There is a reason mysteries never go out of style: a body, a closed circle of suspects and a sharp-eyed detective are the perfect excuse to stay up past midnight. Right now Amazon’s mystery chart is packed with new cases from beloved detectives, a fresh Miss Marple story and a few modern classics that keep finding new readers. This list of the best mystery novels rounds up eight of them, from cozy village puzzles to gritty police procedurals.
These mystery books were chosen with care: every pick appears on Amazon’s Mystery, Thriller and Suspense best-seller list or is a long-running best seller in the genre. For each book you will find the setup (without spoilers), the kind of reader who will love it and when to skip it, followed by tips on finding your favorite type of mystery and reading more of them.
The Best Mystery Novels at a Glance
- Best Overall: Miss Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny
- Best Classic Whodunit (New): Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley
- Best Funny Mystery: We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman
- Best Literary Crime Novel: The Keeper by Tana French
- Best Police Detective: The Hollow by Michael Connelly
- Best Puzzle Lover’s Mystery: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- Best Timeless Classic: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
- Best Domestic Mystery: Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty
Quick Comparison
| Book | Best for | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Wolcott’s Ghost | Fans of atmospheric series | Village mystery, Quebec |
| Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel | Agatha Christie fans | Classic closed-circle whodunit |
| We Chase Shadows | Readers who like humor | Light, globe-trotting caper |
| The Keeper | Lovers of beautiful prose | Literary crime, rural Ireland |
| The Hollow | Procedural fans | Detective fiction, Los Angeles |
| Magpie Murders | Puzzle lovers | A mystery within a mystery |
| And Then There Were None | Newcomers to the genre | The original locked-island mystery |
| Big Little Truths | Book clubs | Domestic suspense |
The 8 Best Mystery Novels to Read This Season
These are the best mystery novels for every taste, mixing new hardcovers with paperback-friendly classics. Plot summaries are based on the publishers’ descriptions.
1. Miss Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny
Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is one of the most beloved detectives in modern crime fiction, and this is his 21st case. It opens with a terrified caller waking Gamache, head of homicide for the Sûreté du Québec, at his home in Three Pines: “There’s a body in Lost Nation.” The line goes dead, and Gamache heads into the surrounding forest in search of a place he has never heard of.
Best for: readers who love atmospheric mystery novels, community and a detective with a moral compass. Skip it if: you have never read the series and prefer to start at the beginning with Still Life.
Miss Wolcott's Ghost by Louise Penny
- Chief Inspector Gamache book 21
- Set in and around Three Pines, Quebec
- New hardcover release
- Atmospheric village mystery
2. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley
The author of The Guest List writes the newest Miss Marple mystery, and bestselling author Bonnie Garmus says Foley channels Agatha Christie “with precision and flair.” The setting is irresistible: a luxurious hotel high in the Swiss Alps, reachable only by a single winding railway, where glamorous guests gather for the slopes. It became an instant New York Times bestseller.
Best for: Christie fans and anyone who loves a snowbound whodunit. Skip it if: you want gritty realism; this is a classic puzzle mystery.
Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley
- A new Miss Marple mystery
- Luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps
- From the author of The Guest List
- Instant New York Times bestseller
3. We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman
The creator of The Thursday Murder Club returns with the second book in his globe-trotting We Solve Murders series. At sunrise in the Italian hills, a body is found on the steps of a private villa with a threatening note signed by a mystery man, and Amy, Rosie and Steve leap at their first proper case. Expect warmth, wit and twists.
Best for: readers who like their mystery books funny and big-hearted. Skip it if: you want something dark and suspenseful.
We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman
- Second We Solve Murders mystery
- Italian villa setting
- From the creator of The Thursday Murder Club
- Witty and warm
4. The Keeper by Tana French
Tana French wraps up her million-copy-bestselling Cal Hooper trilogy with a story set in the remote Irish village of Ardnakelty. On a cold night a young woman, Rachel Holohan, about to be engaged to the son of the local big shot, is found dead in the river. In a close-knit place where everyone has secrets, the truth is slippery. It was an instant New York Times bestseller.
Best for: readers who love literary crime and slow-burn tension. Skip it if: you need fast pacing; French takes her time.
- Final book in the Cal Hooper trilogy
- Remote Irish village setting
- Instant New York Times bestseller
- Literary crime fiction
5. The Hollow by Michael Connelly
Retired LAPD detective Harry Bosch faces the darkest chapter of his own past. As a boy, after his mother’s murder, he lived at a notorious children’s center; decades later, a lawsuit by former residents pulls him back into that history. Kirkus Reviews says the final showdown will make your heart thrum.
Best for: police procedural fans and longtime Bosch readers. Skip it if: you have not read any Bosch books; earlier novels add depth.
