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Top 100 Mysteries & Thrillers on Goodreads
Culprits, spies, bad guys, and women with vendettas: There's something so very satisfying about spending your time with the criminal element. And by that, we mean following the clues and solving the capers when you sit down with a great mystery or thriller. Always in search of a great book, Goodreads recently set out to uncover your 100 most-loved thrillers and mysteries.
There are, of course, rules to this game. Namely, every one of these books has at least a 4.0 rating from the Goodreads community. That means it's a bit of a popularity contest, for example Gone Girl is represented with a 4.02 rating, but another girl—Girl on a Train—just misses the list at 3.88. Then there are the usual suspects you won't find on this list: The Maltese Falcon (3.92), Angels & Demons (3.85), and Strangers on a Train (3.84) among others. It may seem brutal, but the readers have spoken.
Of course, many of your favorite writers have stayed with a character for a while, so in the cases of serialized mysteries and thrillers, we picked the books that, again, are over 4.0 and have the largest number of ratings.
It's time to unveil the top 100 Mysteries & Thrillers on Goodreads, arranged in alphabetical order. How many have you read? Tell us in the comments.
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Tell us how many you've read in the comments! And be sure to check out more of our Mystery & Thriller Week coverage here.
Comments Showing 401-450 of 473 (473 new)
Well, you can feel offended if you like - but, speaking only for myself here, forums like these are by their nature subjective, and to have to qualify every comment by saying 'in my opinion' takes a little of the spontaneity and enjoyment out of it. In general, I don't like to see mean remarks made about a writers work, but Lee Child is a superstar, he's not gonna be remotely affected much less even notice anyone slating his work. I'm a big Stephen King fan but I find it interesting reading other folks opinions on his work, good or bad. More often that not, it's not gonna change my view on anything, but occasionally someone will raise a point that makes me look at things in a different way. Anyway, that's all I'll say onthe matter. Didn't mean to come across as argumentative, I was just on my lunch break and thought I'd add my two cents to the Reacher debate :-)
I seem to have read 25 or so.It's rather an odd list - I read pretty much all the Christies as a youngster, and some of hers on this list are not the best by any means. Other authors I would not waste my time on (naming no names).
The most peculiar bias is that as far as I can see, the list contains remarkably few books in translation. FWIW, I regard Simenon as one of the greatest crime writers of all time - especially in his mature period (say, books from the 1950s and 60s)... and very many recent Scandinavian authors in addition to those mentioned deserve a wider audience - why are there no books by Henning Mankell (Wallander books) for example? Mankell and Arnaldur Indridason, to name but two, are far superior to some authors on this list.
I fully agree with your mentions. Wallendar entranced me did Arnaldur. If you haven’t read anything by Yrsa Sigmundardottir. I am particularly fond of detectives in out of the way or neglected locations. Waking the Lion (Israeli), Dror Mishani, Israeli, Vaseem Khan, Bombay, Iceland you know, Child 44 (set in Russia), Ariel Kafka (Helsinki) (detective name). And as a kid I read the Christie’s too. The teeny bits of intel one learns in these titles has done me in such good stead. And the cleverness of the authors is in the details. Oh, Zoe Ferraris (Saudi ) - find a location that is out of the way and look for a noir titles. You will be delighted by what you. Great comment.PS - have read other garden variety (and cheesy) mysteries/thrillers as well - but I do prefer one where the location is the star as well.
32 and several I think I have read, but will confirm before claiming more.
The poll pandered (yes) to the average reader. Anyone who reads is NOT average any longer but so many of the titles are crappy and formulaic. I suspect it is based on sales. Perhaps each of us should create an personal list and share. We may discover treasures
Well, I have read 11 of them, and 12 of them are waiting to be read lol.
Oh I have read 48 of them - but it would be fun to see what the Goodreads friends have to share.
Chloe wrote: "I fully agree with your mentions. Wallendar entranced me did Arnaldur. If you haven’t read anything by Yrsa Sigmundardottir. I am particularly fond of detectives in out of the way or neglected loca..."Thanks for the suggestions. have read Sigmundardottir (and probably around 10 other mainly very good Scandinavians), but not the others you mention.
Chloe wrote: "The poll pandered (yes) to the average reader. Anyone who reads is NOT average any longer but so many of the titles are crappy and formulaic. I suspect it is based on sales. Perhaps each of us shou..."Haha!
I agree - James Patterson? I read one of his books - it was very poor. I gather that nowadays he doesn't even write his 'own' books, but has a stable of ghosts working for him. Pathetic.
