The 50 Most Banned Books in America Right Now

Book banning and censorship are nothing new, but you may have noticed more discussion on the topic lately in the news and on social media. Maybe you’ve even joined a debate over why some of the best books are now off limits. It’s important to note that while schools and libraries—or even a store—may ban books, it does not make banned books illegal to acquire or read. Of course, sometimes a ban on a book makes it just that much more, well, intriguing. Some teens, whose literary access is significantly challenged by many of the bans, have even created their own banned books clubs.

Book banning and censorship often lead to a suppression of minority voices and an erasure of reality. In fact, among the top 11 banned books on our list, 10 of the authors and illustrators are women or nonbinary individuals, while four of the books were written by authors of color and four by LGBTQ individuals. Many recently banned books touch on violence and abuse, health and well-being, grief and death—topics that are crucial for kids and teens to explore.

As parents and school boards lead the effort to erase uncomfortable interpretations of reality (such as the Holocaust book Maus), discussions of gender identity (as with George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue) and provocative stories that could lead to political questioning (The Handmaid’s Tale, anyone?), they are not only limiting access but also perpetuating inequalities and dictating what stories have the right to be heard. Ready to see which of these books you have already read—and which you need to get your hands on ASAP? Read on for our countdown of the 50 most banned books in America.

We created a list of America’s 50 most banned books from the first half of the 2022–2023 school year using data from PEN America, a nonprofit organization that keeps a comprehensive index of school book bans. (Data from the entire school year has yet to be released.) We mined the data so you don’t have to—and boy was there a lot of data. In the first half of the school term alone, PEN America found 874 different banned books and more than 1,477 instances of individual books banned (because some titles are restricted in multiple places).

So what counts as a banned book? PEN America’s definition here includes books that were challenged and temporarily removed, as well as those fully removed from school libraries and classrooms. These represent a range of genres, and as the organization notes, such censorship impacts a diverse set of identities, topics, concepts and stories.

Here, we’re listing them from the 50th most banned book in America to the No. 1 banned title (in alphabetical order where there were ties). How many have you read?

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With five bans, Ellen Hopkins’s riveting People Kill People is the 50th most banned book in America in the first half of the 2022–2023 school year, tied with a few others, including Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and Malinda Lo’s Last Night at the Telegraph Club. In her author’s note for the book, Hopkins shared that she wanted to explore why someone “might be compelled to pull the trigger.” Not a thriller per se, the book explores the darkness within us all as it introduces readers to its cast of struggling teenagers—all of whom could conceivably pull the trigger of a gun that one of them has bought. But who bought it, and why? And what will happen next? It’s a taut, complex novel that tackles heavy ideas and challenges readers to think about what might make a person into someone who pulls the trigger.

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The 11 Best Medium-Firm Mattresses for 2024

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Finding a good mattress with the right firmness can be challenging, especially online. We’ve made a list of the best medium-firm mattresses to get you started in your search.

Comfort is key when choosing a new mattress, and that means finding the right level of firmness.

The firmness of a mattress doesn’t refer to its level of support. Instead, mattress firmness refers to the top layer of the mattress — it’s what you feel when you lie down.

If you want a mattress that balances cushioning comfort and the support you need for a good night’s sleep, a medium-firm mattress may be a good choice. We rounded up 11 of the best options to help you get started.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

The DreamCloud is a luxury hybrid mattress with a firmness of 6.5.

Individually wrapped coils and two layers of pressure-relieving gel memory foam adapt to your body to give support as you sleep. The quilted foam and cashmere top works to help regulate body temperature to minimize overheating. Plus, the mattresses use foams certified by CertiPUR-US standards.

Reviewers rave about the great blend of firmness and softness in the DreamCloud, which comes with a 365-night home trial, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping and returns.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

Avocado’s natural mattress is made with GOLS-certified latex and GOTS-certified wool and cotton, plus over 1,400 tempered steel coils arranged in five ergonomic zones.

The pillow top is an extra expense, but it adds two permanently attached additional layers of organic latex. The pillow top is rated as gentle-firm — a 6 on the firmness scale.

Avocado’s organic mattress comes with a 1-year trial and free shipping. It’s handmade in the U.S. and comes with a 25-year warranty.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

The Saatva Classic mattress is available in three firmness levels, but Saatva says 82% of customers prefer the luxury firm mattress. Rated between a 5 and 7, it’s designed to offer a balance between cushioning and uplifting support. You can also add an optional adjustable base.

