★best-of-all-time.comAll 50 lists

The top 50

Mystery and thriller novels of all time

50 standout choices selected for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

What earns a placeSuspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value. Every pick combines lasting value with current availability.
#1

The Big Sleep

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

Why It Ranks →
#2

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.

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#3

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.

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#4

Gone Girl

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#5

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.

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#6

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.

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#7

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.

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#8

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.

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#9

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.

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#10

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.

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#11

Rebecca

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#12

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.

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#13

Mystic River

Mystic River by Dennis Lehane is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#14

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.

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#15

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.

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#16

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.

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#17

The Elephant Tree

The Elephant Tree by R.D. Ronald is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#18

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.

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#19

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.

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#20

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.

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#21

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.

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#22

Sharp Objects

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#23

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.

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#24

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.

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#25

Dark Places

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#26

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.

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#27

The Zombie Room

The Zombie Room by R.D. Ronald is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#28

Never Lie

Never Lie by Freida McFadden is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#29

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.

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#30

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.

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#31

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.

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#32

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.

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#33

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.

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#34

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.

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#35

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.

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#36

The Paris Apartment

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#37

Lock Every Door

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#38

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.

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#39

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.

Why It Ranks →
#40

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.

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#41

You (You, #1)

You (You, #1) by Caroline Kepnes is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#42

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.

Why It Ranks →
#43

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.

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#44

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.

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#45

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.

Why It Ranks →
#46

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.

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#47

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.

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#48

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.

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#49

Shutter Island

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

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#50

The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett is a durable novel choice, recognized for suspense, plotting, atmosphere, influence and reread value.

Why It Ranks →