2024’s Best Murder Mystery Books of All Time: Top 14

Discover the best murder mystery books of all time, featuring gripping plots and memorable characters, perfect for cozy reading sessions.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo coverGone Girl coverThe Silent Patient cover

Hold onto your detective hats! We’re on a thrilling quest to uncover the 14 best murder mystery books of all time. After countless plot twists, double bluffs, and shocking reveals, we’ve chosen these books for their knack of leaving everyone guessing until the very end. The heart-stopping suspense, unforgettable characters, and masterful storytelling make these tales stand out in the mysterious world of crime fiction. Whether you’re trying to piece together clues or just enjoy a good surprise, these stories promise plenty of intrigue and page-turning excitement. Let’s unravel the mystery of which book tops our list!

On this list:

14 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo cover

  • Genre: Thriller
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2008
  • Pages: 465

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This Swedish thriller kept us up all night with its twisty plot and fierce heroine.

13 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl cover

  • Genre: Psychological Thriller
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2012
  • Pages: 432

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You think you know your partner? This book will make you think twice. It’s a real page-turner!

12 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient cover

  • Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2019
  • Pages: 336

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Chosen for its gripping psychological thriller elements, this book keeps readers on their toes with anxiety-inducing twists that fans of The Da Vinci Code will appreciate.

11 Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies cover

  • Genre: Mystery, Drama
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2014
  • Pages: 460

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With its juicy gossip and small-town scandals, this book had us hooked from the start.

10 The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Secret History cover

  • Genre: Literary Mystery
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1992
  • Pages: 559

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Who knew murder among college friends could feel this poetic? We couldn’t put it down.

9 In the Woods by Tana French

In the Woods cover

  • Genre: Crime Fiction
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2007
  • Pages: 429

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This eerie, atmospheric mystery had us questioning everything and everyone.

8 Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Sharp Objects cover

  • Genre: Psychological Thriller
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2006
  • Pages: 254

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Filled with dark secrets and sharp twists, this is not for the faint-hearted. We loved every creepy moment.

7 Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

Shutter Island cover

  • Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2003
  • Pages: 325

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A gripping story where nothing is as it seems. We were left guessing until the end!

6 The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

  • Genre: Crime Fiction
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2013
  • Pages: 455

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You’ll root for detective Cormoran Strike as he unravels this baffling case.

5 The Reversal by Michael Connelly

The Reversal cover

  • Genre: Legal Thriller
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2010
  • Pages: 389

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A new twist on the legal thriller that kept us guessing page after page.

4 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd cover

  • Genre: Mystery
  • Formats: Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1926
  • Pages: 288

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One of Christie’s most famous works, this book had a plot twist that blew our minds!

3 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Hound of the Baskervilles cover

  • Genre: Mystery
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1902
  • Pages: 256

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Sherlock Holmes at his best, unraveling a spooky legend with a logical flair.

2 Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca cover

  • Genre: Mystery, Gothic
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1938
  • Pages: 416

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More gothic romance than murder mystery, but its haunting story still keeps readers spellbound.

1 And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

And Then There Were None cover

  • Genre: Mystery, Crime
  • Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1939
  • Pages: 272

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The ultimate murder mystery, this book is a masterpiece of suspense and surprise.

Steve Peterson Cartoonified
Steve Peterson

Hi there! I'm Steve Peterson, a passionate reading enthusiast who loves nothing more than getting lost in a good book. My love for literature spans across genres, from thrilling mysteries and gripping fantasy to thought-provoking non-fiction.

I hope my reviews help you find the perfect next book to dive into!