The 28 Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers of 2020

Posted by Cybil on January 2, 2020


The new year is guaranteed to bring plenty of suspense, chills, thrills, and occasional horrors—and we're just talking about the new mysteries and thrillers that await readers.

From the return of favorite suspense masters including Harlan Coben, C.J. Tudor, and Riley Sager to buzzy debuts Saint X, Darling Rose Gold, and Take Me Apart, there's little doubt that your TBR pile will be suspiciously large this year.

To create our list of the year's must-read mysteries and thrillers, we focused on what Goodreads members can't wait to read. How do we measure that anticipation? By taking a look at how many times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves. Then we factored in the ratings from the book's early readers.

Which of these upcoming releases are making their way onto your Want to Read shelf? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Release: January 7
Release: January 7
Release: January 14
Release: January 28
Release: January 28
Release: January 28
Release: February 4
Release: February 4

Release: February 11
Release: February 18
Release: February 18
Release: February 18
Release: February 18
Release: March 3
Release: March 3
Release: March 3
Release: March 17
Release: March 17
Release: March 17
Release: March 24

Release: April 7
Release: April 14
Release: April 21
Release: April 28
Release: April 28
Release: May 19
Release: June 30
Release: July 7




Which of these upcoming mysteries and thrillers are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments!

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Comments Showing 1-50 of 100 (100 new)


message 1: by Xavier (new)

Xavier Omweri Eight perfect murders


message 2: by Steven (new)

Steven I guess GR resolved to promote more male authors in 2020. 6 out of 28 .... strong work.


message 3: by Sumi (new)

Sumi Ann The Sun Down Motel, Behind Every Lie and Eight Perfect Murders.


message 4: by E.L. (new)

E.L. Sparrow He started it, Long bright river, the better lier and the other people.


message 5: by Davina (new)

Davina So many books to look forward to


message 6: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Nolan Looking forward to reading The dilemma by BA Paris, the other people by C J Tudor and eight perfect murders by Peter Swanson.


message 7: by Peggy (new)

Peggy Moore The wife stalker


message 8: by Fenris (new)

Fenris I am looking forward to The Sun Down Motel. I tried reading another novel by C. J. Tudor and it was terrifying, so I'll be avoiding her new one. I actually received Things in Jars in a giveaway and I loved it! That one I wholeheartedly recommend.


message 9: by Dawn (new)

Dawn Steven wrote: "I guess GR resolved to promote more male authors in 2020. 6 out of 28 .... strong work."

If you'll read the intro it says it's based on the number of people who marked it "want to read."


message 10: by Steve (new)

Steve Long Bright River,The Other People,The Look-Alike,Behind Every Lie,The Lucky One,Eight Perfect Murders,The Boy from the Woods


message 11: by Alicia (new)

Alicia ohhh so many of them but if I have to name one You are not alone. However I already have 7 of them preordered. :)


message 12: by Rich (new)

Rich what a boring and unoriginal list-only two books grab me the sundown motel and eight perfect muders


message 13: by Karen (last edited Jan 09, 2020 03:24AM) (new)

Karen eight perfect murders, riley sager, the suddown motel,home before dark, the wife stalker, darling rose gold, the red lotus, long bright river, bad day for sunshine, the look alike, my dark vanessa, things in jars, the hold out, the other mrs.,death in her hands, take me apart


message 14: by Tanja (new)

Tanja Steven wrote: "I guess GR resolved to promote more male authors in 2020. 6 out of 28 .... strong work."

lmao I think male authors will be fine


message 15: by Shannon (new)

Shannon Tanja Hoffmann wrote: "Steven wrote: "I guess GR resolved to promote more male authors in 2020. 6 out of 28 .... strong work."

lmao I think male authors will be fine"


Lol! Exactly what I was thinking Tanja!


message 16: by Read by Coco ✨ (new)

Read by Coco ✨ Why are so many thrillers these days written about wives :P


message 17: by Jim (new)

Jim The Pinborough and Constantine books have the same piece of art on the cover, but from different angles. Huh.


message 18: by Sophie (new)

Sophie What about "The Glass Hotel"...
Sharon Bolton's The Split, should be on your list too!


message 19: by [deleted user] (new)

Lion's Head Revisited: A Dan Sharp Mystery by Jeffrey Round - ETA Feb 1 2020
River of Lies by R.M. Greenaway - ETA Mar 14 2020


message 20: by Cheryl A. (new)

Cheryl A. I have 2 that are on my reading list this year: The Look-Alike and The Other Mrs. But most interest me along with a slew of other new releases this year!


message 21: by Beth (new)

Beth Roberts Dawn wrote: "Steven wrote: "I guess GR resolved to promote more male authors in 2020. 6 out of 28 .... strong work."

If you'll read the intro it says it's based on the number of people who marked it "want to r..."


