Best European Crime Novels (2026): 5 Compared

A reader who just finished a European detective series always asks what to try next, and the best european crime novels here all start at the beginning of their series. We compared series openers set in Naples, Paris, the Italian Alps and Göteborg, by stated pages, series position, reading age and publisher. Every detail below comes from the Amazon listings.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	I Will Have Vengeance by de Giovanni	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Pietr the Latvian by Simenon	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Black Run by Manzini	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
4	The Murderer's Ape by Wegelius	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Detective Inspector Huss by Tursten	9.4/10	Buy on Amazon

1

I Will Have Vengeance by de Giovanni

Maurizio de Giovanni·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of the Commissario Ricciardi Mysteries, set in 1931 Naples; the listing gives a reading age of 18 years and up.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 10 in the Commissario Ricciardi Mysteries, a clear series start
• Reading age 18 years and up stated
• 1931 Naples setting, per the description

Cons

• No page count stated
• Description includes a murder and visions of violent deaths
• 2012 publication date, an older edition

2

Pietr the Latvian by Simenon

Georges Simenon·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of the Inspector Maigret series, 176 pages, for readers starting the classic French procedural at the beginning.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 75: the start of the long Inspector Maigret series
• 176 pages stated
• 2025 publication date stated

Cons

• No reading age or grade level stated
• Description centers on a confidence man and hidden crimes
• Part of a 75-book series, a long commitment if it hooks you

3

Black Run by Manzini

Antonio Manzini·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of the Rocco Schiavone Mysteries, a 2015 reprint edition, for readers who want a crotchety Roman detective exiled to the Italian Alps.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 4 Rocco Schiavone Mysteries
• 2015 reprint edition stated
• Publisher Harper stated

Cons

• No page count stated
• Opens with a body found on a ski run, per the description
• No reading age or grade level stated

4

The Murderer's Ape by Wegelius

Jakob Wegelius·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 640-page illustrated mystery adventure for readers 9 to 12; the listing gives grade level 4 to 7.

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Pros

• 640 pages stated, the longest book here
• Reading age 9 to 12 years and grade level 4 to 7 stated
• Illustrated in black and white throughout, per the description

Cons

• A children's adventure among adult crime novels; weaker fit for this list
• No series position stated
• A character is falsely convicted of murder, per the description

5

Detective Inspector Huss by Tursten

Helene Tursten·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of the Inspector Huss series, set in Göteborg, for readers who want Swedish procedural crime; no page count is stated.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 8 Inspector Huss series
• Publisher Soho and 2004 publication date stated
• Göteborg setting, per the description

Cons

• No page count stated
• Description includes street gangs and neo-Nazis, per the listing
• No reading age or grade level stated

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More picks to compare

• City of Good Death by LloydSuits readers who want a Catalan detective hunting a serial killer in Girona.Check on Amazon
• Eider by NovakSuits readers who want an Icelandic crime novel set in Hafnarfjörður.Check on Amazon
• La Casa Senza Nome by CelaniSuits readers of Italian who want an Italian-language crime novel.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 23 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. A reading age or grade level is stated for the de Giovanni and Wegelius listings. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best european crime novels

Start at the series beginning

Each pick except The Murderer’s Ape is listed as Book 1 of its series. Starting at Book 1 matters most for Maigret, listed as Book 1 of 75.

Check the reading age

I Will Have Vengeance states 18 years and up, while The Murderer’s Ape states 9 to 12 years and grade level 4 to 7. The Simenon, Manzini and Tursten listings state no reading age. Match the age line to the reader before buying, and see our crime detective series list for more series starters.

Mind the edition date

Publication dates here run from May 1, 2004 for Detective Inspector Huss to September 10, 2024 for The Murderer’s Ape, with a 2015 reprint edition for Black Run. An older date does not mean an older story, but it tells you which printing you are buying. For more noir, browse our crime books of all time list.

Before you buy

• Check the series position; each pick is listed as Book 1 except The Murderer’s Ape, which states none.
• Match the reading age to the reader: only the de Giovanni and Wegelius listings state one.
• Confirm the edition date; the Manzini listing names a 2015 reprint edition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start the Inspector Maigret series?

The listing places Pietr the Latvian as Book 1 of 75 in the Inspector Maigret series.

Which of these books state a reading age?

I Will Have Vengeance states 18 years and up. The Murderer’s Ape states 9 to 12 years with grade level 4 to 7. The others state no reading age.

Which book here is the longest?

The Murderer’s Ape states 640 pages and Pietr the Latvian states 176 pages. The others state no page count.

Still deciding? Our top pickI Will Have Vengeance by de Giovanni

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