Orlok wrote: "Del wrote: "Martinw wrote: "Of course in my opinion. Whose opinion should I express? But if this is unclear in some way, I will try to remember and add "in my opinion" in future posts. ."I'll sec..."
It was not my intention to offend you, I apologise. No hard feelings?
To 'Killing Floor': Unlike in all other books of the list I read, there were a few very amateurish details in the book. (view spoiler)
Anyway, this is of course only my opinion. There are some other books which I immensely enjoyed, though other readers criticised similar points as I did in 'Killing Floor'. A matter of taste, I guess.
No offence taken, and no hard feelings - I just don't particularly like people stating that something is crap as though it were a fact. We all have differing opinions on stuff, and I would rather someone said that they didn't like a book, which is fair enough, than a bald statement that it is rubbish, with the implication that the rest of you who do like it must be wrong. Several of the Reacher books have major flaws or require a suspension of disbelief (for example, this "clock" he has in his head which allows him to wake at a precise time just because he thinks of it), but I still enjoy them. As you say, it's all a matter of taste.
15/100, though I read other volumes from some of the mentioned series.
I have read 44 of them and seen a couple of them as movies. I love mysteries especially British and Scandinavian. Some of my favorite authors are on this list, Adam Dalgliesh, Colin Dexter, Kate Morton, Louise Penney, Elizabeth George, Julia Spencer-Fleming. I could go on and on, but I have also discovered some new authors to try.
I've only read six out of these 100. I do tend to like to read debut authors and don't tend to read the authors that roll out a book once or twice a year. I was surprised not to any of my favorite thrillers of last year of the list :( I was surprised that
, or
weren't included in the list.
Goodreads asked : "Tell us how many you've read in the comments!"So we are supposed to answer accordingly.
Goodreads didn't ask : "Say something about the books and authors listed above".
So we are not supposed to go off topic.
Can we get a LIST VIEW of the top 100 books? The Covers-Only View tells you so very little about each book. I want to sort by rating, sort by author, sort by number of pages, etc.NO WAY am I going to hover my cursor over every one of these covers *Godzilla Facepalm*
5/100 on this list and couple of movies. A lot of books what I read they are not on the list 😁
39/100My favourites include, Louise Penny, Carlos Luis Zafon
I've read 13 I'm surprised Louise Penny's Gamache series has only one listed. They are fantastic.
27, but many of those I read over 20 years ago.Howevwr, i added titles to my tbr list. ;)
17 plus a couple of movies too. Good list. I've added several to my list of Books to Read.
Have read 39 of them and identified another 10 to put on my wish list...... liked looking through the top 100
35/100 - plus I think I read some more before Goodreads was around to help me keep track.
Cheryl A, I also despised Gone Girl, both such hateful characters who got what they deserved
57/100, could be more but some classic Christies I might not remember
Diana wrote: "Cheryl A, I also despised Gone Girl, both such hateful characters who got what they deserved"I knew exactly what would happen from the first page. Also did not like Girl on a Train at all. I think at this stage in my reading life I am adventurous but I do like more complicated thrillers and new locations. There are so many great ones being written and definitely worth reading.
Karen wrote: "23 and some movies. Currently having a love affair with the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series set in the fictional Three Pines, QC, Canada."I agree - Louise Penny is one of the best mystery writers out there. Her novels just keep getting better and better
I have her on my list. I keep hearing how great she is and I am ready to read. And this time I will start with number one - LOL..
51/100Well, I seem to be the busiest of all, or maybe the oldest (60) :-). Though I prefer straight mysteries and police procedurals to thrillers.
Tonko wrote: "51/100Well, I seem to be the busiest of all, or maybe the oldest (60) :-). Though I prefer straight mysteries and police procedurals to thrillers."
Well done!
No Ruth Rendell, Peter Robinson, Giles Blunt, Val McDermid. Those authors not mentioned..I love them.
I've only read one and watched quite a few on film. I'm disappointed that my favorite mystery author is not included on the list: Deborah Crombie. Her brilliantly written whodunit tales are set in the U.K. and are investigated by super sleuths Gemma and Duncan, who have interesting personal lives of their own. Because Crombie lives in England six months each year, her beautifully descriptive sentences allow you to feel as though you are in Great Britain as you read. I so enjoy getting lost in her gorgeous and thrilling stories!
I have read 25 of these and 11 are on my want to read list!
I'm at 11/100... and really enjoyed those 11. Must read more!
I'll second that opi..."
Naturally everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just find it faintly offensive to be told something is rubbish as though it is an accepted fact. I am a massive Spenser and Parker fan, but enjoy Reacher enormously too. Each to their own.