10 Thrilling Mysteries Full of Drama and Suspense

10 Thrilling Mysteries Full of Drama and Suspense

The History of the Mystery Genre

Some of the world's oldest known stories used the same elements that make modern mysteries so enticing. Homer's famous epic poem The Odyssey is something of a prototype of the genre. The hero's life is in constant danger as he uses his cunning to solve problems and overcome his enemies. But the genre isn't exclusive to Western culture. One of the stories in One Thousand and One Nights (commonly known as Arabian Nights) is considered to be the oldest known murder mystery. This tale, The Three Apples, is full of plot twists and revolves around a mysterious death. Centuries later, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle popularized the genre with his stories about the now-famous Sherlock Holmes. Eventually, of course, mystery made its way from the pages of books to the big screen. Some of the most well-known of these movies were directed by Alfred Hitchcock, who worked on several classics throughout his career, including Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window.

6 Fun & Exciting Mystery Movies

1. Clue (1985)
2. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
3. Dial M for Murder (1954)
4. Scooby-Doo (2002)
5. Sherlock Holmes (2009)
6. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

What Is a Mystery?

In Depth

If you're into novels that will get your adrenaline pumping, then mysteries and thrillers are definitely for you. With their epic twists and turns, killer plots, and compelling characters, these books are hard to put down and will have you captivated until the very end. We've collected ten thrilling mysteries full of drama and suspense. Please note that this list is presented in no particular order.

Starting off at #1 is "Shadow of the Lions." It tells the story of Matthias Glass, a novelist who accepts a teaching job at his alma mater, where his best friend, Fritz, disappeared years ago. Troubled by the unresolved mystery, he is determined to know what happened to Fritz after he ran off to the woods. With numerous literary references, Christopher Swann's debut novel presents a gripping story about friendship.

What we have at #2 is "Still Mine" by Amy Stuart. This psychological novel revolves around the life of Clare, a runaway battered wife who is hired by a strange man to investigate the disappearance of Shayna, a woman with whom she has a lot of shocking similarities. After she arrives in the remote mining town of Blackmore, she becomes deeply involved with the local girl's life. While she discovers the troubling truth behind Shayna's relationships, she is also forced to confront the same demons she's been trying to escape.

This psychological novel revolves around the life of Clare, a runaway battered wife who is hired by a strange man to investigate the disappearance of Shayna, a woman with whom she has a lot of shocking similarities.

At #3 is "A Dark and Broken Heart." Desperate to pay his debt to a drug kingpin named Sandia, crooked cop Vincent Madigan arranges a heist, recruiting three crooks who will steal money from the drug lord himself. Upon learning that his accomplices know his real identity, he is forced to shoot them dead. Eventually, his boss assigns him to investigate his own crime, while Sandia also orders him to search for the one who ripped him off. R.J. Ellory gives readers a breathtaking noir that explores how the character uses his wits to save his life.

Next, at #4 is "Severed Threads" by Kaylin McFarren. After the death of her father, Rachel Lyons starts working for a foundation that funds museums. She initially declines a museum owner's request to recover an important relic from a sunken Chinese ship after learning that her former love interest, Chase Cohen, is involved in the project. However, when her brother is kidnapped by a gang and held for ransom, Rachel has no choice but to work with Chase, reigniting their romantic flame amidst an action-packed suspense adventure.

Coming in at #5 is "Aunt Dimity and The King's Ransom," the 23rd installment in Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity Mystery series. The story follows Lori Shepherd, who goes to the historic town of Rye, England for a vacation with her husband. However, after a powerful storm separates them and leaves her stranded at an old inn called "The King's Ransom," Lori finds herself surrounded by ghosts and smuggler stories. She then seeks help from Aunt Dimity, her mother's deceased friend who communicates with her through a blank notebook.

The story follows Lori Shepherd, who goes to the historic town of Rye, England for a vacation with her husband.

What we have at #6 is "The Scarred Woman." Written by Jussi Adler-Olsen, this police procedural thriller explores the alternating viewpoints of each character, including Detective Carl, who is the head of the Department Q. As he investigates both a cold case and a series of hit-and-run murders that seem to target young women, his assistant, Rose, vanishes due to a mental health problem. As Carl looks into each mystery, he must also figure out how the three incidents relate to one another.

Next up, at #7 is "Walking Shadows," the twenty-fifth book in Faye Kellerman's Decker/Lazarus series. When 26-year-old Brady is found brutally murdered in the woods, Detective Peter Decker doesn't see a clear motive at first. As he digs deeper, he discovers that the seemingly clean-cut college student had familial ties to the criminal world. When another innocent man turns up dead, Decker and his wife, Rina Lazarus, will have to risk everything to solve the murders.

At #8 is "Stay Hidden." Investigative journalist Ariel Evans is believed to have been accidentally shot by a deer hunter on an island off the coast of Maine. As warden Investigator Mike Bowditch looks into the case, supporting evidence proves the innocence of the hunter. However, the mystery escalates when Ariel Evans shows up the next day, alive and well. Together with Bowditch, she is determined to solve her supposed murder. Paul Doiron presents a set of realistic characters that go through a lot of unpredictable twists and turns.

As warden Investigator Mike Bowditch looks into the case, supporting evidence proves the innocence of the hunter.

At #9 is "All In" by Joel Goldman and Lisa Klink. It tells the story of Cassie Ireland, a modern-day Robin Hood who recovers assets from wealthy crooks, and Jake Carter, a gambler who makes a living by beating mega-rich players at poker. They both have their eyes on Alan Kendrick, a swindling billionaire hedge fund manager, and each is concocting a way to take him down. As they cross each other's paths, romance, action, and suspense build up, making the novel an astounding first entry in the Carter and Ireland Thrillers series.

Finally, at #10 is "Need You Dead." Par of Peter James's Roy Grace series, the novel revolves around the death of Lorna Belling, a hairdresser who is desperate to escape her abusive marriage. After learning her secret lover's lies, she is found dead, and the murderer has left few clues behind. As Roy investigates, he finds out that there are several suspects. Meanwhile, he is also dealing with his own drama, following the death of his estranged wife.