23 Captivating Detective Books You Won’t Want to Put Down
Detective books are such a fun genre of books to read and we have gathered 20 captivating books you will not want to put down. Whether you love classic detective stories or new detectives, we have a little bit for everyone on this list.
I love female detectives for their different points of view. The one thing these all have in common is that they keep me guessing until the very end. No matter how many detective books I read, I can never seem to figure it all out.
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Best Detective Novels of 2023
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Year: 2023
Genre: Mystery
More info: Vera Wong #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 13+
Plot
Vera Wong lives above her tea shop in Chinatown in San Francisco. When she finds a dead body in the shop, she calls the police immediately but also cleans up a bit, uses a Sharpie to trace the body, and takes the flash drive out of the man’s dead hand.
She is sure that she can do a better job of finding the murderer than the police. She comes up with a plan to find the killer and finds four suspects who she grows to care for.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this mystery book and have recommended this cozy book too many times to count. Vera is easily one of my favorite amateur detectives and the story is simultaneously funny and heartwarming!
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Beach Reads 2023 / Books Like a Man Called Ove / Fiction Books About Tea / Best Cozy Mystery Books
Contemporary Fiction Detective Books
Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
Easily one of the most unique premises I’ve read recently for a mystery, this mystery-comedy mash-up was so enjoyable! Finlay Donovan is struggling to pay her bills on her meager book advance, so when someone mistakes her for a hired hitman and offers her 50k, she almost considers doing the job.
Until someone else beats her to it and she’s left to deal with the body. Soon her nanny-turned-sidekick is helping her literally bury the body. Can Finlay figure out who might be framing her before she ends up in big trouble?
The Appeal
Author: Janice Hallett
Year: 2022
Genre: Thriller
More info: International Bestseller
Best Book of 2022 by The New York Times
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I was utterly charmed by this unique murder mystery book! The premise is great – a detective duo has been given a stack of correspondence (text and emails) and asked to read through and determine who was murdered, why, and who was wrongly accused.
Of course, we readers get to come along for the ride – reading their post-it notes or texts to each other as they try to solve the mystery. I was desperately trying to solve it along with them but I was stumped!
The ending was truly shocking and the many twists and turns had me flying through the story. I read part of it and listened to part. Both formats make for a wonderful experience! This is one I’ll be recommending this pick from the ultimate list of mystery books for years to come!
Trigger Warnings
Cancer
Why Kirsten loves it
This is the first of Janice Hallett’s book and it firmly placed her in the “must-read” author category. The format of this book is brilliant and her other books are equally entertaining, well-written, and brilliantly plotted.
Find this book in: Detective Books / The Ultimate List of Mystery Books / The Best British Mysteries / Epistolary Novels
The Dry by Jane Harper
One of the best mysteries I’ve read in recent years, Harper spun quite the web. Set in an old farming town in the Australian Outback, The Dry was actually two mysteries in one.
When an old friend of Agent Falk ends up committing a double murder and homicide, he ends up in the town he hoped to never visit again. As he stays to investigate the current murder, memories and old enemies come out of the woodwork as he recalls what happened 20 years ago when he and his father were driven out of town.
The Word is Murder (Hawthorne #1) by Anthony Horowitz
Diana Cowper enters a funeral parlor to plan her own funeral and is found dead a few hours later. Daniel Hawthorne is a disgraced detective who needs a ghostwriter to document his life. He chooses Anthony Horowitz for this task.
As Hawthorne investigates Cowper’s death, Horowitz is drawn into the life of the strange and temperamental detective’s life. This is one of the detective books where the brilliant detective may be hiding some dark secrets of his own.
Marple: Twelve New Mysteries by Various Authors
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series was my first introduction to mysteries. I was thrilled to see some of my current favorite mystery writers take a stab at all-new Miss Marple stories.
Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Leigh Bardugo are just a few of the dozen writers who wrote a short story for this compilation.