I honestly can't understand what difference sex or sexual orientation of an author makes in whether a book is a good book. I guess I'm getting old, but all this stress on "diversifying reading" irritates me. I base a book on how interesting it sounds to ME, not whether the author is blue or sleeps with mailboxes. It makes NO difference to me. Some men write great books. Some women write great books. Both can write really BAD books. Who cares? Read what you WANT to read and leave the preaching in places where it might do some good: the voting lines. Not wanting to offend, but seriously. I'm all for sexual rights for everyone, but anymore when a book is simply pushed as LGBTQIA+ as it's focal selling point, I take a big pass. I'd vote a llama into office if I thought it would make a good President. Ditto if it wrote an amazing thriller.


message 22: by Rich (new)

Rich that means 22 female writers-who cares


message 23: by Bailey (new)

Bailey Bohn I read an ARC of The Look-Alike and I hiiiiiiiighly recommend it!


message 24: by Olga (new)

Olga What about Museum of Desire by Jonathan Kellerman coming out 2/4/2020? That's the one I'm looking forward to.


message 25: by Frank (new)

Frank Phillips I'm torn between Eight Perfect Murders, Dead to Her, and the Dilemma, in that order. All great, reliable authors (IMO). What an exciting spring we have ahead of us!


Unsolved ☕︎ Mystery I love adding new thrillers to my TBR mountain. =))


message 27: by Cheryl A. (new)

Cheryl A. Bailey wrote: "I read an ARC of The Look-Alike and I hiiiiiiiighly recommend it!"
Thank you, Bailey!


message 28: by Jocelyn (new)

Jocelyn Coben, Swanson and Sager! 😍😍😍


message 29: by Kate (new)

Kate Rich wrote: "what a boring and unoriginal list-only two books grab me the sundown motel and eight perfect muders" Totally agree.


message 30: by Tracey Allen (new)

Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum Beth wrote: "..I honestly can't understand what difference sex or sexual orientation of an author makes in whether a book is a good book. I guess I'm getting old, but all this stress on "diversifying reading" irritates me. I base a book on how interesting it sounds to ME, not whether the author is blue or sleeps with mailboxes. It makes NO difference to me. Some men write great books. Some women write great books. Both can write really BAD books. Who cares? Read what you WANT to read and leave the preaching in places where it might do some good: the voting lines. Not wanting to offend, but seriously. I'm all for sexual rights for everyone, but anymore when a book is simply pushed as LGBTQIA+ as it's focal selling point, I take a big pass. I'd vote a llama into office if I thought it would make a good President. Ditto if it wrote an amazing thriller."

Perfectly said Beth! Especially the part about mailboxes and llamas 😆


message 31: by Mary (new)

Mary Ryan Xavier wrote: "Eight perfect murders"

Same here


message 32: by MeggieBree (new)

MeggieBree Fenris wrote: "I am looking forward to The Sun Down Motel. I tried reading another novel by C. J. Tudor and it was terrifying, so I'll be avoiding her new one. I actually received Things in Jars in a giveaway and..."


Would you mind sharing which one you thought was terrifying? I work in a high school and have a few kids who can't get enough out of being scared, and it's getting hard to keep them in books!


message 33: by Fenris (new)

Fenris Sure thing! It was The Chalk Man, and I had to stop reading it for a few days because it was giving me nightmares. I also carefully read it to the end, skimming past some of the more troubling passages and actions of the characters. I think it would be fine for high schoolers or anyone who likes to be scared. If they like Stephen King they will definitely like C. J. Tudor.


message 34: by Donna (new)

Donna The Sun Down Motel...made me think of Bates Motel! Looking forward to reading this one! Death in her Hands also sounds intriguing!


message 35: by Diana (new)

Diana Chemtai Looking forward reading sea of lost girls,, The wife stalker


message 36: by Tony (new)

Tony Berry Harlan Coben and Mary Kubica are the only authors on the list I am aware of and only one of them have I read all the way through.
I am right to suspect it is very US-biased compilation that ignores the excellent writing being done elsewhere in the world?


message 37: by Donna (new)

Donna so many, I can't list them all. Thanks for this!!


message 38: by Sean (new)

Sean Not a single one looks interesting. Maybe after July something will spark my interest.


message 39: by Jenni (new)

Jenni Cornell A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones because ...Darynda Jones. Nuff said.


message 40: by Nichole (new)

Nichole McMahon The Dilemma


message 41: by B.Bennett (new)

B.Bennett The boy from the woods


message 42: by Shari (new)

Shari S. Beth wrote: "Dawn wrote: "Steven wrote: "I guess GR resolved to promote more male authors in 2020. 6 out of 28 .... strong work."

If you'll read the intro it says it's based on the number of people who marked ..."


Wholly agree. Who cares if the author is male or female or a monkey hitting keys on a typewriter!


message 43: by Anne (new)

Anne Yeoman Where are Charles Todd and Louise Penny? I think they both have new books coming out this year. Maybe others don't see them in this category.


message 44: by Ann (new)

Ann Della Bitta The Lantern Men- Elly Griffiths and A Divided Loyalty-Charles Todd


message 45: by Chris (new)

Chris Rook Steven wrote: "I guess GR resolved to promote more male authors in 2020. 6 out of 28 .... strong work."

I have noticed the same thing, each month the books promoted lean heavily in favor of female authors


message 46: by Sheila (new)

Sheila I’m looking forward to all of them !


message 47: by Barbara (new)

Barbara Vallejo Harlan Coben always


message 48: by Donna (new)

Donna Harlan Coben - all of his books are great!


message 49: by Barbara (new)

Barbara Anne wrote: "Where are Charles Todd and Louise Penny? I think they both have new books coming out this year. Maybe others don't see them in this category."

Wow, can't agree more. Two of my favorite authors.


message 50: by Gwen (last edited Jan 22, 2020 07:27AM) (new)

Gwen Baggett "The Boy From the Woods" because one can always count on Harlen Coben to not disappoint.


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