Books
13 Brand New Mystery Novels To Help You Channel Your Inner Detective
Looking for replacements for your recently retired summer reading list? Check out these intriguing new mystery novels you will love solving all autumn long. Filled with plenty of murder, lies, deception, and suspense, they are the perfect reads to get you in the spooky seasonal mood.
I'm a fan for every genre, but I'm a true sucker for mystery novels, especially in the fall and, of course, before Halloween. There's something about the mood of the season, curious and creepy and full of the unknown, that makes reading novels about unsolved murders, unexplained disappearances, and thrilling secrets even more appealing in autumn.
Whether you're trying to uncover a family secret, find a missing person, or discover who the killer is, reading along to a good mystery is like turning your favorite hobby into an interactive activity where you can save lives, uncover secrets, or solve crimes. Who needs a 90 minute Halloween movie about a mysterious monster to get you in the holiday spirit when you could spend all afternoon curled up with a book on the couch uncovering the identity of a fictional serial killer?
Ready to turn fall into the season of crime solving? Then check out these 13 mystery novels you will love reading and solving.
'Nothing Stays Buried' by P.J. Tracy
Grace MacBride and her partners at Monkeewrench Software promised themselves a break from the grim violence they face when doing computer work for law enforcement. Instead, they take on a private missings person's case, but when a serial killer strikes in Minneapolis, the team has no choice but to step up and help detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth protect their city. As the team uncovers the truth about their missing person and the police discover clues about their murderer, it becomes clear that there are more connections than originally meet the eye.
'The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye' by David Lagercrantz
In the latest continuation of Steig Larsson's Millennium series, author David Lagercrantz peels back the layers of Lizbeth Salander's traumatic life and twisted family secrets. Despite Lizbeth's expert hacking skills, she has never been able to get the whole truth about her childhood, but now with the help of Mikael Blomkvist, she just might be able to just that. That is, if the angry Islamists, evil twin, gang assassination order, evil scientists, and corrupt G-men don't get in the way first. A thrilling page-turner, The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye is another suspenseful mystery you'll love uncovering alongside the Millennium crew.
'Bluebird, Bluebird' by Attica Locke
Darren Mathews, a black Texas Ranger, tried to put as much distance between himself and his home of East Texas as he could, but duty forces him to return and confront his roots when he is called to Lark investigate the murders of a local white woman and an out-of-town black lawyer. A town deeply divided by race, Lark isn't an easy community to get information from, but uncovering the truth behind the murders is the only way Darren can save his job. An emotionally charged thriller that deftly handles issues of violence, race, and inequality, Bluebird, Bluebird is a must-read for mystery fans.
'Unraveling Oliver' by Liz Nugent
On the outside, Oliver and Alice's life is picture perfect. They're happily married, and together, have created award-winning children's books that have brought them both fame and fortune. But when Oliver unexpectedly beats Alice into a coma one night after dinner, the cracks in their flawless life begin to show as friends, family, and neighbors dig into the motives behind this seemingly senseless act of violence. A chilling tale about the power of lies and the depth of deceit, Unraveling Oliver is a powerful debut readers won't be able to put down.
'Emma in the Night' by Wendy Walker
Three years after disappearing with her older sister, Cass returns homes with a shocking tale — and without Emma. Her survival story, which includes kidnapping, violence, and a mysterious island, doesn't just sound harrowing to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, it sounds like a lie. As she digs through the family's past to uncover the truth, Dr. Winter begins to realize that Cass's return isn't the end of the story, but rather the beginning of the real crime. Dark and twisty, Emma in the Night is the kind of mystery thriller even the most voracious readers won't be able to solve until the last page.
'This Side of Murder' by Anna Lee Huber
After receiving a mysterious letter claiming her late husband committed treason before his death during the war, Verity Kent will stop at nothing to uncover the truth about her beloved Sydney and his puzzling past. She embarks on a fact-finding mission to Umbersea Island where, alongside Sidney's fellow officers, she discovers dangerous secrets that threatens to shatter everything she thought she knew about her husband. Aided by nothing but her own wit and the help of a mysterious stranger, Verity quickly learns that the more she learns about Sydney's past, the less she knows. A richly detailed period mystery, This Side of Murder is sure to turn you into a true Verity Kent fan (if you aren't one already.)
