Film Noir and Hardboiled Fiction

I'm taking a film noir class this semester, and consequentially, I've got murder on the brain.
In fact, I just finished reading Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. Call me a nerd, but I LOVE that book. It has insane people, murder, mayhem, and a couple of bookstore scenes. What more could a lit/mystery junkie ask for?

Anyway, I'm including a link to Raymond Chandler's essay, "The Simple Art of Murder," and a list of my top ten favorite detectives (in or out of film) of all time.

Enjoy!

10. Nancy Drew

9. Hercule Poirot

8. The Great Mouse Detective

7. Miss Marple

6. Harry Dresden

5. Philip Marlowe (aka Doghouse Reilly)

4. Father Brown

3. Sam Spade

2. Charlie Chan

1. Sherlock Holmes