Why stop with just one standalone whodunnit? Follow beloved detectives and their crime-solving adventures through these favorite mystery book series.
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Whether you reach for cozy mysteries, gumshoe detectives, dark psychological thrillers or criminal underworlds, you’ve probably experienced the pain of ending a mystery and craving more. That’s why we love a great series. Not only do mystery book series let us dive deep into the protagonist’s world, we also stay glued to the pages as we crack a new case each time. So if you’re looking for a great series over a standalone book, you’re in luck. We’ve gathered 10 of the best mystery book series for fans of all tastes—from police procedurals to gritty noir.
Our choices for the best mystery book series include some of the most well-reviewed and popular cozy mysteries, true-crime books and Agatha Christie books from the past century. Many of these mystery books have developed a loyal fan base over the years, and some of the best books have even been adapted into TV shows or movies. So get ready to curl up with a massive stuck of whodunnits.
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1. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny
Series starter: Still Life (2005)
What you’re in for: Homicide (with a hint of cozy), a beloved village, a book-to-TV adaptation
Louise Penny’s mystery book series follows the bold Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who heads up the homicide department at Surêté du Québec (Quebec’s provincial police force). The book series is famous for its heroic protagonist (Gamache), a modern Hercule Poirot, who was introduced in 2005 with Still Life, about the investigation into the murder of a retired teacher known for her painting skills. The Gamache series was not only turned into a Prime Video show (Three Pines), Penny also won an Agatha Award for her 16th book in the series, All the Devils Are Here. If your book choices tend to be influenced by the mystery shows you binge, check out the Gamache series first and then get some book recommendations based on your favorite television shows.
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2. The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman
Series starter: The Thursday Murder Club (2020)
What you’re in for: Murder and mirth, octogenarians, laugh-out-loud gags
Richard Osman’s first installment of this series burst onto the scene in 2020, when readers needed a dose of merriment. These lighthearted mysteries center around four unlikely friends who live at Coopers Chase Retirement Village in England. These sprightly, energetic elderly folk spend their days solving cold-case murders from police files they’ve secretly acquired. Since The Thursday Murder Club, Osman has graced bookstore shelves with The Man Who Died Twice (2021) and The Bullet That Missed (2022), both of which we consider great book club reads. A fourth book is set to be published in September 2023.