My Thoughts: I thought it was very well done and as full-cast audiobooks go, it was wonderful too. Dame Agatha would be proud these retellings.
Find this book in Classic Retellings / Short Stories
When You See Me by Lisa Gardner
I don’t know how I have never read a book by Lisa Gardner before! I must have been hiding somewhere. Even though this book has three characters from previous novels come together, I did not have a problem getting to know each of them.
The story is a fast-moving and twisted thrill ride that follows Flora Dane, Detective D.D. Warren, and FBI agent Kimberly Quincy. While trying to find more information on the serial killer and rapist Jacob Ness, the three women find themselves in the hills of Georgia where graves are being discovered and bodies are piling up.
Who can they trust in this small town? I couldn’t put this book down because I needed to see what happened next. There is no good place to stop because the story is non-stop action.
Thrilling Detective Novels
Plot
When a teenager is found murdered in a sleepy, coastal town, the local detective gets involved in solving the first murder and preventing any further ones. But when his child is determined to be a friend of the victim, he begins to wonder how close the danger is to his home.
Trigger Warnings
Animal Cruelty
Why Kirsten likes it
This book was certainly one of the creepier detective novels I’ve read. There is a scene with a frog and the original body, and I was gagging while reading it.
That said, as the mystery unfolded I found my anxiety ratcheting higher and higher until my heart was beating quickly at the dramatic end. This story is for die-hard mystery lovers who don’t mind a graphic depiction or two.
Find this book in: Fictional Books About Serial Killers / Detective Fiction
One Little Secret by Cate Holahan
Finally! A thriller that actually thrilled me! One Little Secret is a who-dun-it murder mystery about 3 couples who sublet a house in the Hamptons for a week. When one of them turns up dead, it’s up to Detective Watkins to figure out who did it.
There were secrets unveiled on almost every page, but the last 50 or so had me gasping out loud repeatedly. I totally did not see the ending coming. If you are looking for a great thriller, look no further!! This is perfect for fans of The Silent Patient and Woman in the Window.
The Sanatorium
Author: Sarah Pearse
Year: 2021
Genre: Mystery
More info: Detective Elin Warner #1 , February 2021 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Plot
Oh boy, was this a creepy haunted house book! I wish I had chosen to read it during the wintertime instead of the summer because seeing snow while reading it would have made it that much creepier.
With dead bodies piling up, and a blizzard keeping the guests of the fancy sanatorium-turned-hotel stuck inside, will Elin be able to solve the mystery before she becomes a victim herself?
Why Kirsten loves it
This is such a great blizzard book for mystery book lovers. It is creepy and everything else you want in a thriller and it’s an iconic book to read during a snowstorm!
Find this book in: Fiction Serial Killer Books / Locked Room Mystery / Isolation Book
Ultimate List of Thrillers
Love Thrillers? This list is curated and carefully divided by sub-genre. These will definitely keep you on your toes.
Historical Fiction Detective Books
The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency
Author: Lydia Travers
Year: 2023
Genre: Historical Mystery
More info: The Scottish Ladies’ Detective Agency #1
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This is a delightful detective novel set in Scotland about two women who decide to start a detective agency in 1911. While no one takes them seriously at first, they soon have their first client and case – to stop a jewel thief who repeatedly hits up house parties.
Why Kirsten loves it
I loved this cozy mystery book. It was the perfect story to escape into during a rough week. I look forward to the next book in this detective series- they are delightful historical mystery books.
Find this book in: Books about Scotland / Best Historical Mystery Books / Detective Books / Best Cozy Mystery Books
A Study in Scarlet Women
Author: Sherry Thomas
Year: 2016
Genre: Historical Mystery
More info: Lady Sherlock #1
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Sherry Thomas delivers a masterful new take on Sherlock Holmes with this mystery series featuring a lady detective using Sherlock as an alias.
