Crime and detective Tamil novels are stories about murder, mystery and the detectives who solve them.
This page brings together 18 crime and detective Tamil novels by Sujatha and Rajesh Kumar.
Each novel below is described in full, so you can choose your next read from this page itself.
If you want a wider thriller list as well, the Best Tamil Thriller Novels List page names many more thrillers in one place.
Crime and Detective Tamil Novels — Key Facts
- Novels on this page: 18
- Main authors: Sujatha, Rajesh Kumar
- What to expect: Murder, mystery, suspense and the detectives who solve them
- Language: Tamil
- Free PDF: No free PDF is offered on this page, because these novels are in copyright
Kolaiyuthir Kaalam by Sujatha
The title means “the season of murder”.
It is a Sujatha thriller featuring his famous lawyer Ganesh and his assistant Vasanth, who visit a rural farm to settle an inheritance case for their young client Leena.
The case turns dark when murders, old village beliefs about spirits, and new scientific ideas all point in different directions.
Sujatha leaves the ending open, so the reader is never told for certain whether the cause was supernatural or something that can be explained.
Readers like it because it mixes a careful investigation with village mystery and science, and it was later made into a television serial.
Malai Maaligai by Sujatha
The title means “the mountain palace”.
It is a Sujatha thriller that readers count among his best work, built around suspense that grows from its characters rather than from action alone.
The story blends advanced science with old ideas about the soul, which is the mix Sujatha is best known for.
Ganesh and Vasanth, his familiar detective pair, appear in the novel, and its twists catch many readers by surprise.
No full published story summary of this novel was found, so this page describes only what is known about its mood, its author and its place among Sujatha’s thrillers.
Vidiyalai Nokki by Sujatha
The title means “towards the dawn”.
It is a Sujatha psychological thriller that explores the dark corners of the human mind.
The story follows a young man named Arun, who is haunted by his past and tries to find redemption.
Its plot twists keep readers guessing until the very end, which is why it is one of Sujatha’s most famous thrillers.
Eeramana Rojave by Sujatha
The title means “the wet rose”.
It is a gripping Sujatha mystery about a young couple who move into a new house and soon discover that it has a dark past.
The house and its history set the mood of the novel, and the well-crafted plot makes it a page-turner from start to finish.
Readers who like atmospheric mysteries enjoy it because the suspense comes from the place itself as much as from the people in it.
Vivek, Vishnu Oru Vidukadhai by Rajesh Kumar
The title means “Vivek and Vishnu, a riddle”.
It is a classic Rajesh Kumar whodunit starring his detective Vivek and his assistant Vishnu.
Vivek takes up the murder case of two senior officials who die by snake bite, and the pair must work out who planned the killings.
The story blends suspense with psychological intrigue, and its clues and red herrings keep readers guessing until the final reveal.
Vivek began his career as a CID officer before joining the Special Crime Division, which is why his cases often carry a wider, official weight.
Sorry Wrong Number by Rajesh Kumar
Sorry Wrong Number is a Rajesh Kumar suspense thriller that begins with a mistaken phone call.
One wrong call pulls an ordinary person into a deadly game of crime and deception.
The novel shows Rajesh Kumar’s best-known trick, which is to take an everyday situation and turn it sinister step by step.
It is often suggested as a first Rajesh Kumar novel because its story is simple, fast-paced and easy to follow.
Thirakkadha Kadhavugal by Rajesh Kumar
The title means “doors that never opened”.
It is a Rajesh Kumar mystery in which a man meets his boss in a hotel suite and is shocked by the woman who comes to meet the boss.
The shock raises questions that reach into his own family, and the story follows how that one meeting changes his life.
Readers like it because it starts from an ordinary moment and slowly turns it into a mystery, and it is also available as a Tamil audiobook.
Irandavathu Thali by Rajesh Kumar
The title means “the second wife”.
It is a Rajesh Kumar crime novel about Subhamathi, the only daughter of a rich industrialist, who is caught between her father’s affection and her new love Bhuvanendran.
The story investigates a suspicious death linked to a second marriage, and it slowly unravels family secrets that challenge what the family believes about itself.
Readers like it because it is as much a family drama as a murder mystery, with twists that keep the meaning of the title itself a question until the end.
Vivek Irukka Bayamen by Rajesh Kumar
The title means “no fear when Vivek is here”.
It is a Vivek detective novel by Rajesh Kumar, and this time the case is a political thriller.
A dramatic political change is taking shape in Tamil Nadu, and an MP travels to Chennai from Delhi with a strange plan that brings unexpected deaths in its wake.
Vivek sets out to find the facts behind the plan, and the crimes that first look unrelated turn out to be intricately connected.
The pace is brisk and the ending is both logical and surprising, which is why readers who like Vivek at his best enjoy this one.
Kolaikara Computer by Rajesh Kumar
The title means “the murderer computer”.
It is a modern Rajesh Kumar thriller about cybercrime and what it can do.
A tech-savvy investigator must outwit a criminal mastermind using digital tools, so the chase plays out through computers as much as through people.
Readers like it because it blends traditional crime writing with contemporary technology, which makes it a good pick for readers who enjoy a modern setting.
Thigil Roja by Rajesh Kumar
Thigil Roja is a Rajesh Kumar thriller that reader circles call one of the best thriller novels ever written in Tamil.
Tamil readers have praised the book very much, and its many twists are what fascinate them most.
No full published story summary of this novel was found, so this page describes only what is known about its mood, its author and its standing among Rajesh Kumar’s thrillers.
It suits readers who want a fast thriller that keeps surprising them until the end.
Velvet Killer by Rajesh Kumar
Velvet Killer is a Rajesh Kumar thriller that is counted among the notable thriller novels in Tamil literature.
