Best Hard-Boiled Mystery Books of 2026

Donna Leon's latest installment in the bestselling Commissario Guido Brunetti series, "So Shall You Reap," tackles the murder case of an undocumented Sri Lankan immigrant in Venice. With no official record of the victim's presence in the city, Brunetti must rely on gossip and memories of those who knew him. As the investigation progresses, Brunetti reflects on his own past as a student and the errors of youth. Leon's skillful writing and well-designed plot, complemented by the rich backdrop of Venice, make this police procedural a must-read for fans of the genre.

Girl Left Behind by C.J. Cross is a fast-paced and gripping mystery thriller that follows Smithsonian researcher Dana Gray's journey to solve her parents' murder case. As a head researcher of occult origins, Gray teams up with FBI agent Jake Shepard to crack a string of ritualistic deaths that resemble her tragic past. However, as they dig deeper, they realize that the killer might have been hunting Gray all along. The book is a must-read for fans of Bones and will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the end.

Down the River unto the Sea by Walter Mosley is a thrilling African American mystery, thriller, and suspense book that won the Edgar Award for Best Novel of the Year. The story follows Joe King Oliver, a former NYPD investigator who was framed for sexual assault and seeks justice after receiving a confession letter from his accuser. He teams up with a black journalist accused of killing two police officers, and their cases intertwine to expose a pattern of corruption and brutality against black people. The book delivers hard-boiled satisfaction and addresses issues of race with clarity and unflinching honesty.

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler is a classic hardboiled mystery novel featuring the iconic private eye, Philip Marlowe. The story follows Marlowe's investigation into the murder of a wealthy woman, involving a down-on-his-luck war veteran and a crazy gangster. Chandler's writing style is a standout feature, with unselfconscious eloquence and a unique vision. Vintage Crime/Black Lizard's reprinted set of Chandler's full canon of novels and short stories, featuring uniform covers, is a must-have for any crime fiction fan. Overall, The Long Goodbye is a masterpiece of the genre and a must-read for fans of mystery and detective stories.

Music City Mayhymn is a hard-boiled mystery book that follows Nashville's top homicide detective, Max Malone, as he investigates a series of suspicious deaths. With the help of his partner, Vince Wilson, and beat cop, Helen Hanover, they try to catch a vigilante who is playing judge and jury. The book is an extraordinary debut novel by Billy Sprague, an award-winning songwriter and recording artist, who exposes the layered M.O. of a human soul. Sprague's storytelling is superb, making it a non-stop action page-turner with amazing twists and turns. Overall, the book is a must-read for mystery lovers who enjoy an immersive and thrilling ride.

Traitors Gate is the new 2023 rollercoaster thriller from Jeffrey Archer, the author of the Clifton Chronicles and Kane & Abel. The book tells the story of a master criminal who sets his sights on pulling off the most outrageous theft in history during the State Opening of Parliament. With a man on the inside, the odds are in his favor. Unless the team can stop him before it’s too late… Archer is a master storyteller and this book is no exception. It is an unputdownable thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

The House of Love and Death, the latest addition to the Cameron Winter series, is a thrilling traditional detective mystery. Cameron Winter, an ex-spy turned English professor, investigates the murder of a wealthy family in the suburbs of Chicago. Winter's deductive power and sense about crime lead him to uncover crimes and unsavory behavior that had been ignored long before the killings. While the lead detective wants him to stop looking for answers, Winter is determined to find the real killer and expose the rot beneath the town's sanitized façade. Insightful and atmospheric, The House of Love and Death is a page-turner that readers won't want to put down.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler is a classic hard-boiled mystery novel featuring the iconic private eye, Philip Marlowe. The story revolves around a millionaire who hires Marlowe to handle a blackmailer and his involvement with more than extortion. This novel is the first of the Philip Marlowe series and is filled with bursts of sex, violence, and explosively direct prose that changed detective fiction forever. Chandler's writing style is unique, and his portrayal of Marlowe as a wised up, thoughtful, and rebellious hero is what makes this book a must-read for every mystery lover.

Red Dragon is a gripping and gruesome thriller that introduced the world to the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter. FBI agent Will Graham must risk his sanity to capture the madman known as the Tooth Fairy, who has already killed two families. To understand the killer, Graham must turn to the twisted mind of Dr. Lecter. This book is an engine designed to make your pulse pound and fear glands secrete. Harris's writing is harrowing, and the characters are unforgettable. Overall, Red Dragon is a must-read for fans of crime novels and thrillers.

The Cartel is the second novel in the Power of the Dog series by Don Winslow. The book takes the reader deep inside the world of drug trade, corruption, betrayal, and revenge. The story revolves around Adán Barrera, the kingpin of El Federación, and ex-DEA agent Art Keller, who is the only person capable of taking Barrera down. As the drug war reaches surreal new heights, the two men are locked in a savage struggle that ensnares countless others in its wake. The Cartel is a searing, unfiltered epic of the drug war in the twenty-first century and a must-read for fans of hard-boiled mystery books.