The Saatva mattress is recommended by leading chiropractors in the United States, and earned the Congress of Chiropractic State Association’s seal of approval. It comes with a 365-night home trial and free white glove delivery. It also has a limited lifetime warranty.

With 50 firmness options and six layers of comfort, the Saatva Solaire lets you choose the firmness level that suits you on any given night. An internal air chamber adjusts firmness gradually, while an organic cotton pillow top and memory foam layers provide cooling.

The mattress comes with a limited lifetime warranty, a 365-night in-home trial, and free white glove delivery and setup so you know how to use the remote properly. They’ll also haul away your old mattress upon request.

With 50 firmness options and six layers of comfort, the Saatva Solaire lets you choose the firmness level that suits you on any given night. An internal air chamber adjusts firmness gradually, while an organic cotton pillow top and memory foam layers provide cooling.

The mattress comes with a limited lifetime warranty, a 365-night in-home trial, and free white glove delivery and setup so you know how to use the remote properly. They’ll also haul away your old mattress upon request.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

The Naturepedic Chorus is an organic mattress made with a universal medium firmness level — think of it as the Goldilocks option. It’s designed to be just right for almost everyone.

Organic cotton and wool batting are combined with a layer of plant-based fiber made of non-GMO sugarcane. The Chorus mattress also features glueless support coils and micro coils for a supportive sleep surface.

The mattress ships free and has a 100-night sleep trial. Naturepedic also offers free returns and a 25-year limited warranty.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

The Tuft & Needle Original mattress is a medium-firm, all-foam option priced under $1,000. But you might pay even less if you purchase during one of the company’s frequent sales. The proprietary adaptive foam is CertiPUR-US-certified for pressure relief and support, and it features both graphite and gel for cooling. The mattress is designed to be universally comfortable, no matter how you sleep.

T&N mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial, so you can test the firmness at home for yourself. You’ll also get free shipping and a 10-year warranty.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

Formerly known as the Love & Sleep mattress, the Quail is made with high-density, Greenguard Gold-certified foam and a cooling comfort layer. This combination gives this all-foam mattress a nice balance of bounce and support.

The nontoxic mattress is available in two firmness levels. Medium is listed at 5, with a blend of adaptive and supportive foam layers. Firm falls between 7 and 8, offering more support. Both options are made with cooling fabrics.

Try it at home for 365 nights with free shipping, free exchanges, and free returns. You’ll also get a limited lifetime warranty that covers manufacturing flaws and indentations of greater than 1 in.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

Rated as a 6 to 8 on the firmness scale, the Leesa Original mattress should offer support no matter how you prefer to sleep — back, side, or stomach.

Body-contouring premium foams and more than 789 pocket springs work to offer pressure relief.

The Leesa Original Mattress comes with a 100-night trial, free delivery, and a 10-year warranty.

Though it wasn’t the Leesa Original mattress, our Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor, Kelli McGrane, bought the Sapira Hybrid mattress from Leesa, and she couldn’t emphasize enough how easy the ordering and delivery process was.

“I was very hesitant about ordering a mattress online. I couldn’t argue with how much simpler ordering a Leesa mattress is compared to going into a store. The ordering process was quick and easy.”

McGrane still loves her Leesa mattress 3 years later and recommends it to anyone wanting to “order your mattress online and either switch up your sleeping position or have varying preferences from your partner. It’s also a good balance of soft and firm.”

Though it wasn’t the Leesa Original mattress, our Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor, Kelli McGrane, bought the Sapira Hybrid mattress from Leesa, and she couldn’t emphasize enough how easy the ordering and delivery process was.

“I was very hesitant about ordering a mattress online. I couldn’t argue with how much simpler ordering a Leesa mattress is compared to going into a store. The ordering process was quick and easy.”

McGrane still loves her Leesa mattress 3 years later and recommends it to anyone wanting to “order your mattress online and either switch up your sleeping position or have varying preferences from your partner. It’s also a good balance of soft and firm.”

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

The Nolah Natural is made with environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic Talalay latex material and a supportive, zoned coil system. Latex is naturally temperature regulating, and Nolah added strategic hole punctures to the latex layers for increased cooling and breathability.

The latex layers in this mattress give it a medium-firm feel. The company rates it as 5 to 6, or what it calls a luxury-firm mattress. Talalay latex material is used to provide responsiveness and pressure relief.

Nolah offers a 120-night home trial with free shipping and a lifetime warranty.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

With the Evolution mattress, Nolah made our list again. This hybrid mattress is designed for cool, comfortable sleep, thanks to a cooling Euro top, cooling foams, and a breathable border gusset.

Customers have a choice of three firmness levels. Luxury firm is a 6 to 7 on the firmness scale, which makes it a good choice for the widest range of sleepers.

Hundreds of reviewers praise the Evolution mattress for its comfort. Nolah’s customer service gets high praise, too.

*Price is accurate as of the date of publication.

The Birch Luxe Natural mattress is made with nontoxic materials, including naturally cooling cotton, cashmere, wool, and latex. It has a zoned lumbar support layer for deeper contouring and full support along the edges of the mattress.

The mattress was designed to accommodate all sleeping positions and just about every kind of sleeper. Plus, it comes with certifications from GOTS and Greenguard Gold.

Birch offers a 100-night sleep trial and a 25-year warranty.

We chose mattresses rated medium-firm by each brand. To narrow the list, we considered:

Many people prefer medium-firm mattresses because they offer a combination of comfort and support. But this firmness can have other benefits, too. Some evidence suggests that medium-firm mattresses can improve sleep comfort and quality.

Other research suggests self-adjusted, medium-firm mattresses may help improve comfort and the quality of your sleep if you live with back pain.

Medium-firm mattresses can also be a good choice if your preferred sleep position varies. They’ll give you the support and cushion you need as you move from your side to your back to your belly.

Medium-firm mattresses work well for people with low to moderate body weights. They’re also a good compromise if you share your bed with someone who prefers a firmer sleeping surface than you do (or vice versa).

If you’re searching for a medium-firm option, it helps to keep a few things in mind:

If upgrading your mattress isn’t an option at the moment, you still have other ways to make your bed more comfortable. Think new pillows, sheets, and comforters; a supportive mattress topper; or bedroom ambiance.

You can also make your room more snooze-friendly by:

Finally, you might even consider painting your bedroom walls or reducing any source of noise or light for a better night’s sleep.

Medium-firm mattresses are designed to have a softer, more cushiony feel than firm mattresses, which are usually around an 8 on the firmness scale. Soft mattresses, typically between 2 and 3 on the scale, tend to compress faster and more easily than medium-firm mattresses when you lie down. You’ll notice more of a “sinking in” sensation, too.

Medium-firm mattresses are designed to have a softer, more cushiony feel than firm mattresses, which are usually around an 8 on the firmness scale. Soft mattresses, typically between 2 and 3 on the scale, tend to compress faster and more easily than medium-firm mattresses when you lie down. You’ll notice more of a “sinking in” sensation, too.

Research from 2015 suggests that self-adjusted, medium-firm mattresses can help improve sleep quality in people with back pain.

Research from 2015 suggests that self-adjusted, medium-firm mattresses can help improve sleep quality in people with back pain.

Medium-firm mattresses can accommodate a wide range of sleepers. They’re supportive and cushioning enough for most sleeping positions, particularly for people who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds. People under 130 pounds generally tend to find softer mattresses more comfortable.

Sleepers with more body weight may want to consider mattresses specifically designed for long-term comfort and quality to get better rest.

They can also be a good choice if you need to compromise with a partner who has a different opinion of comfort. And if you’re dealing with back pain, a medium-firm mattress may help.

Medium-firm mattresses can accommodate a wide range of sleepers. They’re supportive and cushioning enough for most sleeping positions, particularly for people who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds. People under 130 pounds generally tend to find softer mattresses more comfortable.

Sleepers with more body weight may want to consider mattresses specifically designed for long-term comfort and quality to get better rest.

They can also be a good choice if you need to compromise with a partner who has a different opinion of comfort. And if you’re dealing with back pain, a medium-firm mattress may help.

No. Remember, firmness refers to how a mattress feels when you lie down on it. Things like body weight and preferred sleeping position will affect how a mattress feels to you, and it could be quite different from what someone else is feeling, even if they’re right next to you!

No. Remember, firmness refers to how a mattress feels when you lie down on it. Things like body weight and preferred sleeping position will affect how a mattress feels to you, and it could be quite different from what someone else is feeling, even if they’re right next to you!

Medium-firm mattresses are a popular choice for a reason. Designed to provide plenty of support and a comforting feel, they work well for people with low to moderate body weight, those who switch positions during the night, or people who share their bed with a partner.

