Popular Highly Rated Mystery (115 books)

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Listopia > Popular Highly Rated Mystery

Given the existence of other lists, curious to see a mystery list with even more stringent requirements.

So - 40,000 ratings, first book in a series only, an average rating of 4.0 or above and shelved at least 500 times as mystery

This list is in reaction to the blog entry Top 50 favorite fantasy novels on goodreads from Hayley Igarashi on July 29, 2017.

It is an attempt to turn an arbitrary definition into a precise definition.

See also:
100 Mysteries and Thrillers to Read in a Lifetime Readers Picks
Best Mysteries of the 21st Century
Best Mysteries of the 20th Century
Popular Highly Rated Mystery

Books With a Goodreads Average Rating of 4 and Above and at least 30,000 ratings

Best Mysteries by Subgenre
Best Cozy Mystery Series
Best Crime Mystery Books
Best Historical Mystery
Best Literary Mysteries
Best Thrillers

Edgar Awards:
Edgar Award Winners
Edgar Award Winners for Best First Novel
Edgar Award Winners for Fact Crime
Edgar Award Winners for Best Young Adult Fiction

Best Mysteries By Decade
1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010

Best Mysteries By Ratings
100,000 or more
50,000 to 99,999
25,000 to 49,999
10,000 to 24,999

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1	Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Vera Wong, #1) by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 239,827 ratings score: 3,907, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 4.27 avg rating — 1,718,152 ratings score: 3,851, and 39 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 3,636,952 ratings score: 3,045, and 31 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson 4.18 avg rating — 3,532,872 ratings score: 2,958, and 30 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 114,217 ratings score: 2,333, and 25 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 3,564,746 ratings score: 2,162, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Witching Hour (Lives of the Mayfair Witches, #1) by Anne Rice 4.09 avg rating — 127,514 ratings score: 2,116, and 23 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Weyward by Emilia Hart (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 459,405 ratings score: 2,102, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	A Discovery of Witches (All Souls, #1) by Deborah Harkness (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 572,049 ratings score: 2,027, and 22 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 4.25 avg rating — 769,433 ratings score: 1,947, and 20 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (Goodreads Author) 4.37 avg rating — 3,804,049 ratings score: 1,808, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Ninth House (Ninth House Trilogy, #1) by Leigh Bardugo (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 426,574 ratings score: 1,774, and 19 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Never by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 76,667 ratings score: 1,744, and 18 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco 4.14 avg rating — 407,945 ratings score: 1,561, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes, #1) by Arthur Conan Doyle 4.13 avg rating — 512,249 ratings score: 1,559, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1) by Carlos Ruiz Zafón 4.31 avg rating — 754,896 ratings score: 1,557, and 16 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1) by J.K. Rowling 4.47 avg rating — 11,849,439 ratings score: 1,284, and 14 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, #1) by Janet Evanovich (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 587,515 ratings score: 1,247, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10) by Agatha Christie 4.20 avg rating — 772,598 ratings score: 1,231, and 13 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle 4.51 avg rating — 220,626 ratings score: 1,142, and 12 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple, #1) by Agatha Christie 4.03 avg rating — 225,049 ratings score: 1,051, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Big Little Lies (Big Little Lies, #1) by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author) 4.31 avg rating — 1,157,012 ratings score: 1,043, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, #1) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 361,919 ratings score: 1,020, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Snowman (Harry Hole, #7) by Jo Nesbø (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 156,981 ratings score: 992, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 4.09 avg rating — 757,763 ratings score: 982, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Relic (Pendergast, #1) by Douglas Preston (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 118,396 ratings score: 927, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1) by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 834,604 ratings score: 900, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Verity by Colleen Hoover (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 4,223,276 ratings score: 854, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	Sadie by Courtney Summers (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 134,461 ratings score: 850, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #1) by Laurie R. King (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 89,786 ratings score: 847, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Presumed Innocent (Kindle County Legal Thriller, #1) by Scott Turow (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 128,765 ratings score: 821, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1) by Jeffery Deaver (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 199,948 ratings score: 775, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (George Smiley, #3) by John le Carré 4.09 avg rating — 134,795 ratings score: 766, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Gorky Park (Arkady Renko, #1) by Martin Cruz Smith 4.03 avg rating — 70,957 ratings score: 763, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Shining (The Shining, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 1,773,228 ratings score: 761, and 10 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Dry (Aaron Falk, #1) by Jane Harper (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 277,833 ratings score: 756, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 816,715 ratings score: 725, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	The Black Echo (Harry Bosch, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #1) by Michael Connelly (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 223,303 ratings score: 705, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Tell No One by Harlan Coben (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 201,040 ratings score: 685, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	The Woods by Harlan Coben (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 115,515 ratings score: 680, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Memory Man (Amos Decker, #1) by David Baldacci (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 165,357 ratings score: 655, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 1,098,165 ratings score: 652, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind 4.04 avg rating — 587,671 ratings score: 652, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Camel Club (The Camel Club, #1) by David Baldacci (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 101,247 ratings score: 652, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	The Secret History by