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The best murder mystery books
Twisty, gritty, cozy, and classic bestselling and acclaimed whodunnits to read.
Published on June 5, 2023
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Agatha ChristieVoted the best crime novel ever by the British Crime Writers’ Association, “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” has Hercule Poirot retiring to the village of King’s Abbot. But when wealthy Roger Ackroyd is found stabbed to death in his study, the mustachioed detective gets back in the game to find the murderer. With this masterpiece, the queen of quaint village mysteries proves she also slays at writing twists you never see coming. (Other Agatha Christie favorites, like “And Then There Were None,” “Murder on the Orient Express,” and “Death on the Nile” are also worth calling out.)
The Big Sleep
Raymond ChandlerIncluded in Time magazine’s “List of the 100 Best Novels,” Chandler’s hardboiled classic introduced audiences to his iconic detective, Philip Marlowe. Actors from Humphrey Bogart to Liam Neeson have played the fan-favorite private eye on the big screen, but the best way to experience the wisecracking, hard-drinking, tough guy with a heart of gold is to read (or re-read) the original 1939 novel. Lousy with double-crossings, secrets, murder, and great one-liners, you’ll be quoting half the novel.
Razorblade Tears: A Novel
S. A. CosbyCosby follows up his cinematic “Blacktop Wasteland” with an equally full-throttle crime novel featuring a killer narrator (Adam Lazarre-White) and a propulsive plot. It’s pitch perfect pulp that blends heart-pounding noir thrills with heart-wrenching topics like homophobia and racism. Putting aside their prejudices, two ex-con dads, one Black and one white, join forces to solve — avenge — their sons’ brutal murders.
Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel
Louise PennyWhen a beloved town member is found dead in the woods, it looks like an unfortunate hunting accident. But Chief Inspector Armand Gamache suspects something — or someone — more menacing is at play. “Still Life” is the first installment in Penny’s long-running, multiple award-winning “Chief Inspector Gamache” series and the source text for the Prime Video series, “Three Pines.”
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Stuart Turton“Groundhog Day” meets murder mystery in this award-winning whodunnit. Doomed to live the same day over and over again, but trapped in a different body each time, Aiden Bishop must solve a murder at a masquerade ball, or be stuck in the loop forever. This novel won the UK’s prestigious Costa First Novel Award in 2018, with the judges calling it an “ingenious, intriguing and highly original mindbender of a murder mystery.”
The Guest List: A Novel
Lucy FoleyThey planned a picture-perfect destination wedding, but stormy weather isn’t the only thing ruining a celebrity couple’s big day in this atmospheric page-turner from Foley. Set in the middle of nowhere, where cell service is spotty and intrigue is everywhere, this slow-burn, whodunnit murder mystery was a Reese's Book Club pick in 2020, and its popularity has been going strong ever since.
The Woman in the Window: A Novel
A. J. FinnThis is arguably one of the most well-known “the woman in the mystery” novels, and for good reason. With legions of fans, a screen adaptation starring Amy Adams, and serious Hitchcock “Rear Window” vibes, “The Woman in the Window” has been thrilling readers since it came out in 2018. Agoraphobic Anna Fox spends her days shut up in her house, drinking too much and spying on her neighbors. One day she witnesses her neighbor’s murder through her window, but when the police show up to investigate, all is not as it seems.
Mr. Mercedes: A Novel
Stephen King“Mr. Mercedes” is a divergence from the typical King fare (more “killer thriller” than horror) but no less amazing: It won the Edgar Award (mystery’s highest honor) for best novel in 2015. This hardboiled murder mystery offers a noirish cat-and-mouse plot and a terrifying sociopath of a killer. “Mr. Mercedes” kicked off the “Bill Hodges” trilogy, so read the whole series before watching the show (starring Brendan Gleeson), which combines elements from all three books.
Ordinary Grace: A Novel
William Kent KruegerA multiple award-winning bestseller from the author of “This Tender Land,” “Ordinary Grace” is no ordinary murder mystery. A young boy is found dead near the train tracks, and a chain of deaths follow, triggering a search for a killer. But the heart of the unfolding mystery centers on the 13-year-old narrator as he comes of age, grappling with grief and faith in a small town in the early 1960s.
Miracle Creek: A Novel
Angie Kim“Miracle Creek” won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. It’s an engrossing legal drama and psychological thriller about the challenges faced by parents of special needs children and immigrants alike. When a hyperbaric chamber treating many people with various conditions explodes and kills two, it’s immediately clear that someone blew it up on purpose. The novel shows different characters’ questionable perspectives throughout the murder trial. Author Kim, once a trial lawyer herself, conveys the courtroom tension with expert skill.
