June 21st Fatjer's Day! All the best gift ideas. Shop NowJune 21st Fatjer's Day! All the best gift ideas. Shop Now

Mystery & Thrillers

Sneaking sleuths, cozy crime stories, globe-trotting thrillers and sharp tales of deception: these are the mysteries that will keep you guessing. With charming Richard Osman whodunits, killer domestic dramas from Freida McFadden, classic David Baldacci crime procedurals and much more, all you have to do is follow the clues for a great read.

The Keeper. The masterful conclusion to the bestselling Cal Hooper trilogy. Shop Now
The Keeper. The masterful conclusion to the bestselling Cal Hooper trilogy. Shop Now
The Last Mandarin. 30% Off. Action-packed thrills from two powerful voices. Shop Now.
The Last Mandarin. 30% Off. Action-packed thrills from two powerful voices. Shop Now.
Our May Mystery & Thriller Pick. Salt Water. "A riveting, atmospheric, twist-packed tale ... brilliant!" - Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club. Shop Now.
Our May Mystery & Thriller Pick. Salt Water. "A riveting, atmospheric, twist-packed tale ... brilliant!" - Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club. Shop Now.
Two superstar storytellers deliver a first-class courtroom drama Shop Now
Two superstar storytellers deliver a first-class courtroom drama Shop Now

Mystery & Thrillers

Explore the Best Mystery & Thriller Books

Enter a thrilling world of suspense with our wide selection of mystery and crime books. Discover the various categories and subgenres that mystery fiction branches off into. There’s gripping crime fiction, built around a crime that kicks the novel into a “whodunit,” aimed at propelling the reader through suspects and evidence en route to a solution. Cozy mysteries are smaller-stakes mysteries, with lighter elements, but no less investigative qualities. Detective novels have introduced the world to characters like Inspector Gamache, Hercule Poirot, and Sherlock Holmes, centering on a detective figure, often a complex character, as they investigate a crime or series of crimes in search of resolution. Police procedurals are rich in the actual policework involved in an investigation and build out a play-by-play of what officers do (even the deskwork) in search of their culprits.The long history of mystery and crime stories have spawned countless classics, new and old. From iconic tales like And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie to newer releases like The Tenant by Freida McFadden, there’s a wide selection of mystery books for adults to enjoy. Consider Barnes & Noble® your ultimate destination for the best mystery books and crime classics, new releases, and the best mystery & thriller books of 2025. Looking for a mystery to read immediately? Download mystery and crime eBooks to your smartphone, tablet, or NOOK device and start reading today!

Some of the Best Mystery & Thriller Books to Read in 2026

  • Return of the Spider by James Patterson
  • Nash Falls by David Baldacci
  • Exit Strategy by Lee Child
  • The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe by James Patterson
  • The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
  • My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney
  • Twelve Months by Jim Butcher
  • Stolen in Death by J.D. Robb
  • The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
  • The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave