Best Mystery Books Of All Time

Published Oct 31, 2026, 6:06 PM EDT Amanda Kay Oaks is a writer and lifelong book nerd. She has been writing about books on the internet for over 10 years, with prior bylines at Book Riot and ComicBook.com. Though she reads across most genres, Amanda Kay is particularly fond of romance, cozy fantasy, and books with strong female characters. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Whether it's a classic Sherlock Holmes-style deduction or a cozy, foodie-filled romp, readers love a good mystery. Over the years, mystery stories have expanded to include a ton of unique subgenres suited to every kind of reader. But with so many mysteries on the market, it can be tough to know which books are going to truly be worth your time. Mysteries are a classic for a reason, and there's nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned whodunit. Even now, writers like Richard Osman and Michael Connelly manage to surprise and delight with their takes on the classic detective story. But modern takes on the police procedural like Cold Cases and the ever-popular cozy mystery genre offer a wide variety of other ways to settle in and crack a case. Like romance, mystery is one of the most prolific genres on the market. So both seasoned and newer mystery readers alike could sometimes use a bit of help picking their next read. The best mystery books deliver compelling characters, engaging stories, and just enough breadcrumbs to let readers take a stab at solving the case for ourselves. For some subgenres, that means following a hard-boiled detective on his latest case. In others, readers step into the shoes of an amateur sleuth forced to find the real culprit to prove their innocence. No matter your preferred flavor of mystery, there is no shortage of master works to enjoy. Best Classic Detective & Whodunit Mystery Books For many readers, the mystery genre is synonymous with a classic whodunit. Indeed, this style of mystery writing dates back to the 1800s, with stories from the likes of Edgar Allen Poe and, of course, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But the classics aren't the only great mystery stories that feature a good old-fashioned whodunit, and many more recent stories offer a modern take on the tried-and-true mystery formula. C. Auguste Dupin Collection by Edgar Allen Poe (Published in 1841 / Purchase here): Though technically a compilation of short stories rather than a novel, the C. Auguste Dupin stories are a must-read for fans of classic detective stories. Detective Dupin is widely considered the inspiration for the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, and "The Purloined Letter" is among the best short stories ever written. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Published in 1902 / Purchase here): Sherlock Holmes is an enduring figure in part because of the sheer number of stories starring the mastermind detective. But The Hound of the Baskervilles is widely considered the pinnacle of Doyle's detective series, making it the go-to recommendation for a classic Sherlock Holmes mystery. A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie (Published in 1950 / Purchase here): Alongside Hercule Poirot, Christie's Miss Marple is one of the most iconic detectives in literature. A Murder Is Announced is generally considered the quintessential entry in the series, offering a compelling whodunit with plenty of twists and turns. The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (Published in 2024 / Purchase here): A contemporary fantasy mystery inspired by Sherlock Holmes, The Tainted Cup is an award-winning modern take on the whodunit. This book combines solid world-building with a classic detective mystery story Sherlock Holmes fans will love. Best Locked Room & Closed Circle Mystery Books Though there's some crossover with classic detective stories, locked room mysteries add a layer of suspense. Because the premise typically involves a situation where no outside figure could have entered to commit the crime, the killer must almost certainly be among those who remain. This is the subgenre that inspired the likes of Clue, and it has given us no shortage of excellent mysteries to enjoy. The Three Coffins / The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr (Published in 1935 / Purchase here): Carr's 1935 mystery novel is often considered the epitome of a classic locked room mystery, where the murder quite literally takes place inside a room that was locked from within. As a foundational work in the subgenre, The Three Coffins ​​​​​​is well worth revisiting. