If you love mysteries and thrillers as much I do, you’ll be ecstatic over the lineup of 2024 new releases! From new novels by popular thriller authors like Riley Sager, Sally Hepworth, Stuart Turton, and Holly Jackson, to exciting debut authors, there are plenty of pulse-pounding new books to read this year. Here are my most-anticipated 2024 thriller books and mystery novels, including some of my favorite authors and books with lots of early rave reviews!
**Please note, some links on this page are affiliate links. If a purchase is made through an affiliate link, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure policy here. Thanks for your support!
Addicting Mysteries & Thriller Books of 2024
Whether you prefer dark psychological thrillers or cozy mysteries, there’s something for everyone in this list!
The mystery and thriller genre is one of my favorites, but I can be picky about which ones I choose to read. I don’t want to read too many books with the same plot/premise/twists, you know?
That’s why I’m always on the lookout for unique-sounding thrillers and mysteries with exceptionally high reviews!
All of these books have gotten early positive buzz, I’ve also made sure to include a mix of bestselling thriller authors and exciting debut authors.
Without further ado, here is my list of must-read 2024 thrillers and mystery books! I’ll be updating this list throughout the year with more upcoming new releases, so be sure to check back later, too.
You might also love these popular 2023 mystery thriller books, and my most-anticipated 2024 fiction books!
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
Evie Porter isn’t who she seems to be. Her Southern identity – complete with a white picket fence and loving boyfriend – is actually a ruse, and she’s got a target to follow until she receives further details on the “job”.
But when she realizes her true identity is at stake, everything becomes much more complicated. She can’t afford to make a single mistake, or it could risk her future.
If you love books about false identities and con artists, this thriller will be right up your alley! It was a Reese’s Book Club pick and one of the BOTM books for January.
Publication date: January 2nd, 2024
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Gothic
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
From the author of The Wife Upstairs comes a new Gothic mystery about a North Carolina heiress who dies, leaving her entire estate to her adopted son, Camden – who promptly refuses it.
Years later, something draws him and his wife back to Ashby House. Camden still wants nothing to do with his family or the money, but his wife might have other plans.
Publication date: January 9th, 2024
The Woman On the Ledge by Ruth Mancini
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
After a woman falls to her death from the roof of a bank building, aspiring actress (and office temp) Tate Kinsella is arrested for her murder.
But Tate claims she had just met the woman the day prior, and she talked the woman off the ledge. Unfortunately, no one believes her story – not even her own lawyer.
Is Tate telling the truth? And if not, what really happened?
Publication date: January 16th, 2024
Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
In the middle of a blizzard, an intruder breaks into a woman’s house. She and her children quickly hide in a secret room hidden behind a wall, but it seems the intruder will try anything to lure them out.
Eventually, the woman realizes the man is familiar to her. She knows exactly why he’s there, and it’s even worse than she imagined.
Publication date: February 6th, 2024
The Stranger in Her House by John Marrs
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
When Paul – a man from a charity service – comes to help out in elderly widow Gwen’s home, Gwen’s daughter Connie gets a weird vibe from him.
He seems a little too helpful, a little too meddlesome. But her mother likes having him around.
Soon, Paul finds himself between homes, and Gwen is convinced he should stay with her. But once he moves in, Connie feels even more sure Paul isn’t who he seems to be.
She becomes desperate to show her mother who Paul really is – all while starting to worry she’s losing her mind.
Publication date: February 13th, 2024
Listen For the Lie by Amy Tintera
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
Years ago, Lucy was found wandering the streets, covered in blood. Despite her “golden girl” status in her small Texas town, everyone believed she killed her best friend.
But Lucy doesn’t remember a thing. Luckily for her, she isn’t convicted.
Now, a podcast decides to cover the story, forcing Lucy to relive her past in order to figure out what really happened that night.
Here’s a list of Listen for the Lie book club questions, a character list, and more!
Publication date: March 5th, 2024
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
If you love mysteries set in boarding schools, this new novel from the bestselling author of Ace of Spades will be right up your alley!
It follows a young woman named Sade who’s new to the school after being homeschooled all her life. Her first night there, her roommate disappears. Rumors begin to circulate.
Strangely, this catches the interest of a group of girls at the school, who invite Sade to spend time with them. But soon, a student is found dead, and Sade begins to realize the school holds more secrets than even she does.
Publication date: March 19th, 2024
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
As a girl growing up in the 1960s, Frances Adams crossed paths with a fortune teller who predicted that Frances would be murdered one day. After that, Frances spent decades compiling information on everyone she knew, determined to avoid her supposed fate.
Nearly sixty years after that fateful day, Frances is found dead in her home. Her grand-niece Annie is summoned to her English country estate, and it’s up to her to solve her great-aunt’s murder.
But danger lurks, and Annie begins to fear she might end up meeting the same fate as her aunt.
Publication date: March 26th, 2024
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order on Bookshop.org
One of my favorite mystery authors – Holly Jackson – is back with a brand new mystery novel! This book is unrelated to her other books, so you don’t have to read those in order to read this.
(Here’s a list of all of Holly Jackson’s books in order, if you’re curious.)
Synopsis: Rachel Price went missing sixteen years ago. Her daughter, Bel, was the only witness – but she can’t remember what happened.
Now, Bel’s family agrees to be the focus of a true crime documentary. But in the midst of filming, something unbelievable happens: Bel’s mother – Rachel Price – comes back.
Her story about where she’s been doesn’t sound like the truth to Bel. But if she’s lying, then what really did happen to her? How – and why – is she back after all these years?
Publication date: April 2nd, 2024
You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
This thriller novel is on a TON of ‘most-anticipated’ lists for 2024, and the premise sounds so unique! It’s about a woman named Annie “Anh Le” Shaw whose life starts to unravel after the death of her mother, a Vietnam War refugee.
Annie’s obsessive-compulsive disorder returns, while strange and shocking things begin to happen – including her waking up in a hotel room next to a lifeless body.
As Annie’s life spirals further, she decides she will do whatever it takes to save her daughter, no matter the cost.
Publication date: April 16th, 2024
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
As young girls, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia experienced family tragedies and were taken in by a foster mother, Miss Fairchild. The girls became sisters, living what seemed like a happy life on a beautiful farm.
But there was more to Miss Fairchild than anyone else knew – like her strict rules and her unpredictable moods. One day, the girls decide to run away and never come back.
Years later, a body is found beneath the house they grew up in. Were the girls somehow involved, or are they innocent witnesses who can shed light on the crime?
Publication date: April 23rd, 2024 (U.S.)
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Science Fiction
Order on Amazon | Order from Bookshop.org
Stuart Turton – author of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle (which I loved!) – has a new novel coming out in 2024!
It’s set on an idyllic island – the last piece of land that exists after a terrible fog wiped out the rest of the world.
A small group of islanders and scientists co-exist peacefully on the island, until one of the scientists is found dead.
The death has caused the island’s security system to turn off, and the fog begins to creep in. If the murder isn’t solved quickly, everyone on the island will be overtaken by the fog.
(Here are all of Stuart Turton’s books in order.)
Publication date: May 21st, 2024
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Horror
Order on Amazon | Order on Bookshop.org
If you love Riley Sager’s books as much as I do, you’ll be thrilled to hear he’s releasing another new novel this year!
Years ago, when Ethan Marsh was a kid, his best friend Billy disappeared from his backyard and was never seen again.
Thirty years later, Ethan has returned to his childhood home in the same neighborhood. As he struggles with insomnia, he’s plagued by strange occurrences during the night: someone roaming the neighborhood, and signs that remind Ethan of Billy.
Ethan decides to dig deeper into what really happened all those years ago, reconnecting with neighbors and old friends. But what he discovers makes him question how safe his idyllic neighborhood really is.
Publication date: June 18th, 2024 (U.S.)
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Order on Amazon | Order on Bookshop.org
I loved Chris Whitaker’s novel We Begin At The End, and I’ve heard exciting early praise about his newest upcoming book! It’s a blend of crime thriller and love story, with a twist.
It’s set during 1975 in a small town in Missouri where girls have been going missing. A young, one-eyed boy named Patch saves a girl from a wealthy family from being abducted. But his act of heroism is intertwined with heartache.
Publication date: June 25th, 2024
Which 2024 mystery and thriller books are on your TBR list? Am I missing any books that you can’t wait to read? Let me know in the comments!
More 2024 book lists to check out: