8 Chilling Locked-Room Thrillers That Will Keep You Guessing Until the Very Last Page
Mystery, suspense and shocking twists—these locked-room thrillers will keep you hooked!
Whether it’s a thriller or a mystery, eerie novels offer unparalleled entertainment—especially when the reader is trying to crack the case along with the characters. And if you’re looking for a suspenseful novel that’s fully immersive and packed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing, locked-room thrillers are the perfect choice.
The locked-room setup is a classic crime fiction trope found originally in Edgar Allen Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue and later in Agatha Christie’s legendary And Then There Were None. These books center around a murder (or other crime) that occurs in an isolated location—or a literal locked room or space—which makes the characters panic even more than usual. Why? Because the culprit isn’t just close by—the culprit is someone within the group. If you’re in the mood to dive into one of these fast-paced reads, you’re in the right place! Here, we gathered up 8 locked-room books that will have you turning pages until you uncover secrets and the killer.
From an eerily remote summer camp in Karin Slaughter’s This is Why We Lied to a house on a seaside cliff in Liza North’s The Weekend Guests by and more, these recommendations will provide a chilling entertainment escape while you’re safe and sound at home.
Ready to crack some cases? Keep scrolling for our complete list of locked-room thriller books.
‘And Then There Were None’ by Agatha Christie
Ten strangers arrive at a mansion after each receives an invitation from a “U.N. Owen.” Their host, who is a millionaire, is—of course—nowhere to be found. And all the guests have something in common: secrets they aren’t willing to share. When one of the guests is found dead, the others are left to determine which of them is the killer before it’s too late.
What readers are saying: “I’m a huge Agatha Christie fan, and this is by far my favorite mystery of hers. I’ve read it many different times and, even though I know the outcome by now, it never fails to thrill and shock me with its sharp, spare writing; compelling characters; and brilliant plot.”
‘Reckless Girls’ by Rachel Hawkins
Lux McAllister and her boyfriend Nico are more than thrilled to sail two women around to a remote island in the South Pacific. Lux needs a change of pace, and as it turns out so do Brittany and Amma, the two girls who requested the trip. And Meroe Island is the perfect piece of paradise—that is until the foursome finds another boat there and two more people named Jake and Eliza. Soon, it becomes clear that the island is more cut off from civilization than the group expected, and when someone turns up dead, Lux starts to question if any of them will make it home alive.
What readers are saying: “Entertaining and suspenseful. I love every Rachel Hawkins book I’ve read and this is no different. The characters are lively and detailed and the story draws you in and keeps you guessing. Love it!”
‘One by One’ by Ruth Ware
Getting snowed in at a rustic ski chalet with a private chef, a housekeeper and a cozy fire sounds dreamy. The downside? It’s a work trip with eight coworkers, each with their own motivations. The trip starts out like any other work getaway—meetings, presentations and team bonding—but things quickly go awry when a contentious buyout offer is mentioned, testing the team’s loyalties. Before you know it, members of the group are discovered dead—and the avalanche outside is no match for the drama inside.
What readers are saying: “This was a spine-tingling thriller from the get go. As always with a Ruth Ware novel it was set in a fabulous location that gets cut off from access to the outside world when they need it most.I didn’t know who the killer was until it was being revealed and I was blown away by the extra secrets we didn’t know. Ruth does a fantastic job building up the suspense and she pulls you in deeper and deeper!”
‘An Unwanted Guest’ by Shari Lapena
When guests arrive at Mitchell’s Inn for a weekend getaway, their dreams of an idyllic stay are dashed thanks to a blizzard. Soon, there’s no electricity at the inn, and one by one, guests are mysteriously turning up dead.
What readers are saying: “I devoured this book in one sitting – utterly unable to tear myself away from the chilling events unfolding at the Mitchell’s Inn. Lapena masterfully crafts a locked-room mystery that’s both atmospheric and addictive.”
‘The Writing Retreat’ by Julia Bartz
Addictive and action-packed, this New York Times bestselling novel by Julia Bartz (sister to another thriller writer, Andrea Bartz) will have readers’ pulses pounding. The story follows Alex, who has basically given up on her dreams of being a writer. Then, she receives an invitation for an exclusive month-long writing retreat at the estate of Roza Vallo, a feminist horror writer. Alex is thrilled. The catch? She and the other writers must pen a full-length novel by the time the retreat is over, but it’s hard to focus when strange happenings start occurring at the estate. When one of the other writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes her writing career might be attached to something sinister.
What readers are saying: “I loved this one! A classic locked-room thriller with a few unique features! And I love the all-female cast and the contemporary thriller package hiding just the perfect splash of spooky-horror.”
‘This Is Why We Lied’ by Karin Slaughter
Packed with nail-biting suspense and gruesome twists, the 12th installment of Karin Slaughter’s long-running series follows GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton as they head off to McAlpine Lodge for their honeymoon. To Will’s horror, he discovers Mercy McAlpine, the manager of the Lodge, dead. As a vicious storm descends on the lodge, it becomes clear that this was unlikely done by someone outside the property. But who? As Will and his team investigate the McAlpine family, they notice two things: Something deeply sinister is at play— and everyone is lying. Trapped at the remote resort, they race the clock to crack the case before the killer strikes again.
What readers are saying: “I’ve read all of Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent novels and loved every one, but this was extraordinary! I was pretty sure whodunit early on but the last 20 percent of the story had me turning the pages so fast that I couldn’t even go to bed! Things were changing so rapidly that I could hardly keep track. By the end I was profoundly shocked.”
‘The Weekend Guests’ by Liza North
Fans of Lucy Foley’s twisty and suspenseful novels will devour this heart-racing tale by Liza North. It begins when a group of old university friends—Aline, Sienna, Rob, Michael and Brandon—reunite for a weekend at Aline’s house on a seaside cliff. But they don’t know that Aline has a secret: Someone is threatening to expose a crime the friends committed years ago. As tensions surface, old grudges and danger loom.
What readers are saying: “This is a thrilling read, with all the hallmarks of the best murder mysteries: pace, excellent character development, masterful plot and the ability to switch between one time period and another without causing confusion to those not familiar with the genre. What sets Liza North apart is her ability to convey a real sense of place; she draws us in by subtle visual descriptions which take you right there and hook you into the narrative. A writer at the top of her game.”
‘One of Us is Lying’ by Karen M. McManus
Five high school students find themselves in detention on an otherwise ordinary Monday. But when Simon—the creator of the school’s popular gossip app—suddenly dies, his four classmates become suspects. The beauty, the brain, the criminal and the athlete are compelled to work together to clear their names, unveiling each other’s darkest secrets in the process.
What readers are saying: “Overall amazing! Well written, puzzling, and truly a core murder mystery that keeps you on your toes until the very end. The multiple POVs is executed in a way that is not distracting and improves the dramatic irony throughout the novel. Loved it! Looking forward to the next book!”
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