Life is all about challenges, riddles and our thrive to explaining the impossible and that’s exactly what mystery is, something puzzling, mind-boggling and difficult to understand, these challenges excite our glial cells and neurotransmitters, thrill us and leave us in suspense. When speaking of novels and literature a bookworm looks for art, action, fiction, narration, suspense; and mystery is the genre that covers it all. A mystery novel would include riddles, secrets, unsolved problems, crime, suspense, murder, death, morbidity and puzzles. Therefore if you’re weak-hearted who is easily threatened by jumps and surprises should probably step back. However those who are the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ of their family, those of you who wake up to crack riddles and puzzles, resolve disputes and get enthralled by the mysterious world and love to live in suspense should definitely give these best mystery books a read!
1. The Whistler by John Grisham
I’ve grown up looking up to a bookshelf full of John Grisham books since my uncle was a die-hard Grisham fan, therefore when it comes to mystery this American bestseller is the first one I can think of, some may contradict with my views as to this novel being the first on my list as it won’t do justice to all the other extraordinary reads but this one by far has to be my favorite. This story is about a lawyer who comes across a rather dangerous and deadly case that reveals the truth about the corruption in the judicial system. The case reveals unfathomable misconducts that she has to face.
2. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Da Vinci Code which was also made into a movie, with the main character executed exceptionally well by Tom Hanks. The post effects of this book will leave you in a hypnotic trance; I must admit I spent nights over the internet in search for the ‘code’. The book is about a symbolist, Langdon, who wakes up one day to a phone call after which his entire life is turned around. After this point he is on the run away from the police on the quest for the historical secret. His journey is accompanied with the French cryptologist, Sophie. Together they crack a series of bizarre riddles and codes hidden under the art of Leonardo Da Vinci.
3. The Woman in White by Wilkie Colins
This novel is set in the 19th century, the whole set up portrayed and depicted brilliantly. This is an excellent mysterious novel, daunting, peculiar with immaculate and well explained characters and scenes that will send a chill down your spine.
4. The Eye of the Beholder by Marc Behm
No matter how many times I read this book it always gives me goose bumps and chills. The plot revolves around a female serial killer who has an intense dislike for men, however it is somehow validated. This ‘slayer’ is being followed around by the private detective, the eye, for about ten years. The relationship that has been described between these two characters is by far the most unexpected and intriguing one that you will ever find.
5. Sneaky People by Thomas Berger
When talking about mystery one immediately thinks of murder, offense, maliciousness, and violence. However this novel is rather a humorous crime story. A simple guy called Buddy Sandifer who wants his wife dead and therefore hires a someone to do so. The purpose behind this is to spend the rest of his days with a promiscuous woman who he’s been having an affair with. The book takes a few hilarious spins making this the most comic mysterious novels ever!
6. A Simple Plan by Scott B. Smith
The title simple plan suggests something about a simple plan but it’s anything but that! Two brothers come across a crashed plane and after thorough search they find a handsome amount of money and all they have to do is come up with a simple plan in order to conceal the fortune they’ve stumbled upon. The plot takes some unexpected turns and these innocent people end up becoming criminals. Anyone looking for a more of a realist read should definitely go for this novel.
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
There has been a Hollywood version of this book but of course movies never do justice to novels. The layout is the cliché where people are stranded on an island and start to die one after the other and start accusing each other of the misconduct. Therefore there are a total of ten people who have allegedly been accused of the murders until all ten of them have died and there’s no one left who could be the last suspect!
8. The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
The layout is set back during the era of the Tudors. An inspector Alan Grant has a special skill and a hobby of studying portraits brought to him by a friend and gets indulged in a case from almost five hundred years ago during the time of the Tudors! Sounds kind of peculiar doesn’t it? Hence, if you are a historical mystery kind of a reader this book is the one to choose.
9. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
This is an eerie story about a family who was murdered in their own house without any traces of motive to cause this mishap. An investigator gets involved with this case and gets to the bottom of it. Captoe invented this legendary genre of literary non-fiction which creates an absolutely fascinating read.
10. Tales of Mystery & Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe
Poe started off writing short mystery stories, eventually to become the father of this genre. His plot includes all the basics that you would need to get indulged into a mystery novel; it is a compilation of different writings by this author. This novel has claimed to be one of Poe’s best written pieces. The ones who have read are accustomed to Poe’s writing style but the ones who haven’t should give this gothic literature a read.