The History of Mystery

I previously recapped and ranked after reviewing the first dozen Edgar Winners, as of 1965, coming up with The Spy who Came in from the Cold as #1. It still is the best so far of the first 25. But we have a new #2, as far as I am concerned, with the classic translated from the Swedish, The Laughing Policeman. The year refers to the year of the award, not the year of publication. Tell me if you disagree.

#1. The Spy who Came in from the Cold – John LeCarre (1965)

#2. The Laughing Policeman – Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo (1971)

#3. Beat not the Bones – Margaret Jay (1954)

#4. The Light of Day – Eric Ambler (1964)

#5. Day of the Jackal – Frederick Forsyth (1972)

#6. The Quiller Memorandum – Adam Hall (1966)

#7. Catch me, Kill me – William Hallahan (1978)

#8. The Eighth Circle – Stanley Ellin (1959)

#9. Gideon’s Fire – J. J. Marric (1961)

#10. Beast in View – Margaret Millar (1956)