I saw someone somewhere on social media the other day had posted Edward Gorey’s iconic goth intro to the PBS show:
I made this on Giphy.com.
I’m probably dating myself again, but the video had me feeling nostalgic because I remember watching this show way back when it was hosted by Vincent Price. And I can’t get that theme music out of my head!
The video also reminded me that BoG doesn’t talk enough about mysteries. They’re a blind spot for me. I figured I’d ask you for your favorite mysteries—not just for me, but also for your fellow subscribers. So: What mystery novels would you recommend?
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by the one and only Agatha Christie. No one does it like her! This is widely considered to be one of her best (and also overall best!) mysteries. A whodunnit with the coolest twist ending I’ve ever read.
The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, a Japanese mystery novel about a group of friends staying at a remote house who start getting murdered one by one. Written in the 1980s in the “Honaku” style that was heavily influenced by Agatha so it would be a cool one to pair with the one above!
Seconding "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" and also adding "And Then There Were None." (I also just think you really can't go wrong with Agatha Christie in general — "Death on the Nile," "Murder on the Orient Express," "The A.B.C. Murders," "The Mysterious Affairs at Styles" etc are all good. I totally turn back to her books all the time when I need something comforting... with a touch of murder mystery!)
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle! What a wild ride. And Stuart Turton's follow-up, The Devil and the Dark Water was also pretty good and more of a capital M mystery.
Mike, I think you'd like 7 1/2 Deaths! It's an odd one but it plays with form and structure in a really interesting way and is just weird enough that it seems up your alley!
Oh you have to start with the first. Each novel has a protagonist and secondary characters, and a secondary character from the novel prior will take over as protagonist for each book that comes after.
I second Tana French and in order! Also love Nordic noir like the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo (I’ve only read The Snowman) or The Chestnut Man but Soren Sveistrup - actually hoping to read a few more in winter!
Simone St. James writes addictive paranormal mysteries like The Sun Down Motel and The Broken Girls. They're fantastic. I also love the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley that begins with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.
I read a lot of noir, so I have to recommend the classics: The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Double Indemnity and The Bride Wore Black.
If you like the show Monk, the book series is just as fun. They are original mysteries, not novelizations of the tv episodes. The ones by Lee Goldberg are best, as he was a show writer and has all the quirks down.
My favorite book of the year so far has been God of the Woods, and I'm sure you've seen it, but for good reason. Liz Moore is one of my go-tos for contemporary mysteries with complex characters and interweaving storylines that somehow all come together at exactly the right moment.
Angie Kim is another excellent mystery writer, and I'd recommend Miracle Creek to basically everyone!
The Man Who Was Thursday. Surreal, trippy detective/mystery/thriller might be right down your alley. Christopher Hitchens lauded it in his last essay, said Kingsley Amis told him he read once a year.
I have nothing to add here -- I haven't read many mysteries this year, though I adore them -- but just wanted to say I love this thread and came for the recs!
Love seeing all the mystery recs here! I often recommend Dead Woman Walking by Sharon Bolton, the opening hot air balloon scene is one of the most heart stopping scenes to read about. She plots hard to figure out mysteries with characters I become invested in
Seconding The Murder of Roger Ackroyd & And Then There Were None but also Murder on Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Ik it's probably not the right age-range, but I absolutely love the Murder Most Unladylike series (middlegrade fiction) & A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (ignore the Netflix series completely)!
Definitely The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie (not the usual style for her and I loved it!), The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg and I have to agree on The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle...it's so good! 😎🙌🏻
Hello friend! Thanks for weighing in! OK, I am going to put Tana French on my list for sure. And The Woman in White...I feel like I saw part of a TV adaptation way back in the day...anyway, I will put it on my list too!
I keep returning to Elizabeth Hand's Maine noir (just made that up as a subgenre) Generation Loss. Good writing, scary protagonist.
I just picked this up on Libby - excited to read!
I hope you enjoy it! Cass Neary is a scary lady 😬
Thanks, Milena! I love the idea of Maine Noir as a genre!
I’ve got two recs:
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by the one and only Agatha Christie. No one does it like her! This is widely considered to be one of her best (and also overall best!) mysteries. A whodunnit with the coolest twist ending I’ve ever read.
The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, a Japanese mystery novel about a group of friends staying at a remote house who start getting murdered one by one. Written in the 1980s in the “Honaku” style that was heavily influenced by Agatha so it would be a cool one to pair with the one above!
Seconding "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" and also adding "And Then There Were None." (I also just think you really can't go wrong with Agatha Christie in general — "Death on the Nile," "Murder on the Orient Express," "The A.B.C. Murders," "The Mysterious Affairs at Styles" etc are all good. I totally turn back to her books all the time when I need something comforting... with a touch of murder mystery!)
