By Julia Kubic
Anyone who knows me knows that I love reading murder mysteries. Whether it’s a classic Agatha Christie or the most popular new release, I’ve read every type of mystery novel there is. So I decided to do something with my extensive knowledge of the whodunit genre and compile a list of the top 10 best mystery novels. And trust me- whether you love murder mysteries as much as I do, or you rarely read outside of school, there is something on this list for everyone.
10. Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
In Echo Ridge, Vermont, missing girls don’t return. First it was the protagonist, Ellery’s, aunt. Then it was Lacey Kilduff, the popular, pretty homecoming queen. And when 16-year old Ellery and her twin brother move to Echo Ridge to live with their grandmother, yet another girl goes missing. At first, Ellery is just volunteering to help look for the latest missing girl, but soon enough, she is investigating the other strange disappearances and deaths. And she discovers long-buried secrets she could never imagine. There are plot twists abound in this book! Read on to witness them first hand, and find out what has been happening to the girls of Echo Ridge.
9. The Other Family by Wendi Corsi Staub
The perfect Howell family is about to move into a gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone, after leaving LA. There’s one issue-the former residents were victims of a horrific triple homicide. Not long after the move, strange things start happening around the house, and the eldest Howell daughter is convinced someone is watching their family. Keep reading to see secrets unfold and the seemingly flawless Howell family learn that you can’t trust anybody-not even your own family.
8. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
What happens when a group of strangers all gather on a remote island? Murder, it seems. As grizzly deaths keep happening, following the pattern of the old nursery rhyme, Ten Little Soldiers, panic and terror builds amongst those still living. You’ll have to read it yourself to see who finds out who is killing the group until there is, well, none. But I will tell you, it’s pretty wild. That being said, the reveal of the killer isn’t the only thing that’ll make you think. You’ll be left questioning your ideas of justice for days after finishing.
7. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Five years ago, Sal Singh murdered his girlfriend, Andie Bell, and then killed himself. Or at least, that’s what the entire town of Fairview, Connecticut believes. But highschooler Pip Fitz-Amobi isn’t convinced. This is a roller coaster of a book that follows Pip as she tries to uncover the real killer of the long-closed case and unearths the secrets of her small town along the way. The cute, New England setting, combined with a regular teenage girl investigating the case makes for a thrilling, one-of-a-kind read.
6. If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier
Sera is obsessed with true crime podcasts. One might say unhealthily obsessed. So when her favorite podcast host suddenly goes MIA, Sera decides to figure out the truth. She ventures to the host’s isolated ranch in Northern California, where everything seems a little…off. Including Sera herself. This book is truly an entertaining read. It makes you question who you can trust, and makes you think: what would happen if I disappeared?
5. The Secret Next Door by Rachel Taylor
How well do you know your neighbors? Would any of them commit murder? Enter The Enclave, an affluent gated community located in Denver. Alyson Tinsdale moved here so she and her husband could raise their young son in a safe, fun neighborhood. But that sense of safety is shattered when a young boy is found dead by the neighborhood lake. You’ll have to keep reading to find out the truth behind the death of this innocent thirteen year old. But let me tell you one thing: the gated community lifestyle isn’t as perfect as it seems, especially when one of the residents is a killer.
4. Murder On the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
The queen of mystery’s most famous novel does not disappoint! When one of the passengers aboard the glamorous Orient Express is found stabbed to death, panic ensues, especially since the train is currently stopped in its tracks due to a huge snowbank blocking it in. Which means nobody can go in or out, leaving the passengers trapped on the train with a murderer. Luckily, famous detective Hercule Poirot is aboard and investigates the gruesome murder. And soon enough he finds out that people will do pretty wild things to get revenge. And let me tell you now, your jaw will be on the floor after finishing this novel.
3. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
A group of friends decide to spend the new year at a charming, isolated Scottish estate. Two days later, one of them is dead. And one of them is a killer. This book is so good, because not only do you not know who the murderer is until the very end, you also don’t know who died. You’re completely in the dark, but that makes the book even more entertaining to read. And hey, here’s a New Year’s resolution for you: be careful of who you trust. Because some people keep their friends close, but their enemies even closer.
2. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
The idyllic village of King’s Abbot adored Roger Ackroyd, a wealthy, kind, old man. It doesn’t make sense that someone would want him dead. So, they naïvely assume that it was Ackroyd’s stepson, Ralph was the killer, and he killed to get his inheritance. However, the iconic crime-solver Hercule Poirot doubts the path of least resistance. And his sleuthing reveals one of the most shocking truths of his career. This book breaks every rule regarding murder mysteries, making it one of the most jaw-dropping, controversial, and best mystery novels ever written.
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Weddings aren’t always a place of cheer and happiness. In this book, they are a place of death. When Will and Jules, a picture-perfect couple, announce their picture-perfect wedding on a gorgeous yet incredibly remote Irish island, their friends and family seem ecstatic. But someone doesn’t want to wish the happy couple well. In fact, they want to wreck havoc, panic, and death on an otherwise special day. So who killed who? And more importantly, why? The Guest List is an electrifying, hair-raising thriller that’ll leave you up all night trying to finish.
Sources:
HB IN RETROSPECT 