Jessica Timmons has been working as a freelance writer since 2007, covering everything from pregnancy and parenting to cannabis, chiropractic, standup paddling, fitness, martial arts, home decor, and much more. Her work has appeared in mindbodygreen, Pregnancy & Newborn, Modern Parents Messy Kids, and Coffee + Crumbs. See what she’s up to now at jessicatimmons.com.

27 Best Mystery Books You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

Nothing piques our curiosity and sets our minds to problem-solving mode quite like a good mystery. It’s why so many of us grew up playing detective alongside fictional favorites like Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Encylopedia Brown and Nancy Drew. It’s also why Agatha Christie—queen of mystery books and the top female author—is the second bestselling author of all time, bested only by Shakespeare.

You’ll know a whodunnit when you read it. Typically, mystery books begin with a crime, offer several suspects and scenarios throughout the story, and culminate in a surprise ending. Compare that with true crime books, which (much like the name suggests) are nonfiction books based on real crimes. Thriller books are another distinct genre and often follow the threat of a future or potential crime from a known villain, with tension turned up to 10. A crime novel, on the other hand, focuses on apprehending a specific criminal.

To come up with our list of the best mystery books, we polled Reader’s Digest book editors (look for the Reader’s Digest Editor’s Pick seal!) and friends and combed through bestseller lists and five-star reviews. In this roundup, you’ll find new titles, some of the best books of all time and murder mystery books that were made into movies and have become part of popular culture. In short, discovering the best mystery books of all time was elementary, dear Watson.

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There’s no mystery like a small-town mystery. Billed as Mare of Easttown meets Friday Night Lights, Allen’s debut novel, published in 2022, won the prestigious Tony Hillerman Prize for a first mystery novel set in the southwestern United States. Annie McIntyre has just graduated and returned to her hometown of Garnett, Texas. She soon finds herself investigating the disappearance of a local waitress alongside her grandfather, Leroy, who’s supposed to be retired from his private investigation firm. As Annie and Leroy work to discover the truth (and Annie gets drawn further into the family business), she must come to terms with her own past and her connection with her hometown. If you’d prefer to get out of your hometown (and out of this world), check out these science fiction books.

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This forthcoming 2022 mystery—it releases on Dec. 27—will have you turning pages as fast as you can. Brandi Maxwell is living her best life as an intern at the prestigious fashion house Simon Van Doren. It’s perfect—except for the racism, grunt work and terrible murder plot by Van Doren heiress Taylor, that is. Taylor will go to any lengths to get her hands on the family fortune, and Brandi is caught in the middle. With biting social commentary and critiques of capitalism and privilege, this juicy, intelligent novel is utterly compelling. For more great reads, check out the banned books everyone should read.

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A Good Morning America Book Club pick for 2022, The Violin Conspiracy follows Ray, a young Black man growing up in North Carolina with the dream of becoming a classical violinist. When he finds out his family’s beat-up old fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, things start to come together. Determined to succeed despite the racism he faces, Ray is poised for success—until his precious violin is stolen the night before a prestigious competition, a ransom note left in its place.

Somehow, Ray must find a way to get his violin back and prove to himself that he is a real musician—with or without the “right” instrument. A beautiful coming-of-age story with a delicious mystery at the center, The Violin Conspiracy will appeal to anyone who loves the underdog tales of classic literature and will have you rooting for Ray until the very last page.

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Fans of the massively popular Thursday Murder Club Mystery series will rejoice at the latest installment, 2022’s The Bullet That Missed. In this cozy mystery, the group is trying to crack a 10-year-old cold case. Things take a turn for the dangerous when danger visits Elizabeth. Can the group solve the whodunnit in time? You’ll race through this charming story to find out.

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Australian author Sulari Gentill thrills readers again with this 2022 gem set in the Boston Public Library. A woman’s scream rings out in the quiet library, and four strangers find themselves locked in a reading room while security investigates. They pass the time in conversation. But while each of them has something to hide, only one is hiding that they are a murderer. This mystery within a mystery is a tense, twisty journey with plenty of literary elements that will make word lovers and mystery lovers rejoice. You’ll never look at your local library the same way again! Calm your racing heart with one of these feel-good books afterward.