Hello Rad Dishes! Great to see you, friend! Thanks for the great recs! (Will we be seeing the newsletter again soon???)
Well, given how bad I am at staying committed to blogging and/or newslettering, I think we should just assume no :( Life is just life-ing lately!
Love this pairing, Sarah!
Would Clarke’s “Piranesi” count as a mystery? Certainly mysterious. Ditto VanderMeer’s “Annihilation”
Thanks, Elizabeth! This is yet another reminder that I need to read Piranesi. I’ve seen so many recs!
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle! What a wild ride. And Stuart Turton's follow-up, The Devil and the Dark Water was also pretty good and more of a capital M mystery.
Thanks so much, Maren! Great recs!
He has a new one out soon (or perhaps already) called The Last Murder at the End of the World!
Mike, I think you'd like 7 1/2 Deaths! It's an odd one but it plays with form and structure in a really interesting way and is just weird enough that it seems up your alley!
Thanks, Cassie! I’ll check it out!
Tana French obv
Thanks, Tara! Which of her novels would you recommend folks start with?
Oh you have to start with the first. Each novel has a protagonist and secondary characters, and a secondary character from the novel prior will take over as protagonist for each book that comes after.
I second Tana French and in order! Also love Nordic noir like the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo (I’ve only read The Snowman) or The Chestnut Man but Soren Sveistrup - actually hoping to read a few more in winter!
Thanks for the great recs, friend!
Simone St. James writes addictive paranormal mysteries like The Sun Down Motel and The Broken Girls. They're fantastic. I also love the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley that begins with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.
I read a lot of noir, so I have to recommend the classics: The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, Double Indemnity and The Bride Wore Black.
If you like the show Monk, the book series is just as fun. They are original mysteries, not novelizations of the tv episodes. The ones by Lee Goldberg are best, as he was a show writer and has all the quirks down.
Thanks so much for these recs, Jennifer! Really great!
Absolutely! 👍
My favorite book of the year so far has been God of the Woods, and I'm sure you've seen it, but for good reason. Liz Moore is one of my go-tos for contemporary mysteries with complex characters and interweaving storylines that somehow all come together at exactly the right moment.
Angie Kim is another excellent mystery writer, and I'd recommend Miracle Creek to basically everyone!
I keep seeing God of the Woods all over the place EXCEPT in the bookstore! Either I need to keep a better eye out or folks keep buying it.
Betty Boo (again lol) and also Attica Locke starting with Bluebird Bluebird
Thanks, Ariana!
The Man Who Was Thursday. Surreal, trippy detective/mystery/thriller might be right down your alley. Christopher Hitchens lauded it in his last essay, said Kingsley Amis told him he read once a year.
Thanks, Brian! That does sound like something I’d read. I’ll keep an eye out!
I have nothing to add here -- I haven't read many mysteries this year, though I adore them -- but just wanted to say I love this thread and came for the recs!
So many great recs!
Love seeing all the mystery recs here! I often recommend Dead Woman Walking by Sharon Bolton, the opening hot air balloon scene is one of the most heart stopping scenes to read about. She plots hard to figure out mysteries with characters I become invested in
Thanks, Renee! Yes, folks have made so many good recs here!
I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for this question. For you I would go literary thriller-ish:
- Seconding all the recommendations for Tana French and Liz Moore.
- WINTER COUNTS by David Heska Wanbli Weiden
- The Hotel Neversink by Adam O’Fallon Price
- Anything by S.A Cosby
- The Verifiers by Jane Pek
- Secret Identity by Alex Segura
- Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
Thank you, my friend! I had been hoping you would weigh in on this, and I'm so happy you did! Great stuff!
Seconding The Murder of Roger Ackroyd & And Then There Were None but also Murder on Orient Express by Agatha Christie. Ik it's probably not the right age-range, but I absolutely love the Murder Most Unladylike series (middlegrade fiction) & A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (ignore the Netflix series completely)!
Thanks, Nia! I definitely need to revisit Agatha!
Definitely The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie (not the usual style for her and I loved it!), The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg and I have to agree on The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle...it's so good! 😎🙌🏻
Thanks, Nicole!
I can’t believe I missed this thread. Hard agree on the Tana French recs—I’ve read all her books and think she’s terrific.
Wilkie Collins’s “The Woman in White” was my favorite mystery for years. I haven’t read it in decades but I think I might revisit it.
Hello friend! Thanks for weighing in! OK, I am going to put Tana French on my list for sure. And The Woman in White...I feel like I saw part of a TV adaptation way back in the day...anyway, I will put it on my list too!