The Hollow: A Harry Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly
- Harry Bosch confronts his past
- Los Angeles crime fiction
- From a #1 New York Times bestselling author
- Hardcover and paperback
6. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Magpie Murders is a book lover’s dream: an editor reads the latest manuscript from a famous crime writer and realizes there may be a real murder hidden behind the fictional one. The New York Times’ Janet Maslin called it “a double puzzle for puzzle fans.” It won the Macavity Award and was adapted for PBS Masterpiece.
Best for: fans of clever, fair-play whodunit puzzles. Skip it if: stories within stories frustrate you.
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- A mystery within a mystery
- Macavity Award winner
- Adapted for PBS Masterpiece
- New York Times bestseller
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
No list of the best mystery novels is complete without the Queen of Crime. Ten strangers are lured to an isolated island mansion off the Devon coast by a mysterious host. At dinner a recording accuses each of them of a guilty secret, and as a storm strands them, a nursery rhyme counts down their numbers. It was named one of the top 100 on PBS’s Great American Read.
Best for: anyone new to mysteries and anyone who wants the blueprint for the genre. Skip it if: you already know the ending; it is very famous.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
- Ten strangers on an isolated island
- One of the best-selling mysteries ever
- PBS Great American Read top 100
- Budget-friendly paperback
8. Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty
The highly anticipated sequel to Big Little Lies, which inspired the hit HBO series, is an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and a Reese’s Book Club pick. Moriarty explores family dynamics and long-hidden truths with her trademark wit, and the publisher says you can enjoy it whether or not you have read the first book.
Best for: book clubs and fans of domestic suspense. Skip it if: you prefer a traditional detective at the center of the story.
Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty
- Sequel to Big Little Lies
- Instant #1 New York Times bestseller
- Reese’s Book Club pick
- Witty domestic suspense
How We Chose the Best Mystery Novels
We started with Amazon’s Mystery, Thriller and Suspense best-seller chart, kept titles that are true mysteries (a crime and a puzzle to solve) rather than pure thrillers, and added long-running classics that still sell strongly. We read every official description and summarized only what publishers share, without spoilers. Our editorial policy explains our process in more detail.
How to Find Your Kind of Mystery Novels
Mystery fiction covers a wide range of styles. Knowing which you prefer makes it easier to choose among the best mystery novels.
Cozy mysteries
Small communities, amateur sleuths and little on-page violence. Try Richard Osman or Louise Penny.
Classic whodunits
A closed circle of suspects and a fair-play puzzle. Start with Agatha Christie, then try Lucy Foley’s Miss Marple or Magpie Murders.
Police procedurals
Professional detectives and realistic investigations. Michael Connelly’s Bosch novels are among the best.
Literary crime
Character and atmosphere first, puzzle second. Tana French is the master here.
Print, Kindle or audio?
Mystery novels are perfect for audio, especially on a commute; many of these titles are free to try with an Audible free trial. Classic paperbacks are the budget-friendly option, and new hardcovers make great gifts.
Tips for Reading More Mystery Books
- Start series at the beginning when you can; recurring characters grow richer over time.
- Keep a suspect list. Jotting down clues makes the reveal more satisfying.
- Read with friends. Mysteries make lively book club picks; see our best book club books.
- Mix in historical mysteries. The Frozen River from our best historical fiction books list is a great crossover.
Mystery Novels That Make Great Gifts
Mystery books are one of the easiest presents to get right, because most readers already know which style they love. For a cozy-mystery fan, pair Richard Osman’s latest with a mug and a blanket. For a classic-whodunit lover, wrap And Then There Were None with Lucy Foley’s Miss Marple story so they can compare old and new. For a literary reader, The Keeper is a beautiful hardcover to give. And for book clubs, Big Little Truths sparks plenty of debate. If you are not sure what someone has read, a box of three mystery novels from different subgenres is a thoughtful way to help them discover a new favorite.
Mistakes to Avoid
Do not read reviews before you finish a mystery; spoilers lurk everywhere. Do not give up on a slow-burn mystery too early, since many build to a brilliant final act. And if you love edge-of-your-seat suspense more than puzzles, you may actually prefer thrillers; our best thriller books guide covers those.
FAQ About the Best Mystery Novels
What is the best mystery novel of all time?
Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None is often named among the best and best-selling mysteries ever written.
What is the difference between a mystery and a thriller?
A mystery centers on solving a crime, usually a whodunit. A thriller focuses on danger and suspense, often with the reader knowing more than the characters.
What are good mystery books to start a series with?
Louise Penny’s Gamache series and Richard Osman’s novels are both popular, warm and easy to binge.
Are cozy mysteries good for beginners?
Yes. They are fun, low on gore and easy to follow, which makes them a great introduction to the genre.
Final Thoughts
If you only pick one, make it Miss Wolcott’s Ghost for atmosphere or Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel for a classic puzzle; newcomers should start with And Then There Were None. The best mystery novels reward careful reading and keep you guessing until the final page. For true stories after your next whodunit, browse our best memoirs by women, or find a present for a fellow sleuth in our gifts for book lovers guide.