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (Published in 1939 / Purchase here): Technically, And Then There Were None takes place on an isolated island, but it retains that sense of being trapped with time running out that makes this subgenre iconic. It's also one of the bestselling mystery novels of all time, solidifying Christie's place as one of the greatest mystery writers. The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji (Published in 1987 / Purchase here): This book is a Japanese homage to Agatha Christie's classic take on a deserted island murder mystery, with a strong emphasis on its puzzles. In particular, this one is beloved because it offers deliberate, careful clues that ensure readers can work out the mystery on their own, rendering its reveal all the more satisfying. The Guest List by Lucy Foley (Published in 2020 / Purchase here): A New York Times Bestseller and top thriller of the year, The Guest List is a modern, psychological suspense take on a classic locked room mystery. In this book, you must both puzzle out who did it and the identity of the victim, adding another thrilling layer to the story. Best Hard-boiled Detective / Police Procedural Mystery Books Cynical and fast-paced, with snappy, witty dialogue, hard-boiled detective stories put a grittier, more world-weary twist on the classic mystery story. By a similar token, police procedurals work within the system and focus on the painstaking realities of solving a crime. A winner with true crime enthusiasts who want to dig not just into whodunit, but how it's solved, these are some of the best works within the hard-boiled subgenre. The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler (Published in 1939 / Purchase here): In many ways, The Big Sleep helped build the mold for a hard-boiled detective with its Philip Marlowe. Chandler's sharp, witty writing style and moody, atmospheric storytelling gave mystery readers something new to enjoy, and it remains a classic to this day. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (Published in 1930 / Purchase here): Another famous and genre-defining work in the hard-boiled detective space, The Maltese Falcon centers on a private detective who gets embroiled in a tangled web of lies and deceit while on a case. Hammett himself worked as a private detective, giving his story an air of authenticity that, combined with its objective third-person writing style, helped define the noir style. The Last Coyote by Michael Connelly (Published in 1995 / Purchase here): Michael Connelly is an award-winning crime writer for a reason, and The Last Coyote is one of the best showcases of his iconic LAPD detective, Harry Bosch. Unlike the detached noir style that defines many noir-style mysteries, Connelly's police procedural leaves the detached narration behind for a more personal, character-driven look at the impact of a life spent solving crimes. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (Published in 2007 / Purchase here): A more modern take on the private investigator mystery, Case Histories is the first installment in Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series. Her world-weary ex-police PI is a compelling main character in his own right, and this first installment sees him connecting the dots between three seemingly unrelated cold cases for a unique and satisfying twist on the police procedural. Best Cozy Mystery Books Though cozier, amateur-sleuth style mysteries have arguably always been part of the genre, recent years have really brought the idea of a quainter mystery to the forefront. Cozy mysteries are often characterized by quaint small towns, plenty of delicious food descriptions, and less experienced figures thrust into solving a case. These are some of the best mystery books to settle down with when you want something a bit less stressful, but still full of clues to unpack. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (Published in 2020 / Purchase here): Set in a luxury retirement village, The Thursday Murder Club is a warm, hilarious take on the amateur sleuth formula. Full of emotional depth and heart, the story offers a cast of quirky characters who use society's treatment of the elderly to their advantage to help crack the case. The Secret Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams (Published in 2017 / Purchase here): This cozy mystery delivers the traditional small-town setting, in this case, a hot springs resort, and throws in a bookstore and scones for good measure. A heartwarming story of female friendship and healing, this is often the go-to recommendation for cozy mysteries you don't want to miss. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Published in 2023 / Purchase here): Take your elderly amateur sleuth trope and add a dash of proud loner vibes, and you've got Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. Convinced she can do a better job than the police, Vera puts her nosy mother skills to a new use to crack a case that literally falls on her doorstep, making for a heartfelt and quirky modern cozy mystery classic. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (Published in 2021 / Purchase here): If you like an amateur sleuth and a cozy book that's got plenty of delicious dishes within its pages, Arsenic and Adobo will fit the bill and then some. The first in a series of cozy mysteries centered on a small-town family restaurant, this is a refreshingly funny, cozy mystery where a woman solves a case to clear her family's name.