Catchy, clever, crime-packed—these are not your average murder mysteries.
There’s a reason fun thriller books are flying off the shelves—and not just because they’re crime-packed page-turners. These thrillers come with a twist: they’re witty, bold, often satirical, and brimming with titles that make you pause, laugh, or raise an eyebrow.
This one’s for fans of fast-paced crime books, cosy thrillers, and readers who believe a whodunit can be as fun as a romcom—just bloodier. Ready to be entertained and intrigued in equal measure?
The Thrill of a Fun Thriller: What Makes Them Stand Out
Thriller books are usually branded dark, twisty, psychological, and procedural. But fun? e Solve Murders, I Bet You’d Look Good in a Coffin, Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone—the titles alone are enough to grab your attention, and the pages inside live up to the hype.
What makes them such a joy is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. Yes, there’s a murder (or seven). Yes, the stakes are high. But the tone? It’s cheeky, irreverent, and downright addictive. You’ll find plots driven by revenge, secrets, serial killers, and scandal—but wrapped in sharp prose, clever twists, and dark humour that doesn’t miss.
These books are perfect for binge-reading. Even better if you’re stuck in a reading slump.
From Sharp-Tongued Sleuths to Serial Killers With Sass: Our Top Picks
Our list brings the perfect mix of mischief, murder, and mayhem.
Meet Jamie Swift, newspaper editor with a knack for landing in chaos. Her life takes a spin when she gets tangled up with Max Holt, a hotshot millionaire and occasional tornado of trouble. Together, they’re off to Sweet Pea, Tennessee, chasing leads, dodging mobsters, and pretending to be married—accompanied by a computer genius and a dog named Fleas. With danger lurking under the guise of revival meetings, this one’s fast, flirty, and full of fun.
From the beloved author of The Thursday Murder Club comes a brand-new detective duo: Steve, a retired investigator who prefers peace and pub quizzes, and Amy, a high-octane private security officer. When a body drops and a killer is on the loose, the unlikely pair must team up for a globe-trotting mission. Clever, chaotic, and thoroughly charming, this is a murder mystery that doesn’t miss a beat.
Kitty Collins is a serial killer—but make it fashionable. Set in the South of France, this darkly hilarious crime mystery follows a woman who simply can’t resist killing terrible men. Misogynists, bullies, influencers—you name it. With razor-sharp humour and bold commentary on toxic masculinity, this book is as twisted as its title and impossible to put down.
What if Jane Austen solved crimes? In this Regency-era romp, a young Jane trades bonnets for clues when a body turns up at a lavish ball. With her brother’s life at stake and society whispering behind fans, Jane must unearth secrets, motives, and lies. A clever spin on the cosy murder mystery genre, wrapped in empire waistlines and scandal.
Florence is a former popstar turned hot-mess-mum just trying to survive school drop-offs. But when the class bully goes missing and her son becomes suspect number one, Florence is forced into detective mode. Hilarious, messy, and surprisingly heartfelt, this is one of those crime books where every mother might just be a suspect.
A reunion. A ski resort. A family of killers. Ern Cunningham lays it all out from page one: everyone in his family has blood on their hands—including him. What follows is a meta murder mystery that’s as self-aware as it is suspenseful. Think Knives Out meets The Thursday Murder Club, with wicked wit and a twist you won’t see coming.
High school student Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t convinced the town’s murder case is closed. She launches her own investigation as part of her school project—and soon finds secrets people would kill to keep buried. Sharp, addictive, and filled with gasp-out-loud moments, it’s the perfect YA crime mystery for fans of true crime podcasts.
Lucy doesn’t remember murdering her best friend—but everyone else does. Years later, a viral true crime podcast decides to revisit the case, and Lucy must return home to face the truth (and a very handsome host). Equal parts suspenseful and sarcastic, this thriller plays out like your favourite Netflix documentary—if it were narrated by your sassiest inner voice.
So next time you’re browsing Bookscape for your next read, don’t just go by the genre—judge the book by its title. It might just be your new favourite.
