Mystery & Thriller bestsellers

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

“This first-person mystery set in a snowed-in mountain resort in Australia delivers on both intrigue and wit. Everyone at the Cunningham family reunion has killed someone. When a body turns up, Ernie Cunningham, crime writer, tries to figure out who did it and why. But no one is missing from the remote resort and no one from the outside could have gotten through the storm. The longer the body goes unidentified, the more people die. This page-turner is absolutely chewing gum for the mind and I loved it. It will keep you on your toes and laughing your face off. If you like Golden Age detective fiction with a modern twist, this book is a treat! ”

Em, A Great Good Place for Books

The Thursday Murder Club

“A perfect book to cozy up to by the fire, especially while it's cold and dark outside. Terrific light read! Great fun with lots of humor, warmth and charm, and quirky, improbable elderly folks 'helping' the police solve a crime that happened on their doorstep. I want to live in a retirement home like this one when that time comes!!”

Polly, The Hickory Stick Bookshop

If you enjoyed Maisie Dobbs, then you’ll love Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

“What a delightful mystery. I loved Vera's determinedness and point of view, and I love how she's sure she knows more than everyone else. She's sharp, flawed, and lovable. ”

Stacy, The Curious Cat Bookshop

All the Sinners Bleed

“Wow! What a roller coaster ride. I love that Cosby set up the story by talking about the land and the trauma that it can hold. Well done sir. ”

Jayne, Mystery to Me

If you enjoyed A Modest Proposal, then you’ll love Murder Your Employer.

“Journey to the McMasters Conservatory, where you will meet the diabolical students, staff, and faculty of an institution whose only purpose is to prepare you to murder your employer. While this may seem immoral, McMasters has rules to ensure the 'elimination' of your 'target' is based on moral reasoning. If your 'thesis' is accepted and well-developed, you can be sure to get a passing grade!...You'll love the characters, their stories, and the constant competition among students looking to hypothetically 'delete' one another as they practice their art! This was simply a delightful read! Parts of it are reminiscent of Jonathan Swift's satirical essay "A Modest Proposal." It's whimsical, witty, and wholly entertaining! ”

Linda, Mind Chimes Bookshop

Drowning

“If you thought Falling was full of suspense, strap yourself in for T.J. Newman’s latest, Drowning. And I was crazy enough to read this novel on a recent flight! It would be like sitting on the beach, reading Jaws, while you are dipping your toes in the water! What a fantastic read! Move Drowning right to the top of your reading list.”

Mindy, The River's End Bookstore

Mexican Gothic

“Mexican Gothic is a fairytale turned nightmare, perhaps with a nod to Jordan Peele’s Get Out. In 1950’s Mexico, glamorous debutante Noemí receives a mysterious letter from her newlywed cousin Catalina. In frantic prose, she pleads for Noemí to visit her at High Place, the family residence of her husband, an English expat whom she has grown to distrust. Upon her arrival, Noemí finds a dilapidated, mold-ridden mansion on the grounds of a former silver mine with a sickly past, upheld by a eugenicist patriarch whose suffocating surveillance would drive anyone away, if only they could leave. Woven together like a mycelial network, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest features feminist heroism and commentary on colonialism, with language and culture as secret weapons. It’s absolutely delectable.”

Mary, Raven Book Store

Warrior Girl Unearthed

“A companion novel to the bestselling Firekeeper's Daughter, I loved this edge of your seat mystery delving into issues of Indigenous artifacts, ancestors and missing girls. Set over the course of a summer Perry Firekeeper-Birch is an intern in for the tribe's affairs and gives us an inside peak at this world. Things heat up quick when she learns about the local college not repatriating the tribes artifacts and ancestors bones and she makes a series of decisions that will change everything. All the while there is a mystery involving missing indigenous girls that comes to a shocking conclusion. A thought-provoking thriller!”

Danica, Townie Books

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

“This book is a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. From the quirky cast of characters to the less than traditional love story, this book will bloom in you and make you feel whole. Plus, the audiobook narrator is truly excellent!”

