It is always a good time to read a whodunit novel. There are many amazing options to choose from which makes choosing your next book difficult. That is why we decided to list the 25 best whodunit novels of all time. Find out which ones made our exclusive list!
The whodunit genre has been popular with readers for over a century. From Sherlock Holmes to the various Agatha Christie novels, the subgenre has been thriving for a long time. And even today, many authors have adopted this format.
As readers, we love a good mystery. With whodunit novels, you get to play detective, trying to solve the crime before the protagonist reveals the culprit. This format of letting readers engage with the novel will always be popular and has made many authors famous over the decades.
Our list includes some of the best whodunit novels ever written. You will see quite a few from the queen of mystery, Agatha Christie, as well as newer authors who have mastered the art of writing amazing whodunit novels. You can see the full list below!
The 25 Best Whodunit Novels of All Time
- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
- The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
- The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
- Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
- The Thursday Murder by Richard Osman
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- In the Woods by Tana French
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
- The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
- A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
- The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
- Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Queen of Mystery
Agatha Christie is the obvious first choice when thinking about must read whodunit novels. We recommend her whole catalog but there a few standouts that everyone should read at least once. From the classic And Then There Were None to Death on the Nile, you will be reading these books in one sitting.
Bring Back Sherlock Holmes!
When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed off Sherlock Holmes, people in London mourned his death. They were angry at Doyle for killing such a beloved character which is why Doyle was forced to bring him back. While Doyle wrote other novels, fans only wanted Sherlock Holmes. His most popular novel is The Hound of the Baskervilles but they are all great reads.
These are two of many authors in the subgenre and many have pushed the genre to new heights. Ruth Ware is also someone that has made a name for herself. And while she may not be as popular as Christie or Doyle, her novels are enjoyable.
An author that makes multiple appearances on the list is Anthony Horowitz. His novels are easy to get lost in and his style of writing makes it obvious that he wrote it. If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, then you will also love Horowitz!
The Silent Patient
When reading a whodunit novel, except a plot twist that will make you question your whole existence. And a novel that did just that to me is The Silent Patient. It is a whodunit combined with a Greek story about a lesser known character. The suspense, tension, and clues in this novel have made it a must read.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Many readers will not be surprised to see Where the Crawdads Sing on this list as it is one of the most popular historical fiction novel of the past decade. When it came out, this novel was everywhere and even two years later, it was still most sold novel since it was released. Few novels connect this strongly with readers. The novel did cause a controversy as readers dug up a similar case involving Owens and her stepson and a murder.
Conclusion
That ends our list of the 25 best whodunit novels of all time that you should read. How many of these novels have you read or plan to read? What other novels should have made our list? Let us know in the comments below!
John Dickson Carr? Ellery Queen? Anthony Berkeley? Christianna Brand?
You had me until The Da Vinci Code. Worst book ever.