🔍 Mystery & Thriller · United States
Best Mystery & Thriller Books from United States
Mystery and thriller fiction is among the oldest and most enduringly popular literary forms. United States has produced some of the most internationally recognised works in mystery & thriller, with titles that have appeared on major prize lists and critical surveys worldwide. This page ranks the best mystery & thriller from United States by editorial consensus.
#1
literary-fiction
The Sympathizer
Viet Thanh Nguyen· 2016
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score81/100
#2
literary-fiction
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Lionel Shriver· 2005
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score81/100
#3
literary-fiction
The Goldfinch
Donna Tartt· 2014
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score74/100
#4
young-adult
Holes
Louis Sachar· 1999
★Newbery Medal
Editorial Score69/100
#5
young-adult
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
E.L. Konigsburg· 1968
★Newbery Medal
Editorial Score69/100
#6
literary-fiction
The Echo Maker
Richard Powers· 2007
★National Book Award
Editorial Score67/100
#7
biography-memoir
The Executioner's Song
Norman Mailer· 1980
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score66/100
#8
mystery-thriller
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn· 2012
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score66/100
#9
science-fiction
To Say Nothing of the Dog
Connie Willis· 1999
★Hugo Award
Editorial Score60/100
#10
mystery-thriller
Devil in a Blue Dress
Walter Mosley· 1990
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score59/100
#11
mystery-thriller
The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler· 1939
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score58/100
#12
biography-memoir
In Cold Blood
Truman Capote· 1966
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score58/100
#13
mystery-thriller
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Patricia Highsmith· 1955
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score58/100
#14
mystery-thriller
The Poet
Michael Connelly· 1996
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score57/100
#15
mystery-thriller
Postmortem
Patricia Cornwell· 1991
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score57/100
#16
mystery-thriller
Farewell, My Lovely
Raymond Chandler· 1940
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score56/100
#17
mystery-thriller
A Is for Alibi
Sue Grafton· 1982
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score55/100
#18
literary-fiction
Rose Madder
Stephen King· 1995
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
#19
mystery-thriller
The Maltese Falcon
Dashiell Hammett· 1930
★Edgar Award
Editorial Score52/100
#20
literary-fiction
The Four Just Men
Edgar Wallace· 1905
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#21
literary-fiction
Carrie
Stephen King· 1974
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#22
literary-fiction
Night Shift
Stephen King· 1960
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#23
literary-fiction
The Eyes of the Dragon
Stephen King· 1959
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#24
classic-literature
Cuentos clásicos del norte - Primera Serie (Black Cat / Cask of Amontillado / Descent into the Maelstrom / Fall of the House of Usher / Gold-Bug / Ligeia / Masque of the Red Death / Murders in the Rue Morgue)
Edgar Allan Poe· 1920
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#25
science-fiction
The Institute
Stephen King· 2019
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#26
science-fiction
Sleeping Beauties
Stephen King· 2014
Library Journal
Editorial Score50/100
#27
fantasy
If It Bleeds
Stephen King· 2020
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score50/100
#28
fantasy
Gwendy's button box
Stephen King· 2017
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score50/100
#29
horror
Misery
Stephen King· 1987
★Bram Stoker Award
Editorial Score46/100
#30
mystery-thriller
NYPD Red 3
James Patterson· 1755
Notable Work
Editorial Score46/100
#31
mystery-thriller
The 6th Target
James Patterson· 1728
Notable Work
Editorial Score46/100
#32
mystery-thriller
Truth or die
James Patterson· 1755
Notable Work
Editorial Score46/100
#33
literary-fiction
The mystery of Edwin Drood
Charles Dickens· 1870
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#34
literary-fiction
Whose Body?
Dorothy L. Sayers· 1923
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#35
literary-fiction
The Stand
Stephen King· 1978
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#36
literary-fiction
Player Piano
Kurt Vonnegut· 1952
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#37
literary-fiction
The Nine Tailors
Dorothy L. Sayers· 1934
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#38
literary-fiction
Four Past Midnight
Stephen King· 1990
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score45/100
#39
literary-fiction
The Sirens of Titan
Kurt Vonnegut· 1959
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#40
classic-literature
Second wind
Dick Francis· 1832
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#41
fantasy
The Outsider
Stephen King· 2018
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#42
fantasy
Later
Stephen King· 2021
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#43
mystery-thriller
Mr. Mercedes
Stephen King· 2013
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score45/100
#44
mystery-thriller
The black abbott
Edgar Wallace· 1926
Library Journal
Editorial Score45/100
#45
mystery-thriller
You Like It Darker
Stephen King· 2024
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score45/100
#46
mystery-thriller
Coffey's Hands
Stephen King· 1996
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#47
mystery-thriller
Misery
Stephen King· 1978
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#48
mystery-thriller
It
Stephen King· 1986
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#49
mystery-thriller
Pet Sematary
Stephen King· 1983
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
#50
mystery-thriller
Pop Goes the Weasel
James Patterson· 1999
Notable Work
Editorial Score43/100