The series set-up on this one lays the groundwork for why Charlotte Holmes left home, became a detective, and met Mrs. Watson. And, of course, there is a mystery about numerous deaths to be solved as well.
Why Kirsten loves it
I loved the layer of deception Charlotte needs to have to keep her identity a mystery in an era where women weren’t valued for their minds. It was nice to see a mystery with some social commentary as well.
Find this book in: Sherlock Holmes Fiction Books / Best Historical Mystery Books / Detective Books / Classic Book Retellings
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King
This one is for all the Sherlock fans out there. It takes place after the classic canon ends with the introduction of the retired Holmes and his new neighbor – Mary Russell. I adore this detective series, as does my dad who is a mystery reader exclusively.
When an American Senator’s daughter is kidnapped, Holmes and his protege are called to help Scotland Yard with the case. This is one of my favorite detective books.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
This is a classic and a must-read on our list of detective books. It’s one of those books that unless you know the ending, you would never guess it. So well-devised, this book is a definite favorite and it all takes place on a train in the middle of a snowy tundra.
Will you be able to guess who the murderer is in this locked room mystery before the famed Hercules Poirot? This is one of my favorite adaptations of the Hercule Poirot books.
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
As a book blogger, I find pride in reading across genres. I have pretty eclectic taste so it’s rare to find a well-known author I haven’t dabbled in. A friend of mine insisted that I read this book when he discovered I had never read a Chabon book. I can honestly say that I would NEVER have picked this book on my own.
A failed Israel leading to the Jewish state being formed in the wilds of Alaska? A Yiddish police force solving murders before their state reverts back to US occupancy? No thanks… but instead… I enjoyed it! It’s grittier than my normal picks, but I love the subtle details, the little bits of world-building about the area and the faux history.
Want The Best FREE Reading Log Printable? Check out our post along with great tips on how to use them.
YA Detective Novels
A Study in Charlotte
Author: Brittany Cavallaro
Year: 2016
Genre: YA Mystery
More info: Charlotte Holmes #1
Age Range: 13+
Plot
I enjoyed the first book in the Charlotte Holmes Trilogy. I’ve mentioned before that I am a big Sherlock Holmes fan. This Sherlock Holmes retelling differs from the others because it occurs in modern times.
The central characters are the teenage descendants of Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson. In the story, Jamie Watson has just started at an elite boarding school where he meets Charlotte Holmes. Charlotte is not interested in being Jamie’s friend, but when a student dies under suspicious circumstances, they must work together to clear their names.
Why Kirsten loves it
The adolescent angle leaves room for error in Holmes’ deductive reasoning skills. Watson is also a more fleshed-out character who has deductive reasoning skills of his own. This classic retelling wraps up nicely and the characters solve the mystery leaving enough open ends to allow for a sequel.
Find this book in: Sherlock Holmes Retellings / Books Set in High School / Detective Books / Best Books for 13-year-olds / Dark Academia Books / Classic Retellings / Best Cozy Mystery Books
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Author: Alan Bradley
Year: 2009
Genre: YA Historical Mystery
More info: Flavia De Luce #1
Age Range: 12+
Plot
This is the first book in the Flavia De Luce series. This 11-year-old aspiring chemist is a wonderful heroine who is smart and precocious. In this first book, it is 1950 and Flavia has a love of poisons. When she finds a man taking his last breath in a cucumber patch, she is not scared at all, rather, she delights in solving the mystery.
Why Kirsten loves it
Flavia is an absolute delight to read as she’s easily one of the most unique characters in a mystery series. My dad recommended this series to me. I read it, loved it, and promptly passed it on to my 12-year-old. I love that this story works for readers of all generations.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best first mystery books for younger readers as it does not have violence.
