If you’ve been staring at your bookshelf with a growing stack of TBR titles and still no motivation to read, you’re not alone—reading slumps happen, even to the best of us. Now, if there’s one genre that never fails to pull you back in, it’s a twisty, fast-paced murder mystery. Whether it’s a small-town disappearance or a glamorous party turned crime scene, these stories hook you from the first chapter, make you suspicious of every character, and have you flipping pages like it’s a race against time.
From whodunits and courtroom dramas to slow-burn thrillers and YA secrets, these murder mysteries are made for binge-reading. Warning: you will lose sleep.
Photos: Shopee
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Photo: Shopee
Everyone in town knows what happened: Andie Bell was murdered, and her boyfriend took the fall. Case closed.
Years later, senior student Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. As part of her school project, she starts asking questions no one wants to answer, and quickly finds herself tangled in a mystery bigger—and far more dangerous—than she anticipated.
Part of a gripping three-book series, this YA thriller is a BookTok favorite for a reason. The twists come fast, the suspense builds with every chapter, and Pippa is the kind of heroine you root for by being smart, stubborn, and completely in over her head. If you’re into true crime, teen detectives, or stories that feel like a podcast in book form, this one is a must-read. BUY IT HERE!
Death On The Nile by Agatha Christie
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A glamorous cruise, a whirlwind romance, and one very dead heiress, Death On The Nile is a classic locked-room mystery with a psychological twist. When a young bride is murdered during her honeymoon voyage, it’s up to the iconic detective Hercule Poirot to untangle every motive.
If you’ve never read Agatha Christie before, this murder mystery is a strong start. Even if you’ve seen the film adaptation, the original offers a deeper edge. It’s a must-read that reminds you why she’s the first name that comes to mind when we talk about murder mysteries. BUY IT HERE!
Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh
Photo: Good Reads
Alexandra says her sister did it. Sofia says the same. As they each frantically dial 911, accusing the other of a brutal crime, their twisted family story becomes a national obsession. With both women standing trial together, the lines between truth and lies blur.
This thriller is a masterclass in misdirection and tension, and it’ll leave you second-guessing every detail you thought you already had figured out. BUY IT HERE!
Five Survive by Holly Jackson
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Six teens. One RV. A road trip that goes horribly wrong. When the group gets stranded in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal and a sniper targeting their every move, secrets start surfacing and trust becomes a dangerous game.
From the author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this fast-paced thriller dials up the tension with every chapter. If you love locked-room style mysteries, ticking clocks, and survival thrillers where every character is a suspect, this is one you’ll want to finish in a single sitting. BUY IT HERE!
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
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Frances always believed someone was out to get her, so before she died, she made a list of names she suspected. Decades later, Frances turns up murdered exactly as she predicted, and her great-niece Annie inherits both the house and the mystery.
Determined to uncover the truth, Annie dives into a mystery that delivers all the charm of an English village crime story with the cleverness of a modern whodunit. Twisty, witty, and full of layered secrets, her sleuthing feels both fresh and familiar. The slow burn pays off with a satisfying conclusion that ties every thread together. BUY IT HERE!
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
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College reunions are supposed to be nostalgic, not deadly. Jessica is determined to prove to her old classmates that she’s become everything they’re not. What she doesn’t expect is that the biggest mystery from their college days—a brutal murder—still lingers, and someone in their circle knows more than they’ve ever let on.
This one builds slowly in the best way. Each chapter peels back a layer of tension, regret, and betrayal, constantly making you think twice. If you’re into dark academia with complicated characters and even messier relationships, this book will definitely scratch that itch. BUY IT HERE!
Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh
Photo: Shopee
What if the perfect alibi was a complete stranger? Two women, both haunted by violence and loss, cross paths and discover a chilling solution to their shared pain: you kill for me, I kill for you.
Inspired by Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, this psychological thriller doesn’t waste a single page. If you’re into dark thrillers that mess with your sense of right and wrong, this one delivers. BUY IT HERE!
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
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Five students walk into detention. Only four make it out. When the school’s resident gossip dies in suspicious circumstances, the remaining classmates become prime suspects—and suddenly, everyone has something to hide.
This YA thriller has everything: shifting perspectives, messy secrets, and the pace of a binge-worthy teen drama. Think Pretty Little Liars with a dash of The Breakfast Club, but darker. Spoiler alert: When you think you know what’s going on, it throws you another curveball. BUY IT HERE!
The Enigma of Room 622 by Joël Dicker
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A celebrated (and heartbroken) author checks into a grand hotel in the Swiss Alps, only to discover that Room 622 has mysteriously vanished from the floor plan. What was once an unassuming retreat becomes the starting point of a chilling investigation into a long-concealed murder.
This novel unfolds like a literary labyrinth, blending twists, timelines, and characters, making it a perfect pick for readers who want to solve a mystery alongside the narrator. BUY IT HERE!
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
Photo: Shopee
A recently widowed actress. A glass of whiskey. And a pair of binoculars aimed across the lake. What starts as a harmless curiosity spirals when she witnesses something she can’t explain and begins to suspect something much darker is happening next door.
What seems like a classic thriller takes a wild left turn halfway through, and that’s what makes it a binge-worthy murder mystery book. Riley Sager leans into suspense and slowly builds an atmosphere where no one, not even the narrator, is fully reliable. BUY IT HERE!
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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Avery Grambs’ life takes the wildest turn when she unexpectedly inherits the fortune of a reclusive billionaire she’s never even heard of. The catch? She has to move into his sprawling, riddle-filled mansion—alongside his suspicious grandsons, all of whom expected to inherit instead. Suddenly, this 17-year-old finds herself caught in a high-stakes game of secrets, puzzles, and social landmines.
In classic Jennifer Lynn Barnes fashion, there’s a romance subplot, but it never overshadows the mystery. Think Knives Out meets Gossip Girl, with all the slow-burn tension to keep you hooked. BUY IT HERE!
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
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Cassie has always been able to read people—what they want, what they fear, what they’ll do next. When the FBI brings her into a secret program for teens with natural crime-solving instincts, she finds herself deep in the world of cold cases, buried secrets, and the twisted minds of serial killers.
The first book in a four-part series, this YA thriller by best-selling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes blends mystery, criminal psychology, and a romance subplot that builds with every chapter. Perfect if you’re into high-stakes stories without it feeling too heavy. BUY IT HERE!
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
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Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years later, her family agrees to film a true crime documentary in hopes of finally moving on. Then, her mother suddenly reappears, turning everything upside down.
This new mystery-thriller by Holly Jackson is built for binge-reading. If you’re into unreliable memories, family secrets, and the blurred lines between truth and reality shows, this one’s for you. BUY IT HERE!
Whether you’re a murder mystery reader or someone looking for the perfect book to get back on track, these picks are guaranteed to keep you turning the pages. Which title are you reading first, or which one are you adding to your TBR list?
READ MORE: The Best Books of 2025 So Far—According to Bookworms
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