ADVERTISEMENT

The crime genre has grown huge lately, with plenty of true crime books, documentaries, podcasts, and whodunits popping up daily. Quite a few explanations are floating around online about why people are obsessed with crime and true crime stories. Some are trying to solve the mystery, and others enjoy the adrenaline rush and like being scared. But in a controlled way while staying in their secure environment, aka, the bedroom. However, the story doesn't need to be "true" to be compelling.

True crime stories are not for the weak-gutted. Many, wishing to have a similar experience, opt for fictional crime tales instead. Does it make the experience of indulging in the crime story a little easier if we know it's fictional? Arguably, yes. Although fictional tales take that uneasy feeling off the chest, it doesn't change the fact that horrific things happen in the world. After all, many movies and the best crime novels are inspired and sourced by real-life events. Further down, we will explore this topic in the "traditional" medium - crime books.

Perhaps there's no better way to indulge in that detective, CSI-worthy experience than by reading mystery books. Generally, books are superior in the sense that we are allowed space for imagination. Watching movies, we are constricted by visual boundaries - we're given all the visual cues, leaving us with no room for interpretation. However, in murder mystery books, we have the freedom to visualize the scene, the location, and the characters. It all adds to the investigator/detective experience we are looking for when reading crime novels.

And luckily for all you head-scratcher fanatics, there are plenty of good mystery books to discover. Below, you will find our selection of the best crime books, and let us know if you've read any of these. Also, tell us what book is next on your "to-read" list!

#1

Dirt Town By Hayley Scrivenor

Book cover for "Dirt Town"

In the slow-burning mystery Dirt Town, a 12-year-old girl from a small Australian community goes missing. The small town of Durton, also known as Dirt Creek, is full of mysteries. On the surface, it appears to be the perfect place to raise a family. Still, when 12-year-old Esther doesn't come home after school, the town and its residents come under scrutiny. What appears to be a good town is actually full of unsavory secrets. Secrets come to light throughout the police investigation, leading to a startling revelation regarding Esther's disappearance. The writing is excellent, the characters are believable, and the storyline is gripping and evocative enough that you will not want to put it down.

amazon.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
RELATED:
    #2

    The Sleeping And The Dead By Ann Cleeves

    Book cover for "The Sleeping And The Dead"

    A diving instructor makes a horrifying find in Cranwell Lake - a teenager's body that had obviously been submerged for a very long time. Upon arriving on the scene, detective Peter Porteous determines that the body is that of Michael Grey, a mysterious and reclusive young man who was reported missing by his foster parents in 1972. This solid detective narrative avoids crime fiction's typical hard-drinking, hard-living protagonist. The characterization is outstanding, and the plot is well-placed. It's a real page-turner in our books!

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Karin Gibson
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really enjoyed this book. Sadly Anne Cleaves didn't turn it into a series like she did with Vera Stanhope.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #3

    The Murders At Fleat House By Lucinda Riley

    Book cover for "The Murders At Fleat House"

    A female detective who left her position earlier that year returns to work as the plot centers on the murder of a seventeen-year-old teenager at Fleat House, a small private boarding school in rural Norfolk. The Murders At Fleat House is another exquisite book by Lucinda Riley. She undoubtedly had a knack for writing murder mysteries. You are immediately drawn into the plot due to the beautiful world and character-building she does.

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #4

    Daisy Darker By Alice Feeney

    Book cover for "Daisy Darker"

    Daisy Darker makes her way to her grandmother's home to celebrate her 80th birthday. Nana has invited her family to her house on a small, isolated island to celebrate. Since the Darker family hasn't been together in one location for more than ten years, they will be blocked off from the outside world for eight hours when the tide comes in. When the tide subsides, and one family member is found dead, nothing will be the same again. A deliciously dark and sinister read. And guess what, you are warmly invited to the Darker family reunion! Will you accept the invitation?

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #5

    Date With Betrayal By Julia Chapman

    Book cover for "Date With Betrayal"

    In the seventh novel in Julia Chapman's Dales Detective series, Samson O'Brien, the black sheep of Bruncliffe, has been pursued by danger ever since he returned from London. A hitman has Samson O'Brien, the owner of the Dales Detective Agency, in his sights. Delilah Metcalfe tries to solicit help from the locals to protect O'Brien. However, the locals require convincing, as they have long recollections of the problems O'Brien has caused in the past. It's a cruel pen that makes the reader suffer alongside characters they have grown to love. This book raises your hopes, then dashes them, and has you holding your breath more often than is considered healthy. It's a pure escape from reality, but if you read one book, you'll want to read them all, so beware!

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #6

    Dream Town By David Baldacci

    Book cover for "Dream Town"

    It's 1952, and PI and WWII veteran Aloysius Archer is out to dinner with his friend and wannabe actress, Liberty Callahan. Eleanor Lamb, a screenwriter, interrupts their dinner to hire Archer as she worries about her safety and is looking for protection from an attacker. Eleanor first discovers a dead body inside her house and then vanishes herself. Archer is looking to find both Eleanor and the murderer. This book has a lot going on. The turns, hints, and clues keep you guessing and scratching your head until the very end. The plot is a fantastic rollercoaster ride with some heart-stopping free-falls. An absolute must-read for fans of the whodunit genre.

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #7

    Into The Dark By Fiona Cummins

    Book cover for "Into The Dark"

    A horrible crime has been discovered in a beautiful family home in Midtown-on-Sea. The entire family - Piper, Gray, and their two teenage children - have all disappeared. A brilliant detective with a troubled history, DS Saul Anguish, must confront his own problems as he starts to piece together the traumatic story of the disappearance. This multi-layered thriller has intersecting lives and pasts and incredibly complex characters with twisted backgrounds. You get a sense of being on a rollercoaster that carries you with incredible momentum toward an outcome you cannot predict as the anxiety, fear, tension, and suspense mount.

