20 Suspenseful Mystery and Thriller Books That Are Page-Turners for a Reason

Everyone has their favorite genre to read, but mystery novels have a particular ability to captivate your attention and keep you hanging on until you reach the very last sentence. Thrillers and true crime novels make for fantastic beach reads for those who love to put on their detective hat and try to piece together the clues and solve the mystery before the main character. Mystery books for adults may not be the best reads for teens, but they are the perfect fit for book lovers who are in need of a new read — and can handle a chilling page turner.

If you love to listen to true crime podcasts and binge-watch murder mystery series on Netflix, then these scary books are right up your alley. Whether you're looking for a Halloween read or a bestselling novel you won't be able to put down, this list of the best mystery books will let you escape reality and enter a fictional world full of intrigue, twists, and turns. Some of these picks are even based on historical events, perfect for history buffs.

These murder mystery books aren't suspenseful or scary because the main characters are bloodthirsty vampires; the best mystery novels are unnerving because they blend psychological thrills with reality for a plot you must disentangle before you can turn off the light. Read on to learn more about the most popular mystery books for adults that you should add to your shelf ASAP.