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