Leah, Scrawl Books

The Guest List

“This was a great, suspenseful listen. It wasn’t as spooky as I’d been hoping for, but it was an excellent mystery. The story takes place on an island off of Ireland with an old manor house that is hosting a posh wedding. The story starts the day before the murder and ends with the body being found. We get the viewpoint of several of the guests and the bride as the story builds up to the murder. By the time it happens there are numerous people who would want the victim dead (and you will too). A very original, very well written mystery. ”

Karrie, Vroman's Bookstore

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“Told in rotating points of view, this Tilt-A-Whirl of a novel brims with jangly tension – an undeniably engrossing guessing game.”  — Vogue"[A] clever, cliff-hanger-filled thriller." — PeopleFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment... Read more »

If you enjoyed Daisy Jones & The Six (TV Tie-in Edition), then you’ll love The It Girl.

“A good listen with expressive British accents with a credible plot that leaves you guessing.”

Betsy, The King's English Bookshop

The Silent Patient

“When Theo Faber starts his new job at the Grove, a forensic psychiatric hospital, he is determined to work with the famous painter Alicia Berenson, who allegedly murdered her husband. What follows is a tale that will grip you and keep you guessing. With the incredible voice talent of Jack Hawkins, the audiobook elicits the feeling of something very slowly creeping up your spine, and will have you gripping your seat with anxiety throughout. An expansive cast of characters populates this novel, all with intricate connections and relationships, all with dark secrets of their own, making anyone and everyone a suspect. The ending twist was so intense and so unexpected, I had to pause the narration for a moment to scream and gather myself before I could move on. I highly recommend this audiobook for anyone who wants to explore the dark and twisted corners of the human psyche.”

Kaitlyn, Oxford Exchange

The Man Who Died Twice

“A perfect follow up to The Thursday Murder Club. Osman knocks the mystery out of the park again, and balances his characteristic dry wit with a tinge of pathos that gives the book life and depth.”

Marianne, East City Bookshop

Firekeeper's Daughter

“Daunis Fontaine, a bi-racial Ojibwe-Italian-American girl has just graduated high school and has deferred enrollment at the University of Michigan to attend the local state school. She plans to spend more time with her best friend Lily, her ailing Grandmother, and her mom who was recently rocked by the sudden death of her brother, Daunis’ uncle. But then tragedy strikes, and Daunis is the eyewitness. And she is thrown headfirst into an FBI investigation of meth addiction and distribution within the reservation her family lives on and the greater Upper Peninsula area. A nuanced and compassionate look at addiction and the justice system and the risks one girl takes to help her friends, her community, and herself. The truth is a tangled web that it seems only Daunis is willing to carefully pick apart to not only expose the criminals but heal the victims as well. A little bit of romance, a little bit thriller, a whole bunch of hockey, STEM nerds, Firekeeper’s Daughter was engaging and gripping. PS I desperately need an Auntie spin-off.”

Cassie, Wellesley Books

Small Mercies

“Small Mercies is not f****** around. It hits with the force of a sledgehammer in all respects, and it succeeds resoundingly. It lays bare what Boston was in August 1974, and often still is. While it never strays far from hope, that hope remains largely abstract and unrealized, and what's left is a cold world where the poor are ground to dust no matter their race. Lehane draws you in, and doesn't let go. I finished the book in two sittings.”

Paul, The Silver Unicorn Bookstore

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • “A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center” (Real Simple), this cozy whodunit introduces a one-of-a-kind heroine who will steal your heart.
 
FINALIST FOR THE EDGAR® AWARD • “The reader comes to understand Molly’s worldview, and to sympathize with her longing... Read more »

The Golden Spoon

“A murder mystery set during the filming of an American Bake-Off type show. There is a different narrator for each contestant's point of view. This allowed me to easily follow along with the thickening plot. The filming of the show takes place in an old mansion with a sinister past. You will also learn about the contestants' backstories and secrets. I love how the story unfolds, and I listened to this book in a day! It will be up to you to determine who the reliable narrators are. ”

Amy, Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers

Magpie Murders

“Who better than the talented Anthony Horowitz to create this marvelous mystery within a mystery. Yes, we're treated to two mysteries for the price of one: One set in a peaceful village in England during the 1950s with the one and only Detective Atticus Pund taking the case, and the other set in contemporary times with a book editor who becomes an amateur sleuth. Horowitz pays tribute to the golden age of British crime with references to mysteries created by the likes of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. How many hidden gems can you come up with? A perfect book to read in a cushy chair with a cup of tea (hot or iced).”

