There are few things in this world as thrilling as the suspense that comes packaged in an unread whodunit. Lovers of the genre become as involved in piecing together the puzzle as the total amateurs, teen sleuths, offbeat characters, and detectives featured in many of these tales.
Authors from the Golden Age of the whodunit like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Slayers would be delighted to see what the whodunit has evolved into. From the numerous literary subgenres it has spawned to Hollywood fervently snatching up, remaking, and cooking up mysteries, it seems as though people are finally uncovering the mystery of the whodunit junkie.
Addictive suspense, action, and adventure hold us lovers hostage. We simply cannot put the book down and turn out the lights. We cannot turn away from the screen. We are addicted to the hot pursuits. The suspense. The action. The adventure. All of this is true, but what we can’t get the most of are the challenges, clever surprises, and plot twists. We love a good whodunit because it keeps us guessing until the very end.
It’s no surprise that the murder mystery has also flourished on the big screen. A recent prime example of a superb whodunit created for the screen is Knives Out. Its success was so huge, being the second highest grossing original movie of 2019, that it was made into a sequel. Us fans have spent an eternity waiting to watch Daniel Craig reprise his role as Detective Benoit Blanc. Personally, I prefer Blanc over Bond, but that’s neither here nor there. Joining the film will be Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, and Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery will be officially released to stream on Netflix on December 23rd. Until then, here’s a list of books to satisfy your whodunit cravings, each committed to uncovering a gripping mystery of its own.
Whodunit & Murder Mystery Books
1. Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
Senior year at Ellingham Academy for Stevie Bell isn’t going well. Her boyfriend, David, is studying in London. Her friends are obsessed with college applications. With the cold case of the century solved, Stevie is adrift. There is nothing to distract her from the questions pinging around her brain—questions about college, love, and life in general.
Relief comes when David invites Stevie and her friends to join him for study abroad, and his new friend Izzy introduces her to a double-murder cold case. In 1995, nine friends from Cambridge University went to a country house and played a drunken game of hide-and-seek. Two were found in the woodshed the next day, murdered with an ax.
The case was assumed to be a burglary gone wrong, but one of the remaining seven saw something she can’t explain. This was no break-in. Someone’s lying about what happened in the woodshed.
Seven suspects. Two murders. One killer still playing a deadly game.
2. All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban
This twisted locked room mystery will have you biting your nails and guessing deep into the night. You’ll become immersed in these dual timelines palpable with suspense and tension. Horror film buffs will sense the I Still Know What You Did Last Summer energy vibrating through these pages. It has a gut punch of a shocking ending. Themes explored include depression, bullying, and suicide.
This thrilling debut, reminiscent of new fan favorites like One of Us Is Lying and the beloved classics by Agatha Christie, will leave readers guessing until the explosive ending.
Welcome to dinner, and again, congratulations on being selected. Now you must do the selecting.
What do the queen bee, star athlete, valedictorian, stoner, loner, and music geek all have in common? They were all invited to a scholarship dinner, only to discover it’s a trap. Someone has locked them into a room with a bomb, a syringe filled with poison, and a note saying they have an hour to pick someone to kill … or else everyone dies.
Amber Prescott is determined to get her classmates and herself out of the room alive, but that might be easier said than done. No one knows how they’re all connected or who would want them dead. As they retrace the events over the past year that might have triggered their captor’s ultimatum, it becomes clear that everyone is hiding something. And with the clock ticking down, confusion turns into fear, and fear morphs into panic as they race to answer the biggest question: Who will they choose to die?
3. Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
This book is more than a murder mystery, it is a powerful battle cry touching on themes of rape culture and grooming. It provides a glimpse into what it means to be a Black woman and to be mistreated as such. Abuse survivors struggle to be believed and it is even harder for Black girls and women—this book reminds of how and why. Offering commentary on men in the entertainment industry who exploit and abuse young girls, it will rip your heart right out of your chest.
Award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another riveting, ripped-from-the-headlines mystery that exposes horrific secrets hiding behind the limelight and embraces the power of a young woman’s voice.
When legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots Enchanted Jones at an audition, her dreams of being a famous singer take flight. Until Enchanted wakes up with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night. Who killed Korey Fields?
Before there was a dead body, Enchanted’s dreams had turned into a nightmare. Because behind Korey’s charm and star power was a controlling dark side.
Now he’s dead, the police are at the door, and all signs point to Enchanted.
4. Now Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia
This hilarious mystery has paranormal elements. It’s perfect for fans of Supernatural. It breathes to life a unique storyline centered around a fleshed out small town. The reader is presented with an edgy outcast for a main character. Her emotions jump right off the page. You’ll become equally enamored with the supporting characters who have tales of their own to share.
