9 of The Most Thought-Provoking Mysteries Ever Written

Small-town mystery meets courtroom drama in this layered, intense novel. Korean immigrants, Young and Pak Yoo, own an experimental medical device called “the Miracle Submarine.” Seeking solutions for everything from infertility to autism, locals sign up for the oxygen treatment. When the chamber explodes, killing two people, everyone is looking for someone to blame. Kim masterfully draws readers into courtroom scenes, leaving each chapter hanging by a thread.  As the truth is slowly revealed, disquieting questions about disability, race, and morality refuse to be left behind.

Presented with the answer to the mystery at the beginning of the book, readers must follow the clues backward. Told over the course of a year, the story is narrated by scholarship student Richard through his grim yet rose-tinted point of view of Hampden College. The Secret History is a spine-tingling build of anticipation. Everyone in this book is terrible; some may have even deserved their fate, and that is why no one can stop thinking about it.

Set in 1920s Bombay, this historical mystery is entertaining and challenging. As one of the first female solicitors in India, Perveen is excited to begin her law career, especially to protect women’s rights where she can. When she discovers a discrepancy in a will, Perveen begins a whirlwind investigation that takes her into a private world full of secrets and danger. Layered and surprising, this book has plenty to ponder.

This novel takes the locked room mystery trope and turns it on its head. Gathered for a party, eight guests witness the murder of Evelyn Hardcastle at 11 p.m. To prevent her death, Aiden Bishop is granted the same day over again, waking up in a different body each time. You’ll need an index to keep this mystery’s tangled clues sorted even after the last page.

When Detective Sasagaki is assigned the murder of a man found in an abandoned building, he pieces together two other cases linked to the crime. This winding novel follows Sasagaki for over 20 years as he refuses to give up. Dark and clever, this mystery-thriller is complex from start to finish.

The world’s best-selling mystery novel is also one of the most controversial and thought-provoking.  On a tiny island off the coast of Devon, eight house guests arrive with invitations to find their hosts absent. One by one, the guests and the house staff are killed in a manner matching up with lines in a 19th-century minstrel song. Updated versions of And Then There Were None feature a much-edited rhyme, sanitizing both the novel and the public’s view of Christie.

Caren, the manager of an old plantation turned event venue, is caught up in an investigation when the body of a worker is found on the property. Details of Caren’s family history and the property’s history swirl to the surface as the investigation intensifies. This Southern Gothic mystery commands attention on subjects of race and justice.

Set in a 14th-century monastery, this historical mystery blends secret codes, theology, and humor into a detective story. Brother William is set to investigate a monastery accused of heresy but is sidetracked by a series of murders. Using his wits and all the theological tools and ciphers at his disposal, Br. William begins his labyrinthian quest. This intricate novel requires the reader’s careful attention, or the mystery gets lost among the symbols.