Mystery fiction reading guide
Heroes and villains. Puzzles and tests. Thrillers and killers. Who doesn't love a good mystery?
Mystery is a broad term that covers stories in a lot of different styles, and settings from the grand to the gritty.
From historical whodunnits, to the golden age of crime writing, cosy and quirky amateur sleuths like Poirot and Father Brown, to the war-torn and world-weary Jack Reacher. We’ve got detectives and psychopaths, accidental heroes, unwitting victims, and vigilante justice – there’s something for everyone in this popular genre, and this page is your doorway into a world of intrigue!
Happy sleuthing…
If you like reading about crimes that actually happened check out our True crime reading guide.
Mystery fiction reading lists
Mystery - eBooks & eAudiobooks
Cosy crime, contemporary thriller, historical – whatever your poison, there's something to keep you entertained and guessing 'whodunnit?'.
Mystery fiction sub-genre lists
Historical Mystery
From Renaissance Florence to the jazz age in New Orleans - stories of murder and investigation in richly detailed historical settings.
Literary Mystery
Expect sharp social commentary, elaborate plotting, delightfully complex characters, and mysteries with thought-provoking narratives.
Domestic Suspense
What really goes on behind closed doors? Can you trust the person you share your life with? Are some secrets best left buried?
Mystery - Dark Academia
Expect unreliable narrators, secret societies, toxic relationships and plenty of twists and turns in these gripping dark academia novels.
Mystery - Locked Room
There's been a crime, the room locked from the inside - who did it? Or maybe it's a snowed-in lodge, a lighthouse, or distant planet...
Mystery - Graphic Novels
Captivating mystery stories about crime, the investigation and discovery of who did it with atmospheric artwork to match.
Psychological Thrillers
Tense and suspenseful, expect to be held in their sway as the mysteries are untangled, and psychological intricacies revealed.
Mystery - Police Procedural and Forensic Thriller
Police procedurals and forensic thrillers follow the protocols and scientific methods used by police forces to try and solve crimes.
Mystery - If you like... Lee Child
Jack Reacher is tough and resourceful with a strong sense of justice. This list of readalikes has similarly driven, independent characters.
Mystery - Contemporary
Realistic plot-lines, characters, and experiences - these stories are real page-turners full of intrigue and suspense.
Mystery - Cosy Crime
Soft, easy-read crime stories that are great to curl up and relax with. No gore and violence, but lighter, sometimes funny mysteries.
Mystery - Legal and political thrillers
Stories with intricate plotting, suspense, and with many moving parts. One thing is for sure - don't trust anyone!
Mystery - Hardboiled
Mystery fiction that's gritty, depressing, violent, cynical and seedy - in the style pioneered by Dalshiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.
Short Stories - Mystery/Thriller/Adventure
Suspense, intrigue, action, adventure, and suspicion - all wrapped up in the short story format, so readable at one sitting.
Mystery by country
Lists of crime novels grouped by country
Mystery - UK and Irish Crime
UK and Irish mystery fiction tends to focus on the shadows, with the protagonists flaws as much of the tale as the antagonists’ crimes.
Mystery - Korean and Japanese Crime
Korean and Japanese crime fiction blends hard-boiled noir and golden age mystery with twisting plots and cultural contexts and histories.
Mystery - Scandinavian Crime Noir
If you loved Stieg Larsson's blockbuster Millennium series, then check out this list of dark, gritty and confronting titles from Scandinavia
Mystery - Australian Crime
Titles layered with Australian larrikin culture, dark humour, and some seriously ingenious twists and reveals.
New Zealand crime fiction
Blood-soaked, intricately plotted stories, detectives, seedy urban settings, and often dark humour - explore the darker side of Kiwi fiction
Return to reading lists
Kickstart your reading with librarian-created lists of the most readable and enjoyable fiction.
Return to reading: Mystery
Accessible yet captivating, these books offer a thrilling escape - perfect for those rediscovering the excitement of mystery novels.
Return to reading: New Adult Mystery
With gripping plots, intriguing twists, and complex characters, these stories explore suspense, crime, and the thrill of solving puzzles.
Authors of mystery fiction:
Award-winning mystery fiction
Award winning mystery
Find great reads:
New For You - Mystery & Thriller - January 2025
Fiction that keeps you guessing - you'll find danger, killers, and unexpected twists in this selection of new mystery and thriller titles.
Best of 2024
Library staff and borrowers share their favourite books, TV shows, and movies from 2024.
Return to reading
Has it been a while since you spent time reading? Get back into it with our lists of the most readable and enjoyable books.
Return to reading: Reading tips from librarians
We've pulled together some tips and tricks that should help guide your reading choices if it's been a while between reads.
New For You - Mystery & Thriller - January 2025
Fiction that keeps you guessing - you'll find danger, killers, and unexpected twists in this selection of new mystery and thriller titles.
Best of 2024
Library staff and borrowers share their favourite books, TV shows, and movies from 2024.
Return to reading
Has it been a while since you spent time reading? Get back into it with our lists of the most readable and enjoyable books.
Return to reading: Reading tips from librarians
We've pulled together some tips and tricks that should help guide your reading choices if it's been a while between reads.
Find Mystery fiction in the catalogue
Find fiction in the genre you love
Whatever kind of fiction you're into, find lists, new authors to try, and staff picks.