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #8

    The Darkest Sin By D. V. Bishop

    Book cover for "The Darkest Sin"

    When Cesare Aldo looks into a report of intruders at a convent in the northern section of the Renaissance city, he enters a neighborhood torn apart by savage rivalries and sinister secrets. His case becomes much more difficult when a naked man's stabbed body is discovered. Despite how absurd it may appear, all the evidence points to one of the nuns being the murderer. In this sequel to City of Vengeance, the author D. V. Bishop produces a terrific historical thriller designed to keep you guessing, complete with gallows humor, hilarious one-liners, and a brilliant protagonist. You'll never want to put down this gripping and engrossing thriller.

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Die Twice By Andrew Grant

    Book cover for "Die Twice"

    David Trevellyan is called to the British Consulate in Chicago after being forced to depart New York City in the aftermath of his prior assignment. To the same office where a rogue agent had attacked and killed his new handler a week earlier. When given the task of locating the agent and putting a halt to his cunning plan, Trevellyan quickly realizes that his only chance of rescuing many innocent lives rests in his own intuition. Excellent depth, a wonderful tale, and a great pace. When you're done reading it, you'll be genuinely sad. Still, it has a wonderfully gratifying ending and is a well-written novel.

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #10

    The Interview By C. M. Ewan

    Book cover for "The Interview"

    It's Friday at 5:00 p.m. You are in a building thirteen storeys above the city. You are attending an interview for the job you have always desired. You and the interviewer are the only ones present, and the interviewer's questions are becoming more bizarre and unnerving. The only way to overcome your growing fear is to provide a solution to an apparently impossible question. The book is a thrilling, suspenseful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is also twist after twist; some are so unexpected that they will leave you in disbelief. And it's incredible how subtle elements that initially seem unimportant wind up being crucial to the plot. The Interview is terrifying and provides the reader with a constant adrenaline rush.

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #11

    The Christie Affair By Nina De Gramont

    Book cover for "The Christie Affair"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #12

    The Streets By Jacqui Rose

    Book cover for "The Streets"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #13

    The Heron's Cry By Ann Cleeves

    Book cover for "The Heron's Cry"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #14

    Daughters Of Night By Laura Shepherd-Robinson

    Book cover for "Daughters Of Night"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #15

    Sixteen Horses By Greg Buchanan

    Book cover for "Sixteen Horses"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #16

    Left You Dead By Peter James

    Book cover for "Left You Dead"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #17

    A Gambling Man By David Baldacci

    Book cover for "A Gambling Man"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #18

    Sunset Swing By Ray Celestin

    Book cover for "Sunset Swing"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #19

    Riccardino By Andrea Camilleri

    Book cover for "Riccardino"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #20

    The Killing Tide By Lin Anderson

    Book cover for "The Killing Tide"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #21

    The Hound Of The Baskervilles By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Book cover for "The Hound Of The Baskervilles"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #22

    Murder On The Orient Express By Agatha Christie

    Book cove for "Murder On The Orient Express"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #23

    61 Hours By Lee Child

    Book cover for "61 Hours"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #24

    The Silence Of The Lambs By Thomas Harris

    Book cover for "The Silence Of The Lambs"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #26

    The Surgeon By Tess Gerritsen

    Book cover for "The Surgeon"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #27

    Death Comes As The End By Agatha Christie

    Book cover for "Death Comes As The End"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #28

    To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

    Book cover for "To Kill A Mockingbird"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #29

    The Mousetrap And Other Plays By Agatha Christie

    Book cover for "The Mousetrap And Other Plays"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #30

    The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd By Agatha Christie

    Book cover for "The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #31

    The Black Echo By Michael Connelly

    Book cover for "The Black Echo"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #33

    And Then There Were None By Agatha Christie

    Book cover for "And Then There Were None"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #35

    Kiss The Girls By James Patterson

    Book cover for "Kiss The Girls"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #36

    Cross Bones By Kathy Reichs

    Book cover for "Cross Bones"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    JuJu
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A Dr. Temperance Brennan novel where you always learn sth about forensics. I recommend.

    #37

    Big Little Lies By Liane Moriarty

    Book cover for "Big Little Lies"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I didn't expect to like this book, based on the blurb, but I did. The best of hers in my opinion.

    #38

    The Thursday Murder Club By Richard Osman

    Book cover for "The Thursday Murder Club"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #39

    The Broker By John Grisham

    Book cover for "The Broker"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #40

    Origin By Dan Brown

    Book cover for "Origin"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #41

    It By Stephen King

    Book cover for "It"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #42

    The Wych Elm By Tana French

    Book cover for "The Wych Elm"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    JuJu
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tana French is great and creates fantastic and believable characters.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #43

    The Woman In The Window By A. J. Finn

    Book cover for "The Woman In The Window"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #44

    The Killings At Badger's Drift By Caroline Graham

    Book cover for "The Killings At Badger's Drift"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #45

    The Hunt For Red October By Tom Clancy

    Book cover for "The Hunt For Red October"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #46

    Red Dragon By Thomas Harris

    Book cover for "Red Dragon"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #47

    Scarpetta By Patricia Cornwell

    Book cover for "Scarpetta"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #48

    Strangers On A Train By Patricia Highsmith

    Book cover for "Strangers On A Train"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #49

    Triptych By Karin Slaughter

    Book cover for "Triptych"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    #50

    A Judgement In Stone By Ruth Rendell

    Book cover for "A Judgement In Stone"

    amazon.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST

    Note: this post originally had 189 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda