystery Fiction
61. Does My Body Offend You? by Marya Cuevas and Marie Marquardt (2022) Young Adult Fiction: Novel
60. Absolution by Alice McDermott (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
59. Small Rain by Garth Greenwell (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
58. Curtains for Three (Nero Wolfe 18) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
57. The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
56. Call Me Zebra by Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi (2019) Literary Fiction: Novel
55. Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell (2022) Literary Fiction: Novel
54. We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin (2019) Literary Fiction: Novel
53. The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li (2022) Literary Fiction: Novel
52. The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
51. The Price of Salt aka Carol by Patricia Highsmith (1952/1994) Literary Fiction: Novel
50. See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid (2013) Literary Fiction: Novel
49. Colored Tevelevision by Danzy Senna (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
48. Improvement by Joan Silber (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
47. Miami Blues by Charles Willeford (1984) Thriller: Novel
46. Dark Side of the Moon by Sarah Wisseman (2025) Thriller: Novel
45. Caucasia by Danzy Senna (1998) Literary Fiction: Novel
44. Pick-Up by Charles Willeford (1955) Literary Fiction: Novel
43. In the Best of Families (Nero Wolfe 17) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Novel
42. Three Doors to Death (Nero Wolfe 16) by Rex Stout (1950) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
41. What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
40. Open Throat by Henry Hoke (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
39. The Guest by Emma Cline (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
38. Biography of X by Catherine Lacey (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
37 The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner (2018) Literary Fiction: Novel
36. I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
35. Witness by Jamel Brinkley (2023) Literary Fiction: Twelve Short Stories
34. The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
33. Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj (2024) Literary Fiction: Connected Short Stories
32. Wounded by Percival Everett (2005) Literary Fiction: Novel
31. The Second Confession (Nero Wolfe 15) by Rex Stout (1949) Mystery Fiction: Novel
30. Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner (2024) Literary Fiction: Novel
29. Gost Roots by Pemi Aguda (2024) Literary Fiction: Twelve Short Stories
28. Trouble in Triplicate (Nero Wolfe 14) by Rex Stout (1949) Mystery Fiction: Three Short Stories
27. And Be a Villain (Nero Wolfe 13) by Rex Stout (1948) Mystery Fiction: Novel
26. The Grey Wolfe by Louise Penny (2024) Thriller: Novel in a Series
25. The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett (1930) Noir Thriller: Novel
24. New People by Danzy Senna (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
23. Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel in a Series
22. Too Many Women (Nero Wolfe 12) by Rex Stout (1947) Mystery Fiction: Novel
21. So Much Blue by Percival Everett (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
20. Assumption by Percival Everett (2011) Literary Fiction: Novel
19. The Silent Speaker (Nero Wolfe 11) by Rex Stout (1946) Mystery Fiction: Novel
18. Not Quite Dead Enough (Nero Wolfe 10) by Rex Stout (1942) Mystery Fiction: Novel
17. The Catcher In the Rye by JD Salanger (2017) Literary Fiction: Novel
16. Telephone (version C of A-C) by Percival Everett (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
15. Black Orchids (Nero Wolfe 9) by Rex Stout (1942) Mystery Fiction: Two Novellas
14. Where There’s a Will (Nero Wolfe 8) by Rex Stout (1940) Mystery Fiction: Novel
13. Over My Dead Body (Nero Wolfe 7) by Rex Stout (1940) Mystery Fiction: Novel
12. Some Buried Ceaser (Nero Wolfe 6) by Rex Stout (1939) Mystery Fiction: Novel
11. Sea Wife by Amity Gaige (2020) Literary Fiction: Novel
10. Too Many Cooks (Nero Wolfe 5) by Rex Stout (1938) Mystery Fiction: Novel
9. The Red Box (Nero Wolfe 4) by Rex Stout (1937) Mystery Fiction: Novel
8. The Trees by Percival Everett (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
7. The Ways of White Folks by Langston Hughes (1934) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
6. The Trial (1998 Translation) by Franz Kafka (1925) Literary Fiction: Novella
5. Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward (2008) Literary Fiction: Novel
4. The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed (2021) Literary Fiction: Novel
3. North Woods by Daniel Mason (2023) Literary Fiction: Novel
2. And Four to Go (Nero Wolfe 30) by Rex Stout (1958) Mystery Fiction: Four Short Stories: Novel
1. Metamorphosis (2023 Translation) by Franz Kafka (1928) Literary Fiction: Novella
Before 2025 (alphabetical by author)
I am slowly filling in the following list in my search for books missed in my reading history.
