The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
Set on the eve of World War I, the novel follows an ordinary man who becomes entangled in a dangerous plot after a mysterious stranger shows up at his apartment, claiming to be a spy. When the stranger is murdered, the protagonist is falsely accused and becomes a fugitive, fleeing to the Scottish highlands. He must unravel a conspiracy of international espionage and prevent a political assassination to clear his name.
The 421st greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1915
- Nationality
- British
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 100-200
- Words
- 60,988
- Original Language
- English
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 20th on The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time (Crime Writers' Association)
- 22nd on The Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time (Mystery Writers of America)
- 44th on The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List (The Observer)
- 51st on Top 100 Killer Thrillers (NPR)
- 138th on The Big Read (BBC)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- The Best Classics (The Times)
- 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)