Murder mysteries, crime novels and thrillers account for a large proportion of the book industry and are widely recognised as the most popular genre. In this type of story, you can expect a dramatic murder or disappearance to take place, followed by a series of breadcrumbs that lead to revealing the killer. So, if you love trying to work out a whodunnit, look no further. Stylist has compiled a list of the best murder mysteries to keep you guessing. Here, I have highlighted five of the best, and one is Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley (2020)
The blurb reads: “A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hunting Party.
“The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body.
“On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.
“But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.
“And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?”
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena (2018)
The book’s synopsis reads: “A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away
“It’s winter in the Catskills and Mitchell’s Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.
“So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in and try to make the best of it.
“Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead–it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic.
“Within the snowed-in paradise, something–or someone–is picking off the guests one by one. And there’s nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm–and one another.”
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939)
The synopsis states: “If you’re one of the few who haven’t experienced the genius of Agatha Christie, this novel is a stellar starting point.” — DAVID BALDACCI, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author.””An exclusive authorized edition of the most famous and beloved stories from the Queen of Mystery. Ten people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to an isolated mansion on Indian Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island they are cut off from everything but each other and the inescapable shadows of their own past lives. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts. And one by one, they die… Which among them is the killer and will any of them survive? “Agatha Christie is the gateway drug to crime fiction both for readers and for writers. . . . Just one book is never enough.” — VAL MCDERMID, Internationally Bestselling Author.”
Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (2025)
The blurb reads: “A lavish, Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen turns deadly in this twisty, pulse-pounding new novel — serving up a fresh take on a classic locked-room whodunnit. Let the festivities begin…
“Today is Sophie Matthews’s sixteenth birthday party, an exclusive black-tie bash in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where secrets are as deep-rooted as the sprawling live oaks. Sophie’s dad has spared no expense, and his renovated cliffside mansion—once thought haunted—is now hosting the event of the season. Then, just before the candles on the three-tiered red velvet cake are blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the starlit dance floor below.
“It’s a killer guest list . . .
“DANI: Sophie’s new stepmother who’s been plagued by self-doubt ever since the birth of her own baby girl
“ÓRLAITH: the superstitious Irish nanny who senses a looming danger in this cavernous house
“MIKAYLA: the birthday girl’s best friend who is not nearly as meek as the popular kids assume
“KIM: the cunning ex-wife who has a grudge she can’t let go of . . .
“Everyone is invited in. Not everyone will get out alive.”
They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall (2019)
The book’s synopsis reads: “It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime.
“Delighted by a surprise invitation, Miriam Macy sails off to a luxurious private island off the coast of Mexico, with six strangers—an ex-cop, a chef, a financial advisor, a nurse, a lawyer, a young widow.
“Surrounded by miles of open water in the gloriously green Sea of Cortez, Miriam is shocked to discover that she and the rest of her companions have been brought to the remote island under false pretenses—and all seven strangers harbor a secret.
“Danger lurks in the lush forest and in the halls and bedrooms of the lonely mansion. Sporadic cell-phone coverage and miles of ocean keeps the group trapped in paradise. And strange accidents keep them suspicious of each other, as one by one . . .
“They all fall down.”