The thrill of the chase, the clues that keep you guessing, trying to figure out whodunnit before the big reveal. If you’re a die-hard detective novel fan, you’ve probably already devoured the classics from authors like Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But the mystery genre has exploded in recent years with many fantastic new series and stand-alone books to sink your teeth into.
We’ve rounded up 10 of the best recent detective novels to add to your to-be-read pile. From gritty noir to cosy capers and everything in between, these books will pull you in with complex characters, twisty plots, and endings you’ll never see coming.
Grab your metaphorical magnifying glass and get ready to investigate some of the sharpest, most suspenseful mysteries of the 21st century. The game is afoot!
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
This mystery novel from the Queen of Crime herself is a must-read for any detective fiction fan. Published in 1926, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was one of Agatha Christie’s earliest novels and really showcased her talent for crafting an intriguing whodunit.
The story is set in a small English village where the wealthy widow Mrs Ferrars has been found dead in her home, apparently by suicide. However, the town’s nosy Parker, Caroline Sheppard, believes it was murder. When Mrs Ferrars’ brother Roger Ackroyd is then found stabbed to death in his study, Hercule Poirot comes out of retirement to investigate.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None is a classic whodunit mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Ten strangers are invited to a mysterious island under false pretences. As a storm cuts them off from the outside world, they are murdered one by one according to the lines of a sinister nursery rhyme.
In this chilling page-turner, everyone is a suspect. As the body count rises, tensions escalate and hidden pasts are revealed. The twists will shock you and the unsettling conclusion will haunt you long after turning the final page.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is a dark and gritty mystery thriller and the first novel in the Millennium series. This book introduces the unforgettable characters of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist.
Lisbeth is a young, quirky hacker with a troubled past. She’s covered in tattoos and piercings and is somewhat of a social outcast. Mikael is an investigative journalist in Stockholm who has just been convicted of libel. He’s hired to solve the decades-old disappearance of Harriet Vanger, niece of wealthy industrialist Henrik Vanger.
A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
If you love following clues and solving mysteries, you’ll devour A is for Alibi, the first novel in Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series. Kinsey is a private investigator in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California (based on Santa Barbara). In this book, Kinsey is hired by Nikki Fife to investigate the murder of her ex-husband, Laurence Fife.
Years after Laurence’s death, Nikki is finally out of prison for his murder, a crime she claims she did not commit. Kinsey isn’t convinced of Nikki’s innocence at first but agrees to look into the case. As she digs into the details of Laurence’s secret life, Kinsey begins to wonder if the wrong person ended up behind bars.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a historical mystery novel set in post-World War II Barcelona. This Gothic tale will captivate mystery lovers with its labyrinthine plot, eccentric characters, and literary puzzles.
As a boy, Daniel Sempere discovers a mysterious book called The Shadow of the Wind in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a secret library filled with titles that have been forgotten. The Shadow of the Wind is by an author named Julián Carax, who Daniel tries to learn more about. He discovers that someone has been systematically destroying all of Carax’s works.
Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
Devil in a Blue Dress is the first in Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins mystery series, set in 1940s Los Angeles. This novel introduces you to Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, an African American World War II veteran who finds himself drawn into the world of private investigation.
When you first meet Easy, he has just been fired from his job at an aircraft plant. Down on his luck, he’s unsure how he’ll make ends meet. That is until a mysterious man named DeWitt Albright offers him a job finding a missing woman named Daphne Monet. The money is good, so Easy accepts the gig. However, he soon realizes this “missing person” case is more dangerous than he bargained for.
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep is a hardboiled detective classic that helped define the genre. Published in 1939, it introduced the world to Philip Marlowe, a quick-witted and clever private investigator set against the backdrop of 1930s Los Angeles.
The story centres around General Sternwood, a wealthy man who hires Marlowe to resolve some troublesome gambling debts incurred by his daughter Carmen. But Marlowe quickly discovers there’s more afoot, as blackmail, murder, and double-crossing ensue.
With plot twists and red herrings galore, it can be hard to keep up with the action. Pay close attention to the details—even the subtle ones—as Chandler’s prose is delightfully deliberate.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is a classic whodunit mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. Set in the 1930s, the story follows the famous detective Hercule Poirot as he tries to solve a murder that occurs on the world’s most glamorous train, the Orient Express.
While travelling from Istanbul to London, a passenger named Ratchett is found dead in his locked compartment, stabbed multiple times. Luckily, Poirot is aboard the train and is recruited to investigate. As Poirot interviews the eclectic cast of characters, he discovers that many of them aren’t who they claim to be.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
One of the most famous detective series of all time, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes features the iconic sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Dr Watson. Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, these short stories were originally published in The Strand Magazine between 1891 and 1892.
In these mysteries, the brilliant but eccentric Sherlock Holmes uses his powers of deduction to solve perplexing cases that stump Scotland Yard and the police. From his home at 221B Baker Street in London, the “consulting detective” relies on logic and clues to get to the bottom of each mystery. Whether it’s a case of blackmail, stolen jewels or murder most foul, Sherlock Holmes is on the case.
The Dublin Murder Squad Series by Tana French
The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French is a must-read for any mystery lover. Following the cases of the Dublin Murder Squad, each novel in the series focuses on a different detective.
In Faithful Place, we follow Detective Frank Mackey as he investigates the disappearance of his first love Rosie Daly 22 years earlier. Frank left his dysfunctional family and the poverty of Faithful Place, his childhood neighbourhood, behind for a career as an undercover cop. When Rosie’s suitcase shows up, Frank is forced to confront the life and family he abandoned.
There we have it, our list of 10 best detective novels. What do you think about our picks? Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below: