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The 100 Most Popular Mysteries and Thrillers on Goodreads
With clever detectives, missing jewels, murderous women, daring spies, and more, mysteries and thrillers deliver page-turning delight with every twist and turn. To celebrate our favorite sleuths (and favorite villains), we followed the footsteps to find the top 100 most popular mysteries and thrillers on Goodreads.
As all good mystery readers know, uncovering the howdunit is sometimes just as important as unveiling the culprit. To create our list, we first started with the most reviewed books on our site. Additionally, each title needed at least a 3.5 star rating to make it onto our rap sheet. And because some of your favorite authors are repeat offenders, when it came to books in a series, we kept the title with the most reviews and buried the rest. (Otherwise, the top of this list would be very full of Dan Brown, Janet Evanovich, and Stieg Larsson.)
We suspect you'll find a book or two you'll want to read in this lineup. Here are the top mysteries and thrillers on Goodreads, listed from 1 to 100.
How many have you read? Tell us in the comments below, and don't forget to add titles that catch your eye to your Want to Read shelf!
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#100
How many of these books have you read? What's your favorite mystery of all time? Let's talk books in the comments!
Comments Showing 151-200 of 350 (350 new)
message 151:
by
Thea | (unapologetic_bibliosmia)
(new)
Apr 09, 2020 04:51AM
Also - the book I'm reading this week for Mystery and Thriller Week is Sleeping Murder by (shock shock) Agatha Christie. The last Miss Marple book in the series, and a captivating read as expected from The Queen of whodunnits.
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I’ve read 34 on this list and recognized almost all the authors. Love Elizabeth George and Patricia Cornwall and MICHAEL Connely. Missing Linwood Barclays books. The top 100 provides me with suggestions for future reads. Thank you in the time of the pandemic and social isolation it’s good to have a gripping mystery or thriller to read!
Nilufa wrote: "A book I just could not put down (and I'm not sure it's in this list) is Peter Swanson's 'Rules for Perfect Murders'/'Eight Perfect Murders'. It's a pure homage to detective fiction/murder mysterie..."Thank you for this suggestion! I've just looked this one up and it sounds so up my street - I wonder why I've never come across it before! Question - Do you think it would be better to have read the 8 books on the list in order to appreciate this one fully? Ive read half of them, but not all.
How can you leave out Ian Rankin’s Rebus books, all outstanding? Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks books are really good too. And what about Anne Cleeves, who has had two of her detective series made into beloved TV shows - Shetland and Vera? I have read 19 of the list but many of the authors among the top 100 are not in the same league as the writers I have listed.
Two problems with this list. First mixing mysteries and thrillers tends to favour thrillers because they are generally more exciting and attract less serious readers. I would like to see separate lists. I agree with one of the earliest comments. When John Grisham appears near the top of any list it signals mindless selections by readers. The question I would like is who are the great writers, but I understand that this is a compilation based on popularity I did not see James Lee Burke on the list and that is significant.
Gretchen wrote: "How about Brunetti and Maigret? Martha Grimes doesn't appear. Where are the Scandinavian authors? This isn't the best list in my humble opinion!"I agree that Scandi novels overlooked. Mah Sjowall and Per Wahloo
and their Martin Beck series excellent. Too many on list turn out same, predictable works. Agatha Christie is an exception.
Wow.... nary a Robert B. Parker of John D. MacDonald on the list? Not sure how that happens....
Thea wrote: "Nilufa wrote: "A book I just could not put down (and I'm not sure it's in this list) is Peter Swanson's 'Rules for Perfect Murders'/'Eight Perfect Murders'. It's a pure homage to detective fiction/..."I haven't read them all either but it fills you in on certain details without really ruining the book but I suppose that depends on how much spoilers annoy you - but it's more about how the murder is committed than who commits it so I would say no - you don't have to have read them all. It will give you so many recommendations though; I need to comb through it and mark them all as To Read now!
We must remember this is a popularity list not a list of "the best". I had forgotten about Martin Beck but I read every one and the same with Nicholas Freeling and Van de Wetering. agreed on Brunetti and Maigret. But add Nadal, Martin Walker, Martin O'Brien, Parker Bilal, and Kwai Quartey.
Doug wrote: "Wow.... nary a Robert B. Parker of John D. MacDonald on the list? Not sure how that happens...."Because each person who reads a lot has a memory that does not cover all. If you like Parker, try Tapply, and Hiassen. I love Parker.
