My Favorite Mysteries and Thrillers of 2024

2024 has been chock full of incredible mysteries and thrillers! I’ll admit I just started getting back into these genres in the past year or two, but I’m all in now and I’m excited to share these spine-tingling, jaw-dropping, mind-bending books with you!

Since we’re halfway through the year, I wanted to make a list of my favorites that I’ve read so far. This list is meant to cover books that were released in 2024, but I also included a bonus from 2021 that I just got around to this year!

Plus, at the end I’m sharing a 2024 new release from one of my favorite authors that was actually disappointing! Find out more so you’ll know if you should skip it.

 

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Best Mysteries & Thrillers of 2024

 

 

What Have You Done

by Shari Lapena

This small town murder mystery captivated me from start to finish. A teenage girl is found murdered in a farmer’s field, setting off a riveting investigation. It seems that everyone in town has something to hide.

I read this in 24 hours! Little secrets about each of the characters kept being revealed throughout the novel, keeping me on my toes and needing to find out more!  | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target 

 

 

 

Murder Road

by Simone St James

Another compelling mystery from Simone St. James! She’s the master at spine-chilling mysteries with just a hint of the paranormal that will have you completely invested in the story. A newlywed couple find themselves caught up in the investigation of a string of murders along a country road and discover this wasn’t just a coincidence  |  Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target 

 

 

 

First Lie Wins

by Ashley Elston

This thriller was…incredible. It’s not at all creepy or super suspenseful, so if that normally keeps you away from the genre this would be perfect for you! On the other hand, if you love twisty plots and enthralling stories, you have to read this!!A woman working for the mysterious Mr. Smith is given a name and backstory for each new job she’s required to complete. This time around, she’s Evie Porter and she’s wormed her way into Ryan Sumner’s heart. They’re engaged, but he has no idea she’s not who she says she is.

Normally Evie is one of Mr. Smith’s best assets, but this job is different and she’s growing attached to Ryan. As she tries to untangle the real nature of the job…and her feelings for Ryan…we learn more about her past and the dangerous situation she finds herself in.

I couldn’t put this down! I loved the storytelling from each of Evie’s past jobs and following her investigation as she tries to understand what’s going on in the present. It is utterly compelling from start to finish! Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target 

 

 

 

 

 

Worst Case Scenario

by T.J. Newman

I’m a T.J. Newman super-fan, so this was one of my most anticipated books of 2024. Did it ever deliver!! She continues her style of heart-pounding, incredibly realistic disasters with a plane that crashes into a nuclear power plant. The implications of the situation are catastrophic and the tension builds immediately.

I DEVOURED this. From start to finish, I was enthralled by the idea of this scenario and the sacrifices needed to keep it under control. I not only learned a ton about how a nuclear power plant works, but also felt like I was living this right alongside the characters. Easily going to be one of my favorite books of the year. | Buy From Amazon 

 

 

 

 

House of Glass

by Sarah Pekkanan

Stella’s services as a Best Interest Lawyer are required for the contentious divorce between Beth and Ian while they’re fighting for custody of their daughter. The family was traumatized after their nanny fell (or was pushed?) from their house and died. Everyone was under suspicion but the case went cold, leaving only a broken up family and the daughter losing her ability to speak due to the trauma.

Young Rose is clearly deeply affected the incident beyond just her inability to speak. Stella observes her hiding sharp items, surreptitiously reading books unsuitable for children, and reacting with intense anger to certain triggers. As Stella slowly uncovers the secrets the family is hiding, she can’t deny there’s a trickle of evil woven throughout the house and Rose may be the source. 

This is equal parts creepy and intriguing! I was tossing and turning trying to figure out what was really going on with this eerie mansion and suspicious family. Sarah Pekkanen did a phenomenal job turning a seemingly straightforward legal case into a “hairs standing up on the back of your neck” thriller. Each person involved had reason to be a suspect and I was kept guessing until the end! | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

 

 

Night Watching

by Tracy Sierra

I was TERRIFIED to read this, but I’m so glad I faced my fears! It ended up not being quite as heart-pounding as I expected, which helped me get through it. 

A mother discovers a man in the house at night and rushes to find a place for her and her kids to hide. She realizes he’s vaguely familiar and is left puzzling out how she knows him while trying to keep her kids quiet. Over the course of the night and the next few days, the police get involved and question everything she remembers about that horrifying incident.

This turned into a bit of a psychological thriller since we find out inconsistencies in the mom’s version of events and realize she’s dealing with her own trauma. | Buy From Amazon 

 

 

 

 

 

Backlist Book I Adored

 

Local Woman Missing

by Mary Kubica

Mary Kubica is quickly becoming one of my new favorite thriller / mystery writers! I’m now working my way through various backlist books and Local Woman Missing was another hit!

The alternating character perspectives. The breathtaking prologue. The back and forth timelines. This book kept me HOOKED! One woman goes missing, followed by a mother and her daughter, leaving a group of neighbors in distress. In current day, the daughter has been found, but there are still tons of questions left unanswered.  | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

 

Honorable Mention: Book I Want To Read

 

One Perfect Couple

by Ruth Ware

A “locked room” mystery + a reality show setting? How could I not want to read this!? Four couples are sent to a deserted island to compete for a cash prize. When a storm hits the island, cutting them off from the crew that brought them there, they are literally left to fend for themselves.

They soon discover that the stakes are higher than money, as conditions get dire and more than one contestant doesn’t survive. | Buy From Amazon | Buy Target Exclusive Edition

 

 

 

 

What Not To Read

 

Middle of the Night

by Riley Sager

A haunting tale of a man struggling with the effects of being left behind while his best friend was taken from their tent and murdered two decades ago. When he returns to that house as an adult, he starts untangling what really happened that night.

Sadly, the tension and page turning nature of Riley Sager’s other novels didn’t feel present in this one. It’s much more of a slow burn / reveal. So if you don’t mind that style of mystery – give this a shot! Otherwise, this is an easy skip compared to the other incredible mysteries and thrillers available this year. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target

 

 

Which of these 2024 mysteries or thrillers are you going to read next?