10 Best New Mystery Books to Read This Fall—Cozy Whodunits to Thrilling Page-Turners

Happy first week of fall, book lovers! This crisp and colorful season brings cooler temperatures, cozy evenings spent at home and a fresh wave of new book releases! Many readers even say it’s the most exciting time of the year to stack your TBR (to-be-read) list, thanks to the plethora of new novels from beloved authors. And this autumn, mysteries are taking center stage with anticipated new releases from bestselling authors like Richard Osman, Freida McFadden, Dan Brown, Jesse Q. Sutanto and more! Here, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best new mystery books to curl up with this season.

Our selections range from cozy whodunits with a found-family feel (see our picks below for the latest from Richard Osman, Jesse Q. Sutanto and Jo Nichols) to riveting crime procedurals (Don’t Say a Word by Allison Brennan), edge-of-your-seat psychological thrillers (The Intruder by Freida McFadden and Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham), chilling medical mysteries (Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon—this is one of fall’s buzziest books!) and more!

Keep scrolling for all of our must-read fall mystery recommendations.

‘The Impossible Fortune’ by Richard Osman 

With 10 million copies sold and a Netflix movie starring Helen Mirren, it’s clear Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club series has charmed readers everywhere. His latest installment reunites fans with their favorite group of sleuthing retirees. Just as the Thursday Murder Club declares a quiet year, they meet Nick—who then vanishes without a trace. Can the four quirky friends band together to crack the case again?

What readers are saying: “When I retire I want to live at Coppers Chase and join the Thursday Murder Club. I am so happy that we are back with this group of crazy retirees again after a break last year. It’s always such a joy to catch up with them all. These books are just so much fun to read and lose yourself in.”

‘The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective’ by Jo Nichols 

Fans of Agatha Christie and Richard Osman will delight over this cozy mystery from writing duo Joel Ross and Lee Nichols—known as Jo Nichols. Mrs. B is not your ordinary landlord. She only rents the Marigold Cottages to people she cares about: Sophie, Hamilton, Ocean, Lily-Ann and Nicholas. The tenants live peacefully—until Anthony, an ex-con, moves in and a dead body is found. Now, the misfits must band together to investigate and crack the case. 

What readers are saying: “With a story as fun and cozy as this cover, The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective gave me everything I was hoping for and then some. I did not expect to love this as much as I did, but I was pulled in and held so tightly. It’s got a real wacky, found family vibe, and the Southern California setting was also an enjoyable backdrop. Overall, I think this is a carefree cozy mystery that I’m definitely hoping will turn into a much longer series.”

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‘Forget Me Not’ by Stacy Willingham

 Author Stacy Willingham pens searing, suspenseful tales—like her 2022 runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark, and her new  book, Forget Me Not, is rife with twists and turns. Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, vanished after her 18th birthday, but after police found blood in a car and arrested a man, the case was closed. Two decades later, Claire takes a job at a coastal South Carolina vineyard near their hometown. Here, Claire finds an old diary filled with secrets tied to her sister

What readers are saying: “I have zero chill when it comes to Stacy Willingham’s thrillers. The second they hit my Kindle, I am compelled to read them immediately. Although I did not love her previous book, Only If You’re Lucky, her newest did not disappoint. In fact, more than a week later, it is still living in my head completely rent-free.”

‘Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)’ by Jesse Q. Sutanto

This charming whodunit is the second installment in Jesse Q. Sutanto’s fan-favorite Vera Wong series. Life has been sweet yet uneventful for Vera—until a new mystery arises. When a missing social media influencer is found dead, Vera’s curiosity leads her to uncover secrets that could shake up her quiet life. With her son’s girlfriend, Officer Selena Gray, by her side, Vera vows to crack the case. 

What readers are saying: “I had a lot of fun listening to this book, Vera is such a fun character and I was glad we as readers got to return to her world. As usual she is nosy, cooks too much and meddles too much but I am all here for it. This book introduced her to a lot of things like social media and it was fun to follow along as she investigated the case.”

‘The Widow’ by John Grisham

Bestselling author John Grisham’s next legal thriller, The Widow (on sale October 21), is another can’t-miss, story of suspense! This one is about small-town Southern lawyer Simon Latch, who is barely getting by when he meets Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow who claims to be sitting on millions and needs a will that leaves her greedy stepsons nothing. Simon writes the will, which he believes will be the biggest money-making case of his career. Then Eleanor dies suddenly and Simon finds himself on trial for her murder. 

What readers are saying: “The audiobook is read by Michael Beck, who voices all of Grisham’s books,” says Patty Bontekoe, Woman’s World Executive Editor. “His impeccable Southern accents and narration make the story come to life! I couldn’t stop listening.”

‘The Intruder’ by Freida McFadden

Mystery, murder and madness abound in The Intruder (on sale October 7)—the latest offering from Freida McFadden, who penned BookTok’s hit The Housemaid series. Casey is bracing for a hurricane to hit her remote cabin in the woods. But what’s more unsettling than the weather is the little girl standing outside her window…covered in blood and holding a knife. She invites the girl in and then makes a shocking discovery. Now, secrets—and lives—are at risk.

What readers are saying: “This story unfolds in a past/present POV and both characters have super traumatic backgrounds so definitely check your trigger warnings! Going into it blind is honestly the best way. Just enjoy the eerie vibes and let the story take you for a ride. This one feels different for Freida…darker, more psychological and more atmospheric.”

‘A Killer Motive’ by Hannah Mary McKinnon

Danger, secrets, tension…Hannah Mary McKinnon’s newest book is a shocking psychological thriller. Six years ago, Stella Dixon brought her brother to a party without their parents knowing. It was all just fun—until Max disappeared without a trace. Now, Stella focuses on helping other families find closure on her true crime podcast, A Killer Motive. After a mysterious invitation arrives, she thinks it’s a joke—until more people begin to vanish. Can Stella outsmart an enemy?

What readers are saying: “This book is a psychological thriller masterpiece that had me so wired with tension. The structure of the novel is airtight. The pacing never drags for a second. McKinnon expertly weaves secrets, lies, trauma, grief, guilt, and shocking twists into a story that feels both character-driven and utterly explosive.”

‘Don’t Say a Word’ by Allison Brennan

Readers who enjoy slow-burn crime fiction and cracking the case as they turn pages will enjoy this novel by Allison Brennan. This tale, the second installment in her Angelhart Investigation series, revisits the Angelhart family. The police ruled Elijah Martinez’s death an accidental overdose, but the teen’s mother is not convinced. When the case is brought to Angelhart Investigations, Margo enlists the help of her family—including her former-cop brother Jack—to find out what really happened to Elijah before anyone else is hurt.

What readers are saying: “Don’t Say a Word wrapped up in a thrilling conclusion and I can’t wait for the next installment! I love this series, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of smart crime procedurals with complex, relatable characters and a bit of romance!”

‘The Secret of Secrets’ by Dan Brown 

The bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code is back with his first novel in 8 years and it’s a thrilling adventure full of page-turning mystery and atmospheric scenes. The story—the 8th installment in his acclaimed Robert Langdon series—centers once again on Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. When Robert heads to Prague to accompany Katherine Solomon, who is set to give a lecture, his world is upended when she vanishes from their hotel room. Now, he must navigate the ancient sprawling city to uncover secrets—some of which have been buried for centuries—as a dark figure from the past haunts him and tries to stand in his way. 

What readers are saying: “This reads like an entertaining movie! The Secret of Secrets is already being adapted by Netflix. Brown’s formula of employing richly atmospheric settings and cliffhangers at the end of each chapter creates a sense of urgency, compelling readers to continue turning pages late into the night.”

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‘Gone Before Goodbye’ by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben

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Shocking twists and unexpected emotion meld in Gone Before Goodbye (out November 14)—the highly anticipated new thriller written by Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon and bestselling author Harlan Coben. Maggie was once a skilled Army surgeon, but after a series of devastating events, her medical license was revoked. Now, an elite plastic surgeon asks her for unusual medical assistance. She accepts, then a patient eerily goes missing.

What readers are saying: “This is another 5 star read from Harlan Coben and a dynamic debut for Reese Witherspoon! There were twists and turns I didn’t expect and I really didn’t want this to end. For long time Coben fans, you’ll recognize a name or two along the way!”