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Master of mystery novels James Patterson partnered with Australian writer Candice Fox to create this fast-paced story of a woman who returns home after her father’s death to discover the detective agency she never knew he’d opened and the half-sister she never knew she had. The book, which was published in the fall of 2021, starts racing right out of the gate, taking the detective duo from a tense investigation to a surprising crescendo. Patterson’s signature short chapters keep this tale moving, and Fox’s vivid characters will have you hoping this turns into a series. Readers who like to listen to stories—say, during long commutes—will be pleased to know there’s an audiobook version too.

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Fans of Linda Castillo’s New York Times bestselling Kate Burkholder series will love the latest entry, which was published in July 2021. The book begins with a grisly murder in Amish country. When the chief of police, Kate Burkholder, realizes she knew the victim, she sets out to catch the culprit and sets off a chain of events and reckonings no one expects—especially Kate. For more great reads, sign up for one of these book subscription boxes.

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An instant favorite when it was released in 2018, My Sister, the Serial Killer tells the story of Korede, a Nigerian woman whose sister is prettier, more popular and quite possibly a serial killer. Hilarious and scary as heck at the same time, this novel has redefined murder mysteries for the better. When you’re done, read these other books by Black authors.

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Get ready for nonstop twists with Stieg Larsson’s 2005 international bestseller. Swedish journalist Mikael Blomkvist teams up with Lisbeth Salander—a tattooed, pierced, punk-rock hacker—to solve a crime that’ll leave you guessing until you hit the climax. What unravels is an atmospheric story filled with love, intrigue and family secrets. The compelling mystery makes this a quick read, but if you’re looking for something even quicker, try one of these short books.

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This 2018 international bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick zeros in on a lone girl living in the marshes of North Carolina. When a handsome, popular local is found murdered in 1969, all eyes turn to the mysterious “Marsh Girl.” What unfolds is a story of love and loss, survival and the healing power of the natural world. And yet all that revolves around a suspenseful whodunnit. You’d be hard-pressed to find a reader who wasn’t enthralled by this gem of a story. Case in point: Of its more than 194,000 Amazon reviews, nearly 141,000 are five stars.

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Released in June 2021, the fourth book of Tracy Clark’s Chicago Mystery series is a fast-paced read that’ll take you from intrigued to engrossed in no time flat. Cass Raines returns as the cop turned PI who will stop at nothing to get justice. This installment centers on the search for a missing teen, set against the wintry backdrop of Clark’s native Chicago. It’s a breathtaking read as part of a series that doesn’t pull punches when it comes to race relations in America, but it’s perfect as a stand-alone novel too. If you’re tired of reading mystery books about old white guys, Cass, a Black woman, is a welcome departure.

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“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” So begins Rebecca, one of the best mystery books of all time. Part ghost story, part suspense thriller, this 1938 book has enduring appeal. Daphne du Maurier spills the story of a young woman whose recent marriage to an older man is tarnished by the living memory of his first wife. The secrets of the past unravel with breath-stealing suspense. You’ll want to follow this one up with Alfred Hitchcock’s Academy Award–winning film and Netflix’s 2020 adaptation. In the mood for romance novels instead? Our roundup has you covered.

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Hailed as a novel you can’t walk away from, Wherever She Goes earned a starred review in Publishers Weekly when it was released in 2019. Fans of Kelley Armstrong’s other New York Times bestselling mystery books will be compelled by this gripping tale of a missing child as well as its heroine, a woman with a complicated past who happens to be the lone eyewitness to the crime. Not sure what to read next? Pick a book based on your zodiac sign.

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Winning accolades left and right—including the International Latino Book Award—this gripping 2020 mystery novel revolves around FBI agent Yolanda Vance, who struggles with spying on an activist group in her college town. With themes of poverty, feminism, climate justice, racism and more, this is a spy novel through an intersectional lens, making it a fresh entry into the genre. If you love this one, check out these other books by Latinx authors.

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This No. 1 New York Times bestseller debuted in 2012 and sparked a whole generation of copycats. There’s a reason you’ve heard of it even if you haven’t read it—it’s just that good. Here’s the spoiler-free gist of the book: A beautiful wife goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, and her husband, Nick, starts to look more and more like a suspect. The surprise ending is both clever and disturbing. You’ll blow through this in a matter of days—possibly hours—and will immediately ask for another of Gillian Flynn’s page-turning mystery books. Order them all; they make great beach reads.