I know you guys are talking about all the serious authors.. but there is nothing wrong with light Whodunnits like books from Joanne Fluke
Lorna Barrett
Denise Swanson
Lynn Cahoon
Kate Carlisle.
Rita mae Brown
Or maybe some hard boiled novels are more your style:
Dashiell Hammett
Mickey Spillane
I have not seen a lot of International sleuth or historical sleuths on that list either...
Arnaldur Indridason erlendur
Phillip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther
Peter James
Donna Leon’s inspector Brunetti
Preston and child’s novels
Fred Vargas
Camilla Lackberg
Ellis Peters’s brother Cadfael
Ian Hamilton’s Ava Lee novels
Probably skipping a lot more...guess they will have to do more lists!
I’ve read 30. My favorite author, hands down, is Michael Connelly.
Please remind your readers of Peter Lovesey! He is brilliant. His books about Seargeant Cribb inspired the Mystery! series on PBS. And his series about Detective Peter Diamond is exceptional. His stand-alone books also take us on intriguing journeys.Tana French, Kate Atkinson...anything by those two are on my list.
Anthea Fraser has series about DCI Webb. Some are better than others, but they are quick and enjoyable.
Melissa wrote: "I know you guys are talking about all the serious authors.. but there is nothing wrong with light Whodunnits like books from Joanne Fluke
Lorna Barrett
Denise Swanson
Lynn Cahoon
Kate Carlisle.
Ri..."
There are so many tastes. I missed mentioning the Bernie Gunther series. Possibly the best ever series. Thanks for your recommendations.
Alex Kava - in my opinion her Maggie O'Dell series is one of the best ever written.
Sometimes it is easy to forget that 'most popular' doesn't mean it is worth my time and energy.
While in Ambleside, England in 1993, I found several paperbacks by Bartholomew Gill. He is an Irish mystery writer which I like very much.
Gen wrote: "Sometimes it is easy to forget that 'most popular' doesn't mean it is worth my time and energy."right
Carol Wheeler wrote: "Alex Kava - in my opinion her Maggie O'Dell series is one of the best ever written."So many book, so little time. She is new to me and I read extensively. Thanks for the tip.
So many unforgivable misses. I'm only providing authors; the books are too numerous to cite. Just for starters, in no particular order of preference:Margery Allingham
Rex Stout
Marsha Grimes
Dashiell Hammett
John D. MacDonald
Ross MacDonald
P.D. James
Josephine Tey
Walter Moseley
Kerry Greenwood
Gail Carriger
Gaston Leroux
Donna Leon
Lawrence Block
Donald Westlake
Donald Westlake writing as Richard Stark
Carl Hiaasen
I've read 36, love Ruth Ware, Kate Atkinson and Tana French but where's John Connolly? His Charlie Parker series is amazing.
Great list. My list would also include Meg Gardiner’s “UNSUB”, Kendra Elliot’s “Merciful Death”, Robert Dugoni’s “My Sister’s Grave” and to really show my old age, Lawrence Sanders’ “First Deadly Sin”.
Roger wrote: "Carol Wheeler wrote: "Alex Kava - in my opinion her Maggie O'Dell series is one of the best ever written."So many book, so little time. She is new to me and I read extensively. Thanks for the tip."
Can you place Alex Kava in a context list? You said one of and I would like to see how you compare her to other favourites.
Interesting, I have read 88/100 - here is my list of authors for great reading.Scott Prett
Preston & Child
Allen Eskens
Charles Finch
Karin Slaughter
Christopher Greyson
A.E. Howe
Orest Stelmach
Kevin Wignall
J A Jance
Laura Lippman
C J Lyons
Victor Methos
*Derek B Miller (all of his books)
Olivier Nilsson-Julien
Karen Charlton - Murder in Park Lane
Thomas Benigno - The Good Lawyer
Adrian McKinty - The Cold Cold Ground
Kate Atkins
Laura Carr
Teresa Bur
John C Dalgish
Robert Dugoni - all of his books
Deborah Crombie
Laura Lippman
Kendra Elliot
A few recommendations: G.M. Malliet (Max Tudor), John Dunning, Charlie Lovett, Charles Finch, Martha Grimes, Brad Parks, Preston & Child, Elizabeth George, Laurie R. King
Riju wrote: "This list seems to be entirely based upon ratings bestowed by American teenagers. Nothing wrong with that. But such a list completely disregards British classics, short-story collections, entire ge..."Totally agree with you.
