18 Gripping Mystery Books That Reese Witherspoon Loves

‘First Lie Wins’ by Ashley Elston

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston tells the story of Evie Porter, a woman who seems to have everything a girl could want in life but nothing is exactly what it seems. In fact, Evie is living a total double life. “She uses an alias and her job is to infiltrate people’s lives and execute takedowns whenever her boss, the mysterious Mr. Smith, says to,” Witherspoon explained in her announcement. “She has to stay one step ahead of her past to make sure she will have a future in front of her.”

‘The Unwedding’ by Ally Condie

Set at a gorgeous resort in Big Sur, The Unwedding by Ally Condie tells the story of a wedding gone wrong. 

On the morning of the wedding, the main character Ellery discovers a dead body. Then, before the police arrive, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving everyone trapped inside. “When another guest dies, it’s clear something horrible is brewing,” the description reads.

‘Society of Lies’ by Lauren Ling Brown. 

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown follows college student Maya as she returns to the Princeton campus for her sister’s graduation, only to find out that she’s dead. Suddenly, she’s thrust into the mystery of her death and the secret society she was once a part of. 

“If you’re looking for a page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat this spooky season, this one is a must-read!” Witherspoon said of her pick. 

‘Anita de Monte Laughs Last’ by Xochitl Gonzalez

Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez tells the story of two main characters, Raquel and Anita. “Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t,” the description says of the artist.

13 years later, Raquel, a student at College Hill, becomes fascinated by Anita’s work. “When Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks,” the description details. “As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.”

‘Mother-Daughter Murder Night’ by Nina Simon

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon was Witherspoon’s pick from September 2023. “It is a mystery set in a small coastal California town and it involves three generations of women from the Rubicon family. The grandmother, Lana, the daughter, Beth, and the granddaughter, Jack,” Witherspoon said in her announcement. 

One day, Jack happens upon a dead body while kayaking and soon becomes a suspect in the murder. Lana, who is recovering from cancer, springs into action despite her daughter’s insistence that she focus on her health.

‘The Club’ by Ellery Lloyd

The Club by Ellery Lloyd, as Witherspoon said in her announcement, tells “a beautifully written, densely plotted thriller that takes place at a private club off the coast of England.” The club, which is led by The Home Group and titled Island Home, is planning a major launch event filled with celebrities. The Home Group’s CEO and his staff, however, are at their breaking point. On top of that, A-list guests are arriving — some of whom possess even more shocking secrets than the staff.

‘The Island of Missing Trees’ by Elif Shafak

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak tells the story of young Ada Kazantzakis, whose only connection to her Cypriotic heritage is a Ficus carica that grows in the garden of her London home where she lives with her father. Partially narrated by the tree, the story delves into the love story between Ada’s parents, and the complex history she never knew.

‘Firekeeper’s Daughter’ By Angeline Boulley

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley follows a young Native American woman named Daunis Fontaine who’s thrust into going undercover to help the FBI find the source of a new lethal drug. “A beautifully told story that includes young love, high stakes mystery and the rituals of Native American culture,” Witherspoon said in her announcement. “I could not put it down!”

‘The Last Story of Mina Lee’ by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim tells the story of two women, Margot Lee, a young woman who just found her mother dead, and Mina Lee, Margot’s mother when she had just moved to the United States from Korea. “This mystery-thriller interweaves between the past and present through the lens of a mother and daughter duo surrounding a suspicious death and undiscovered truths,” Witherspoon said in her announcement.

‘Conviction’ by Denise Mina

Conviction by Denise Mina tells the story of Anna McDonald on the day her husband, and her kids, leave her all alone and clueless about what just happened. Desperate for a distraction, she tunes into her favorite true crime podcast only to discover that she actually knows someone from the story, and becomes determined to find the truth of what really happened. 

‘Whisper Network’ by Chandler Baker

Unlike the others in this list, Whisper Network by Chandler Baker fits into a rare category: a workplace mystery. The novel follows coworkers Sloane, Ardie, Grace and Rosalita as they company undergoes a major change and promotes a controversial and equally mysterious new boss. “It’s honest, timely and completely thrilling,” Witherspoon said of the novel. 

‘The Library Book’ by Susan Orlean

On April 28, 1986, the Los Angeles Public Library had a massive fire that burned over four hundred thousand books in just a few hours. Many years later, reporter Susan Orlean breaks down the mysteries surrounding the fire and the larger importance of libraries and librarians in modern-day society in The Library Book. “It delves into the mystery behind who started the fire, the people who saved the books—and what happened next,” Witherspoon said in her announcement. 

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens tells the story of Kya Clark, a young woman who grew up fending for herself alone in the North Carolina Marshlands and became known as the small town’s “Marsh Girl.” Her life completely changes, however, when she’s accused of murdering one of the town’s most handsome men and has to prove her innocence in trial. 

‘Still Lives’ by Maria Hummel

“I’ve got a page-turner for y’all!” Witherspoon said when she first announced Still Lives: A Novel by Maria Hummel. The book follows Kim Lord, an avant-garde artist who goes missing on the day of her big exhibition. As the time passes following her disappearance, her secrets and those of those around her, finally come to light. 

‘Wrong Place Wrong Time’ by Gillian McAllister

If you love a thriller with a dash of science fiction, Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister is the ideal book for you. It’s about a mother who worries constantly about her teenage son. One night, she looks out her window and sees him stab a man in their front yard. By the next morning, she’s traveled back in time to the day before the crime, and it’s up to her to piece every part of this mystery together before it’s too late. 

‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ by Laura Dave

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, which was recently adapted into a series, follows a woman named Hannah who finds herself searching for her husband, the ever-so-mysterious Owen, with her stepdaughter Bailey after he goes missing and just leaves a note saying “Protect Her.”

‘Our Missing Hearts’ by Celeste Ng

Our Missing Hearts by bestselling author Celeste Ng tells the story of a young boy named Bird who, after not seeing his mother for years, gets suddenly wrapped in a journey offinding out what really happened to her. “It follows the story of a young boy named Bird on the search for his mother Margaret, a poet whose work was deemed unpatriotic,” Witherspoon said in her announcement. “I was so invested in the future of this mother and son.”

‘The Last House Guest’ by Megan Miranda

The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda tells the gripping story of a friendship between two girls, named Sadie and Avery, in the small town of Littleport, Maine. After being unexpected friends for years, Sadie is found dead. And while the death is ruled a suicide, Avery becomes determined to uncover the truth. “This story will have you guessing until the very end,” Witherspoon wrote of the novel.