Ken Favell, Books & Company

When No One Is Watching

“Cole’s thriller exposes the underbelly of gentrification and prosperity, taking a searing look at systemic racism. When a pharmaceutical firm plans to move its headquarters to a historically Black Brooklyn neighborhood, an influx of rich white people displace Black residents from their homes and their roots. Timely, groundbreaking, and thought-provoking, When No One Is Watching is essential reading for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.”

Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books

Abandoned by his father, Gareth Inglis grew up lonely, prickly, and used to disappointment. Still, he longs for a connection. When he meets a charming stranger, he falls head over heels?until everything goes wrong and he's left alone again. Then Gareth's father dies, turning the shabby London clerk into Sir Gareth, with a grand house on the... Read more »

Jade City

“A slow burn with frequent bursts of action. For fans of mafia dramas and martial arts action. The Green Bone culture & mythology are unique & captivating. This book and its characters got better and better as the story progressed. Lee writes like a watchmaker, and this book ticks away like a finely-tuned machine.”

Elon, Left Bank Books

If you enjoyed The Man Who Died Twice, then you’ll love The Bullet That Missed.

“The Thursday Murder Club is back at the sleuthing game! In The Bullet That Missed, Richard Osman’s quartet of amateur detectives at the Cooper’s Chase retirement village are as funny and endearing as ever, this time the focus of death threats as they dig into a cold case with no body. Osman combines humor with a great mystery, plenty of witty English banter, and a love interest for rough-around-the-edges Ron. I can't wait for the 4th book in the series!”

Genevieve, A Great Good Place for Books

Falling

“Falling is an absolute masterclass in unique suspense fiction. From the first few lines, I could tell this was going to be a stunner, and boy, was I right. I'll be anxiously waiting until Newman releases her next novel!”

Shelby Roth, Naughty Dog Books

The Once and Future Witches

“Alix Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January was my favorite book last year, so I had incredibly high expectations when I picked up The Once and Future Witches. This book is very different, but I adore it just as much! Set in the late 1800s in a world with a slightly alternate history from ours, women are fighting for the vote and losing. Three wayward sisters decide to challenge the patriarchy by bringing back witchcraft. Told through familiar stories twisted in new ways, this book is incredible. You will not be able to put it down, from the beautifully written introduction to the pulse-pounding ending!”

Carrie Deming, Dog Ear Books

Ninth House

“The charter of the Leahy house is to manage and police the secret houses of the veil on the campus of Yale University. When a murder is connected to the magical activities of the houses, Galaxy Stern, Alex, the newest member of the Ninth House must find out what happened even if it means losing her place at Yale or her life. Ninth House grips you from the beginning and Alex is a wonderfully crafted edgy protagonist with deep scars. In the pretentious ivy league world Alex tenaciously pursues evil through unexpected twists and turns. If you like mystery and magic this is for you!”

Ellen, Avid Bookshop

If you enjoyed One by One, then you’ll love Rock Paper Scissors.

“This book is gripping, twisty, and perfectly read by Armitage and Racine. If you are in the mood for a story that will, amazingly, having you rooting for the main characters while simultaneously marveling at the terrible history they've made together, this is the book for you. The snowstorm that hits their isolated rental at the book's beginning sets the stage for this marriage's showdown. Feeney has crafted a compelling thriller to listen to in winter, while waiting for the days to get longer and the dark to fade away.”

Emma, Carmichael's Bookstore

"The magic and violence of 'Hell Bent' comes to life in audiobook form." - USA Today

"This fervently delivered audiobook engrosses the listener through every twist and turn, making this sequel nearly impossible to pause."- AudioFile Magazine (Earphones Award)

Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. The Ivy League is going straight to hell in the sequel to... Read more »

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

“CHILLS. This book was AMAZING. Experiencing the twists and turns of this case along side Pip and taking risks along side of her sucked me into the audiobook. I particularly enjoyed how all of her logs, interviews, and case notes were laid out throughout the story. Each interview sounded like something straight from a true-crime documentary. Pip was relentless in her pursuit of the truth, and the ending had me gasping and on the edge of my seat.”

Sam, Bright Side Bookshop

Harlem Shuffle

“A wonderful evocation of a time and place, which is not to say it doesn't have the tension of a crime thriller. It's fun to ride along with Ray, who may be more than a little bent, but will likely become your favorite furniture salesman, nevertheless.”

