By Rory Carter Entertainment 24.04.2026

10 of the Best Mystery Books to Read Before Bed

Fancy yourself as a bit of an armchair detective? These books will bring out your inner sleuth.

Love a plot twist that keeps you on your toes? Mystery books make you feel like you're in the thick of an investigation, which can be a thrilling departure from your real-life. Trying to guess the ending as details emerge on the page is half the fun. This selection of riveting, well-written mystery books will bring out your inner sleuth and are a perfect way to finish the day before drifting off to sleep.

1. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

If you recognise Knoll’s name, it’s probably from the jacket of her bestselling novel Luckiest Girl Alive, which was adapted into a film starring Mila Kunis. Her new thriller, Bright Young Women, takes inspiration from the unspeakable crimes of notorious killer Ted Bundy. Following the intersecting journeys of two women, both touched by the actions of the heinous “All-American Sex Killer”, the book holds a magnifying glass up to the myriad ways women were failed by authorities during the era (and still today).

2. The Farm by Joanne Ramos

Often compared to the bestselling novel – and now television sensation – The Handmaid’s Tale, The Farm documents a Filipino woman's introduction into working at a fancy New York surrogacy facility. In search of a better life for her and her young daughter, Jane's every move is monitored as she becomes increasingly restricted.

3. The East End by Jason Allen

Set within the decadent Hamptons estate of the wealthy Sheffield family, the lives of loyal housekeeper Gina and her pool boy son, Corey, are unravelling at the seams. This outrageous tale tells the story of two separate families and their outrageous disasters that ensue concurrently.

4. The Summer We Lost Her by Tish Cohen

Faced with the prospect of never seeing their missing daughter Gracie again, Matt and Elise's partnership is pushed to breaking point. Throw in the sale of a family lakeside cabin and a suspicious neighbour from their past and you've got a juicy mystery to sink your teeth into.

5. My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

For those who love mind games, doppelgangers, dual timelines and marriage thrillers set against coastal backdrops, My Husband’s Wife is all this and more. After returning from an innocuous run one day, the artist Eden Fox is surprised to find that her key doesn’t fit the door any longer and, worse, a woman who looks exactly like her answers the door. Worse still? Her husband says this stranger is his wife. Cue the spooky music.

6. Layover by David Bell

What would you do if the person you've struck up a romantic connection with turns out to be a missing person? Joshua gets himself entangled in the lies and deceit of the alluring Morgan, who seems to be the only one who knows the truth.

7. Girls Like Us by Christina Alger

When FBI agent Nell's father dies, she's brought back to her hometown of Long Island to tidy up his estate. In the meantime, she agrees to assist in the investigation of two recent nearby murders. When it becomes clear that her father is a prime suspect, things become much more complicated than she could have ever imagined.

8. Famous by Blake Crouch

There’s nothing more satisfying than a gut punch twist – it’s similar to the relief experienced during an overdue sneeze. Blake Crouch’s Famous taps into another obsession of the contemporary classes – fame. After his normie protagonist, a lookalike for the Oscar-winning movie star James Jansen, loses his job, he decides to fully assume the identity of Jansen. who he is frequently mistaken for. Come for the comedy, stay for the page-turning suspense.

9. The Warehouse by Rob Hart

A beaten-down Paxton has just surrendered to his new employer, Cloud's work-life facilities that offer him entertainment halls and open-plan offices. Zinnia is an undercover spy who is out to expose the tech giant's secrets, risking both of their lives in the process. Remember, Big Brother is always watching.

10. The Best Lies by Sarah Lyu

This thrilling account of a love triangle will keep you guessing the entire time. Remy's boyfriend, Jack has been shot dead. The culprit? Her best friend, Elise. Whether it was self-defence or something more sinister, their lifelong bond is about to be broken.