25 of the Best Murder Mystery Books

The Magpie Murders is a clever murder mystery within another murder mystery. It’s such a layered and twisty story that keeps you guessing until the very end! Oh and did I mention it’s a story about books? It follows Susan, a book editor who works with famed crime writer Alan Conway. When she begins reading his latest tale of murder in a manor house, Susan becomes convinced that not everything is as it seems. Plus, the last chapters of the manuscript are missing and it’s up to her to find out what is happening both in the novel and to its writer.

One of the things that makes this a very compelling book is that aside from a good ol’ murder mystery, Bluebird, Bluebird talks about the serious issues of systemic racism in the U.S. The story follows a Black Texas Ranger named Darren Matthews. He’s investigating a double homicide — one of the victims is a local white woman and the other is a Black lawyer from Chicago. The police have failed to solve the case, so Darren takes it upon himself to look into it. But in doing so, he’s kicked a hornet’s nest. Only by solving the case can he save his own life too.

Next, another classic Japanese murder mystery! This one is considered a milestone in the country’s detective fiction — and is even credited with launching the shinhonkaku movement, which roughly translates to a “new orthodox” in the mystery genre. Originally published in 1987, The Decagon House Murders follows a group of university students who have a mystery club. They decide to visit an island where some grisly murders happened a year ago. Suddenly, they start to get picked off one by one. Is it a madman on the loose? Maybe. You’ll have to read it to find out!

The Honjin Murders features one of Japan’s oldest and most popular detectives — Kosuke Kindaichi! Yokomizo was incredibly prolific with his detective, and their journey begins with a historical murder mystery set in 1937. It all comes together to tell an exciting and unique story full of murder and mayhem. It all begins with a masked man asking sinister questions in the village of Okamura. Soon, on the night of the Ichiyanagi wedding, a body appears. The killer left no trace of his crime — except a bloodied samurai sword. It’s up to Kindaichi to solve this impossible and legendary case. Will he be able to do it?

Lay Your Sleeping Head is the revised version of the classic book The Little Death. It’s the first in a series following queer and Latine lawyer Henry Rios. Usually, murder mysteries involve detectives, law enforcers or amateur sleuths. But seeing things from the perspective of a lawyer is fascinating in and of itself! The story follows Henry as he begins an affair with an heir who tells him an improbable tale of murder and sexual predation. Not long after, the young man is found dead of an apparent overdose. But Henry doesn’t buy it, so he takes the investigation into his own hands — only to uncover a web of secrets that points to murder.

They All Fall Down is an exciting and more modern version of And Then There Were None — with strangers stranded on an island as they’re killed off one by one. The ending is shocking — but the less you know the better! The story follows a woman named Miriam Macy, who sails to a private island with six other strangers. They all have their secrets, ones they don’t want to see the light of day. When a storm leaves them stranded, and one by one they are murdered, the seven are forced to solve the mystery or die.

Historical murder mystery books are so unique and entertaining because on top of the suspense, they build this mesmerizing atmosphere that drags you into the story! Dead Dead Girls is set in Harlem 1926 and it follows a young Black girl named Louise Lloyd. She’s trying to maintain a normal life, ignoring the kidnapping ordeal she went through. She almost succeeds, except that several girls like her are ending up dead. The latest victim turned up in front of the café Louise works in — and after an altercation with a police officer she is given the choice to be made an example or help them solve the case. 

Who said murder mystery books had to be totally serious? Well, they can also be quite funny — especially cozy mysteries — and this is definitely the case with this book! The Thursday Murder Club follows a group of friends who live in a retirement village and love discussing unsolved crimes. When a developer is found dead, the club puts their sleuthing skills to the test. Can the unorthodox group catch the killer? You’ll have to read it to find out!

This is another murder mystery book that is more than what it seems. There’s the thriller bit, but it also does a wonderful job of talking about sociopolitical issues. Lightseekers follows a psychologist named Dr. Philip Taiwo, who is called on by a politician to help solve a horrible case. Three university students were tortured and murdered in Nigeria, and it’s up to Philip to figure out who killed them and why. Despite being more of an academic, he dives headfirst into a case that is more twisted than he ever imagined. 

The list of things to like about this book is honestly endless. It includes food, features Latine characters, and has an unconventional character that is also a mother. How often do you see that in murder mystery books? Mango, Mambo, and Murder follows food anthropologist Miriam Quinones-Smith. She just moved to Coral Shores Miami for a new job as a TV cooking expert. But one day in a Women’s Club luncheon, one of the attendees drops dead. A second woman dies soon after — and clues point to Miriam’s best friend Alma. So in order to clear her bff’s name, Miriam agrees to help the detective solve the case.

The Roaring Twenties is a super compelling historical setting for this murder mystery! Especially since it doesn’t take place in the usual New York. Set in Denver, All That Is Secret follows a college professor named Annalee Spain. Her estranged father just died, and she’s called back home to solve his murder. There she meets two surprising allies who might just be of romantic interest for her. Either way, with their help Annalee unravels the elite’s darkest secrets — despite it putting her in the path of danger.

Arsenic and Adobo is another culinary murder mystery book that will leave you craving Filipine cuisine. I mean, it even has recipes for some of the dishes the MC makes in the back! The story is exciting, sweet — and plain fun to read with the small romantic subplot. It follows Lila Macapagal, who has returned home to help out at her parent’s restaurant after a bad breakup. One day, she’s serving a nasty food critic, and her ex-boyfriend, when he suddenly drops dead. The police obviously blame Lila. Plus, the landlord sees this as the perfect excuse to kick her family out and resell the place. So Lila has no choice but to take on the case and find out who the real killer is.

As I previously mentioned, murder mysteries can blend genres seamlessly. Such is the case with Far From the Light of Heaven — which is set on a colony spaceship! The story begins when Michelle — the Ragtime’s first mate — discovers that some of her ship’s sleepers are dead. She sends out a call for help, and investigator Rasheed Fin answers it. He’s now tasked with finding out who killed all the sleepers — and he might just uncover a huge conspiracy that will have lasting repercussions for the entire Lagos system. 

The premise of The Conductors is so unique for a murder mystery book that I had to put it on this list! It’s a crossover between alternate history and fantasy, in which a magic-user solves crimes in post-Civil War Philadelphia. Her name is Hetty Rhodes, and she’s a former conductor of the Underground Railroad. She now solves murders with her husband in the city of Philadelphia, at least the cases which the police won’t touch. One day, one of their friends is found dead in an alley. Hetty and her husband bury the body and set out to find answers. But what they don’t know is that this case will put them face to face with the darkest secrets of the city’s elites — and their own.

June Hur is known for writing these amazing YA historical mysteries set in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea — and this is her latest release! The Red Palace follows 18-year-old Hyeon, who has managed to earn a position as a palace nurse. All she wants is to keep her head down, but it’s not in the cards for her. Someone murders four women in a single night — and the main suspect is Hyeon’s closest friend. So she teams up with a police inspector named Eojin to solve the case, discover the palace’s secrets, and clear her friend’s name.

You know that trope in which a character wakes up with no memories and literal blood on their hands? There’s something so exciting and unsettling about it that it hooks you right into the story — and that’s exactly how Grown begins. This happens to a young woman named Enchanted. She dreams of becoming a singer, and as she meets legendary R&B artist Korey Fields, her dreams might become a reality. But it all comes crashing down when she wakes up the day after her audition covered in blood. Korey Fields is dead, and all signs point to Enchanted. But did she do it?

Lydia Kang is known for her historical mysteries set in New York — and this is her latest release! Her stories are always fascinating because her medical knowledge always seeps in (she’s a doctor). Plus, this one also has vampires! Opium and Absinthe is set in 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister was murdered, and she was found with two puncture wounds in her neck. Tillie is addicted to the truth, so she takes the investigation of her sister’s death into her own hands. But that’s not her only addiction — and with opium coursing through her veins she can’t tell what’s real. What really happened to her sister? You’ll have to read it to find out!

Last but not least, this is a quirky and fun book that dips into the cozy mystery genre! With an exciting case and an endearing main character, it’s one of those books you won’t be able to put down. The Maid follows Molly Gray, who has always struggled at reading social cues. Her grandmother used to help her out, but since her death Molly has been left to navigate the world on her own. So she throws herself into her job as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Things seem fine for Molly — until she finds a dead body in one of the rooms. Soon, Molly becomes the main suspect in the police investigation. With help from her new friends, Molly needs to find the real killer before it’s too late.