Mystery & Thriller

What is it about VHS movies, camcorders and old broadcasts that look so unsettling? The vibrant contrast, white noise and static paired with negative space and muffled sound give off chilling, analog horror vibes. Sometimes, you want that feeling from a novel: a mind-bending, genre-defying tale that incorporates elements from the 80s, 90s and early aughts that will give you a nostalgic scare. Here are some spine-tingling tales that will have you feeling nostalgic... with a side of fear.

Miss Jane Marple is the lead sleuth in nearly a dozen of Christie's beloved mysteries, making her one of the most popular amateur detectives in fiction. Lucy Foley brings Miss Marple back for a tantalizing new tale in Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel, so here are the must-read Marple stories to introduce yourself ahead of time.

In a web of deception and lies, who can you truly trust? Spy thrillers are all the rage right now, and now is your time to solve a gripping case. Follow an unlikely spy duo in Elliot Ackerman’s action-packed heist thriller Sheepdogs, join a ragtag group of misfit spies in Clown Town or discover a globe-trotting thrill ride with these must-read spy novels hitting shelves this fall.

Annie Adams is back on the case in a dual-timeline mystery that shifts between the 1960s and the present day, where nearly identical murders blur the line between a haunting past and a gritty present. Read on for an exclusive essay from Kristen Perrin on writing How to Cheat Your Own Death.

A missing young woman, a serial killer on the loose, and deep-rooted corruption pulse through this gripping Hollywood noir thriller, drenched in violence and glitter. Read on for an exclusive essay from author Jordan Harper on writing A Violent Masterpiece.

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke is a clever locked-room mystery from dynamic writing duo, V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke. The authors joined us live at B&N Union Square to talk about character, storytelling, genre, collaboration, expectation, Scotland and more with cohost Jenna Seery.

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby is an action-packed quest for vengeance. S.A. joined us to talk about sibling dynamics, gender roles, crime fiction, The Godfather, masculinity and more with cohost Chris Gillespie.

Three of them head into the woods. One of them is lying… but which one? This eerie trek through the wilderness is the backdrop for a tale of betrayal and revenge by Kat Rosenfield. Read on for an exclusive essay from Kat on writing How to Survive in the Woods. In the summer of 1970, […]

When a whirlwind romance stirs questions Theodora can’t ignore, fragments of the past begin to surface. Old secrets may seem frozen in time, but nothing stays hidden forever. Read on for an exclusive essay from author Kate Alice Marshall on writing Our Monthly Pick, A Killing Cold. A Killing Cold began with an inexplicable mystery: […]

Imagine coming home from a run and being replaced. This is what happens to Eden … or does it? The author of Rock Paper Scissors returns with another crafty domestic thriller. Read on for an exclusive essay from Alice Feeney on writing My Husband’s Wife. Books are like children for authors, we’re not really allowed […]

If given the opportunity to solve a high-profile mystery, would you be the one to crack the case? Or would you take a backseat and let the sleuths do their thing? The only way to find out is to immerse yourself in the best mystery & thriller books from 2025. There are globe-trotting mysteries, edge-of-your-seat […]

Grown-ups: if you’ve been wanting to introduce the little ones in your life to the next Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys series, this is it. Author James Ponti has penned an exclusive essay on how he scouts for locations and inspiration for his stories and why Miami was the perfect setting for The Sherlock Society, […]

Former CIA analyst and author of Moscow X returns with a breakneck thriller centered on six CIA officers who must turn on each other. Read on for an exclusive essay from Our Monthly Pick author David McCloskey on writing The Seventh Floor. The Seventh Floor is a story very close to my heart. At its […]

Greetings adrenaline junkies and armchair sleuths. There are so many murders to solve, so many spies behind enemy lines, and so many cozy mysteries to snuggle up with. There has been an abundance of mystery and thriller books to tantalize any reader and we’re only halfway through the year. Which means that it’s high time […]

Crime fiction by and about women, this mother-daughter narrative is satirical, emotional and chilling. It’s packed with layers of meaning and complexities. Read on for an exclusive essay from Our Monthly Pick author Andromeda Romano-Lax on writing The Deepest Lake. In literary criticism, it’s considered unwise (and let’s just say it—uncool!) to assume a book […]