The Postman Always Rings Twice (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard)

First published in 1934, this roman noir follows an amoral young tramp who becomes entangled with a beautiful, sullen woman married to an inconvenient husband. Their illicit relationship and the couple’s plan to solve that problem pivot on a single grisly solution that triggers further complications. The novel was banned in Boston for its explosive mixture of violence and eroticism and served as the basis for the acclaimed 1946 film. Albert Camus acknowledged the book as a model for The Stranger, marking its influence on twentieth century literature.