Donna Tartt 4.14 avg rating — 1,131,102 ratings score: 648, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Mystic River by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 173,515 ratings score: 625, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 240,374 ratings score: 618, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.04 avg rating — 162,275 ratings score: 618, and 9 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter, #1) by Thomas Harris 4.07 avg rating — 385,470 ratings score: 614, and 8 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 245,100 ratings score: 547, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	The Lake House by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 134,739 ratings score: 535, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	1st to Die (Women's Murder Club, #1) by James Patterson (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 366,024 ratings score: 533, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 179,024 ratings score: 528, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	The Good Daughter (Good Daughter, #1) by Karin Slaughter (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 270,953 ratings score: 515, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,285,087 ratings score: 511, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 571,970 ratings score: 509, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1) by Patricia Daniels Cornwell 4.02 avg rating — 270,424 ratings score: 508, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1) by James Dashner (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 1,751,740 ratings score: 508, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody, #1) by Elizabeth Peters really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 81,118 ratings score: 502, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne, #1) by Robert Ludlum 4.05 avg rating — 444,402 ratings score: 492, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara 4.11 avg rating — 272,734 ratings score: 492, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Triptych (Will Trent, #1) by Karin Slaughter (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 139,542 ratings score: 486, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Naked in Death (In Death, #1) by J.D. Robb (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 208,450 ratings score: 468, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 799,680 ratings score: 448, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1) by James Patterson (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 501,042 ratings score: 430, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	The Surgeon (Rizzoli & Isles, #1) by Tess Gerritsen (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 181,981 ratings score: 429, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (George Smiley, #5; Karla Trilogy, #1) by John le Carré 4.06 avg rating — 110,717 ratings score: 417, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Split Second (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell, #1) by David Baldacci (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 90,579 ratings score: 397, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 411,836 ratings score: 379, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 166,059 ratings score: 375, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1) by Caleb Carr 4.06 avg rating — 185,272 ratings score: 370, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 1,051,146 ratings score: 363, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	Rules of Prey (Lucas Davenport, #1) by John Sandford 4.11 avg rating — 97,160 ratings score: 355, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 213,232 ratings score: 353, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 643,484 ratings score: 353, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	My Sister's Grave (Tracy Crosswhite, #1) by Robert Dugoni (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 173,037 ratings score: 347, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	The Simple Truth by David Baldacci (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 43,349 ratings score: 347, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Innocent (Will Robie, #1) by David Baldacci (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 124,991 ratings score: 339, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	11/22/63 by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 710,911 ratings score: 329, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	The Mysterious Benedict Society (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #1) by Trenton Lee Stewart (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 180,095 ratings score: 317, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	The Client by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 4.06 avg rating — 468,796 ratings score: 299, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1) by Darynda Jones (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 93,444 ratings score: 291, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Crooked House by Agatha Christie 4.08 avg rating — 98,233 ratings score: 286, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg 4.16 avg rating — 222,458 ratings score: 281, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	Dissolution (Matthew Shardlake, #1) by C.J. Sansom 4.06 avg rating — 63,852 ratings score: 276, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 104,539 ratings score: 275, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	A Great Deliverance (Inspector Lynley, #1) by Elizabeth George (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 53,334 ratings score: 274, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 91,479 ratings score: 273, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb 4.11 avg rating — 70,836 ratings score: 272, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Blackhouse (Lewis Trilogy, #1) by Peter May (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 47,026 ratings score: 271, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Gone for Good by Harlan Coben (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 76,112 ratings score: 265, and 5 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Where Are the Children? (Where Are the Children, #1) by Mary Higgins Clark 4.04 avg rating — 62,939 ratings score: 264, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 207,931 ratings score: 260, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Blindsighted (Grant County, #1) by Karin Slaughter (Goodreads Author) 4.10 avg rating — 132,937 ratings score: 240, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead 4.08 avg rating — 118,881 ratings score: 229, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	The Butterfly Garden (The Collector, #1) by Dot Hutchison 4.08 avg rating — 322,367 ratings score: 228, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Rook (The Checquy Files, #1) by Daniel O'Malley 4.09 avg rating — 65,434 ratings score: 227, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	Love You More (Tessa Leoni, #1; Detective D.D. Warren, #5) by Lisa Gardner (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 59,441 ratings score: 227, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1) by Michelle Hodkin (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 192,569 ratings score: 218, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 214,109 ratings score: 217, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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115 books · 210 voters · list created December 21st, 2019 by Mitchell Friedman (votes) .

Tags: highly-rated, mjf, mysteries, mystery

40 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

People Who Voted On This List (210)

Mitchell 11257 books
170 friends

Charlotte Igelkott 3203 books
1 friend

nellie evelina 1032 books
82 friends

Carter 3456 books
829 friends

Angelia 530 books
0 friends

RetroHound 511 books
2 friends

Saturday's 2309 books
65 friends

~☆~Autumn 8169 books
148 friends

More voters…

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Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)

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message 1: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Nov 19, 2020 05:43AM) (new)

Nov 19, 2020 05:28AM

The Big Sleep (#18) is just under an average rating of 4.0 (at this moment). So are The Outsider (#69), Stalking Jack the Ripper (#66), We Have Always Lived in the Castle (#40), Storm Front (#28) and Still Life (#24).

It doesn't work, avarage rating, because the moment someone rates a book lower than the mentioned 4.0 (in this case), the average rating drop a tiny bit.

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message 2: by Book (new)

Oct 05, 2021 09:10PM

It says a book must have 40,000 ratings but #65 Penicillin has 2 ratings and Ninety-Five has 4 ratings.

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message 3: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (new)

Oct 05, 2021 11:48PM

@Mitchell
Will you please state what books you deleted? Thanks.

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message 4: by Book (new)

Oct 06, 2021 12:10AM

Ok I see that both books have been removed. Thanks!

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message 5: by Charlotte Igelkott (new)

Sep 24, 2023 01:06AM

Removed for having an average rating of less than 4.0:
One of Us Is Lying
Never Never

Removed for having fewer than 40000 ratings:
The Case of the Captain's Hair

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message 6: by LeAnn (new)

Nov 24, 2023 06:41PM

Re: #13, do we really consider Harry Potter a mystery?

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message 7: by Mitchell (new)

Feb 26, 2024 09:43AM

LeAnn wrote: "Re: #13, do we really consider Harry Potter a mystery?"

looking at Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
mystery is the 65th highest shelf with 989 people shelving this as mystery.

So it meets the stated criteria.

It is shelved 3rd as fantasy by 78,454 people.

That said the criteria could be adjusted - say it had to be shelved as mystery in one of the top 31 shelves - which would put it on the first column.

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message 8: by Mitchell (new)

Jun 17, 2026 08:20AM

Removed for having an average rating of less than 4.0

3.97 - Storm Front
3.85 - Rivers of London
3.49 - The London Séance Society
3.86 - The Stranger Diaries
3.73 - The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
3.52 - The Essex Serpent
3.71 - Practical Magic
3.99 - The Westing Game
3.74 - The Familiar
3.99 - The Night Circus
3.98 - Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
3.96 - The Kind Worth Killing
3.83 - Her Royal Spyness
3.79 - How to Solve Your Own Murder
3.79 - The Marlow Murder Club
3.96 - A Curious Beginning
3.82 - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
3.88 - Death at La Fenice
3.90 - Still Life

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message 9: by Mitchell (new)

Jun 18, 2026 02:49PM

so to those who keep adding books to this list - if a new book gets added to this list and it has less than 40,000 ratings or is not a first book in a series or standalone or doesn't have an average rating of 4.0 or above - I will delete it without commenting.

If a book goes below 4.0 rating I will delete it with commenting.

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message 10: by Mitchell (last edited Jun 24, 2026 02:47PM) (new)

Jun 19, 2026 10:40AM

There's been an organized effort voting the same books to the same lists including this one. It is happening every couple hours and it has been happening every couple of days.

I wouldn't have noticed except that all but one of their books don't meet the criteria for this list so I keep on removing them - and the next "voter" adds them back

❌ OUTLIER: [LOW AVG RATING] The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1) by Alan Bradley (Avg: 3.82, Pos: 27)
❌ OUTLIER: [LOW AVG RATING] Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #1) by Louise Penny (Avg: 3.90, Pos: 33)
❌ OUTLIER: [LOW AVG RATING] Her Royal Spyness (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, #1) by Rhys Bowen (Avg: 3.83, Pos: 34)
❌ OUTLIER: [LOW AVG RATING] Death at La Fenice (Commissario Brunetti, #1) by Donna Leon (Avg: 3.89, Pos: 36)
❌ OUTLIER: [LOW AVG RATING] A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell, #1) by Deanna Raybourn (Avg: 3.96, Pos: 62)
❌ OUTLIER: [TOO FEW RATINGS] A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #1) by Dianne Freeman (Ratings: 16,898, Avg: 3.81, Pos: 86)
❌ OUTLIER: [LOW AVG RATING] A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder (Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #1) by Dianne Freeman (Avg: 3.81, Pos: 86)

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message 11: by Mitchell (new)

Jun 24, 2026 02:43PM

I've been seeing an organized effort pushing the same books on to the same lists. For this list all but one of the books don't meet the basic requirements - but it is rather annoying. You can check out the most recent voters to see what I'm seeing

✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes (Pos: 103, Ratings: 72,449, Pub: Unknown)
✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": Bruno, Chief of Police (Bruno, Chief of Police, #1) by Martin Walker (Pos: 114, Ratings: 25,419, Pub: 2008)
✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell, #1) by Deanna Raybourn (Pos: 115, Ratings: 61,605, Pub: 2015)
✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": Mademoiselle le Sleuth by Theasa Tuohy (Pos: 116, Ratings: 2,853, Pub: Unknown)
✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": Her Royal Spyness (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, #1) by Rhys Bowen (Pos: 117, Ratings: 41,997, Pub: 2007)
✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": A Beautiful Blue Death (Charles Lenox Mysteries, #1) by Charles Finch (Pos: 118, Ratings: 18,164, Pub: 2007)
✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1) by Alan Bradley (Pos: 119, Ratings: 181,151, Pub: 2009)
✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": Death at La Fenice (Commissario Brunetti, #1) by Donna Leon (Pos: 120, Ratings: 43,950, Pub: 1992)
✨ ADDED to "Popular Highly Rated Mystery": Still Life (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #1) by Louise Penny (Pos: 121, Ratings: 292,506, Pub: 2005)

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message 12: by Mitchell (new)

Jun 24, 2026 02:45PM

they've been pushing those books and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (which does meet this list's criteria)

on to the same 10 lists

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message 13: by Mitchell (new)

Jul 14, 2026 04:07PM

So I just reported the following

===

So there has been what looks to be an automated effort to vote a set of books by suspicious voters.

An example of this is https://www.goodreads.com/list/user_v...
well except I'm about to delete most of these votes again

I've been deleting spurious votes off of https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... basically twice a day for several weeks

When I have looked the users, look fake to me.

I only noticed because on this list of 11 books, only Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers actually fit the list criteria.

A place to see this in action is
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

The batch of books voted as a group are easily visible there
- still life
- sweetness at the bottom of the pie
- bruno chief of police
- a curious beginning
- the marlow murder club
- vera wong's unsolicited advice for murderers
- cocaine blues
- a lady's guide to etiquette and murder
- a beautiful blue death
- death at la fenice
- how to solve your own murder

Really I don't expect you to do anything about this.
And I don't expect to hear from you.
And I don't this vandalism of my list to stop

But I figured I might as well report it.

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message 14: by Mitchell (new)

Aug 26, 2026 11:19PM

❌ OUTLIER: [LOW AVG RATING] The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager (Avg: 3.99, Pos: 94)

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