Deer Season
Erin FlanaganIn another Edgar Award winner, Peggy, a 16-year-old girl stuck in small-town Nebraska, goes missing and many residents are blaming Hal Bullard, a disabled farmhand. Flanagan’s debut includes all the standard setup for a missing persons mystery, but stands out for its rich character studies (the story is told from the points of view of Peggy’s younger brother and Alma, a transplant from Chicago).
The Woman in Cabin 10
Ruth WareWhat Colleen Hoover is to romance, Ware is to murder mysteries. She’s also considered to be a modern-day Agatha Christie. Any number of her hits (“The It Girl,” “One by One,” “In a Dark, Dark Wood”) could’ve made this list, but we went with “The Woman in Cabin 10” because it’s an especially propulsive read. The intensely intimate setting (a luxury cruise ship) ratchets up the fear and paranoia when things go awry. It’s impossible to escape the allure of this modern twist on classic Agatha Christie murder mysteries, which might be part of the charm.
Gone with the Ghost
Erin McCarthyParanormal murder mystery fans, prepare to gasp with delight. McCarthy kicks off her “Murder by Design” series with “Gone with the Ghost,” which combines cozy mystery, contemporary romance, and the otherworldly. Protagonist Bailey Burke is a home design expert who gets pulled into a murder investigation when her best friend commits suicide — though his ghost insists that’s not true.
A Noodle Shop Mystery
Vivien ChienAs far as cozy culinary mysteries go, Chien’s “Noodle Shop Mysteries” series serves up satisfying plots with a dash of romance and a dusting of murder. In the series starter, “Death by Dumpling,” Lana Lee moves back home after a bad breakup to wait tables at her family’s Chinese restaurant. But when the property manager is found dead, Lana must find the killer before the scandal brings down the whole restaurant faster than a bad Yelp review.
The Pale Blue Eye: A Novel
Louis BayardIn this historical whodunit, retired detective Gus Landor is called to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet in 1830. Landor enlists the help of another cadet, Edgar Allan Poe, to gather insider information, but Poe becomes embroiled with the victim’s family, risking the investigation. Bayard’s dark and clever historical mystery spins an intricate (though fictional) backstory for Poe and his eventual body of gothic literature. Christian Bale and Gillian Anderson star in the Netflix film adaptation.
The Bone Rattler Series
Eliot Pattison“The Bone Rattler” is a gripping mystery series set in colonial America from Edgar Award-winning author Pattison. A Scottish highland warrior-turned-indentured-prisoner-turned-detective investigates a string of mysterious deaths on the American frontier in the first historical whodunit adventure of the series.
The Silent Patient
Alex MichaelidesIn Michaelides’ debut, painter Alicia is convicted of murdering her husband, but she refuses to talk after his death. Psychotherapist Dr. Faber is particularly determined to hear her side of the story. His systematic attempts to unlock the gruesome mystery accompany intriguing journal entries by Alicia. “The Silent Patient” became an instant favorite after its 2019 release, and #BookTok is keeping the hype alive.
Bellini and the Sphinx
Tony BellottoIn this long-awaited English translation, Americans are finally introduced to Brazil’s beloved private detective Remo Bellini. With a vibrant cast of characters — including a missing dancer, a dead surgeon, and a voluptuous sex worker — this noirish murder mystery is a thrilling homage to Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlow.
Shutter Island
Dennis LehaneAshecliffe Hospital on Shutter Island houses only the most dangerous, criminally insane patients. When one of them disappears, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (played by Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s 2010 film adaptation) arrives to search for her, but Ashecliffe and its inhabitants aren’t what they appear to be. Follow Lehane’s (“Mystic River”) mind-bending thriller through layers of mystery that will have you doubting the motives — and sanity — of everyone involved.
The Book of Extraordinary Impossible Crimes and Puzzling Deaths: The Best New Original Stories of the Genre
The Book of Extraordinary Impossible Crimes and Puzzling Deaths: The Best New Original Stories of the Genre
Maxim JakubowskiAn excellent way to discover your next favorite mystery writer is by exploring short stories. Award-winning editor Jakubowski brings together some of the most inventive (and delightfully demented) minds in crime fiction to keep readers guessing — and at the edge of their seats. Escape into mind-bending plot twists and hair-raising murder mysteries.