What is the best mystery novel you've read?

[platinumplus]

Or psychological thriller?

Had a quick look at the blurb for some of these and I think they might be tooo disturbing/gory. Thanks for the recommendation though!

I live Jane Harper. The Lost Man is probably my favourite.

I've read one of her books, think it was the woman in cabin 10 or something? I think I liked it but it's not up there with my memorable books. I've actually been to one of her events at the Edinburgh Book Festival and the one she was promoting there seemed good so maybe I'll try some others.

How To Kill Your Family is on the list, thank you

Same. His writing style really draws me in.

I've had Blacklands on my Goodreads "To Read" list for years. I'll give it a go.

Anything by Lisa Jewell.

I've read a few Lisa Jewell's and they're just not for me. Can't actually put my finger on why though 🤷‍♀️

I’m a huge fan of Barbara Vine (Ruth Rendell writing under a different name). A Dark Adapted Eye is fantastic as mentioned upthread; the best of her others in my opinion are The House of Stairs and The Chimney Sweeper’s Boy. Both brilliant reads and very slowly build up to a big reveal at the end. Much less predictable too than a lot of modern thrillers which I’ve found can be a bit samey.

I really enjoyed Into The Darkest Corner by... Elizabeth Haynes, I think. Very tense, but a theme of abuse (psychological and physical), just to be aware.

She has some others as well, if you like her style, but I don't remember them being as good as this one.

Great thank you. Yes I find there are a lot of newish books where the plot is the same but different.
Or they are good at building suspense but the reveal is either a huge disappointment or you just have to pretend you're reading a fantasy novel.

Classic whodunnit mystery... The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Agatha Christie. Obviously, it's of its time, but it's a classic for a reason! Don't read any reviews or the foreword beforehand, though!

Yes, so this book was recommended on here about 15 years ago and it's what got me back into reading after a long hiatus.

I've read a few of her others but they're sadly nowhere near as good.

Summertime by Liz Rigbey, only available used on ebay
Brilliant twist

I too love the lost man by Jane harper.

I have just read a haunting in the Arctic by c j cooke which was excellent

Also 3 hours by rosamund lupton is fantastic

Love also Catherine ryan Howard and Lucy Clarke

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Endless Night by Agatha Christie. Both fantastic.

If you like crime drama you can't go wrong with Anne Cleeves or Peter May.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is one of my favourites.

What happened?!

I absolutely love Jane Harper. The Exiles - never saw that ending coming.

Into the Darkest Corner, was a great page turner, Elizabeth Haynes doesn't seem to have written a lot lately.

Another big fan of Barbara Vine/Ruth Rendell, her books always had a unique quality that no other author has ever replicated imo. Love many of those already mentioned, my favourite I think is Asta's Book.

Current favourite authors of the twisty/psychological genre would be Lisa Jewell and Louise Candlish.

I'm making a note of Mark Edwards, haven't read any of his before..

How To Kill Your Family was great would describe it more as black humour.

Black widow Chris Brookmyre

Not the best I've ever read, but if you like old fashioned Agatha Christie type mysteries, I got Richard Cole's for Christmas and really enjoyed it. And I didn't guess the murderer til nearly the end-and usually I've got it by chapter two. The characters are engaging and I laughed several times.

Funnily enough, Cabin 10 was my least favourite of hers!

Another book that sticks in my mind, perhaps because of its unique theme, was called Thirteen. No idea of the author. It was about a serial killer who always ends up on the jury. Very well thought out plot.

Also look up Laura Marshall and Lesley Kara, enjoyed all of theirs, too.

Was that the second Richard Cole as the first one is absolutely dire and no one would guess the killer because the plot was so ridiculous.

Thanks everyone I'm making a note of all of these.

Anyone read any Stacy Willingham or Grady Hendrix?