Because this is a centuries-old genre, this list is not meant to serve as a definitive list of every well-written mystery novel. To claim that would be impossible — or at the very least would take a whole book in itself to compile rather than an article. Instead, this list functions as a round-up of the best mystery books of all time that have defined the genre in meaningful ways. Looking to immerse yourself even further in the best crime fiction ever written? Visit this deep dive on the top mystery authors of all time — some of whose work, like Natsuo Kirino and Walter Mosley, are featured in this list. For hidden gems within the genre, check out the 20 best mystery novels you’ve never heard of — all of which has less than 1000 reviews on Goodreads. And if you’re in the mood for mystery novels with no graphic descriptions, use this round-up of the best cozy mystery series as your guide. Looking for more mystery novels that will keep you up at night? Check out this list of the best dark mystery-thrillers. Ultimately I went with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd because of its ingenious — and somewhat controversial — solution. It was voted Best Crime Novel of All Time in 2013 by the British Crime Writers’ Association, with a twist that takes an author as skilled as Agatha Christie to pull off. In 2016, Walter Mosley was named Grand Master at the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Awards to recognize his lifelong achievements within the mystery genre. Henry Rios is a gay Latino defense lawyer determined to serve clients that his straight, white colleagues refuse to represent. After falling for a recovering drug addict named Paris, Rios is devastated when his lover is killed in a way that the police call “accidental.” But Rios sees the signs that point to murder as the cause, and he starts his investigation by unraveling the family secrets alluded to by Paris while he was still alive.
