“What are the best Mystery, Horror, and Thriller books released in 2020?” We looked at 182 of the top Mystery, Horror, and Thriller books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 26 books, all appearing on 3 or more “Best Mystery, Horror, and Thriller” book lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 150+ titles, as well as the sources we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.

Our other Best Of 2020 Articles:

• The Best Art, Photography, And Coffee Table Books
• The Best AudioBooks
• The Best Biography And Memoir Books
• The Best Graphic Novels And Comics
• The Best Cookbooks
• The Best Fiction Books
• The Best Books (All Categories)
• The Best History Books
• The Best Kids, Children, and Youth Books
• The Best Mystery, Horror, and Thriller Books
• The Best Nonfiction Books
• The Best Poetry Books
• The Best Science And Nature Books
• The Best Science Fiction And Fantasy Books
• The Best Young Adult Books

Previous Years: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015

All titles have been added to a Bookshop list as well!

Happy Scrolling!

Top 26 Best Mystery, Horror, and Thriller Books From 2020

26.) All the Devils Are Here written byLouise Penny

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Kirkus
• Amazon

INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER PARADE MAGAZINE – ONE OF FALL’S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS CRIMEREADS – ONE OF FALL’S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS AARP’S MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF FALL The 16th novel by #1 bestselling author Louise Penny finds Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Quebec invest

25.) Clown in a Cornfield written byAdam Cesare

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot 2
• Kirkus 2
• The Lineup

In Adam Cesare’s terrifying young adult debut, Quinn Maybrook finds herself caught in a battle between old and new, tradition and progress–that just may cost her life.Quinn Maybrook and her father have moved to tiny, boring Kettle Springs, to find a fresh start. But what they don’t know is that eve

24.) Dear Child: A Novel written byRomy Hausmann

Lists It Appears On:

• Bookpage
• NYPL
• Amazon

“[A] tantalizingly disturbing debut…As enthralling as it is thought-provoking.” -New York Times Book Review Bustle Best Books of Fall 2020 Publishers Weekly Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers of Fall 2020 She Reads Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2020 A woman held captive finally escapes–but can she eve

23.) Plain Bad Heroines written byEmily M. Danforth

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot 2
• Goodreads
• Library Journal

“A delectable brew of gothic horror and Hollywood satire . . . [and] what makes all this so much fun is Danforth’s deliciously ghoulish voice . . . exquisite. –Ron Charles, THE WASHINGTON POST A multi-faceted novel, equal parts gothic, sharply funny, sapphic romance, historical, and, of course, spo

22.) Ring Shout written byP. Djèlí Clark

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot 2
• Library Journal
• The Lineup

Nebula, Locus, and Alex Award-winner P. Djèlí Clark returns with Ring Shout, a dark fantasy historical novella that gives a supernatural twist to the Ku Klux Klan’s reign of terror IN AMERICA, DEMONS WEAR WHITE HOODS. In 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan’s ra

21.) Survivor Song written byPaul Tremblay

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot 2
• NPR
• The Lineup

“Fresh and surprising. Survivor Song may be one of Tremblay’s best– beautifully detailed, viscerally frightening, and deep with emotional resonance. –Dan Chaon, New York Times bestselling author of Ill Will A riveting novel of suspense and terror from the Bram Stoker award-winning author of The Ca

20.) The Boy from the Woods written byHarlan Coben

Lists It Appears On:

• Amazon
• Barnes & Noble
• Goodreads 2

A man with a mysterious past must find a missing teenage girl in this shocking thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Run Away. Thirty years ago, Wilde was found as a boy living feral in the woods, with no memory of his past. Now an adult, he still doesn’t know where he comes from

19.) The Kingdom written byJo Nesbø ; translated by Robert Ferguson

Lists It Appears On:

• The Times
• Kirkus
• Waterstones

“I read The Kingdom and couldn’t put it down … Suspenseful … Original … This one is special in every way.” –Stephen King Two brothers. One small town. A lifetime of dark secrets. A tense and atmospheric standalone thriller from best-selling author Jo Nesbø. Roy has never left the quiet mounta

18.) The Year of the Witching written byAlexis Henderson

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot 2
• Goodreads
• NYPL

A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut. In the lands of Bethel, where the Prophet’s word is law, Immanuelle Moore’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother’s union with an outsider of a different race cast he

17.) Troubled Blood written byRobert Galbraith

Lists It Appears On:

• Five Books
• Waterstones
• The Telegraph

A breathtaking, labyrinthine epic, Troubled Blood is the fifth Strike and Robin novel and the most gripping and satisfying yet. Private Detective Cormoran Strike is visiting his family in Cornwall when he is approached by a woman asking for help finding her mother, Margot Bamborough – who went missi

16.) Winter Counts written byDavid Heska Wanbli Weiden

Lists It Appears On:

• Publishers Weekly
• Amazon
• NPR

“Winter Counts is a marvel. It’s a thriller with a beating heart and jagged teeth. This book is a brilliant meditation on power and violence, and a testament to just how much a crime novel can achieve. Weiden is a powerful new voice. I couldn’t put it down.” –Tommy Orange, author of There There A R

15.) If It Bleeds written byStephen King

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot 2
• Goodreads
• Kirkus 2
• The Lineup

From #1 New York Times bestselling author, legendary storyteller, and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary collection of four new and compelling novellas–Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, The Life of Chuck, Rat, and the title story If It Bleeds–each pulling you into intriguing and frigh

14.) Squeeze Me written byCarl Hiaasen

Lists It Appears On:

• Washington Post
• Barnes & Noble
• Amazon
• The Times

A New York Times Bestseller If you could use some wild escapism right now, Hiaasen is your guy. In its themes and its wild imagination, Squeeze Me offers some familiar pleasures, akin to a Greatest Hits collection. Anyone who’s read him will know what a prime recommendation that is . . . Angie is a

13.) The Boatman’s Daughter written byAndy Davidson

Lists It Appears On:

• Kirkus 2
• NYPL
• Library Journal
• The Lineup

Go read Andy Davidson’s lush nightmare, The Boatman’s Daughter. It put an arrow through my head and heart.” –Paul Tremblay, author of Growing Things Ample bloodshed is offset by beautiful prose . . . A stunning supernatural Southern Gothic. –Kirkus (starred) Ever since her father was killed when s

12.) The Guest List written byLucy Foley

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Popsugar
• The Urban List
• Amazon

A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICKTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER”I loved this book. It gave me the same waves of happiness I get from curling up with a classic Christie…The alternating points of view keep you guessing, and guessing wrong.” — Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sile

11.) The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires written byGrady Hendrix

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Book Riot 2
• NYPL
• Library Journal

The New York Times Best Seller #1 April LibraryReads Pick April Indie Next Pick Goodreads Big Book of Spring Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this ’90s-set horror novel about a women’s book club that must do battle with a mysterious newcomer to their small Southern town, perfect for murderinos and f

10.) The Sun Down Motel written bySimone St. James

Lists It Appears On:

• Amazon
• Goodreads 2
• Popsugar
• Worldly Gentleman

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Something hasn’t been right at the roadside Sun Down Motel for a very long time, and Carly Kirk is about to find out why in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls. Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delan

9.) Blacktop Wasteland written byS.A. Cosby

Lists It Appears On:

• The Urban List
• Waterstones
• Amazon
• Bookpage
• NPR

A husband, a father, a son, a business owner…And the best getaway driver east of the Mississippi. “Sensationally good–new, fresh, real, authentic, twisty, with characters and dilemmas that will break your heart. More than recommended.” –Lee Child Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a

8.) Long Bright River written byLiz Moore

Lists It Appears On:

• Washington Post
• Goodreads 2
• Amazon
• NYPL
• NPR

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK [Moore’s] careful balance of the hard-bitten with the heartfelt is what elevates Long Bright River from entertaining page-turner to a book that makes you want to call someone you love.” – The New York Times Book Review This

7.) The Devil and the Dark Water written byStuart Turton

Lists It Appears On:

• Amazon
• Goodreads 2
• Publishers Weekly
• Waterstones
• Bookpage

“Compulsively readable.”–New York Times Book ReviewThe extraordinary new thriller from Stuart Turton, author of the bestselling murder mystery The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, winner of the Costa Best First Novel Award.A murder on the high seas. A remarkable detective duo. A demon who may or

6.) When No One is Watching written byAlyssa Cole

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Popsugar
• Bookpage
• Worldly Gentleman
• NPR

An instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLER!I was knocked over by the momentum of an intense psychological thriller that doesn’t let go until the final page. This is a terrific read. – Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author*Marie Claire’s September Book Club Pick* Rear Window meets

5.) The Only Good Indians written byStephen Graham Jones

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot 2
• Goodreads
• NYPL
• Library Journal
• NPR
• The Lineup

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER A Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year “One of 2020’s buzziest horror novels.” –Entertainment Weekly A “Most Anticipated Books of Summer” selection in Esquire, Elle, Vulture, Time, AV Club, Bustle, and Literary Hub “Gritty and gorgeous” –The New York Times “Jones is one

4.) The Thursday Murder Club written byRichard Osman

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Five Books
• Waterstones
• Amazon
• The Telegraph
• NYPL

A little beacon of pleasure in the midst of the gloom…SUCH FUN! –Kate Atkinson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Sky Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves A female cop with her first big case A brutal murder Welcome to… THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB In a peaceful retirem

3.) One by One written byRuth Ware

Lists It Appears On:

• Washington Post
• Barnes & Noble
• Goodreads 2
• Kirkus
• Popsugar
• Waterstones
• Worldly Gentleman

“The Agatha Christie of our generation.” –David Baldacci, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Diabolically clever.” –Riley Sager, author of Final Girls The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Turn of the Key and In a Dark Dark Wood returns with another suspenseful thriller set on a snow-

2.) The Searcher written byTana French

Lists It Appears On:

• Washington Post
• Barnes & Noble
• Goodreads 2
• Waterstones
• Amazon
• The Times
• NPR

A New York Times Bestseller This hushed suspense tale about thwarted dreams of escape may be her best one yet…its own kind of masterpiece. –Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post A taut, chiseled and propulsive (Vogue) new novel from the bestselling mystery writer who is in a class by herself. (Th

1.) Mexican Gothic written bySilvia Moreno-Garcia

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot 2
• Goodreads
• Kirkus 2
• Popsugar
• Bookpage
• Library Journal
• Worldly Gentleman
• NPR
• The Lineup

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER – “It’s Lovecraft meets the Brontës in Latin America, and after a slow-burn start Mexican Gothic gets seriously weird.”–The Guardian IN DEVELOPMENT AS A HULU ORIGINAL LIMITED SERIES PRODUCED BY KELLY RIPA AND MARK CONSUELOS An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic ari

The 150+ Additional Best Mystery, Horror, and Thriller Books Released In 2020

25 Best Mystery, Horror, and Thriller Book Sources/Lists