9 Mysteries to Binge-Read Right Now

We’re on day 11 of our social-distancing/self-isolation and I finally have been able to get lost in a book.

It was hard for me at first to pick up a book, there was so much going on and I had so much anxiety, but then I started reading Harry Potter again and since then I’ve finished three books! One of them was a thriller and you can bet it’ll be on this list.

I will say that mysteries + thrillers are still pretty new to me. I always avoided them because I didn’t think I’d like them, but then I realized that I love watching crime tv shows and decided to give this genre a try. Some are psychological thrillers, others are more on the mystery side. Either way, these will suck you in and have you turning pages so you know what’s going to happen next.

If mystery/thrillers aren’t your jam, check out my fantasy recommendations or my must-read contemporary list!

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Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson. I read this YA thriller trilogy earlier this year and loved it! (Read my full review on Truly Devious!). There’s a private school, a budding detective, murder, and a mystery that’s almost 100 years old. This story is fast-paced and fun and I think I’ll be raving about it for years. Add on Goodreads.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. I read this one a few years ago, but I want to read it again so I can finish the series! I just snagged the first three books on Book Outlet. This is a YA retelling of Sherlock Holmes, only this time Homles is a teenage girl. This series is fantastic and I can’t to finish it! Add on Goodreads

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. You Are Not Alone was my first book by this duo of authors and I can’t wait to read their other books. After Shay sees a woman commit suicide, she becomes sucked into this woman’s life, meeting her friends, and obsessing about why she committed suicide. Because Amanda was also a single woman, struggling to find meaning in her work, just like Shay. I definitely didn’t see the plot twist coming, but it was such a great book! It’s one of the selections on Book of the Month from February. Which means you can sign up for $5 and get You Are Not Alone for $9.99. Add on Goodreads.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. What a disturbing and intriguing novel. I listened to The Family Upstairs after Jamie was raving about it a few months ago. I was hooked from the beginning. A daughter who was left behind after her parent’s suicide inherits their old house. But what really happened to her family? Where are her siblings? Who were the other children in the house that everyone talked about? This novel is brilliant and I loved it. I highly recommend listening to The Family Upstairs. (If you join Libro.fm right now and use the code SHOPBOOKSTORESNOW you’ll get two audiobooks for the price of one AND support your local bookstore.) Add on Goodreads.

Long Bright River by Liz Moore was another book I got from Book of the Month. Even though it’s just over 500 pages, I read Long Bright River in less than two days. I was hooked! We follow two sisters who are living very different lives. One is a cop and one is living on the streets as a drug addict. This book talks about the opioid crisis and is definitely a bit heavy. You get more of the police side of things, as that’s the main POV we follow, but this story will suck you in and you’ll be rooting for both sisters and their futures. Add on Goodreads.

The Holdout by Graham Moore. When I saw this on Book of the Month I had to pick it up. It was a legal thriller that made me feel like I was watching a crime tv show. It was fast-moving and I had to know what was going to happen. 10 years after the jury voted not-guilty on a man accused of murder, they come together because one of them says there’s new evidence that proves they voted wrong. But when one of the original jurors ends up dead, what will happen then? I did want more legal drama, as this was a legal thriller, but it was such an enjoyable read. See my full review of The Holdout here and add to Goodreads.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. Um. Okay. This one is well, disturbing. It was like watching an episode of Criminal minds but from the perspective of the un-sub. And yet, I could not put it down. My Lovely Wife is all about a couple who have gotten a bit bored in their marriage, and to spice things up, they, well, murder people. It was definitely interesting. I wouldn’t call it a fun or enjoyable read, but just like watching Criminal Minds, it was fascinating. And then at the end you’ll find yourself questioning everything you thought you knew. Add on Goodreads.

Verity by Colleen Hoover. Verity was so messed up and yet, I couldn’t look away. This was Colleen’s first psychological thriller, and while I think I like her romances more, this one was good. I don’t even know how to explain this one. There’s a wife who was in an accident, a husband who’s concerned about his now completely absent wife, and a woman who’s hired to finish the series that the wife was writing. But when she moves into the house, she finds the haunting journal the wife wrote and uncovers things she shouldn’t, weird things start to happen. Everyone is pretty messed up in this book. Like you’ll be shaking your head and wondering if people could ever act like that.

I read this in one sitting (which hasn’t happened much since Von was born). Add on Goodreads.

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer. I just finished reading this one the other day. My full review is coming soon and The New Husband will hit the shelves in April. When Nina’s husband Glen dies (or disappears, no one is really sure) she struggles to put her life together. Then she meets Simon, and while many people, including her daughter, think it’s too soon to be moving on, Nina feels that Simon is perfect for her, in nearly every way. This book had a slower pace, which at times made me not care what was happening, but then the last half of the book I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know what was going to happen. Add on Goodreads. TW: domestic abuse.

These mysteries are sure to take your mind off of everything that’s going on with COVID-19 (for more information be sure to check the CDC’s website). These are some of my favorite thrillers/mysteries and it was so fun to put this list together for you!

Wondering where to get a book if your library is closed? Here are some suggestions:

• Give your library a call. They may still have some staff working and could do a curbside pickup, if not:

• Libby, Overdrive, or Hoopla. These all use your library. Just login with your library card and get access to e-books and audiobooks instantly!

• Libro.fm is my favorite Audible alternative. It’s the same price but you get to pick a local bookstore to support with your purchases. Get your first month/book free here. It’s $14.99/month after your first month

• Scribd is like Netflix but for audiobooks. They have a decent selection, and you can listen to as many books as you want each month, you just don’t own them as you do with Audible or Libro.fm. Scibd is currently free for your first 30 days!

• Purchase on Amazon – physical, ebook, or audio. Don’t have a kindle? Download the Kindle app on your phone to read e-books.

• Use Bookstore Link to purchase from your local bookstore (I may or may not have just ordered 3 books from my local bookstore today…)

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What’s your favorite mystery or thriller?