Murder mystery novels are supposed to be suspenseful, and include some clever twists that readers don’t see coming. They also include some very memorable characters. There are crime novels, psychological thrillers, noir mysteries… and many other types of murder mystery novels. It’s easily one of the most popular categories of books. There is always something new being released within the genre. Unfortunately, there is not enough time in anyone’s lifetime to read all the amazing books that have been released so far. So here are my top 10 murder mystery novels that you should read in your lifetime:

1. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz – This is a very clever novel that manages to combine two mysteries into on. It’s both a classic whodunit and a modern-day puzzle book that focuses on the mysterious death of the fictional author who wrote it. It is full of twists and is a homage to classic detective novels. It’s a mystery within a mystery.

2. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton – This is a very unique murder mystery where the protagonist, Aiden Bishop, must solve a murder, but he wakes up each day in a new body of a different party guest. He must relive the day over and over until he solves the crime. If you’ve ever seen the TV show The Afterparty, where you see a new person’s perspective in each episode, then you’ll know how interesting this style is.

3. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino – This is a super suspenseful Japanese thriller where a mathematician help his neighbor to cover up her ex-husband’s murder. It’s the story of a genius detective that has to track and very smart suspect. It covers themes of love, sacrifice, and intelligence.

4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – This classic locked-room mystery is about 10 strangers who are trapped on an island. While there, they are killed one by one in accordance with a nursery rhyme. It’s a very strange premise but it works so well. Each person also has a dark secret, that they need to keep hidden at all costs. This is a tense story that you won’t be able to put down.

5. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – This is a cozy mystery where four elderly friends, living in a retirement village, form a club to solve cold cases. When a local murder occurs, they end up unexpectedly trying to solve a crime in real-time. It’s got a great story that was recently adapted into a movie. However, the movie left out a lot of story and characters that make the book way superior.

6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson – A dark thriller about journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander who are investigating the disappearance of a young woman. It’s an incredible story filled with family secrets, corruption, and injustices. You may have watched the popular movie already, but the book goes much deeper.

7. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – This is psychological thriller that follows Alicia Berenson who becomes mute after being accused of murdering her husband. A psychotherapist then becomes obsessed with uncovering what her motive could be. This, in turn, uncovers a web of dark psychological twists.

8. Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series – These novels are set in the quiet village of Three Pines. It follows Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, an insightful detective with a deep understanding of human nature. Each novel covers different dark occurrences in this normally sleep village. They stories are all a mix of traditional whodunits and dark psychological thrillers

9. P.D. James’ novels – P.D. James’ mysteries often focus on the psychology behind crimes. They are always set in realistic settings and are show readers just how deeply violent crimes destoy the social order or communities. The author has become known as the Queen of Crime.

10. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – This psychological thriller follows the disappearance of Amy Dunne. There are alternating perspectives shown through text from Amy’s diary and from interviews of her husband Nick – whose story is filled with contradictions. Gone Girl is a masterclass in marriage optics, deception, and manipulation. It has a big twist, that you may already know about if you’ve watched the popular movie. I’d strongly recommend reading the book first if you haven’t.

Top 10 Murder Mystery Novels

These novels are all filled with suspenseful moments, and memorable characters. It’ what makes them some of the best murder mystery novels ever written. Each one of them is a guaranteed pageturner that you’ll find difficult to put down. I’d recommend starting with Gone Girl, if you haven’t seen the movie yet or The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, which is bizarre and interesting.

If real cases are more your style than fiction, the top 10 true crime murder books has all the best nonfiction in the genre. For murder mysteries in graphic novel and comic form, the top 10 murder mystery comics and graphic novels has a separate list that you should definitely check out. For a full range of mystery entertainment across TV, film, podcasts, and more, see our best murder mystery entertainment guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best murder mystery novel for someone who has never read the genre before?

And Then There Were None. It’s a short read, that’s packed with suspense. If you read it and need more Christie, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd should be your next stop. If you’d prefer something more modern, chck out The Silent Patient or Gone Girl.

Are Agatha Christie’s novels dated?

The plots aren’t, even though the locations and time period are. Some of her social attitudes and the language she uses reflects the period she wrote in, which readers should be aware of, but many of her books still hold up very well today. And Then There Were None and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd in particular show no signs of aging poorly.

What’s a good murder mystery novel if I want something lighter?

Big Little Lies is your best bet. We coudln’t fit it in this list, but it has an amazing story – that’s warm, funny in places, and is set in modern suburban life. It was recently adapted into a TV show starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. For something even lighter from the same author, Liane Moriarty, also wrote Nine Perfect Strangers and Truly Madly Guilty. Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club (from our list) is a warm, comedic take on retirement life, mixed with murder.