Robin, Books & Books @ The Studios of Key West

The Bandit Queens

“The dark and hilarious escapades of a women's loan group plagued by abusive husbands in a small Indian village. While the topics are serious and all too real, Shroff handles them with wit, wickedly sharp humor, and occasional absurdity, making for a reflective read that will have you laughing out loud. Nankani's excellent narration will have you instantly identifying characters and laughing at their antics.”

Lauren, Chapterhouse Books

The Writing Retreat

“This story takes ‘never meet your heroes’ to a whole new level. I loved the use of tension in the book, and how the author played with supernatural elements while still keeping the story grounded in reality. Twisty, dark, and even fun!”

Ann Branson, Beach Books

Family Upstairs

“This intriguing story combines classic mystery elements with touches of domestic suspense and all around creepiness. The audiobook uses three different narrators, which provides for a further immersive experience. The three different perspectives are intertwined in a unique way allowing us to watch as three different lives hurtle toward their intersection. Libby and Lucy’s experience in the present are shared through third person narration while Henry’s first person narrating provides his account of the past with an occasional interjection of his perspective of the events unfolding in the present. With a string of bread crumbs along the way, the climax is somewhat inevitable, but some assumptions you will probably make along the way are smashed as the final unexpected twists are revealed.”

Cori, Bright Side Bookshop

Run, Rose, Run

“What a fun read! I knew anything Dolly Parton participated in would have to be good, and since I have enjoyed many books by James Patterson in the past I expected Run, Rose, Run to be an enjoyable read. What I didn’t expect was how big a part Dolly Parton must have had in writing the book because it was a close up look at what it takes to be a star in Nashville and what the life of a country singer is like. There was some mystery and there were some pretty intense action scenes, but the main story was all about the music. The characters were fascinating, and I assume were based in part on Dolly and on people she has known, and the book was filled with songwriting and lyrics to songs that I assume will be on the album that Dolly is making to go along with the book. The story was made even more enjoyable by the fact that I listened to the audio and having Dolly Parton doing the voice of RuthAnna and Kelsea Ballerini doing the voice of AnnieLee. I can't wait until the album based on songs from the book is released!”

Nancy, Fiction Addiction

The Woman in the Library

“I'd never thought of the term metafiction before, but in The Woman in the Library, Australian writer Sulari Gentill dives right into a recursive story of a writer, Hannah, writing a book about a writer, Winifred, who is writing a book and during a research trip to the Boston Public Library, becomes enmeshed in a murder investigation, using the people she encounters in her book. And then there's Leo, who Hannah is emailing chapters of the book to for comments. When Leo’s feedback becomes creepier and weirder, his story and the fictional mystery start to parallel each other, including a character also named Leo in Winifred’s story. Murders in two realities in one book; so intelligent and well constructed!”

Genevieve, A Great Good Place for Books

The Violin Conspiracy

“One of my new favorite novels. The book tells Ray's story, a young Black man who just wants to play his violin in a world set to see him fail. You’ll root for Ray, get angry on his behalf, cry with him, and triumph with him.”

Laney Sheehan, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

“Finlay Donovan is a hilarious book about a recently divorced author and mother of 2 small children who is barely holding her life together when she is mistaken for a hitman and is reluctantly (or maybe not so reluctantly) drawn into a life of crime with her nanny. Treat yourself to the audiobook! Angela Dawe knocks it out of the park.* *Not responsible for any spit takes that happen as a result of listening or reading this book.”

Terri, Swamp Fox Bookstore

A dream girls trip to a luxurious French chateau devolves into a deadly nightmare of secrets and murder in this stylish, twisty thriller for fans of Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Lisa Jewell.

Welcome to picturesque Provence, where the Lady of the Chateau, Séraphine Demargelasse, has opened its elegant doors to her granddaughter Darcy and three... Read more »

How to Sell a Haunted House

“Remember that feeling of staying up late, reading a spooky Goosebumps book by flashlight under your blanket? How to Sell a Haunted House is kind of like that, but 100x more terrifying. Each element of this novel on its own is enough to give me nightmares (puppets, body horror, creepy children, etc), but combine them and you will never sleep again. Listening to this masterful horror novel had my yelling 'No, no, no, no, NO!' in public places. My heart rate tracker spiked while I was listening to it. I'm not sure how else to tell you to read this book if you're looking for a good old fashioned scare!”