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Released in 2012 by acclaimed writer Attica Locke, The Cutting Season combines a modern murder mystery with historical intrigue. Caren Gray is a single mom who grew up on the Louisiana plantation she now runs as an event hall. When a staffer is found murdered, Caren is drawn into the investigation and the troubled past of this haunting place. Love both mystery books and historical fiction? This is a sure bet for you.

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This Swedish mystery novel, which was first published in 1968, is a classic work of international fiction and one you’ll want to pick up again and again. Part of a 10-book series, The Laughing Policeman tells the story of a mass murder on a Stockholm bus, diving into the complicated lives of the passengers and touching on Swedish history. It’s a smart whodunnit that manages to thrill more than half a century after its release.

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Like a lot of mystery books, Donna Tartt’s 1992 novel opens with a murder. Unlike most mystery books, the question isn’t who but why. College student Richard narrates this tale of his arresting professor, the misfits he calls friends and the murder they committed because—well, you’ll have to read to find out. Tartt won a Pulitzer Prize in fiction for The Goldfinch, and her enormous talent is on display in this, her gorgeous and suspenseful first novel. Need some new suggestions? Pull out your favorite tweed jacket and cozy up in your reading chair with one of these unputdownable dark academia books.

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It’s hard to choose a favorite among Agatha Christie’s stellar mystery books, but the numbers don’t lie: 1939’s And Then There Were None is Christie’s bestselling novel, with more than 100 million copies sold. The classic murder mystery featuring Christie’s beloved Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, follows a group of strangers who have been invited to an island and start to die off one by one. Looking for a modern, teen book take? Try Gretchen McNeil’s Ten.

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It’s 1954, and two U.S. Marshals are heading to Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a patient at the mental hospital there. But nothing—and we mean nothing—is as it seems. Dennis Lehane rocketed to fame with his 2001 novel Mystic River, and this 2003 mystery book is just as good. If you haven’t seen the Martin Scorsese film based on the book, wait to watch until you’ve turned the last page.

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An island. A murder. No, we’re not talking about Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None this time. This is the setup for Lucy Foley’s New York Times bestselling novel The Guest List. It’s a modern take on the classic tale, with a wedding party trapped on an island off the coast of Ireland, a dead body and a slowly building mystery as to who did it—and why. Published in 2021, the novel was picked up by Reese’s Book Club and lauded by critics as a must for Christie fans.

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Bestselling author Robert Crais’s mystery books are not to be missed (there’s a reason book recommendations often include his name!), and this 2019 novel is no exception. Joe Pike is about as tough and unflappable as they come, but even superhero-esque tough guys have to do mundane things—like their banking. It’s as Pike is leaving his local branch that he witnesses a woman being forced into a car. He charges into Good Samaritan mode and saves her but gets himself involved in a world of trouble. Once it starts, the action doesn’t stop.

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If you loved Gone Girl, you’ll want to pick up a copy of Liane Moriarty’s 2015 novel. Yes, it’s now an HBO series starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep, but don’t press “play” just yet; read the book first. Contemporary, stylish and relatable, Big Little Lies deftly weaves suspense, social class and feminism into an unforgettable tale.

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Irish author Tana French cemented herself as one of the greatest crime writers with her debut novel, 2007’s In the Woods. In 1984, three children entered the woods. Only one came out. Two decades later, a young girl is found murdered in the same woods, and a Dublin detective with a murky past sets out to solve the crime.

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Published to huge acclaim in 2017 and now a TV series on Peacock, this young adult novel tells the story of five kids who walk into detention—and what happens when only four walk out. Think of it like a murder mystery version of The Breakfast Club. The No. 1 New York Times bestseller follows the teens as they become suspects in their classmate’s murder. It’s an exhilarating whodunnit that will keep you guessing until the very end.

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Published in 1939, this classic book introduced the world to the now-famous detective Philip Marlowe. The Big Sleep kicks off with a dying millionaire who hires the gumshoe to deal with a blackmailer. It’s at turns sexy, moody and pulpy and features the quintessential broody PI.

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Mesmerizing from the get-go, Dan Brown’s tale begins with a curator who’s been murdered inside the Louvre. Near the body, a mysterious cipher is found. Enter Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, who follows the clues with the hopes of uncovering a secret thousands of years in the making. The fast-paced story will have you furiously flipping pages. More than 80 million copies of the book have been sold since it was published in 2003, and it was adapted for film in 2006 and as a young adult novel in 2016. For more unputdownable tales, check out the best Stephen King books.

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Additional reporting by Chloë Nannestad.

Originally Published: November 23, 2021

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