Some of the Best Mystery Books to Read in 2023
Feel like walking down a path full of twists, turns, mysteries, and even murder? Then this just might be the list for you.
A good mystery novel doesn’t just have a twist ending from a surprise character. It immerses you in a world where what you’re being told might not be the reality. From classic detective work, to nefarious characters who may even turn out to be the good guy— you simply have to read these mystery books to find out.
The Best Mystery Novels to Read in 2023
#1. The Private Patient
by P.D. James
Book Summary:
Within the elegant confines of Cheverell Manor, a crime unfurls that perplexes even the seasoned Commander Dalgliesh. P.D. James weaves a web of intrigue in The Private Patient, where Rhoda Gradwyn, an investigative journalist, checks in to have a facial scar removed — only to be murdered within hours of her surgery.
George Chandler-Powell, the renowned plastic surgeon and owner of the manor, must reconcile the idyllic veneer of his clinic with the violent crime that has occurred under his roof. Dalgliesh, alongside his investigative team, steps in to untangle a case muddled by past secrets and older crimes, forcing the reader to question the very sanctity of spaces we consider safe.
But the enigma deepens, even for Dalgliesh, as a second death occurs — each layer of discovery only serving to further obfuscate matters. The Private Patient melds classic British detective work with nuanced characters, taking the reader on a psychological thrill ride where the corners of human motive are shaded with gray.
What makes this case one of Dalgliesh’s most beguiling is not just who committed the crime, but the unsettling realization of how little we can ever truly know someone — perhaps not even ourselves.
Where to buy it?
#2. The Maltese Falcon
by Dashiell Hammett
Book Summary:
In Dashiell Hammett’s iconic The Maltese Falcon, the reader dives headfirst into a labyrinth of deception, greed, and moral ambiguity. Sam Spade, our cynical and yet oddly principled detective, finds himself entangled with a cast of characters as colorful as they are dubious. There’s the mysteriously alluring Brigid O’Shaughnessy, whose loyalty could turn on a dime, and the corpulent Gutman, whose jolliness barely conceals a calculating menace.
At the center of this whirlpool of human frailty and cunning is the Maltese Falcon, an artifact so valuable it unhinges the moral compass of nearly everyone who crosses its path.
As much a commentary on human nature as it is a pulse-pounding detective story, The Maltese Falcon serves both as a cornerstone of the mystery genre and as a grim exploration of the darker facets of desire and greed.
From foggy San Francisco streets to claustrophobic hotel rooms, the setting amplifies the tension in a tale that redefined detective fiction. At the close of the last page, the reader is left to ponder: in a world where everyone has a price, what’s the cost of integrity?
Where to buy it?
#3. The Grass Harp
by Truman Capote
Book Summary:
In Truman Capote’s The Grass Harp, three quirky misfits — an orphaned boy and two elderly women — flee the constraints of society to live in a tree house on the outskirts of a Southern town. The story unfurls like a soft Southern ballad, touching on the ephemeral nature of freedom and the profound chains that bind us in love.
As they inhabit their arboreal sanctuary, they discover that liberty comes with its own set of complexities.
But it’s not all ethereal escapism; the novel subtly wrestles with bigger themes — like what it means to truly be free and how the sanctity of love knits us together in unbreakable bonds. Just when you think you’re settling in for a whimsical read, Capote pivots, offering profound life lessons and leaving you musing over the complex tapestry of human relationships.
Where to buy it?
#4. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
Book Summary:
In Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, two disparate souls — a tarnished journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, and a fiercely intelligent hacker, Lisbeth Salander — unite to unravel the decades-old disappearance of Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden’s richest families. Set against a backdrop of breathtaking Scandinavian landscapes, the duo delves deep into a labyrinth of family secrets, corporate corruption, and unnerving personal histories.
Yet, as they come closer to solving the complex mystery, they find an unsettling linkage between their own lives and the dark avenues they’re exploring.
Larsson crafts an intricate narrative, constantly challenging the reader to untangle a web of intrigue that extends far beyond a mere whodunnit. As the pair digs deeper, the question emerges: what haunting truths are worth unearthing?
Where to buy it?
#5. Whose Body?
by Dorothy L. Sayers
Book Summary:
In Dorothy L. Sayers’ inaugural tale of her famous series, Whose Body?, Lord Peter Wimsey finds himself engrossed in an enigma that is as perplexing as it is grotesque. A naked body mysteriously appears in an architect’s bathtub, adorned only with a pair of pince-nez. Simultaneously, a banker vanishes into thin air, his last vision leaving him stark naked. It appears these bizarre incidents are connected, but how?