Nicole, Bound to Happen Books

Leave the World Behind

“Alam has such skill with the omniscient narrator! The suspense and mystery is enhanced through each character and their reactions to the events, plus the info drops are intriguing and relevant. This is a novel that gets under your skin and stays there. And if that sounds creepy, well, it is! This novel is creepy as well as thought provoking, timely, and funny. It raises issues about parenting, class, race, and teenage hormones. Not what I expected, and so much more.”

Kristine, Buttonwood Books and Toys

Snow

“A great literary mystery, Banville’s deeply nuanced protagonist ranks right up there with those of Louise Penny, P. D. James and Donna Leon. It's hard to stop listening, but even when I was forced to, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. You’ll want to find out “who done it,“ but you’ll also feel so attached to the characters that, like me, you won’t want it to end.”

Bob, Changing Hands

Notes on an Execution

“When the book opens, we meet the murderer Ansel Packer in his jail cell, 12 hours from execution. In the next chapter, he is a toddler in 1973 and we learn about his origins. At that chapter, I was hooked! As the book progresses, everything we learn about Ansel is from the point of view of the women in his life: his mother, his wife, and—my favorite—an 11-year-old girl who was in the foster care system with him. This is such an interesting exploration into the mind of a murderer. He feels very real, and very relatable.”

Donna, A Great Good Place for Books

Stone Cold Fox

“Stone Cold Fox is the wickedly clever story of Bea, a con artist who has decided it is time to settle down and find a rich husband, and It looks like she is about to reach her goal when she meets Colin. When Bea's best friend Gale (who is secretly in love with Colin) tries to stop the match from going ahead, the cat fight starts in earnest. The superb dialogue and character development in this book had me rooting for someone I would normally despise, had me devouring every clever insult that Bea and Gale threw at each other and kept me listening until way too late at night. The fact that almost the entire book was dialogue (Bea talking to herself most of the time) made listening to it even more enjoyable. ”

Nancy, Fiction Addiction

In Still Life, bestselling author Louise Penny introduces Monsieur L'Inspecteur Armand Gamache of the Surete du Quebec, a modern Poirot who anchors this beloved traditional mystery series

Winner of the New Blood Dagger, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Anthony, and Dilys awards.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of... Read more »

Daisy Darker

“A fun take on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, Alice Feeney tells the story of a very dysfunctional family gathering for the eccentric matriarch's birthday in a house full of clocks which can only be accessed at low tide. And then the murders begin! Stephanie Racine's Daisy narration brings so much depth to her naive and lonely character. I can't say much more because it being Alice Feeney, the plot twist is wild!!”

Nancy, Island Books

Local Woman Missing

“Mary Kubica’s best one yet! The first chapter of this book had my heart pounding. I enjoyed trying to solve the multiple mysteries throughout all of the twists and turns, without being able to put it all together until the very end. A thrilling and satisfying read.”

Mary Salazar, The Country Bookshop

By the "master of thinly veiled secrets often kept by women who rage underneath their delicate exteriors" (Kirkus Reviews), Beware the Woman is Megan Abbott at the height of her game.

Honey, I just want you to have everything you ever wanted. That’s what Jacy’s mom always told her. And Jacy felt like she finally did. Newly married and with a baby... Read more »

They Both Die at the End meets The Loneliest Girl in the Universe in this mind-bending sci-fi mystery and tender love story about two boys aboard a spaceship sent on a rescue mission, from two-time National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer. Stonewall Honor Award winner!Two boys, alone in space. Sworn enemies sent on the same rescue... Read more »

Razorblade Tears

“At once gritty and graphic, tender and heart wrenching, Razorblade Tears is the story of two fathers hardened by life circumstances and their respective prejudices who seek vengeance against those who killed their gay sons. The audio was perfection. We NEED this novel to be on the big screen, with Denzel Washington playing Ike. ”

Jessica, Main Street Books Davidson

Plain Bad Heroines

“This one's a stunner. Emily Danforth writes so compellingly, that even for its slow pacing, Plain Bad Heroines is impossible to put down. This is so much more than horror - a queer, coming-of-age, love story, history rewritten to include those it should never have erased - so atmospheric and character-driven, I found it difficult to find myself afraid, only undeniably intrigued. I giggled hysterically. I shook my fists at the patriarchy (because of course I did). Reader, I'd dive right back in again, even at the risk of yellow jackets following me back out.”

Britt, Second Star to the Right