Robert Neilson Boyd and Robert Thornton Morrison
Organic Chemistry, 3rd edition, 9th printing by Robert Neilson Boyd, Robert Thornton Morrison (1976) Text Book (frequently consulted)
Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler
Fail-Safe by Eugene Burdick, Harvey Wheeler (1962) Speculative Fiction/Thriller: Novel
Agatha Christie (featuring Poirot)
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (1926) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Partners in Crime Agatha Christie (1929) Mystery Fiction: Novel
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (1934) Mystery Fiction: Novel
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939) Mystery Fiction: Novel
The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie (1952) Mystery Fiction: Novel (attended the play in London in 1986)
F. Scott Fitzgerald
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1920) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1922) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1934) Literary Fiction: Novel
Stephen Jay Gould
The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould (1981) Nonfiction: Science
Ernest Hemingway
In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway (1925) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (1926) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (1929) Literary Fiction: Novel
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (1940) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (1952) Literary Fiction: Novel
Thor Heyerdahl
Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft by Thor Heyerdahl (1951) Nonfiction: Science and History
Patricia Highsmith
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (1955) Literary Fiction: Novel
Homer
The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles (1996) Narrative History and Myth
John le Carré
Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré (2018) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Constant Gardener by John le Carré (2001) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Looking Glass War by John le Carré (1965) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Mission Song by John le Carré (2006) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Murder of Quality by John le Carré (1962) Literary Fiction: Novel
A Perfect Spy by John le Carré (1986) Literary Fiction: Novel
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré (1963) Literary Fiction: Novel
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré (1974) Literary Fiction: Novel
Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1996) Literary Fiction: Novella
Ngaio Marsh
A Man Lay Dead (Roderick Alleyn 1) by Ngaio Marsh (1934) Mystery: Novel
Enter a Murderer (Roderick Alleyn 2) by Ngaio Marsh (1935) Mystery: Novel
The Nursing Home Murder (Roderick Alleyn 3) by Ngaio Marsh (1935) Mystery: Novel
Death in Ecstasy (Roderick Alleyn 4) by Ngaio Marsh (1936) Mystery: Novel
Vintage Murder (Roderick Alleyn 5) by Ngaio Marsh (1937) Mystery: Novel
Artists in Crime (Roderick Alleyn 6) by Ngaio Marsh (1938) Mystery: Novel
Death in a White Tie (Roderick Alleyn 7) by Ngaio Marsh (1938) Mystery: Novel
Overture to Death (Roderick Alleyn 8) Ngaio Marsh (1939) Mystery: Novel
Death at the Bar (Roderick Alleyn 9) by Ngaio Marsh (1940) Mystery: Novel
Surfeit of Lampreys (Roderick Alleyn 10) by Ngaio Marsh (1940) Mystery: Novel
Death and the Dancing Footman (Roderick Alleyn 11) by Ngaio Marsh (1941) Mystery: Novel
Colour Scheme (Roderick Alleyn 12) by Ngaio Marsh (1943) Mystery: Novel
Died in the Wool (Roderick Alleyn 13) by Ngaio Marsh (1944) Mystery: Novel
Final Curtain (Roderick Alleyn 14) by Ngaio Marsh (1947) Mystery: Novel
Swing, Brother, Swing (Roderick Alleyn 15) by Ngaio Marsh (1949) Mystery: Novel
Night at the Vulcan (Roderick Alleyn 16) by Ngaio Marsh (1951) Mystery: Novel
Spinsters in Jeopardy (Roderick Alleyn 17) by Ngaio Marsh (1953) Mystery: Novel
Scales of Justice (Roderick Alleyn 18) by Ngaio Marsh (1955) Mystery: Novel
Death of a Fool (Roderick Alleyn 19) (1956) by Ngaio Marsh (1934) Mystery: Novel
Singing in the Shrouds (Roderick Alleyn 20) by Ngaio Marsh (1958) Mystery: Novel
False Scent (Roderick Alleyn 21) by Ngaio Marsh (1959) Mystery: Novel
Hand in Glove (Roderick Alleyn 22) by Ngaio Marsh (1962) Mystery: Novel
Dead Water (Roderick Alleyn 23) by Ngaio Marsh (1963) Mystery: Novel
Death at the Dolphin (Roderick Alleyn 24) by Ngaio Marsh (1966) Mystery: Novel
Clutch of Constables (Roderick Alleyn 25) by Ngaio Marsh (1968) Mystery: Novel
When in Rome (Roderick Alleyn 26) by Ngaio Marsh (1968) Mystery: Novel
Tied Up in Tinsel (Roderick Alleyn 27) by Ngaio Marsh (1972) Mystery: Novel
Black As He’s Painted (Roderick Alleyn 28) by Ngaio Marsh (1974) Mystery: Novel
Last Ditch (Roderick Alleyn 29) by Ngaio Marsh (1976) Mystery: Novel
A Grave Mistake (Roderick Alleyn 30) by Ngaio Marsh (1978) Mystery: Novel
Photo Finish (Roderick Alleyn 31) by Ngaio Marsh (1980) Mystery: Novel
Light Thickens (Roderick Alleyn 32) by Ngaio Marsh (1982) Mystery: Novel
James A. Michener
Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener (1947) Literary Fiction: Short Stories
Barbara Paul
The Renewable Virgin (Marian Larch Mysteries, #1) by Barbara Paul (1984) Mystery: Novel
He Huffed and He Puffed (Marian Larch Mysteries, #2) by Barbara Paul (1989) Mystery: Novel
Armstrong Sperry
Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry (1940) Children’s Adventure Literature: Novella
Barbara W. Tuchman
The Zimmermann Telegram: America Enters the War, 1917-1918 by Barbara Tuchman (1958) Historical Nonfiction: Book
The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman (1962) Historical Nonfiction: Book
The Proud Tower: A Portrait of the World before the War, 1890-1914 by Barbara Tuchman (1966) Historical Nonfiction: Book
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century by Barbara Tuchman (1971) Historical Nonfiction: Book
The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam by Barbara Tuchman (1984) Historical Nonfiction: Book
John Updike
Rabbit, Run by John Updike (1960) literary Fiction: Novel
Rabbit Is Rich by John Updike (1981) literary Fiction: Novel
Rabbit at Rest by John Updike (1990) literary Fiction: Novel