Best New Mystery Books of 2024
I love mystery books so I am always excited to read fantastic new mystery books when they come my way. Not every mystery is created equally. The mysteries that we chose on this list are some of the most creative books I have ever read.
I am so happy that this list includes adult picks as well as young adult and middle-grade picks. My daughter has recently started reading mysteries and I am always so happy to give her some great picks that are age-appropriate.
This list is not full yet, as Kirsten and I read more new mystery books of 2024, we will add them to the list so make sure you check back often!
*Mystery Books 2024 Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Best New Mystery Books of 2024
Best New Mystery Books
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
March 2024 Good Morning America Book Club Pick
2024 is the year of the thriller and this one doesn’t disappoint! Lucy is returning to her hometown for the first time since she was accused, but never charged, with murdering her best friend Savvy 5 years ago.
She has no memories of the night Savvy died, but she needs answers for herself. So she decides to team up with true crime podcaster, Ben Owens, to discover the truth – even if she’s implicated in the process.
Ben is real-time podcasting the whole investigation and his interviews are interspersed between chapters, revealing new insights each time.
Why I Love It: This is one mystery/thriller that is even better in audiobook format! The background noises and interviews bring the podcast to life. #gifted by Macmillan Audio
Find this book in Best Audiobooks / Best Beach Reads 2024 / New Mystery Books of 2024
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett
True crime author Amanda Bailey is looking to revive her career. She decides to write a book about The Alperton Angels, a cult that almost convinced a teenage girl that her baby was The Anti-Christ and needed to be killed. But after she calls the police and is dropped off at the hospital, she disappears and so does the baby.
Now Amanda is trying to find the perfect angle for this book when she discovers that Oliver, another author, is also on the case. When they decide to collaborate, they discover that the story goes deeper than they could have imagined.
Why I Liked It: I started reading this book but switched to the full-cast audio version and could not stop listening. The book is written as WhatsApp messages, emails, and transcripts. I loved this five-star read and highly recommend the audio version for a deeper reading experience. #gifted
Find this book in Cult Books / Full Cast Audiobooks / Ultimate List of Mystery Books / Summer Reads of 2024 / Best New Mystery Books 2024
The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers by Samuel Burr
Clayton Stumper was raised by a group of puzzle makers in the commune where he was left as a baby. When the woman who raised him dies, she leaves him with one more puzzle to solve.
The solution will give him answers about his past and the secrets of his birth as well as point give him directions for his future.
Why I Like It: I read this book in a day and found it even more delightful than the description. It was a medium-paced book, however, the puzzles within are engaging and the dual-timeline story made it unputdownable. I loved this 5-star read. #gifted
Find this book in Best Puzzle Books for Adults / Best New Mystery Books of 2024 / Best Fiction Books of 2024
Historical Fiction Mystery Books of 2024
The Main Character by Jaclyn Goldis
This book had me at Orient Express. Within it, Rory has been sent on a lavish trip to the Italian riviera aboard the newly remodeled famous train. It’s her reward for being celebrated writer Ginevra Ex’s newest main character – the real-life person who inspires each of Ex’s novels.
But Rory is shocked to see her brother, her best friend, and her ex-fiance aboard as well – all at Ginevra’s expense. The story opens with one of them being murdered but who and by whom remains to be seen.
As the foursome read Ginevra’s new manuscript secrets unravel, but behind the scenes, Ginevra’s own past is catching up to her and just why she was drawn to Rory in the first place remained unanswered.
Why I Love It: While the who-dun-it mystery within Ginevra’s novel was so well executed and the suspense of who was killed kept me turning the pages, it was Ginevra’s storyline that intrigued me most.
I was enthralled by Russia’s history with the Jewish people, having been mostly unaware of the animosity there before this book, and was shocked to learn that element came from Goldis’s own family history!
Find this book in Best Mystery Books of 2024 / Best Jewish Writers
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
Annabelle’s Great Aunt Frances has believed she would be murdered since a fortune teller told her that at a young age. And now she has been!
The kicker? She’s collected files on everyone she knows and thinks the killer is hidden within those pages. For that reason, she has decided to leave her estate and vast fortune to whoever can solve the crime. Pitting Annabelle against other members of her ruthless family, she has one week to solve the murder without putting herself in danger.
The clues go back to Frances’s youth with diary entries interspersed throughout to create a dual-timeline narrative that is so incredibly clever and unique. It’s inferred that Frances’s files will be used again in the future.
Why I Loved it: The first story in this new series didn’t disappoint. It’s a delightful cozy mystery unlike any I’ve read before! I can’t wait to explore Castle Knoll and Aunt Frances’s files more in future books.
Find This Book In New Mystery Books 2024
Plot
Jo Piazza has written the PERFECT summer novel, striking a delicious balance between being relaxing enough to enjoy on the beach but thought-provoking enough to discuss with your book club.
I was swept into the story of Sara and her quest to learn about her unexpected inheritance and the possible murder of her great-grandmother, Serafina. To solve the mystery and claim her inheritance, she must travel to the Italian countryside – giving her a break from her recently closed restaurant and her failed marriage.
The dual-timeline narrative focuses on Sara’s quest and Serafina’s life as a woman coming into her own in the 1900s. The stakes are high for both women as they balance staying true to their dreams in the face of society’s oppression of women, especially when it turns dangerous.
Why Kirsten loves it
I could go on and on about this one. The vivid imagery that Jo paints with her writing had me picturing the town, tasting the food, and smelling the Sicilian soil. I SWEAR, at one point I touched my chin to see if the oil from the meal she was writing about was dripping down my face.
It’s a multi-genre, multigenerational masterpiece of a beach read. #gifted by Dutton Books
Why Jackie loves it
I could not put this book down. The characters and the plot compelled me to keep reading, the descriptions of the people and the places made me feel like I was actually there. The fact that some of this is based in a true story is just a cherry on top of this sundae!
Find this book in: Beach Read 2024 / Books Set in Italy / Family Drama / Best Historical Fiction of 2024 / Best Mystery Books 2024 / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read
YA and Middle-Grade Mysteries
The Reappearance of Rachel Prince by Holly Jackson
Rachel Price disappeared 16 years ago without a trace. Bel, two years old at the time, was found in the abandoned car safe and warm with the engine still running. Now, Rachel and her dad, as well as the rest of the Price family, are doing a documentary about Rachel’s disappearance. Life has never been normal and some still believe Bel’s dad had something to do with Rachel’s disappearance.
Now, in the middle of filming, Rachel comes home. Bel does not believe Rachel’s story about where she has been for the last 16 years.
Why I Love It: The character-building and suspense of this book are fantastic. I love that even though it is written for YA, an adult or even middle grade can read this book and love it. There are twists and turns that feel like natural story development rather than contrived.
Find this book in: Best New Mystery Books of 2024
The Misfits by Lisa Yee
Olive is usually a misfit at every school she attends, but at her latest school, RASCH, her differences are why she’s chosen for an elite crime-fighting squad.
As she and the other Misfits go undercover to nab a prolific jewel thief, they must learn to work together and lean on one another.
Why We Love This Book: The diverse cast of characters comes alive in this story – each bringing their own quirks, skills, and differences to create a cohesive team. #Gifted by Penguin Kids
Appropriate for ages 8-12
Find this book in Best Audiobooks for Kids / Books for 12-year-olds / Mystery Books for Kids / Best Mystery Books 2024
The Ultimate List of Mystery Books
Love Mysteries? This is a list of the best mystery books carefully divided by sub-genre for anyone who lives a good mystery as much as I do.
