Mystery
Mysteries are novels of disruption. The books place readers within a disordered world and track how characters uncover the cause and reestablish order. That process of discovery and resolution has long fascinated. From the childhood glee of correctly deducing it was Colonel Mustard, in the library, with a lead pipe, to the deep pleasures found in the best modern series, these novels engage, challenge, and enchant readers. They do so by offering stories filled with intriguing characters, intricate plots, and well-realized settings.
New to mystery? Try these favorites:
Devil in the Blue Dress by Walter Mosley (1990)
Set in 1940s Los Angeles, Black war vet Easy Rawlins is hired by a mysterious white man to track down a missing woman. This is the first book in the bestselling Easy Rawlins series.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (1926)
Considered by many as "the best crime novel of all time." it still holds up almost one hundred years later. Hercule Poirot investigates a complicated case involving blackmail, murder, and suicide.
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (2013)
A private eye in modern London investigates the unexplained suicide of a supermodel. The first in a series.
Still Life by Louise Penny (2005)
A detective investigates the discovery of a dead body in the woods of a small village in Quebec, where evil is lurking somewhere behind the white picket fences.
Newer titles you may enjoy:
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (2022)
Jess arrives at a beautiful old apartment to visit her half-brother, only to find he has mysteriously disappeared. Every neighbor is a suspect, and they all seem to know something they're not telling.
A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley (2022)
Set in 1850s Gold Rush California, two young prostitutes, Eliza and Jean, investigate the murders of young women in town.
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (2023)
After years of trying to forget the past, a woman is drawn to the case of a classmate's murder several years before.
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (2021)
When chef Lila is accused ot poisoning her ex, she decides to conduct her own investigation.