Mystery is a complex and convoluted genre, and the ruling for what actually counts as a mystery book is so subjective that sometimes it’s difficult to find the type of mystery you’re really looking for. Some just prefer their traditional murder mystery, some like to read collections of detective stories, and then there’s also mysteries that aren’t specifically centred around a murder, it could be something as harmless as figuring out a theft, or discovering the root of a recurring issue, or figuring out a husband’s secret (like this month’s featured novel: The Husband’s Secret).
Whichever type of mystery tickles your fancy; we believe this list to be full of mysteries that should be read to get a good understanding of the genre. This list is a mix of classics and new age mystery stories. If you have any mystery book suggestions of your own then be sure to leave them in the comments.
Land of Shadows by Rachel Howzell Hall (2014)
Endorsed by Lee Child, Land of Shadows follows the activities of homicide detective Elouise Lou Norton. A seventeen-year-old girl is found hanged at a construction site and Elouise’s new partner assumes it’s a teenage suicide. As Elouise investigates the death further she uncovers undeniable links between two cases. This book is still pretty modern, but it’s an exciting read from a fantastic new author.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939)
This is Agatha Christie’s world-famous mystery thriller. The premise of the story is ten strangers, with little in common, are lured to an island mansion off the coast of Devon by the mysterious U.N. Owen. Then the voice of an unseen host accuses each person of hiding a guilty secret. That evening, former reckless driver Tony Marston is found murdered by a deadly dose of cyanide. The group then discovers that the killer is among them, and ready to strike again at any moment. If you have an appreciation for classics, then this is a must read.
My Sister’s Grave by Robert Dugoni (2014)
After Tracy Crosswhite’s sister disappeared and became the subject of a murder trial, Tracy begins to question the result of the case. She doesn’t believe the man condemned is truly the guilty party, but she has no way to prove it. Motivated by the opportunity for real justice, Tracy becomes a homicide detective with the Seattle PD. When her sister’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown and new evidence comes into play, Tracy is determined to finally get to the bottom of the murder. Tracy unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her.
My Sister’s Grave is currently one of the top mystery books out there, and it often tops the Amazon charts for the Mystery category.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1902)
As a huge fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories, I had to drop in the most highly regarded novel of the Sherlock Holmes stories. When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the wild Devon moorland with the footprints of a giant hound nearby, the blame is placed on a family curse. Sherlock must go at odds with a beastly dog to uncover the truths behind the death. The Hound of the Baskervilles gripped readers when it was first serialised and has continued to hold its place in the popular imagination.
The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr (1935)
The Hollow Man is one of the highest ranked locked-room mysteries. For those unfamiliar with locked-room mysteries, they usually centre on a crime which is committed under circumstances which it was seemingly impossible for the perpetrator to commit the crime and/or evade detection in the course of getting in and out of the crime scene.
In The Hollow Man, the murderer of Dr Grimauld walked through a locked door, shot his victim and vanished. He killed his second victim in the middle of an empty street, with watchers at each end without being seen, but left no footprints in the snow. And so it is up to the irrepressible, larger-than-life Dr Gideon Fell to solve the mystery.
