The element of surprise is crucial. These novels often have unexpected twists. Take 'Gone Girl' again. Just when you think you have it all figured out, a new revelation turns the whole story on its head. And in terms of writing style, many of the top ones are very engaging, making it hard to put the book down as you're eager to solve the mystery.
Another great one is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It combines a complex murder mystery with elements of financial intrigue and a really interesting protagonist, Lisbeth Salander. The story unfolds in a small Swedish town and involves a decades - old disappearance that is full of dark secrets.
Some of the well - known ones are 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie. It's a classic where ten people are lured to an island and murdered one by one in a very mysterious way.
Sure. 'The Silent Patient' by Alex Michaelides is a great one. It keeps you guessing with its plot twists. The main character is a psychotherapist trying to figure out why a patient who killed her husband has gone silent.
Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' is also a best - selling murder mystery. The complex web of characters and the unexpected solution to the murder make it a classic. Christie was a master of the genre, and this book is a prime example of her talent for creating engaging mysteries.
Well, 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote is often considered among the top. It's a non - fictional novel that reads like a mystery, delving into a real - life murder case. 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn is also a popular choice. The story is full of twists and turns as a man tries to find his missing wife and all sorts of secrets are uncovered. And 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris, which features the iconic Hannibal Lecter and a terrifying murder mystery.
Top murder mystery novels often have a complex plot. For example, in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson, there are multiple layers of mystery involving family secrets and serial murders. This makes the reader constantly try to piece together the clues.
There are quite a few. 'Less' is a novel that has some mystery aspects intertwined with the lgbt journey of its main character. It's about a middle - aged writer who travels around the world and there are secrets and revelations along the way. 'Orlando' by Virginia Woolf is also a classic in a way. It has an element of mystery as the main character changes gender over time and the story is filled with a lot of interesting and somewhat mysterious events related to identity and relationships within the lgbt context.
New murder mystery novels often have complex characters. For example, they might have a detective with a troubled past that affects how they solve the case.
Patricia Cornwell is another famous author in this genre. Her 'Kay Scarpetta' series is well - loved. These novels follow the forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta as she investigates various murders, with a lot of detail about forensic science and the criminal mind.