Happy Tuesday y’all! Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl is getting into the spooky season. How? By asking us to share some of our favorite atmospheric reads. For me, atmospheric reads aren’t always spooky, or creepy, but something about the setting is just perfect for the narrative. Yes, the majority of them are thrillers and mystery books. So this week I’ll be sharing some of my favorite atmospheric thrillers and mystery books.
All titles are linked to Goodreads, and book covers are linked to Amazon.
Without further ado, here are some of my favorite atmospheric thrillers and mystery books!
The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Espionage, Science Fiction
- Release Date: October 2021
The Defector by Chris Hadfield
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Espionage, Science Fiction
- Release Date: October 2023
In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund
- Genre: YA, Contemporary, Thriller, Mystery
- Release Date: October 2019
Reykjavik: A Crime Story by Ragnar Jonasson and Katrin Jakobsdottir
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
- Release Date: September 2023
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
- Genre: YA, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
- Release Date: March 2021
Gone by Lisa Gardner
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller
- Release Date: January 2006
In the Heat of the Night by John Dudley Ball
- Genre: Mystery
- Release Date: January 1965
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
- Genre: Mystery, Magical Realism, Horror
- Release Date: January 2023
The Last Séance by Agatha Christie
- Genre: Short Story Anthology, Mystery
- Release Date: September 2019
These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
- Genre: YA, Thriller, Mystery
- Release Date: February 2022
And that is a list of ten of my favorite atmospheric thriller and mystery books. Have you read any of these? What are some books you’ve read that are atmospheric?
Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my other bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.
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Thrillers are atmospheric for sure!
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
I haven’t read any of these!
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2023/10/24/top-ten-tuesday-books-with-a-whymsical-or-different-writing-style/
Thrillers are often atmospheric for sure! I haven’t read any of these, but I’m currently reading Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party. I haven’t gotten far into it yet, but I’m hoping it’s as atmospheric as you found The Last Séance to be.
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2023/10/24/top-ten-tuesday-atmospheric-books/
I’m currently reading Hallowe’en Party too!
These seem to fit the topic well!
I haven’t read any of these but they do seem to fit the topic! Have a great week!
I didn’t even think of the Firekeeper’s Daughter. Good choice.
I bet the Agatha Christie collection is good!
I haven’t read any of these but I’ve heard such good things about The Fire Keeper’s Daughter and Bad Cree.
I need to pick up Firekeeper’s Daughter. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about it. Glad to see it made your list.
Spooky reads and mystery/thriller novels are what come right to my mind for “atmospheric” books. I almost put FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER on my list today too. It’s a good one!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I’ve been so curious about the Christie title on your list but I’m not usually a fan of short stories so I haven’t read it yet. I’m slowly working my way through her books so I’m sure I’ll have to give it a try at some point.
I have The Last Séance in my tbr, i think i need to read it soon
Great list, I’ve wanted to read Bad Cree.
Firekeeper’s Daughter is a good choice!
Great list! Ragnar Jonasson and Angelline Boulley can write some incredible stories that make such perfect use of the setting. I’ve got some books on this list on my TBR, and I’ll definitely be adding a few more – so many of these covers are atmospheric all on their own!
I have In the Hall with the Knife on my shelf! It sounds like it’d be such a fun read and given that it’s inspired by Clue, the game, I’m definitely curious since I loved that game. 🙂 I haven’t read an Agatha Christie novel, but those seem IDEAL, too.