Well, one characteristic of top new mystery novels is that they play with the reader's mind. They make you question what you think you know. They might use red herrings, which are false clues, to mislead the reader. In terms of writing style, they are often descriptive, creating vivid scenes that add to the mystery. The characters in these novels are often multi - dimensional. They are not just good or bad, but have a mix of qualities that make them seem real. And the resolution of the mystery is usually satisfying, tying up all the loose ends in a way that makes sense.