The Sherlock Holmes stories of Arthur Conan Doyle. I had read them donkeys years ago and recently decided to re-visit them. Very well written as you would expect but I had forgoten how they sometimes have traces of our more modern 'detective fiction'. There is a boat-chase in 'The sign of the four' that would grace many a modern thriller. Holmes was a very early 'flawed hero' as well. Look at his propensity for cocaine! Makes the modern alcoholics positively staid:-) It is also a great window into Victorian England and London in particular.

Cheers

DtG