'Lightning Men' by Thomas Mullen
In Atlanta in the 1950s, everything is changing: black families begin to move into previously white neighborhoods, but not without resistance from residents and the Klan, and drugs can be found on every street corner, if you know what where to look. Caught up in the middle of it all are Officer Denny Rakestraw and the "Negro Officers" Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith, three members of the force torn between their loyalties to their families and their commitment to the law. Faced with corrupt cops, violent KKK members, secret Nazis, career criminals, and drug lords, these officers must rally together if they have any hope of saving themselves or their city. An electrifying follow-up to Darktown, Lightning Men is a racially-charged suspenseful police procedural that is as intriguing as it is timely.
'The Essence of Malice' by Ashley Weaver
Travel back in time and overseas to solve a mystery in Paris with Ashley Weaver's unstoppable heroine in the latest Amory Ames mystery. When a famous parfumier dies under mysterious circumstances in Paris, Amory and Milo are called in to solve the case by Milo's childhood nanny, Nanette, who believes there was foul play. Plenty of people would reap the benefits of the perfumer's death, including greedy heirs and jealous rivals, and Amory and Milo must sort through all of the possibilities to uncover the truth before the killer gets away with the crime. A fun and entertaining historical mystery that will make you feel like a 1930s Parisian sleuth, The Essence of Malice is a fun puzzle readers will love solving.
'The Scarred Woman' by Jussi Adler-Olsen
In the latest mysterious thriller from bestselling author Jussi Adler-Olsen Detective, Carl Mørck of Department Q comes face to face with pure evil when two unsolved murders, violent attacks on women, and his team member's own dark past collides to create one of the trickiest cases the cold case division has seen yet. Mørck and his team must race against the clock to not only solve the case and protect their colleague from the demons of her past, but save their jobs and all of Department Q from getting the axe. A captivating and twisty tale filled with unexpected turns, The Scarred Woman will have you frantically flipping pages until you get to the bottom of this irresistible mystery.
'The Witches' Tree' by M. C. Beaton
Bored with the usual cases in town, Agatha Raisin is excited at the chance to solve a real crime when she is called to the Sumpton Harcourt to solve the murder of a local elderly spinster. But when she arrives to the small, private village, the seasoned sleuth finds that the town is a lot harder to get information out of than she anticipated, and the local coven isn't exactly an open book. As more bodies pile up, Agatha is in a race against the clock to save future victims, her professional reputation, and her own life. Another charming mystery filled with memorable characters, The Witches' Tree will help get you in the mood for Halloween.
'The Nine-Tailed Fox' by Marin Limón (Oct. 3)
In 1970s South Korea, Army CID Sergeants George Sueño and Ernie Bascom are must track down the most terrifying threat yet: a thousand-year old nine-tailed fox disguised as a woman responsible for abducting American GIs. While the seasoned Sergeants don't actually believe in the local legend, they can't deny something sinister is at work, and as they word desperately to stop the evil-doer and local the missing men, George and Ernie realize their own lives just might hang in the balance. A smart, unique mystery with plenty of action and a particular attention to plotting and detail, The Nine-Tailed Fox will leave you craving another adventure with this unforgettable duo.
'Nine Lessons' by Nicola Upson (Oct. 10)
When Josephine Tey sees Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose in Cambridge, she is less than enthusiastic to see him, but willing to set their personal drama aside in order to help him solve a serious of violent attacks against women in town. As they begin to uncover unexpected connections between the victims of the present and a crime in the past, the skilled pair must work quickly to prevent another vicious act of violence before it's too late. A dark and twisty whodunit you'll love solving alongside Josephine and company, Nine Lessons brings with it the season's unsettling chill.
'Even If It Kills Her' by Kate White (Oct. 31)
True-crime journalist turned ameture detective Bailey Weggins gets a blast from a past in her latest sleuthing adventure when an old friend from college shows up at a book signing to ask for help solving her family's murder. When Jillian lefts chool their sophomore year, Bailey felt bad for not being there for her friend during her time of need, but now she is making up for it by returning to Jillian's hometown to track down the person responsible for the horrific crimes. The pair's investigation uncovers dangerous secrets that put the whole town on edge, and put the women's lives in danger. A titillating novel of secrecy and suspense, Even If It Kills Her will have you hanging on every word.