Wimsey, ever the cerebral and charming sleuth, meticulously stitches together the puzzling evidence. Yet as he delves further into this tangled web of nudity and peculiarity, the question becomes not just who committed the crime, but why such strange circumstances cloak it.
Where to buy it?
#6. A Study in Scarlet
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Book Summary:
In A Study in Scarlet, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ushers us into the fog-laden, cobblestone streets of Victorian London, where Dr. John Watson meets the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes. Initially unaware of the dark underbelly of crime he’s about to explore, Watson soon finds himself in a south London house, staring at a man dead from seemingly inexplicable causes. A single, chilling word is scrawled on the wall in blood, leaving the police confounded and Watson spellbound.
But Sherlock Holmes is on the case, utilizing his formidable powers of deduction to unwind the complex threads of murder, revenge, and lost love.
How does one man’s death in a seemingly secure room connect to a web of nefarious activities? Just when you think you’ve caught on to Holmes’s thought process, prepare for a twist that’ll make you reconsider everything you thought you knew about the art of detection.
Where to buy it?
#7. In the Woods
by Tana French
Book Summary:
In In the Woods, Tana French transports us to the outskirts of Dublin, where a haunting mystery from 1984 resurfaces. Three children vanish into the woods; only one emerges, shoes soaked in blood, memory blank. That boy, Rob Ryan, grows up to become a detective, concealing his own past even as he delves into others’. But when a girl is found murdered in the same woods decades later, Rob is yanked back into the memories he’s spent a lifetime evading.
As Rob and his perceptive partner, Cassie Maddox, delve into the case, it soon mirrors the one unsolved mystery that has haunted Rob all his life.
With only fragments of memories as his guide, can Rob solve the present-day murder without unraveling himself? French masterfully layers suspense upon psychological intrigue, leaving you second-guessing every flicker in the woods and every shadow in the mind.
Where to buy it?
#8. Devil in a Blue Dress
by Walter Mosley
Book Summary:
In Devil in a Blue Dress, Walter Mosley introduces us to Easy Rawlins, an African American war veteran turned amateur detective in post-war Los Angeles. The story grabs you from the first page, as Easy is tasked with finding a missing woman known for frequenting the jazz clubs of the black community.
The narrative seamlessly weaves the gripping tension of a detective tale with incisive social commentary, echoing both Raymond Chandler’s noir stylings and Richard Wright’s candid portrayal of race relations.
As Easy navigates a labyrinth of secrets, crime, and racial tension, the question isn’t just about solving the case — it’s also about surviving it.
Where to buy it?
#9. The Postman Always Rings Twice
by James M. Cain
Book Summary:
In The Postman Always Rings Twice, James M. Cain constructs an electrifying tale of lust and murder, draped in a psychological atmosphere that’s as dark as night. The story revolves around Frank Chambers, a drifter, and Cora, a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage. When their lives intersect at a roadside diner, the immediate spark between them burns into an all-consuming fire.
But there’s a hindrance to their illicit love — a husband. Their solution is a deadly one, setting off a domino effect of consequences that grow increasingly complicated and irreversible.
Cain’s storytelling prowess pushes the boundaries of the crime genre while delving into the shadowy realms of human emotions and choices. The narrative is so entangled with moral ambiguity that, by the end, you’ll be questioning not just the fates of the characters, but also the very nature of justice and retribution. Just when you think you’ve heard the last ring, you’ll realize — the postman always rings twice.
Where to buy it?
#10. And Then There Were None
by Agatha Christie
Book Summary:
In And Then There Were None, ten strangers are lured to an isolated mansion on Soldier Island under different pretexts. A record plays, accusing each guest of a crime they have seemingly gotten away with. Before long, they start dying off, one by one, each death mirroring a line from the nursery rhyme, “Ten Little Soldiers.”
Christie’s genius lies in her manipulation of suspense, using a confined setting and a ticking clock to heighten the tension.
You’ll find yourself gripping the pages as you try to unravel the mystery before all the characters — and perhaps even you — run out of time. Who will survive and what will be left of them? The answer may surprise you, and the journey will undoubtedly leave you breathless.
Where to buy it?
Related Reading
- 31 Best-Selling Books of All Time
- Banned Books You Should Definitely Read Because Screw Censorship
- Best Dystopian Books
- Best History Books
- Best Historical Fiction Books
- Best Political Satire Cartoon Books
- Best Biographies
Or, click here to see all book recommendations
For more of my thoughtsays, deep dives, and essays, come check out Pryor Thoughts. You can also join Medium through my referral link (no extra cost to you) and get access to millions of stories for one low price every month.
This article contains some affiliate links. That means I may get a small commission if you buy something, but the price is no different for you.
