11 Contemporary Detective Novels You Need to Read

While we love Sherlock Holmes as much as the next mystery fan—promise—sometimes you want to dive into a bold new case of contemporary detective fiction. For one thing, there’s an added layer of complexity to mysteries set in the present, where advanced technology affects every aspect of an investigation. From forensic analysis to instantaneous communication, our fast-paced world can create puzzling situations that weren’t previously possible. Then there’s the deep-rooted societal problems that are teased out in contemporary detective fiction. Though corruption, misogyny, and other injustices are nothing new, seeing these issues play out in a time and place that’s familiar to us makes them feel even more urgent.