Best Good Murder Mystery Books 2025: Top 5 Reviewed
Looking for good murder mystery books? We’ve tested a bunch with friends. Here are five that kept us guessing and laughing.
If you’re on the hunt for good murder mystery books, you’ve come to the right place. We know how tough it is to find a page-turner with clever clues, likable characters, and an ending that slaps you in the face. So, we stuck to murder mysteries that kept us guessing, laughing, and arguing about whodunit well past bedtime. Whether you’re a seasoned sleuth or just testing the mystery waters, our picks focus on stories with twists, a dash of humor, and plots tight enough to make Sherlock sweat. Let’s grab our magnifying glass and see which good murder mystery books made the cut.
On this list:
5 The Guest List by Lucy Foley
We picked ‘The Guest List’ because it’s like Agatha Christie’s party, but with modern snark. The story drops you on a gloomy Irish island for a posh wedding, but—shocker—someone doesn’t live to see the cake. Reading this with friends, we kept accusing each other of being the killer, which made the ending even sweeter (and no, it wasn’t Kev with the candlestick). This is a fun, atmospheric read that keeps you guessing.
4 One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
This book had us pointing fingers quicker than a game of ‘Clue’ at family dinner. ‘One of Us Is Lying’ throws five teens in detention, but only four walk out. The story made us wish our high school was this interesting (well, minus the murder part). It blends drama and suspense, with some neat twists.
3 The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
For a lighter pick, ‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ serves good murder mystery books with a side of Botswana charm. Precious Ramotswe is less Sherlock, more tea and biscuits. Our book group had a soft spot for her calm logic and the unique cases she tackles. Not every case is a murder, but it’s always clever.
2 Still Life by Louise Penny
‘Still Life’ is the start of a series that made us want to move to a small Canadian village (until, you know, the murders started). Chief Inspector Gamache handles cases—and his crew’s drama—with style. The food descriptions made us hungry, and the plot twists made us late to dinner. This is a great pick for folks wanting character-rich good murder mystery books.
1 The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
This is hands-down our top pick for good murder mystery books. We read ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ together, and our group laughed out loud so much that we became very suspicious to our neighbors. The plot follows four retirees in a sleepy English town who solve cold cases between cups of tea and biscuits. Their banter is sharp, and the mystery keeps you flipping pages. Each character leaps off the page, reminding us of our own group (except, sadly, we’ve never solved a crime—unless you count who ate the last cookie). Osman blends humor, twists, and warmth, balancing coziness with real stakes. If you want an easy read with lovable sleuths and actual surprises, this is the one you need to grab first. Out of all the good murder mystery books we tested, this one made us want to read the sequel right away.
