Revenge Novels: Best Read Cold ‹ CrimeReads

Books about wronged characters and wicked revenge

Top 10 books about revenge | Books | The Guardian

Top 10 Great Books About Revenge - About Great Books

Nineteen-year-old Edmond Dantès is on the brink of a blissful life — a soon-to-be ship captain, engaged to the lovely Mercédès, and adored by almost everyone in his circle. But his seemingly perfect life stokes the embers of envy among a group of his acquaintances. Danglars, Fernand Mondego, and Caderousse, resentful of Dantès's successes and happiness, conspire against him, accusing him of treason. Although innocent of political involvement, Dantès is arrested on his wedding day due to a favor he had done for his deceased captain — carrying a letter from Napoleon to Bonapartist sympathizers in Paris. Even as the deputy public prosecutor, Villefort, sees through the plot against Dantès and plans to free him, a revelation about the recipient of Napoleon’s letter being Villefort’s father leads to Dantès's life sentence at the notorious Château d’If.

In prison, Dantès befriends Abbé Faria, an intellectual priest imprisoned for his political views. Faria becomes Dantès's mentor, educating him in various fields and revealing the location of a vast treasure on Monte Cristo island. Upon Faria's death, Dantès manages to escape, disguises himself as the deceased priest, and is thrown into the sea, from where he swims to freedom. He then locates the treasure and, believing it's a divine gift for vindication, embarks on a mission of retribution against those who wronged him. Under the guise of Abbé Busoni, he learns that his father died of grief, Mercédès married Fernand, and his accusers are living prosperous lives in Paris. He also saves his former employer, Morrel, from financial ruin, and rewards Caderousse, who regrets his part in Dantès’s downfall.

A decade passes, and Dantès re-emerges in Rome as the enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo. Leveraging his knowledge gathered over the years, he meticulously sets a revenge plot in motion against Danglars, Mondego, and Villefort. Dantès exposes Mondego's treachery, which leads to his suicide; he manipulates Madame de Villefort's murderous tendencies, resulting in multiple deaths and Villefort's insanity; and he exploits Danglars's greed, leaving him destitute. Meanwhile, Dantès also ensures the happiness of Maximilian Morrel, the son of his kind shipowner, by saving his betrothed, Valentine Villefort, from her murderous stepmother and orchestrating their reunion. Finally, Dantès himself finds love and happiness with the beautiful Haydée.


The Count of Monte Cristo

El Conde de Monte Cristo

In the frosty winter season of 1801, a gentleman named Lockwood rents a grand estate, Thrushcross Grange, located in the secluded moorland of England. He encounters his stern landlord, Heathcliff, a prosperous gentleman residing in the nearby old manor, Wuthering Heights. Lockwood solicits his housekeeper, Nelly Dean, to relate the intriguing tale of Heathcliff and the peculiar inhabitants of the Heights. As a young servant at the Heights, Nelly recalls the owner, Mr. Earnshaw, bringing home an orphan boy, Heathcliff, who is initially detested by Earnshaw's children, Hindley and Catherine. However, Catherine soon forms a close bond with Heathcliff, leading to her father favoring Heathcliff over Hindley, who is sent away for education.

With Mr. Earnshaw's passing, Hindley inherits the Heights, returning with a wife, Frances, and an intent of retribution on Heathcliff, who finds himself reduced to the position of a common worker. Despite this, Heathcliff and Catherine maintain their relationship until a visit to the Grange leads to Catherine being bitten by a dog and staying at Grange to recover. During her stay, Mrs. Linton grooms Catherine into a proper young lady, which results in Catherine's infatuation with Edgar Linton. Following Frances's death and Hindley's descent into alcoholism and abusive behavior towards Heathcliff, Catherine chooses social status over love and becomes engaged to Edgar, prompting Heathcliff to leave. 

Heathcliff, now wealthy, returns after three years to exact revenge on those who wronged him. He cunningly lends money to the alcoholic Hindley, leading him further into debt and despondency. After Hindley's demise, Heathcliff inherits the Heights and also targets the Grange by marrying Isabella Linton. Following Catherine's death after childbirth, Heathcliff's obsession with her grows, while Isabella escapes to London with their son, Linton. Years later, Heathcliff forces Catherine's daughter, Cathy, to marry Linton. Heathcliff's devious plan comes to fruition as he gains control of both the Heights and the Grange after the death of Edgar and Linton. The tale ends with Cathy falling in love with Hareton, Heathcliff's obsession with Catherine's memory leading to his death, and Cathy and Hareton inheriting both estates and planning to marry.

Wuthering Heights

Cumbres Borrascosas

Gone Girl

Perdida

In the frosty gloom of a Danish fortress, a specter resembling the freshly deceased king is spotted by guards and a scholar named Horatio. Upon being shown the apparition, the late king's son, Prince Hamlet, is informed that his father's soul is trapped, having been murdered by his brother Claudius, who now sits on the throne and is wed to Gertrude, the widowed queen. The phantom assigns Hamlet the task of avenging his death and then vanishes.

Hamlet takes on this mission, but his reflective character causes him to hesitate, resulting in his descent into profound sadness and seeming insanity. Claudius and Gertrude are troubled by the prince’s unpredictable behavior and try to unearth its roots. They enlist his friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to monitor him. When Polonius, the pretentious Lord Chamberlain, theorizes that Hamlet's madness stems from love for his daughter, Ophelia, Claudius agrees to eavesdrop on a conversation between them. A group of actors arrive at the castle, and Hamlet orchestrates a performance mirroring the murder he presumes his uncle committed. When the simulated murder is enacted, Claudius abruptly exits, confirming his guilt to Hamlet and Horatio.

