5 Murder Mystery Books To Keep You On Edge
There is no better escape than pretending to be a detective while reading murder mystery books. There is nothing like the excitement of crossing threads of red across the imaginary evidence board, connecting dots that the main characters are yet to connect or the thrill of the moment as you read the climax and put your theories to the test.
Whether you are looking for mystery novels for beginners, a new-age murder mystery book or something reminiscent of the golden age, I have a book for you.
Murder Mystery Books Of The New Age
When I think of newer murder mystery books, I think of a scary psychotic atmosphere, complex characters discovering themselves (usually young adults), psychological perspectives, mixed media formats, unreliable narrators, nonlinear timelines, and more.
1. Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson
For anyone who has ever dreamed of finding a body in the library.
– Dedication of Truly Devious.
YA Murder Mystery Thriller
Rich Kids In A Boarding School
Dual Timeline
Note: 448 Pages, Third Person POV.
- Trigger Warnings: Alcohol (underage)
- Anxiety Expand
- Character death (including loved ones)
- Drugs
- Kidnapping
- Murder
- Panic attack
So, be warned, this book is part of a series of five books. I left it off at the third since that’s where the mystery introduced in the first book is completely solved.
I read this a while ago, so my memory might fall short on some aspects of the book. But I still think the mystery was wonderfully crafted and deserves a mention in this blog.
Plot:
In 1930, industrialist Albert Ellingham bought land on a remote mountain in Vermont. There, he built a home for himself and a school for the brightest thinkers, innovators and artists.
In Ellingham Academy, learning is a game. The place has numerous pathways, secret tunnels and unsolved mysteries, the most notorious of which is the late Albert Ellingham himself. What happened to his daughter and wife on that dark day? Who caused their deaths?
When crime aficionado Stevie Bell arrives at Ellingham Academy (you guessed it) she plans to solve the cold case. And like every other teen girl protagonist who aimed to solve unsolvable cases with the sheer power of Main Character Energy and an unreasonable obsession, trouble found Stevie Bell.
Who It’s For:
Truly, Devious is the perfect murder mystery book for anybody who loves stories set in dark atmospheric, boarding schools and true crime podcasts.
And you probably guessed it when I said every other teen girl protagonist who aimed to solve unsolvable cases with the sheer power of main character energy and an unreasonable obsession: This is a perfect read if you are a fan of Holly Jackson. and Jennifer Lynn Barns. *cough* *cough* Pip, I am looking at you. *cough*
Also, Truly, Devious is a good mystery novel for beginners.
Murder Mystery Books With A Twist
2. The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
‘Sometimes the only way to win a game is to let the pieces think they’re the ones playing it.’
Post Apocalyptic World
Island Setting
Sci-fi
High-concept murder mystery
Note: 368, First Person, Unreliable Narrator
I can’t reveal much to you about the plot. The Last Murder At The End Of The World is one of the most unique books I have read.
Plot:
One hundred and twenty-two people remain at the end of the world.
They are the villagers, happy, peaceful, kind people. They are content to fish, farm, feast, and do anything their Elders ask. The three elders are scientists and the only people old enough to remember the world that once was, the world that was engulfed by a fog. The world that is now deserted save for the villagers.
One night, the villagers wake up to find one of the elders dead.
All their memories of the night were wiped. Nobody, not even the killer, remembers who did it.
But if they don’t find the murderer in 107 hours, the barrier protecting the island will fall. The fog will kill them all.
As our protagonist Emory embarks to discover the killer, she discovers the answers to questions she had been too afraid to ask. But more than that, she finds questions. Questions left unasked and unanswered for centuries.
Who It’s For:
Reading this book feels like going on a scavenger hunt. Each clue reveals a jaw-dropping fact about the island and its past.
All the characters are well-rounded. Most of them are unlikeable yet you empathize with them at times.
The Last Murder At The End Of The World has short and snappy chapters with an immersive writing style.
If this seems like your cup of tea, read the book.
