The highlight of 'Big Little Lies' is how it weaves together the lives of different women in a small town and gradually reveals the mystery behind a tragic event. 'The Woman in the Window' is all about the psychological aspect. The main character's agoraphobia and her obsession with her neighbors lead to a mystery that keeps you hooked. 'An Anonymous Girl' focuses on the moral and ethical dilemmas of the characters while also presenting a great mystery about a research study gone wrong.
In 'The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle', the unique plot structure is the main highlight. It's like a puzzle where you have to piece together different versions of the same day. 'The Chalk Man' has a great sense of place and time. The small - town setting in the past and present and the chalk drawings that are related to the mystery are really interesting. 'Lock Every Door' has a very creepy and atmospheric setting in a luxury apartment building, and the mystery of what's really going on behind those locked doors is what makes it so appealing.
For 'The Silent Patient', the highlight is the slow - burning revelation of the patient's secrets. The psychiatrist's journey to uncover what made her go silent is full of suspense. In 'Gone Girl', it's the dual perspectives that make it special. You get to see the story from both the husband and the wife's point of view, and the lies and deceptions between them are what create the mystery. 'The Girl on the Train' has a great use of an unreliable narrator. The main character's hazy memories add to the overall mystery.
A key characteristic is well - developed characters. In books such as 'Gone Girl', the characters are not just simple good or bad. They are complex, with their own motives and secrets. And the settings in these books are often used to enhance the mystery. Like in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', the cold and somewhat isolated Swedish setting adds to the overall atmosphere of mystery.
The characters in many of these books are a big highlight. In 'The Sympathizer', the main character is complex and multi - faceted, which makes the story very engaging.
A great 2016 fiction book is 'The Vegetarian' by Han Kang. It's a disturbing yet thought - provoking novel about a woman who decides to become a vegetarian. Her decision has a profound impact on her family and society around her. It won the Man Booker International Prize in 2016.
I think 'An American Marriage' by Tayari Jones has elements that can be considered in the mystery fiction of 2018. It's a story about a marriage torn apart by a false accusation of rape. The mystery lies in the truth behind the accusation and how the characters deal with it. It's a complex exploration of relationships and the justice system.
Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' is also a top mystery. It has a complex plot with a murder happening on a train and a detective, Hercule Poirot, has to figure out who among the diverse group of passengers is the killer. Christie is known for her intricate plotting and unexpected twists.
Well, 'Gorky Park' by Martin Cruz Smith is a top pick. It's set in the Soviet Union and the mystery revolves around a triple murder in Gorky Park. The book gives a great insight into the Soviet society at that time. 'The Seven Per - Cent Solution' by Nicholas Meyer is another good one. It involves Sherlock Holmes and his struggle with drug addiction, set in a historical context. And 'The Historian' by Elizabeth Kostova is a great read. It weaves a story of mystery around the search for Dracula, with a lot of historical detail about different regions and time periods.
One of the best is 'Altered Carbon' by Richard K. Morgan. It combines a noir - like mystery with a far - future science - fiction setting. Another great one is 'Snow Crash' by Neal Stephenson, which has a complex mystery set in a cyberpunk world. Also, 'The Three - Body Problem' by Liu Cixin offers a unique blend of scientific mystery and science - fiction concepts.
One of the best is 'The Name of the Rose' by Umberto Eco. It's set in a medieval monastery and involves a complex mystery filled with religious symbolism and intellectual debates. The detailed description of the medieval setting makes it a classic.
I think 'The Dresden Files' series by Jim Butcher is also excellent. It combines supernatural elements like magic and vampires with mystery-solving. Harry Dresden, the main character, is a wizard detective, and each book has a new and exciting mystery to solve.
Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' is also a top - selling mystery. Christie is a master of the genre, and this book has a really clever plot with a great cast of characters. The mystery keeps you guessing until the very end.