Tamil readers have praised the book very much, and its thriller plot is what earned it that standing.
No full published story summary of this novel was found, so this page describes only what is known about its mood, its author and its standing among Rajesh Kumar’s thrillers.
It suits readers who enjoy a tense, twist-filled thriller from the writer Tamil readers call the king of crime novels.
Oomatham Pookkal by Rajesh Kumar
The title means “datura flowers”.
It is a Rajesh Kumar detective thriller, published in 2016, and reader reviews call it a twist-filled crime thriller that can be read in one sitting.
The book follows two father-and-son pairs, one of industrialists and one of doctors, and the doctor father receives mysterious death threats and dies within days.
Meanwhile the industrialist’s son loves a famous actress, and his father schemes to break the romance, and the two separate storylines eventually converge.
The title’s relevance is only revealed in the final chapter, and it suits readers who like two mysteries that turn out to be one.
December Pournami by Rajesh Kumar
The title means “December full moon”.
It is a Rajesh Kumar thriller, published in 2020 in 144 pages.
It is described as a thriller-based story, and it is named among the popular thrillers on the site’s own thriller list.
No full published story summary of this novel was found, so its plot details are not described here rather than guessed.
It suits readers who want a short, fast Rajesh Kumar thriller.
Chicago Secret by Rajesh Kumar
It is a Rajesh Kumar crime thriller, named among the popular thrillers on the site’s own thriller list.
It is listed in two parts, and it is named in several Rajesh Kumar title lists.
No full published story summary of this novel was found, so its plot details are not described here rather than guessed.
It suits readers who like Rajesh Kumar’s fast crime thrillers, and readers who want a quick crime read.
Bullet Chamber by Rajesh Kumar
It is a Rajesh Kumar thriller about crime, named among the popular thrillers on the site’s own thriller list.
It is also available as an audio narration series, and it is listed as a crime and thriller book in 108 pages.
No full published story summary of this novel was found, so its plot details are not described here rather than guessed.
It suits readers who like a modern Rajesh Kumar thriller, and readers who enjoy a story they can also listen to.
23 Vathu Jannal by Rajesh Kumar
The title means “the 23rd window”.
It is a Rajesh Kumar crime thriller, published in 2016 and again as a paperback in 2023 in 170 pages, and it is named among the popular thrillers on the site’s own thriller list.
It is described as a gripping crime thriller-based story, and it is listed in GeeYe Publications’ Crime Novel series.
No full published story summary of this novel was found, so its plot details are not described here rather than guessed.
It suits readers who like a Rajesh Kumar thriller that keeps them guessing until the end.
Vivek Rubala Detective Series by Rajesh Kumar
Vivek Rubala is not one novel, but a Rajesh Kumar detective series built around CID officer Vivek, his wife Rubala and his assistant Vishnu.
Vivek began as a CID officer, and he was recommended by the Central Government to the Special Crime Division of the CBI, where he investigates serious crimes in India and worldwide.
Rubala is his wife, a home-science graduate who once wanted to join the police but gave it up because her parents opposed it, and she takes part in every investigation, while Vishnu is Vivek’s assistant officer, described as a shadow of Vivek.
Titles in the series include Vivek in Tokyo and August 5 Athikaalai, and each case moves fast, with twists and a solution at the end.
Since there is no published summary for any one Vivek Rubala novel, no single plot is described here. The series is for readers who want to follow one detective team through many cases.
Best Crime and Detective Tamil Novels for Readers
These crime and detective Tamil novels are best for readers who love mystery and suspense.
They suit readers who enjoy guessing the ending before the detective finds it, and readers who want a fast, gripping story.
If you are new to Tamil crime novels, start with a Rajesh Kumar detective novel, because his stories are quick and easy to follow.
Who Should Read Crime and Detective Tamil Novels?
Crime and detective Tamil novels are best for readers who enjoy murder, mystery and suspense.
They suit readers who like detectives such as Vivek, and readers who want a story that keeps them turning the pages.
For more about the detective himself, the Rajesh Kumar Detective Novels page describes Vivek, Vishnu and six of the novels on this page.
Where Can I Read Crime and Detective Tamil Novels?
There is no free PDF of these novels on this page, because they are still in copyright.
You can buy a printed copy from a Tamil bookshop or borrow it from a library.
For more Tamil novels, guides and stories, visit Novels Tamil.
Crime and Detective Tamil Novels FAQs
Which crime Tamil novel should I read first?
Start with a Rajesh Kumar detective novel, because his stories are quick and easy to follow.
Vivek Irukka Bayamen is a good first pick, because Vivek is his best-known detective.
Who is the best Tamil detective writer?
Rajesh Kumar is the best-known Tamil detective writer, and his detective Vivek appears in many novels.
Sujatha is another great name in Tamil thrillers, with Kolaiyuthir Kaalam, Malai Maaligai and more.
Who is Vivek in Rajesh Kumar novels?
Vivek is Rajesh Kumar’s best-known detective, and he solves murders with his friend Vishnu.
Vivek, Vishnu Oru Vidukadhai is one of their cases on this page.
Are these crime Tamil novels scary?
They are full of suspense, but they are mysteries first, not horror stories.
They suit readers who enjoy guessing the ending before the detective finds it.
Are crime Tamil novels free to read online?
No free PDF is offered on this page, because these novels are still in copyright.
You can buy a printed copy from a Tamil bookshop or borrow it from a library.
Which Sujatha thriller should I read first?
Start with Kolaiyuthir Kaalam, because it is one of Sujatha’s best-known thrillers.
Malai Maaligai is another good first pick.
