Marie Claire's 36 Best Mystery Thriller Books (Of All Time And) to Read in 2025

"There's never a bad time of year to dive into a great mystery thriller book, but something about fall and winter—with their longer nights and sweater weather—makes them the perfect time to hunker down with a heart-racing whodunit. The best books of the genre perfectly combine a mystery and eerie tone with a puzzle so cleverly constructed that it's almost impossible to solve before the narrator spells it all out, plus enough shocking twists and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Luckily for fans of thriller books, there's no shortage of installments in the genre, which stretches back hundreds of years to include classics and spans tales of detectives, spies, and everyday citizens out for revenge. Here, we've rounded up dozens of the best mystery thriller books, from those iconic early entries to mid-century bestsellers to modern classics to even newer novels. Below, find the 36 best mystery thriller books of all time." - marieclaire.com