11 Best Books Murder Mystery 2025: Top Reviewed Picks
Discover the best books murder mystery fans adore! Our list shares classic whodunits, new twists, and unforgettable suspects for every sleuth.
Welcome, fellow armchair detectives! If you’re like us, you love the thrill of solving a good whodunit. Choosing the best books murder mystery has to offer means hunting for gripping plots, clever twists, and characters that actually make us want to skip chores just to read another page. We looked for books with smart storytelling, fresh surprises, and just the right amount of chills. Whether you like your mysteries modern or classic, our list of the 11 best books murder mystery fans should not miss promises something for everyone who loves a good puzzle!
On this list:
11 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
We couldn’t make a best books murder mystery list without this page-turner. It’s got hacking, family secrets, and a journalist who makes us feel lazy for never leaving our couch. The Swedish names are wild, so we just made up our own. This book will have you buying extra locks for your door.
10 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
If you’ve ever questioned your significant other, boy, this is not the book to calm your nerves. Twists, dark humor, and characters you love to hate. It’s like relationship therapy, but with more crime.
9 The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling)
Private eye Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin try to crack a celebrity murder case. We liked how we could never guess who the killer was. Bonus points for witty British humor.
8 The Dry by Jane Harper
Australian outback + a long-held secret murder = a dry throat and a book you won’t put down. We read this out loud at a BBQ and now everyone looks suspicious at family gatherings.
7 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
No one speaks, but we all scream. A therapist tries to get his patient to talk after she shoots her husband. The ending left us suspicious of everyone—even our cat.
6 The Reversal by Michael Connelly
Defense lawyer Mickey Haller flips sides, and teams up with his half-brother Harry Bosch. If you think your family reunions are wild, wait till you see theirs. A solid entry in the best books murder mystery category.
5 The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Pretentious college kids do something very, very bad. The murder is up front, but the real treat is how everyone spins out. Made us wish we had studied Greek—almost.
4 Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
What happens after you find out your spouse is a serial killer? This book answers that, and then some. We read it late at night and could not sleep. Still watching our backs.
3 The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Like Groundhog Day with murder and fancy wardrobes. The main character wakes up in a different body every day to solve a whodunit. We had to take notes—not kidding—to keep up.
2 Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
A book within a book, and both are murder mysteries. We brought this to book club and no one stopped texting us clues for a week. Perfect for fans of clever writing.
1 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
When you talk about best books murder mystery style, you can’t leave out the Queen herself. Christie’s masterpiece got us all yelling at each other trying to guess the killer. Poirot’s mustache does most of the work. This book is the ultimate twist. The ending is so good we had to reread it just to check she didn’t cheat. Any new reader wanting to see the best in classic and clever murder mysteries should start here, because the plot, clues, and reveal are unmatched. Even after nearly a century, people argue over the twist—so you know it’s stood the test of time. Seriously, if you want the top spot in best books murder mystery, this is it. We give it all our thumbs up.