In a room belonging to his mother, where Polonius is secretly hiding, Hamlet mistakenly kills the Lord Chamberlain, believing him to be the king. For this, Hamlet is exiled to England, but unbeknownst to him, Claudius has ordered his execution upon arrival. After her father's death, Ophelia succumbs to madness and tragically drowns. Claudius manipulates Laertes, Ophelia's brother, into believing Hamlet is the cause of their family's misfortunes and plans a fencing match with a poisoned blade to ensure Hamlet’s demise. However, the scheme backfires, resulting in multiple deaths, including Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, and ultimately, Hamlet himself. The Norwegian prince, Fortinbras, arrives to find the royal family dead and assumes control of the kingdom, while Horatio recounts the tragic tale of Hamlet.

Hamlet

Living in the marshlands of Kent as an orphan with his sister and her husband, Pip one day finds himself being ordered by a menacing escaped convict to fetch him food and a tool for his shackles. Though Pip nervously complies, the convict is recaptured but shields Pip by claiming he stole the items himself. Then, Pip starts visiting Satis House, the residence of the bizarre, aristocratic Miss Havisham, who permanently wears her bridal dress and has halted all her clocks. It's here he meets the aloof Estella, who despite her cold demeanor, captivates Pip, triggering dreams of wealth and refinement to win her over. However, his dreams shatter when he is assigned to become a laborer under Miss Havisham's instruction.

Discontented, Pip works under his blacksmith brother-in-law, Joe, while being tormented by the spiteful laborer, Orlick. Pip's sister, Mrs. Joe, is violently assaulted, leaving her a mute invalid, with Orlick being Pip's prime suspect. Suddenly, a lawyer named Jaggers brings an unexpected revelation of a mystery benefactor who wishes Pip to be educated as a gentleman in London. Elated, Pip presumes Miss Havisham to be his benefactor, with the intention of him marrying Estella. In London, Pip befriends Herbert Pocket and studies under his father, Matthew Pocket, while also aiding Herbert with his business. Pip's life takes another turn when his convict from years ago, Magwitch, appears, revealing that he is Pip's actual benefactor, touched by Pip's past kindness.

Shocked yet morally obliged, Pip assists Magwitch in evading the London police and Compeyson, Magwitch's ex-accomplice. Pip discovers that not only was Compeyson the man who jilted Miss Havisham, but Estella is also Magwitch's daughter, raised to break men's hearts as Miss Havisham's revenge for her own heartbreak. Eventually, Pip starts to see the goodness in Magwitch and cares for him. After Miss Havisham's accident that leaves her bedridden, Pip and his friends plan to spirit away Magwitch. However, their plan is thwarted by the police, and Pip loses his fortune as Magwitch dies. After being nursed back to health by his brother-in-law Joe and hearing about the recent happenings back home, Pip decides to join Herbert in the mercantile trade. Years later, he meets Estella again, who is now a widow, and they part on good terms, with Pip hoping they will stay together.

Great Expectations

Grandes Esperanzas

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

Hercules Poirot, Libro 11

The renowned retired detective, Hercule Poirot, embarks on a train journey to Istanbul, sharing his ride with Mary Debenham and Colonel Arbuthnot, who seem intimately acquainted despite pretending to be strangers. Upon reaching Istanbul, Poirot is summoned back to London, and while waiting for his return journey, he encounters his old acquaintance, M. Bouc, who arranges for his accommodation on the Orient Express. In the interim, Poirot crosses paths with Ratchett and Hector McQueen, who arouse his suspicion, particularly Ratchett, who approaches him for protection against death threats, but is rebuffed by Poirot. Despite the train being unusually crowded, Poirot manages to secure a first-class cabin where he experiences a series of peculiar incidents, including a cry from Ratchett's compartment indicating possible danger.

The following morning, Poirot is informed by M. Bouc that Ratchett has been brutally murdered, prompting Poirot to launch an investigation. A detailed examination of Ratchett's compartment reveals multiple clues such as twelve stab wounds on Ratchett's body, an open window, and a handful of miscellaneous items that include a handkerchief with an initial "H", a peculiar match, and a burnt piece of paper with the name "Armstrong" on it. This leads to Poirot deducing that Ratchett was actually Cassetti, the infamous kidnapper and murderer of the toddler, Daisy Armstrong, whose crime had shocked the nation. 

Poirot proceeds with interviewing the passengers, starting with Hector McQueen, who was startled that Poirot had discovered the Armstrong note, believed to have been destroyed. Several interviews subsequently provide Poirot with potential alibis, but also raise doubts about the identity of an unseen woman in a red kimono and the presence of an unfamiliar man in a Wagon Lit uniform. A thorough examination of the passengers' belongings brings forth more suspicious findings, leading Poirot to unveil the true identities of several passengers who were closely connected with the Armstrong case. Finally, Poirot presents two possible explanations for the murder and reveals the collective guilt of twelve passengers, all of whom were connected to Daisy Armstrong. To protect the involved parties, Poirot proposes that the authorities be informed of the less plausible theory, which is ultimately agreed upon by M. Bouc and Dr. Constantine.

8 Best Revenge Books of All Time

The Count of Monte Cristo

Wuthering Heights

Gone Girl

Hamlet

Great Expectations

Murder on the Orient Express

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

Revenge

Nutshell

A Novel

Sources

What To Read Next

8 Best Revenge Books of All Time

The Count of Monte Cristo

Wuthering Heights

Gone Girl

Hamlet

Great Expectations

Murder on the Orient Express

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

Revenge

Nutshell

A Novel

Sources

What To Read Next

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