Mystery and Thriller books are often the most popular genres when it comes to literature. If you are a person who enjoys the excitement and intrigue of solving a crime, or perhaps a pulse-racing adventure that keeps you guessing until the very end, then these categories of books would be an ideal choice for you. The books in these genres range from authors who are publishing their first book, to well-established and award winning authors, so there is no shortage of reading material in this selection!
Popular Mystery and Thriller Genres
When it comes to mystery and thriller books, there is a variety of genres that you can explore. Each one offers something unique and exciting. Here are the top genres of mystery and thriller books:
• Crime Mysteries – These books often involve a detective trying to solve a dangerous crime. The detective may be part of the police force, or they may be a private investigator. This book genre typically consists of attempts to uncover the victim and the culprits behind the crime.
• Psychological Thrillers – Psychological thrillers are a type of fiction that focuses on the mental and emotional states of the characters. These books often involve intense psychological battle between the protagonist and the antagonist and can be very suspenseful. The most popular of these types of books is a ‘Whodunit’ novel or an ‘isolation mystery’.
• Horror Thrillers – This type of genre deals with themes that are villainous and dark. Included in this genre are stories that have supernatural creatures, ghosts, zombies, and vampires as well as stories with real-life murderers and serial killers.
• Noir Thrillers – This genre was popular in the 1930s and 40s and is often labeled as a ‘hard-boiled’ crime thriller. It is characterized by cynical heroes, high-paced action, and shady characters.
Top 10 Mystery and Thriller Books
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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson – This international best-selling book was the first in Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy. It tells the story of a journalist, Mikael Blomkvist and a computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander who team up to solve a 40-year-old mystery.
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Single & Single by John le Carre – This 2002 thriller follows the life of Oliver Single, a successful British tax lawyer and his attempts to uncover a scheme of money laundering for the Russian mafia.
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The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – This best-selling 2003 novel follows the life of Robert Langdon, a professor of religious symbology, and Sophie Neve as they try to decipher an existing code in order to reveal a secret.
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The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson – This second book in Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy follows the lives of a journalist, Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander as they try to uncover the truth in a world of corporate espionage.
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Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – Gone Girl is a 2012 bestselling novel that tells the story of a man accused of murdering his wife. It follows his attempts to prove his innocence, while his wife is nowhere to be found.
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The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco – This bestselling 1980 book is a murder mystery set in an Italian monastery. It follows the life of Franciscan friar, William and his attempt to unearth the truth behind a series of suspicious murders.
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The Hunting of The President by Joe Conason and Gene Lyons – This 2004 non-fiction book chronicles the attempts of political opponents to impeach President Clinton in the 1990s. It is filled with shocking revelations about America’s political climate at the time.
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The Silence of The Lambs by Thomas Harris – This 1988 bestseller follows the life of a young FBI agent, Clarice Starling, as she attempts to hunt a serial killer in order to save future victims.
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And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – This 1939 mystery novel follows the lives of 10 complete strangers as they are stranded on an island and forced to confront an unknown killer.
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The Daemon by Daniel Suarez – This 2006 techno-thriller tells the story of a computer scientist as he discovers a sinister computer program that has been created by an anonymous programmer.
If you’re looking for an exciting read, you’ll never go wrong with a mystery or thriller book. Whether its a crime, psychological, horror, or noir thriller, there’s something for everyone. The top 10 mystery and thriller books mentioned here are some of the best the genre has to offer. So make sure to get your hands on them, and enjoy a thrilling read!
