Can you recommend the 20 best mystery novels?

Well, 'The Big Sleep' is a classic mystery novel. The noir - like atmosphere and the complex plot make it a great read. 'Gone Girl' is a more recent but very popular mystery. The story is full of unexpected twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. 'The Maltese Falcon' is also a gem. The hunt for the falcon and the various characters involved create a great mystery.

Sure. 'Sorrowland' by Rivers Solomon is a great 2022 mystery novel. It has elements of horror and mystery blended together. The story follows a woman who escapes a cult and then has to face many strange and mysterious things. It's a really unique read.

I'd also recommend 'The Water Dancer' by Ta - Nehisi Coates. It blends historical fiction with elements of mystery. The protagonist has a special power related to water and his journey to understand it and free others is filled with mystery and intrigue.

Sure. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson is excellent. It has a complex plot with a lot of dark secrets and a strong female character in Lisbeth Salander. It keeps you guessing throughout.

Flannery O'Connor's short stories can also be considered. Her works, like 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find', are set in the South and have an undercurrent of mystery. The characters often face unexpected and sometimes sinister situations that are not fully explained at first, leaving the reader to piece together the mystery.

Sure. 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris is great. It has the terrifying yet fascinating character of Hannibal Lecter and a nerve - wracking mystery about a serial killer. The cat - and - mouse game between Clarice Starling and Lecter adds to the suspense.

Definitely. 'Rock Paper Scissors' by Alice Feeney is among the top 2023 mystery novels. The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways. It involves a couple in a remote location and secrets start to surface, making for a really engaging read.

Sure. 'The Guest List' is a top pick. It has an atmospheric setting on an island which adds to the mystery. The characters are all hiding something, and the way the author reveals their secrets bit by bit is really exciting.

Another excellent one is 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler. Philip Marlowe, the detective in the story, is a very iconic character. The mystery is full of double - crosses and hidden motives in the seedy underworld.

Definitely. 'Sharp Objects' by Gillian Flynn is a great murder mystery novel. It focuses on a journalist who returns to her hometown to report on a series of murders. The characters are complex and the plot is full of surprises. 'The Alienist' by Caleb Carr is also very good. It's set in 19th - century New York and follows a psychologist and a detective as they try to catch a serial killer. And 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier has elements of mystery and murder, with a very atmospheric setting at a large estate.