The Best Thriller Mystery Books to Devour This Year

There is something irresistible about a thriller mystery that keeps you turning pages long after you should have gone to bed. The strongest titles plant a question in the first chapter and refuse to let go until the final reveal. Some readers want a slow-burning psychological puzzle. Others love a classic whodunit with a satisfying explanation. The books gathered here cover both ends of that spectrum, and they include a few older gems that have lost none of their power.

The list below draws on reader polls, bestseller charts and award lists rather than one person’s taste. That means you will find a mix of brand-new releases and enduring favourites. There is no single correct place to start, so feel free to jump to whichever section matches the mood you are in.

What Makes a Thriller Mystery Hard to Put Down?

A mystery gives you a puzzle. A thriller gives you momentum. When the two combine well, the reader is carried forward by curiosity about the crime and by worry about the people caught up in it. The pacing needs to feel purposeful, with enough red herrings to keep you guessing without making you feel cheated when the answer arrives.

Character also matters more than many people expect. A clever plot is easier to enjoy when you care about the detective, the suspect or the witness telling the story. That is why character-driven mysteries have such a loyal following, and it is the reason our own books at The Mystery Collective focus on the people behind the puzzle as much as the puzzle itself.

As you read through the recommendations below, you will notice that the same names appear again and again on different lists. That is usually a reliable sign that a book delivers what its genre promises.

The Thriller Mysteries Everyone Is Talking About

One of the most useful ways to spot a book worth reading is to look at what other readers choose. The Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller category in the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards has highlighted four titles that have generated real conversation this year.

• Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson, one of the thrillers recognised in the 2025 Goodreads category and a story that has drawn in readers who enjoy fresh voices in crime fiction.
• The Tenant by Freida McFadden, another 2025 category pick that has clearly struck a chord with readers who like their mysteries fast and full of suspicion.
• The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman, the fifth book in the Thursday Murder Club series and a reminder of why this long-running series remains so popular.
• Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney, a title that has stayed high on reading lists since its release and continues to appear in reader conversations.

Because these titles were chosen by readers rather than publishers, they give a useful snapshot of what people are actually enjoying at the moment. If you want to stay current, starting here is a sensible move.

Twist-Heavy Thrillers to Read Before the Spoilers Arrive

Some thriller mysteries are most satisfying when you know almost nothing about them. Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak is exactly this kind of book. It has earned a reputation as one of those twisty novels that is best read with as little prior knowledge as possible, so avoid the reviews and go straight to the first page.

If you enjoy a story that keeps rearranging everything you thought you knew, two other titles deserve your attention. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker both feature on a much-shared list of the ten best thriller mystery books of all time, and readers continue to debate their endings years after publication.

Classic and Critically Acclaimed Thriller Mysteries

If you want to understand the genre’s history, start with TIME’s collection of the 100 best mystery and thriller books of all time. The list was assembled with help from a panel of celebrated authors including Megan Abbott, Harlan Coben, S.A. Cosby, Gillian Flynn, Tana French, Rachel Howzell Hall and Sujata Massey, and it runs in chronological order from the 1800s to the present.

The full list is a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to work through the genre’s milestones. Among the featured titles are The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler and Beast in View by Margaret Millar, two very different books that show how broad the category can be.

Literary prizes also have a place in this conversation. The Booker Prizes, for example, have recognised several novels that sit firmly within thriller territory. Snowdrops by A.D. Miller and The Birthday Party by Laurent Mauvignier are among the best thrillers nominated for the Booker Prizes, and both reward readers who like their suspense with literary polish.

Bestseller and Book Club Standouts

For a rapid, dependable read, the mainstream bestseller charts remain a strong starting point. The New York Times lists of top-selling mystery and thriller books this year have included Deadly Cross, A Time for Mercy, Daylight, The Law of Innocence and Moonflower Murders, all of which have found wide audiences among readers who want a substantial page-turner.

Across the Atlantic, the most popular items in Amazon’s Crime, Thrillers & Mystery category tell a similar story. The list has featured Sometimes I Lie, described as a tense and gripping psychological suspense thriller, alongside titles such as It Could Have Been Her and The Family Upstairs.

If you prefer the sense of discovery that comes from a reading group, take inspiration from one mystery and thriller book club’s current shelf, which includes The Unknown, A House With Good Bones, The Ending Writes Itself, Expert Witness and Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests. These are the kinds of titles that generate lively debate about motives, alibis and fair play.

How to Choose the Right Thriller Mystery for You

The best approach is to be honest about your mood. If you want a fast, propulsive story, a bestseller such as The Tenant or a psychological suspense novel like Sometimes I Lie is a reliable bet. If you prefer quieter, character-led storytelling, look for novels described as traditional or cosy mysteries rather than full-blooded thrillers.

Use a book’s opening pages as your guide. If the tone feels too dark or too fast, put it down and try another. There is no requirement to finish a book that is not right for you, and the genre is wide enough that you will always find another candidate waiting on the shelf.

It also helps to know what a satisfying reveal means to you. Some readers want an ending they never saw coming. Others want an ending that feels fair, with all the clues hidden in plain sight. Both experiences exist in the thriller mystery genre, and both can be wonderful when the book matches your expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the questions readers ask most often when they are choosing thriller mystery books.

What is the difference between a mystery and a thriller?

The quickest way to separate them is to think about what drives the plot. A mystery is built around a puzzle, usually a crime that needs solving, while a thriller is built around tension, danger and pace. The split is never perfect because many books use both. The Silent Patient, for example, asks a detective-style question while keeping the psychological pressure high throughout.

How do I choose a good thriller mystery if I usually read cosy fiction?

Think about the reading experience you want. If you enjoy character-led stories with a gentler tone, try a book from a series with a strong following, such as The Impossible Fortune, the fifth Thursday Murder Club novel by Richard Osman. If you want speed and surprise, look at the current bestseller charts. Read the opening pages and ask whether the voice feels right before committing.

Are there reliable lists of the best thriller mystery books of all time?

Yes. TIME assembled a list of the 100 best mystery and thriller books of all time with help from authors such as Megan Abbott, Harlan Coben, Gillian Flynn and Tana French. You could also check the Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller category in the annual Goodreads Choice Awards, which is useful because it reflects genuine reader enthusiasm.

What are the best thriller mystery books to read this year?

The titles creating the most conversation in the 2025 Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller category are Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson, The Tenant by Freida McFadden, Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney and The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman. For a longer reading list, pair them with The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak for a satisfying mix of styles.