21 Thriller/Mystery Books to Read

Truly devious by Maureen Johnson

A thrilling mystery that will keep you guessing. At the elite Ellingham Academy, Stevie Bell is determined to solve a decades-old cold case involving a kidnapping and murder. But when a new crime rocks the school, Stevie realizes the past and present are dangerously connected. Packed with twists, intrigue, and unforgettable characters, this book is perfect for fans of smart, suspenseful whodunits.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes  

It follows Cassie Hobbes, a teenager with a natural ability to read people and understand their motivations. After losing her mother in a murder, Cassie is recruited into a top-secret government program where she teams up with other teens—each with unique abilities like profiling, deception, and emotional insight—to solve cold cases. Together, they investigate unsolved crimes, but as they dig deeper, they uncover dangerous truths that put them all in peril. With suspenseful twists and complex relationships, the story explores the blurred lines between right and wrong, and the cost of using such extraordinary talents.

The silent patient by Alex Michaelides

A psychological thriller about Alicia Berenson, a renowned painter who is accused of murdering her husband and falls silent afterward. Theo Faber, a forensic psychologist, takes on her case, determined to uncover the truth behind her silence. As he delves into her past, he discovers shocking secrets that challenge everything he believes. With twists at every turn, the story keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Then she was gone by Lisa Jewell

It follows Laurel Mack, whose 15-year-old daughter Ellie disappears without a trace. Years later, Laurel meets Floyd, a man with a charming family—including his 9-year-old daughter, Poppy—who bears a striking resemblance to Ellie. As Laurel delves into Floyd’s past, she uncovers dark secrets that will change everything she thought she knew about her daughter’s disappearance. With suspenseful twists and emotional depth, this gripping novel explores loss, deception, and the lengths people will go to keep the truth hidden.

The good girl’s guide to murder by Holly Jackson

It follows Pip Fitz-Amobi, a high school student who takes on a challenging school project to re-examine a murder case from five years ago. Andie Bell was murdered, and her boyfriend Sal Singh was blamed, but the case was closed. As Pip investigates further, she uncovers new evidence and starts questioning the truth, putting herself in danger. With unexpected twists and a compelling mystery, this book offers a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

Gone girl by Gillian Flynn

A psychological thriller that follows the story of Nick and Amy Dunne, a seemingly perfect couple whose marriage begins to unravel. When Amy goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary, suspicion falls on Nick, and dark secrets from their past come to light. As the investigation deepens, shocking twists and unreliable narratives blur the truth, creating a tense and suspenseful atmosphere.

Angles and demon by Dan Brown

It follows Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as he investigates a murder linked to the secretive Illuminati, an ancient and powerful underground society. When a physicist is killed at a Swiss research center, and evidence points to the Illuminati’s involvement, Langdon teams up with scientist Vittoria Vetra to unravel a conspiracy that threatens the Vatican. As they race against time, they uncover dangerous secrets and face a deadly plot involving ancient symbols, secret rituals, and a race to save the world’s most sacred institution.

The Housemaid by Freida McFaddden

A psychological thriller that follows Millie, a struggling single mom who lands a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy family. At first, the job seems like a dream come true, but as Millie becomes immersed in their luxurious lifestyle, she starts to notice unsettling things. Secrets begin to unravel, and Millie realizes that the family’s perfect facade hides dark, dangerous truths. As tensions rise, trust is tested, and Millie must navigate a web of lies, betrayal, and suspense to uncover the truth behind the perfect family.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

A psychological thriller about Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is hired to finish the bestselling book series of Verity Crawford, a renowned author left incapacitated after a tragic accident. While staying at Verity’s home, Lowen discovers an unfinished autobiography filled with chilling confessions about Verity’s life and the horrifying truths behind her family’s tragedies. As Lowen becomes entangled in the Crawfords’ dark secrets, she must decide whether to expose the truth or keep it hidden.

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

A gripping psychological thriller about newlyweds Tricia and Ethan, who get stranded in a snowstorm and take shelter in an eerie mansion once owned by a missing psychiatrist, Dr. Adrienne Hale. While exploring, Tricia uncovers disturbing therapy recordings that reveal Adrienne’s dark secrets—and hint at a sinister truth. As she pieces the puzzle together, Tricia begins to question Ethan’s role in the mystery, leading to a chilling race against time to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

One of us is lying by Karen M. McManus

Set in a high school where five students walk into detention, but only four come out alive. When Simon, the creator of a notorious gossip app, dies under suspicious circumstances, his four classmates—Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, and Cooper—become the prime suspects. Each of them has secrets Simon planned to expose, but who had the most to lose? As tensions rise and the investigation unfolds, the group must unravel the truth while facing their own personal demons.

