There’s nothing like a good mystery to keep you up past your bedtime, turning pages long after you promised yourself just one more chapter. Whether you love chilling psychological thrillers, classic detective stories, or heart-racing YA mysteries, this list has something for every kind of sleuth.
Some of these books will have you gasping at shocking twists, others will make you question everything you thought you knew, and a few might even make you laugh along the way. But one thing’s for sure—once you start reading, there’s no turning back.
So grab your detective hat, sharpen your instincts, and get ready for 20 of the most gripping mysteries you’ll ever read. Just don’t blame me when you start seeing clues everywhere.
1. And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie
A group of strangers is invited to a secluded island, only to be accused of past crimes and murdered one by one. With no way to escape and no clear suspect, they must figure out who the killer is before it’s too late. Agatha Christie’s masterpiece is one of the best-selling mystery novels of all time.
2. The Hound of the Baskervilles – Arthur Conan Doyle
When a nobleman dies under mysterious circumstances, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called to investigate the legend of a supernatural hound that haunts the Baskerville family. Combining eerie gothic elements with brilliant deduction, this is one of Holmes’ most famous cases.
3. Rebecca – Daphne du Maurier
A young woman marries the wealthy and mysterious Maxim de Winter, only to find herself overshadowed by the memory of his late first wife, Rebecca. As eerie events unfold at the grand Manderley estate, she realizes Rebecca’s presence still lingers in unexpected ways.
4. The Maltese Falcon – Dashiell Hammett
Private detective Sam Spade gets caught up in a deadly game when a femme fatale hires him to find a priceless statue. Filled with betrayal, double-crosses, and a gritty noir atmosphere, this classic detective novel is a cornerstone of the genre.
5. The Big Sleep – Raymond Chandler
Philip Marlowe, a hard-boiled private investigator, is hired to handle a case of blackmail but soon finds himself entangled in a web of corruption, crime, and murder. This novel is a fast-paced, complex mystery with sharp dialogue and unforgettable characters.
6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist and brilliant hacker Lisbeth Salander team up to solve a decades-old disappearance connected to a wealthy Swedish family. As they dig deeper, they uncover dark secrets, deception, and dangerous enemies. This modern thriller is gripping and full of suspense.
7. Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
Nick and Amy Dunne seem like the perfect couple—until Amy vanishes on their anniversary. As the police dig deeper, Nick’s behavior raises suspicions. But nothing is as it seems in this psychological thriller filled with shocking twists and unreliable narrators.
8. The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
Alicia Berenson, a famous artist, is found standing over her husband’s dead body—but she refuses to speak. A therapist is determined to uncover the truth, leading to a suspenseful, mind-bending story with a twist you won’t see coming.
9. The Wife Between Us – Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
This psychological thriller follows the entangled lives of a woman, her ex-husband, and his new fiancée. What seems like a simple tale of jealousy quickly unravels into a complex web of deception, secrets, and unexpected twists.
10. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – Stuart Turton
Aiden Bishop wakes up in a different body every day, reliving the same day over and over until he solves the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle. This mind-bending mystery is a unique blend of Agatha Christie-style detective work and time-loop suspense.
11. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – Holly Jackson
High school senior Pippa Fitz-Amobi decides to investigate a closed murder case for her final project. The deeper she digs, the more secrets she uncovers, and soon, someone wants her to stop asking questions. A gripping YA mystery with plenty of twists.
12. One of Us Is Lying – Karen M. McManus
Five students enter detention, but only four come out alive. The victim was about to reveal their deepest secrets, making everyone a suspect. This fast-paced thriller is like The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars.
13. Truly Devious – Maureen Johnson
Aspiring detective Stevie Bell attends an elite boarding school with a dark history—a student disappeared decades ago, and the crime was never solved. When a new tragedy strikes, Stevie must connect the past with the present in this compelling mystery series.
14. We Were Liars – E. Lockhart
On a private island, a wealthy family spends every summer together—until one fateful event changes everything. Told through an unreliable narrator, this psychological mystery unfolds in a way that will leave you questioning everything.
15. They Wish They Were Us – Jessica Goodman
At an elite prep school, Jill is determined to enjoy her senior year—until she starts uncovering the truth about her best friend’s unsolved murder. This gripping YA mystery explores privilege, power, and dangerous secrets.
16. The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafón
In post-war Barcelona, young Daniel finds a mysterious book and becomes obsessed with its author, only to discover that someone is systematically destroying all copies. As he investigates, he stumbles into a haunting literary mystery.
17. The Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
A reclusive bestselling author finally agrees to tell her true life story to a biographer, but the tale is filled with secrets, lies, and dark twists. This atmospheric gothic mystery will keep you guessing until the end.
18. The Alienist – Caleb Carr
In 1896 New York, a psychologist (or “alienist”) and a journalist team up with Theodore Roosevelt to track down a serial killer targeting young boys. This historical thriller blends forensic science with an intense murder investigation.
19. Before We Were Strangers – Renée Carlino
When a man sees his former love on a subway train after years apart, he is determined to find her again. But as he digs into the past, he realizes there’s more to their separation than he ever knew. A romance wrapped in a compelling mystery.
20. The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
One of the earliest mystery novels, this Victorian-era thriller follows a young man who encounters a mysterious woman in white, leading him into a twisted tale of mistaken identity, crime, and suspense.