Find this book in: Best Historical Mystery Books / Best Mystery Books of All Time / Best Books for 13-year-olds / British Mysteries / Mystery Books for Kids / Best Cozy Mystery Books
The Best Detective Series
Still Life
Author: Louise Penny
Year: 2007
Genre: Mystery
More info: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1
Age Range: 13+
Plot
This is the first book in the New York Times Best Selling series of Chief Inspector Gamache. I fell in LOVE with the Inspector, the town of Three Pines, a small Canadian village just north of the US, and its residents. Louise Penny CAN WRITE.
The mystery was great (and I didn’t solve it) but what got me the most was Penny’s writing style and reflections on the human psyche. This first Louise Penny book has Chief Inspector Armand Gamache searching a piece of art for clues after its painter, Jane Neal, turns up dead.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best detective books I have ever read. You will fall in love with Three Pines and the people who live there. The wonderful community in this series is the best of what cozy books should be. If you love mystery novels and have not read this series, What are you waiting for?
Find this book in: Louise Penny Books in Order / Feel-Good Books / Best Mysteries of all Time /
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
Cormoran Strike is a private investigator on the verge of failure when a client walks through the door with an amazing story.
He is the brother of the recently deceased Lulu Landry, a famous supermodel.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
I have read so many of the mystery books in this series that I have lost count. If you are a die-hard mystery lover this series may be too tame for you.
But, if you are new to the mystery genre or like a lighter, cozy mystery book series, these books set in Africa are amazing. Precious Ramotswe is so hilariously self-assured you cannot help but love her.
Maisie Dobbs
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Year: 2003
Genre: Historical Mystery
More info: Maisie Dobbs #1
Age Range: 13+
Plot
Maisie Dobbs is not your typical private investigator. For a start, she is a woman working as a PI in 1929. She is a psychologist and a detective who trained under renowned Maurice Blanche a former member of Scotland Yard. She branches out and decides to start her own business.
Maisie’s first case seems like it should be a simple case of infidelity. Instead, it leads her to a murder and back to WWI where she was a nurse. She is smart, thoughtful, and fun to read.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this cozy mystery novel in one day. It was so refreshing to see post-war England through Maisie’s eyes as she entered a field dominated by men. I cannot wait to read more books in this fabulous series.
Find this book in: Detective Books / Historical Mystery Books / British Mystery Books / Jazz Age Novels
The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I am a HUGE detective story lover and no one does detective stories better than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes’ ability to solve crime is fascinating.
His observations are astute and I can never, ever guess who committed the crime. Again, love all the various adaptions of this series, but Sherlock on the BBC is my absolute favorite. This is the epitome of detective books.
The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves
Are you a fan of Ann Cleeves, mystery authoress extraordinaire? There is a reason Ann Cleeves has been writing crime fiction since 1986 and has won awards for her detective books. She is a master at her craft. And while Vera Stanhope is new to me in the past three years, she has been a character in Cleeve’s books since 1999!
This series has also been made into a television show. Vera Stanhope is on her way home one stormy night when she finds a baby in an abandoned car. The car is near her estranged family’s house. In order to find the baby’s mom, she must to the family home. Cleeves is an excellent writer and this detective novel does not disappoint!
The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo
Author: Stieg Larsson
Year: 2005
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
More info: Millennium #1
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Lisbeth Salander is not technically a detective but she sure is a bada** investigator. She is able to use her unparalleled computer hacking skills to find information on anybody, anywhere.
Mikael Blomkvist is a journalist who has a libel conviction. He is hired to investigate a disappearance from 40 years ago and convinces Lisbeth to help him in his investigation. These two make the most unusual pairing in this list of detective books. If you have not read this book series, they are fantastic.
Why Jackie loves it
This is also one of the best movies based on books. It was done twice: an American version and the original version with subtitles. Both are fantastic. The premise is so unique, I loved it and had no idea what to expect from these unique characters.
Find this book in: The Ultimate List of Best Thriller Books / Detective Books / Best Mystery Books / Serial Killer Books
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Is your favorite detective novel on this list?
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.
