Reading mystery novels is an experience unlike any other. But with so many mystery novels out there, choosing the right one isn’t always easy. That is why we made a list of the 10 must read mystery books of all time. Keep reading to see which books made our list!
Making this list was not easy. Since only ten novels can make the list, we had to leave out many great books. There are also tons of subgenres which makes this even more difficult. But the ten novels we chose are all must read books that every book lover should read. You can see the full list below!
The 10 Must Read Mystery Books of All Time
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
- The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
- The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
- Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
- The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
- Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
- The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Must Read Books
No mystery list is complete without Agatha Christie. She has helped push the genre forward and you can see her influence on many modern novels. Another author that deserves a spot on this list is Arthur Conan Doyle. Just like Christie, his impact is still being felt over a century later.
Some of the less obvious picks on this list include The Big Sleep, Death at La Fenice, and The Maltese Falcon. While these novels won’t be on everyone’s list, they are still a great list. Most of the time, it comes down to too many books going unread because there are just too many good books out there!
A novel that might surprise a few people on the list is The Secret History. If you haven’t read it, then you will be confused but if you have, then you will understand. It is a mystery novel that is well written and will stay with you for years. It is no wonder that this novel spurned a new subgenre.
Conclusion
That is all for our list of the 10 must read mystery books of all time. What books should we have included on the list? Let us know in the comments below!
Lawrence Block. Lawrence Block. How quickly we forget..,
“Spurred” not “spurned”.
No P.D. James? A much more literary writer than Dan Brown.
Any and all Martin Beck books by Per Wahloo & Maj Sjowall. Simply the best…
Tin roof blowdown.
The books by Louise Penny