Murder Mystery Books Of The Golden Age
When you think of the Golden Age, you think of whodunnits with detectives, cosy settings and red herrings galore.
The rules of the game – and Golden Age mysteries were considered games – were codified in 1929 by Ronald Knox.
” Knox’s Ten Commandments”, also known as “Knox Decalogue”, are as follows:
- The criminal must be mentioned in the early part of the story, but must not be anyone whose thoughts the reader has been allowed to know.
- All supernatural or preternatural agencies are ruled out as a matter of course.
- Not more than one secret room or passage is allowable.
- No hitherto undiscovered poisons may be used, nor any appliance which will need a long scientific explanation at the end.
- No Chinaman must figure in the story.
- No accident must ever help the detective, nor must he ever have an unaccountable intuition which proves to be right.
- The detective himself must not commit the crime.
- The detective is bound to declare any clues that he may discover.
- The “sidekick” of the detective, Watson, must not conceal from the reader any thoughts which pass through his mind: his intelligence must be slightly, but very slightly, below that of the average reader.
- Twin brothers, and doubles generally, must not appear unless we have been duly prepared for them.
3. Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
“One day you’ll realise family isn’t about whose blood runs in your veins, it’s who you’d spill it for”
This book wasn’t published during the golden era. But it is one of the best whodunnit murder mystery books out there. The only shortcoming this book has is its long title which makes it a pain in the butt to refer to in this blog. Therefore, I will henceforth address it using the elegant and creative title, ‘this book.’
Family Dynamics
Wintery Atmosphere
Humouros
Self-aware, Reliable Narrator
Breaking The Fourth Wall
Note: First person POV, single POV, 384
Plot:
from Goodreads
Everyone in my family has killed someone. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate.
I’m Ernest Cunningham. Call me Ern or Ernie. I wish I’d killed whoever decided our family reunion should be at a ski resort, but it’s a little more complicated than that.
Have I killed someone? Yes. I have.
Who was it?
Let’s get started.
EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE
My brother
My stepsister
My wife
My father
My mother
My sister-in-law
My uncle
My stepfather
My aunt
Me
Who It’s For:
If you devour classic murder mysteries, if you’re devoted to authors like Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers, this book is perfect for you.
In Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson often breaks the fourth wall, referencing other murder mystery books, Knox’s Ten Commandments and points out the predictability of the situations. I found that to be a rather hilarious, genius and effective device.
Reading this feels like solving a puzzle.
It had me giggling at times. It had me pausing to process clues and aggressively typing notes to highlight potential foreshadowing (and swear at certain characters).
I haven’t been this excited by a book in a very long time.
If you’ve ever loved a murder mystery book, I beg you to pick this one up.
It is an ode to murder mysteries and their legacy in itself.
4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
We can’t talk about murder mystery books without mentioning Agatha Christie, the best-selling novelist of all time, only surpassed by the Bible and Shakespeare himself.
And Then There Were None is the top-selling mystery in the world. Honestly, I don’t have a high opinion of it. But I get the hype. It had a very clever premise.
I think And Then There Were None is a perfect comfort book for mystery readers and a palette cleanser for when you need something short and simple.
This is a must-read for anybody looking to get into murder mystery books.
Describing the plot is cliche so here’s the epigraph instead:
Ten little soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were Nine.
Nine little soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were Eight.
Eight little soldier boys travelling in Devon;
One said he’d stay there and then there were Seven.
Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.
Six little soldier boys playing with a hive;
A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.
Five little soldier boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were Four.
Four little soldier boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.
Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.
Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was One.
One little soldier boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself
And then there were None.
Frank Green, 1869
5. The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Yes, I’ll admit it. I procrastinated too hard and was (once again) unable to complete my reading list for the blog (DESPITE REDUCING THE LENGTH OF THE LIST BY HALF).
But the title ‘4 Murder Mystery Books‘ irked me too much. So, I’m adding one more banger from Dame Christie to the list.
I haven’t read it yet. But let’s see how it goes…