First lie wins by Ashley Elston

A gripping thriller about deception, betrayal, and the lengths people go to uncover the truth. The story follows an experienced private investigator who is assigned to tail a woman with a mysterious past. What seems like a straightforward surveillance job quickly spirals into a dangerous game of cat and mouse as both women uncover shocking secrets about each other. As lies unravel and motives collide, the stakes escalate, leading to a tense and unpredictable showdown.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

A dark, psychological thriller about Camille Preaker, a journalist who returns to her small hometown to investigate the murders of two young girls. Haunted by her troubled past and a strained relationship with her manipulative mother, Camille uncovers chilling secrets about her family and the community. As she delves deeper into the case, Camille begins to question her own sanity, blurring the line between the investigation and her personal demons. With its haunting atmosphere and shocking twists, Sharp Objects is an intense exploration of trauma, family, and the dark truths we hide.

The guest list by Lucy Foley

A thrilling murder mystery set on a remote Irish island during an extravagant wedding. As the high-profile guests gather to celebrate the union of a charming TV star and a successful magazine publisher, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Old grudges, hidden secrets, and past betrayals come to light, culminating in a shocking murder. Told from multiple perspectives, the story weaves a web of suspense as everyone becomes a suspect, and the truth about the victim and the killer is revealed.

The girl with the dragon tattoo by Stieg Larson

A gripping mystery that blends family secrets, financial intrigue, and dark crimes. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is hired by a wealthy patriarch, Henrik Vanger, to investigate the decades-old disappearance of his niece, Harriet, from their secluded island. Blomkvist teams up with Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant but troubled hacker with a mysterious past. As they dig deeper, they uncover long-buried crimes, uncover corruption, and face dangers from those desperate to keep the truth hidden.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

The story revolves around Cadence Sinclair, a young girl who suffers from a mysterious mental illness and loses her memory after a traumatic event that occurred two years ago. Every summer, Cadence spends time at her family’s private island with her cousins and close friends. However, during one of these summers, something terrible happens—a tragedy that has left her scarred and unable to piece together what truly transpired. As Cadence struggles to recover her memories, the novel gradually unveils the sinister events that led to the devastating accident. Told with shifting timelines and unreliable narrations, the story keeps readers guessing about the truth behind the lies and the deep, dark secrets that haunt the Sinclairs.

The 71/2 Deaths of evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

A unique and mind-bending mystery where every day, Aiden Bishop wakes up in a different guest’s body at Blackheath, a grand, eerie estate. His task is to solve the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle, which happens every night. However, Aiden is trapped in a loop, reliving the same day repeatedly, and must uncover the truth while avoiding mysterious forces determined to keep him from escaping the cycle. With each host, he gathers new clues and confronts dark secrets, leading to shocking twists and an intense race against time.

And then there were none by Agatha Christie

The story takes place on a secluded, uninhabited island off the coast of England, where ten strangers—each with a dark past—are invited under various false pretenses. Once they arrive, they discover there is no way off the island, and a voice accuses them of crimes they have committed, but never been punished for. As the characters begin to die off one by one, a chilling rhyme titled “Ten Little Soldiers” predicts their fates. Each murder becomes more sinister, and the survivors must figure out who among them is the killer before it’s too late.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

It follows Avery Grambs, a high school student who inherits a vast fortune from a mysterious stranger. Thrown into the world of the wealthy and secretive Hawthorne family, Avery must live in their estate and solve a series of challenging riddles to claim her inheritance. As she delves deeper, Avery discovers hidden motives, long-hidden secrets, and her own connection to the Hawthorne legacy. With the help of four ambitious grandsons, she races to uncover the truth while staying ahead of those who would do anything to protect their family’s power.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

A psychological thriller that follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels as he investigates the disappearance of a patient from Ashecliffe Hospital, a mental institution for the criminally insane on Shutter Island. As Teddy delves deeper into the eerie and isolated facility, he begins to uncover unsettling truths about the patients, staff, and the hospital itself. The line between reality and madness blurs as Teddy becomes increasingly haunted by disturbing memories of his past, and a sinister conspiracy unfolds.

When no one is watching by Alyssa Cole

Set in a gentrifying Brooklyn neighbourhood where Sydney Green explores her changing community, she begins to notice unsettling patterns—homes being renovated without consent, old neighbors disappearing, and a growing sense of fear. When her best friend is targeted, Sydney delves deeper into the neighborhood’s dark history, uncovering long-buried secrets and a sinister conspiracy. With tension building and trust eroding, Sydney must confront the true cost of change and who is really behind the eerie transformations in her once-familiar neighborhood.