Rum Punch, by Elmore Leonard
No one writes dialogue like Elmore Leonard, and his novels are mostly that: characters speaking. And doing things that are either dangerous or stupid or both. Leonard’s books were a revelation to me as I was learning to become a writer. I learned so much about how to write in scenes, about descriptions (keep them short), about how the characters are the plot. Rum Punch was filmed as Jackie Brown by Quentin Tarantino. I love the film too. Also, the good guys win…
Miami Blues, by Charles Willeford
I recently reread this one and was delighted to remember how good it really is. The main character, detective Hoke Moseley, is about as far as you can get from, say, Jack Reacher, with his false teeth and all, but he is somehow very sympathetic. But we also come to understand why the psychopath Freddie Fringer Jr is the way he is, even if we don’t necessarily agree with his actions and words. The humour is very dark but somehow true to life. And Miami really comes alive in the novel.
A Snowball in Hell, by Christopher Brookmyre
Chris Brookmyre can write anything from science fiction to historical suspense. I chose this book because it’s the first of his books that I read. Almost twenty years ago I was in London, and I just happened to see this book in a bookshop and picked it up. It turned out to be one of those moments where, as a beginning (published) writer, you go, ‘Okay, so you can do this in a book, too’. As I remember, it’s about the celebrity culture, the getting-famous obsession, and in that way, quite ahead of its time.
The Ax, by Donald E. Westlake
The darkest of dark comedies. And one of my all-time favourite crime novels. Burke Devore, a mild-mannered family man, is laid off and, in deepest desperation, concludes that he will do anything to find another job – even if it means killing those competing for the same position. Literally. The Ax originally came out in 1997, but, really, seems to be as timely as ever. Westlake has written many brilliant crime comedies, but this is my favourite.
The Winter of Frankie Machine, by Don Winslow
Not really a crime comedy, let alone a funny book, but Winslow’s style is unique and has that swing. There are comedic moments and episodes and pieces of dialogue, but this is more a straightforward crime novel than the others on the list. Frank Macchiato is a retired hitman and enjoys surfing until one day the past comes knocking – and stuff happens. A great crime novel written with a great narrative style.
Antti Tuomainen is the author of the dark, audaciously funny thriller The Fresh Cut, winner of Finnish Crime Novel of the Year, translated by David Hackston, and published by Orenda Books on 5th November 2026.
