8 best mystery books packed with plot twists

For those who love playing detective, there is nothing quite like the puzzle of a good mystery novel. The process of uncovering the who, what, when, how, and — most importantly — why takes you through a labyrinthian maze of intrigue, suspense, and thrill that the writer has expertly plotted for the reader to decode. Whether it is murder, kidnapping, theft, or a simple scavenger hunt, the best mystery novels are those that invite all armchair detectives to get their grey cells racing and investigate alongside the real sleuths.

If you are on the lookout for a tightly-knit mystery that will put your puzzle-solving skills to the best test, then we have an excellent selection of vintage and modern mystery classics for you to explore. Each of these mystery novels boasts cleverly crafted plot twists that no one ever sees coming, is packed with thrills and action, and finally, offers the most satisfying resolution one can imagine. So here’s our selection of great mystery books that are simply packed with plot twists.

‘The Secret Keeper’ (2012)

Written by Australian author Kate Morton, The Secret Keeper tells the story of Laurel, who, as a teenager, witnesses a shocking crime on her family’s farm that entirely changes her perspective towards her mother. Fifty years later, on her mother’s 90th birthday, when the family reunites at the same farmhouse, Laurel sets out to find the truth about the past that has haunted her all her life. Tracing every clue back to the past, Laurel discovers a long-buried secret involving three strangers in 1940s London.

Unlike conventional murder mysteries, The Secret Keeper is neither a whodunit, howdunit, nor howcatchem. Rather, the story focuses on why the crime was committed, finding the reason spread across three timelines: the 1930s, 1960s, and 2012. Even though it is a slow-burn mystery, the intricately knit web of enduring love, betrayal, and deep secrets surrounding all the characters makes The Secret Keeper a fascinating page-turner that will keep you guessing till the end. Landing a place on the Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller lists, as well as others, The Secret Keeper has also won several awards.

‘The Husband’s Secret’ (2013)

Written by bestselling Australian author Liane Moriarty, The Husband’s Secret follows the story of three women — Cecilia, Tess, and Rachel — who, though unrelated to each other, have common connections through their children’s school. Cecilia’s husband, John-Paul, has written a letter that is only meant to be opened by her in the event of his death. But when she accidentally finds and reads the letter, only to discover a devastating secret, the lives of the three women unexpectedly intertwine with overwhelming consequences.

The Husband’s Secret is a thrilling and thought-provoking mystery about how well one really knows their “better half." While the story builds up slowly, it quickly becomes addictive and teases the reader with hints and theories of what could possibly come next, and rewards them with a shocking, though devastating, climax. When published, The Husband’s Secret was critically acclaimed and praised for its well-realized characters and the massive final twist. The novel is also being adapted into a film directed by Kat Coiro and starring Blake Lively.

‘Gone Girl’ (2012)

The most successful and popular novel by Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl is a crime thriller mystery that follows Amy Dunne, who suddenly disappears on her fifth marriage anniversary, leaving her husband, Nick, as the prime suspect. As the investigation begins and police discover Amy’s diary, packed with shocking personal details, the case against Nick reaches critical mass. But is he really a criminal, or is this all hearsay?

Presented in three parts from both characters' perspectives, Gone Girl’s greatest highlight is its differing narratives of the events, which constantly make the reader wonder if Nick really is responsible for whatever happened to Amy. The real mystery of this story is not the who or how but rather why it all happened, which makes Gone Girl a riveting psychological thriller. Even if you have watched David Fincher’s faithful film adaptation, the book still holds the power to break the reader’s expectations of the outcome, and remains a benchmark in modern mystery storytelling.

‘Shutter Island’ (2003)

The second standalone novel written by Dennis Lehane, Shutter Island follows the story of U.S. Marshal Edward "Teddy" Daniels and his new partner, Chuck Aule, who head to the titular island — the site of a psychiatric facility — to investigate the disappearance of a patient accused of serial killing. After a massive hurricane leaves them stranded at the hospital, Teddy discovers questionable medical practices and investigates the staff’s motives. The story’s setting is said to be inspired by Lehane’s childhood experiences during the Blizzard of 1978.

A true masterpiece of psychological mystery, Shutter Island gets better with every chapter, often blurring the lines between real and unreal. With the claustrophobic setting of an isolated hospital and the mind-bending plot twists that get the brain whirring, Shutter Island is an absolute page-turner with the most astounding revelations. While Martin Scorsese’s film adaptation is considered more tense and suspenseful than the book, Lehane’s novel is still highly rewarding with a nuanced narrative, more detailed clues, and a vastly different ending that changes the entire experience.

‘The Twyford Code’ (2023)

The second novel written by award-winning British journalist-author Janice Hallett, The Twyford Code centers on Steven “Smithy” Smith and his discovery of a children’s book by a controversial author marked with strange symbols, puzzling messages, and annotations, following which his English teacher, Miss Iles, disappears. Forty years later, after being released from a long prison sentence, Smithy sets out to solve the mystery of Miss Iles’ disappearance, which has haunted him for decades. As he retraces his past, it soon becomes clear to Smithy that the book is not just forgotten literature but holds a great puzzle that probably only Smithy can solve.

An incredibly clever and twisty epistolary novel, The Twyford Code is steeped in suspense and thrill, making it an unputdownable read. Hallett’s narrative, which has become her signature style, beautifully moves between the deliciously mysterious and intimately emotional, as the story also touches upon themes of isolation, self-identity, and redemption. With coded messages, texts, puzzling clues, acrostics, and several red herrings, The Twyford Code is like an epic treasure hunt that culminates in the most unpredictable but also most fulfilling resolution one can ask for.

‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1930)

An American literary classic written by Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon is a hard-boiled detective novel featuring Hammett’s star private-eye, Sam Spade. After Spade takes a new case, his partner is suddenly killed during the investigation, and Spade becomes the prime suspect. To find the truth and clear his name, Spade navigates a dangerous web of violent criminals, a mysterious woman, and their desperate search for a priceless statuette of a falcon.

The Maltese Falcon is often hailed as the most influential detective story in American literature. The novel popularized the hard-boiled detective genre in literature, shaping Hollywood’s vision of detective cinema as we know it. Presented in a third-person, outsider narrative, the storytelling is mostly devoid of elaborate exposition or inner monologues of the characters, but relies heavily on its sharp dialogue, culminating in a major twist. The Maltese Falcon has since been translated into four films, with the 1941 adaptation featuring Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade being the most iconic.

‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ (1926)

First published as a serialized story, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is Agathe Christie’s third mystery novel to feature detective Hercule Poirot. It begins in the small English village of King’s Abbot, where a widow named Mrs. Ferrars suddenly commits suicide, leaving a note with her fiancé, Roger, stating that she had killed her abusive husband and was being blackmailed. Roger is found dead soon after in his locked study but with Mrs. Ferrars’ letter missing. When the town doctor is called to examine, he joins retired detective Hercule Poirot in investigating the baffling case.

Brimming with hidden secrets, mysterious disappearances, and blackmail, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd provokes the reader to solve the mystery before Poirot does, but stays very puzzling till the end. The novel is celebrated as Christie’s ultimate mystery masterpiece, and has been hailed as one of the best crime novels ever written, featuring the iconic Belgian detective at his best. It was also one of Christie’s most controversial books because of the way it breaks the rules of mystery writing of its time and its use of the unreliable narrator trope.

‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ (1902)

A Sherlock Holmes story written by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles is the third of the four crime novels featuring the fan-favorite British sleuth and marks his first appearance following his apparent death in "The Final Problem." The story begins with the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville on the foggy moors of Devonshire, which is immediately attributed to the local legend of a demonic hound. As Holmes and Dr. Watson start looking into the supernatural myth, it leads them to a far more diabolical plot.

The Hound of the Baskervilles marked a turning point for Doyle, leading him to bring Sherlock Holmes back to life, and it played a big part in turning the character into the universally popular icon he is today. Part gothic horror, part murder mystery, The Hound of the Baskervilles is deliberate, tense, and often spooky. Easily one of the most famous books ever written, The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic example of “nothing is as they seem” kind of murder mysteries, with excellent plot twists that will keep the reader guessing till the very end.