The Big Sleep
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The top 50
Mystery and thriller novels of all time
Fifty researched picks for the mystery and thriller novels of all time, selected for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
How we choseSuspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value. Rankings balance consensus with lasting ownership value and current buyability.
Why it belongs →
Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Gone Girl
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
And Then There Were None
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)
The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2) by Dan Brown is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
A Story of Yesterday
A Story of Yesterday by Sergio Cobo is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)
Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10) by Agatha Christie is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Rebecca
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Mystic River
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #1)
Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #1) by Louise Penny is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Girl on the Train
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1)
A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1) by John Grisham is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Elephant Tree
The Elephant Tree by R.D. Ronald is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium #2)
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium #2) by Stieg Larsson is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
An Angel in Los Angeles (Charlotte Holmes #12)
An Angel in Los Angeles (Charlotte Holmes #12) by A.M. Sardar is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Name of the Rose
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1)
The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1) by Jeffery Deaver is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter, #1)
Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter, #1) by Thomas Harris is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
High Country: A Mountain Town Crime Thriller
High Country: A Mountain Town Crime Thriller by Jonathan W. Postal is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Dark Places
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Before I Go to Sleep
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Zombie Room
The Zombie Room by R.D. Ronald is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Never Lie
Never Lie by Freida McFadden is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
None of This Is True
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Woman in Cabin 10 (Lo Blacklock, #1)
The Woman in Cabin 10 (Lo Blacklock, #1) by Ruth Ware is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, #1)
In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, #1) by Tana French is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Woman in the Window
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Big Little Lies (Big Little Lies, #1)
Big Little Lies (Big Little Lies, #1) by Liane Moriarty is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Eye of the Needle
Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, #1)
Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, #1) by Lee Child is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Paris Apartment
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Lock Every Door
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1)
Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1) by Patricia Daniels Cornwell is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (George Smiley, #3)
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (George Smiley, #3) by John le Carré is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Housemaid's Secret (The Housemaid, #2)
The Housemaid's Secret (The Housemaid, #2) by Freida McFadden is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
You (You, #1)
You (You, #1) by Caroline Kepnes is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Presumed Innocent (Kindle County Legal Thriller, #1)
Presumed Innocent (Kindle County Legal Thriller, #1) by Scott Turow is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Swan Lake Murders (Mary Wandwalker #4)
The Swan Lake Murders (Mary Wandwalker #4) by Susan Rowland is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1)
The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1) by Caleb Carr is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1)
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1) by Alexander McCall Smith is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Family Upstairs (The Family Upstairs, #1)
The Family Upstairs (The Family Upstairs, #1) by Lisa Jewell is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The End of the River
The End of the River by Albert Loftus is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1)
Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1) by Jim Butcher is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
Shutter Island
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.
The Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.