I agree with so many who have expressed disappointment in this list. Yes, I understand how it is generated - its method pulled up mostly current books (more sales for Amazon??). Current favorites have few excellent writers (compared with the entire genre of mystery writing) and, as one comment put it, focus on 'bad things happen to girls' the current 'literary' expression of misogyny. I have far more notes on books/authors to look up from the comments than the list.
YvonZ wrote: "Sigh. My life is way too short."Agree!
Nance wrote: "Great list. My list would also include Meg Gardiner’s “UNSUB”, Kendra Elliot’s “Merciful Death”, Robert Dugoni’s “My Sister’s Grave” and to really show my old age, Lawrence Sanders’ “First Deadly S..."First Deadly Sin was his best I think, and the last book I read that I couldn't put down even at 3am. Great memory.
Josephine wrote: "Riju wrote: "This list seems to be entirely based upon ratings bestowed by American teenagers. Nothing wrong with that. But such a list completely disregards British classics, short-story collectio..."Some teenage brains stay around for years.
Only 17 on the list.... but I think that's because this is more of a popularity contest than a list of the best mystery/thrillers. Dan Brown sold a lot of books, but I don't consider him to be in the top 20 mystery/thriller writers. Also, it skews VERY heavily to the last 20 years, which also doesn't really give a good indicator of the 'best' books in the genre...
The lack of any of Robert Crais books on your list is a grave mistake. His book "Suspect" is one wonderful read, especially if you love dogs. He's a better writer than many of the people on your list. I've read 5 of his books and they're all well plotted with an excellent use of language. Also, where's Linwood Barclay's books? Try "No Time For Goodbye" for a well plotted mystery. Good professional writing.
What no John Lescroart, Vince Flynn, Lisa Gardner, WEB Griffith???
Cripes!I've read hardly any of these books. Thank the lord!
I have better things to do.
I want to submit 5 names that are on very few lists though they are great writers and story tellers.Harry Bingham's Fiona Griffiths series - Fiona is my favourite female character ever - not for the faint of heart.
Parker Bilal's Makana series set in Cairo - very dark and mysterious.
Kwei Quartey's Darko Dawson series set in Ghana - exotic.
Malcolm Mackay - start with The Necessary Death of Lewis Winter - mysteries from the bad guy's perspective.
Allen Mattich's Della Torre series set in the Balkans - scary stuff.
For Canadians I suggest Scott Thornley's MacNiece series set in Dundurn (a fictional Hamilton) and Iona Whishaw's Lane Winslow series set in the interior of BC during the post WWII years.
Harlan Coben? He is an exceptional writer!
There are some good books on this list, however it is a clear illustration of the disparity between popularity and quality. Try KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES by Jussi Adler-Olsen. Amazing.
Interesting lack of international/Nordic/Noir authors...
I've read only 4 of these... Wow, so much to catch on!!I'm adding few more to my "to read" list.
Sandford and C J Box.. L J Ross good English procedural
I realize "Lists" are nothing if not highly subjective, but I think that the mystery stories of the following authors require some mention:Donna Leon
Alan Furst
Eric Ambler
I agree with the first post in the list. No evidence of any great mysteries and thrillers (with a few exceptions); just the suspense/horror books of the past several years. Those aren't really mysteries.Definitely missing from the list:
Day of the Jackal (Frederic Forsythe)
Almost anything by Craig Rice
How do you overlook Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe?
Among newer authors, what about Craig Johnson or John Sandford?
Ellery Queen (maybe The Player on the Other Side)
I've read 48 of these but tend to like detective novels best.Here are some good authors and their detectives
Denise Mina Det. Alex Marrow
Lynda LePlante Det. Anna (sorry can't remember l last name)
Lisa Gardner Det D.D. Warren
Brian Freeman Det Jonathan Stride
Melliott wrote: "With the exception of about a dozen from all the lists (Connelly, French, Penny), these are so generic and cookie cutter. You are missing so many good authors and series! What about...Kate Atkins..."I agree! Penny is a genius. Haven't read the other two, but I will now. I understand that the ratings were based on the # of reviews as much as the "stars", so that's why so many "cookie cutter" books made the list.