When Zora Novak is framed for a crime she didn’t commit, she must track down the true culprit and clear her name before it’s too late. But in a small town obsessed with ghosts, getting people to believe the truth might prove to be impossible.
When someone burns down the home of the school janitor and he dies in the blaze, everyone in Addamsville, Indiana, points a finger at Zora. Never mind that Zora has been on the straight and narrow since her father was thrown in jail. With everyone looking for evidence against her, her only choice is to uncover the identity of the real killer.
There’s one big problem—Zora has no leads. No one does. Addamsville has a history of tragedy, and thirty years ago a similar string of fires left several townspeople dead. The arsonist was never caught.
Now, Zora must team up with her cousin Artemis—an annoying self-proclaimed Addamsville historian—to clear her name. But with a popular ghost-hunting television show riling up the townspeople, almost no support from her family and friends, and rumors spinning out of control, things aren’t looking good. Zora will have to read between the lines of Addamsville’s ghost stories before she becomes one herself.
5. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
The fabulous first installment of the Charlotte Holmes series is a meticulously written story that will make you quite literally LOL. It features a mystery-solving duo on the hunt for the answers to a compelling case. There’s a friendship between them that develops into a slow-burn romance. The author manages to weave Sherlock Holmes tales and mirroring into the story, while remaining unique and original. The threads and clues seamlessly come together at the end with plotting prowess.
The first book in a witty, suspenseful new series about a brilliant new crime-solving duo: the teen descendants of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. This clever page-turner will appeal to fans of Maureen Johnson and Ally Carter.
Jamie Watson has always been intrigued by Charlotte Holmes; after all, their great-great-great-grandfathers are one of the most infamous pairs in history. But the Holmes family has always been odd, and Charlotte is no exception. She’s inherited Sherlock’s volatility and some of his vices—and when Jamie and Charlotte end up at the same Connecticut boarding school, Charlotte makes it clear she’s not looking for friends.
But when a student they both have a history with dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.
6. The Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox
Those who grew up reading Nancy Drew books will be thoroughly delighted with the books in The Dead Girls Detective Agency. Filled with intriguing characters, the story is unpredictably imaginative. Murder. Mystery. Ghosts. Romance. With a little bit of something for everyone, it’s guaranteed entertainment.
What would you do if you had to solve your own murder to get anywhere in death?
Maybe if I hadn’t slept through my alarm, slammed into Kristin—my high school’s reigning mean girl—or stepped in a puddle, destroying my mom’s new suede DVF boots (which I borrowed without asking), I wouldn’t have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I wouldn’t have been pushed in front of that arriving train. But I did, and I was.
When I came to, I was informed by a group of girls that I’m dead. And that because I died under mysterious circumstances, I can’t pass straight over to the Other Side. But at least I’m not alone.
Meet the Dead Girls Detective Agency: Nancy, Lorna, and Tess—not to mention Edison, the really cute if slightly hostile dead boy. Apparently the only way out of this limbo is to figure out who killed me, or I’ll have to spend eternity playing Nancy Drew. Considering I was fairly invisible in life, who could hate me enough to want me dead?
And what if my murderer is someone I never would have suspected?
7. The Good Girls by Claire Eliza Bartlett
The Good Girls is a feminist suspenseful mystery told in three separate POVs. The author succeeds in authentically writing teenage characters who feel real and relatable. This is so much more than a whodunit, it’s a story of revenge that will captivate you and keep you hanging on to the edge of your seat. It is a crucial read that reminds us of the importance of believing women when they come forward with their experiences of sexual assault.
One of Us Is Lying meets Sadie in this twisty, feminist thriller for the Me Too era.
The troublemaker. The overachiever. The cheer captain. The dead girl. Like every high school in America, Jefferson-Lorne High contains all of the above.
After the shocking murder of senior Emma Baines, three of her classmates are at the top of the suspect list: Claude, the notorious partier; Avery, the head cheerleader; and Gwen, the would-be valedictorian.
But appearances are never what they seem. And the truth behind what really happened to Emma may just be lying in plain sight. As long buried secrets come to light, the clock is ticking to find Emma’s killer—before another good girl goes down.
8. Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes
“When you care about someone, you can’t just turn that off just because you learn they betrayed you.” This mystery starts with a lie and pulls you in with a refreshing narrative. It’s a romance with a psychological twist. Pick it up if you’re craving a book you can read in one sitting. The development and ending in this gritty and beautiful story are quite unexpected and will leave you with a major book hangover.
Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money. So with the help of his friend Preston and his girlfriend, Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something, and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?
When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about it. But then Preston never comes home.
And the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead to Preston’s body.
Terrifying clues that point to Max as the killer….
9. Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price
The first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series is a brilliant Pride and Prejudice retelling ideal for cozying up with. The creative liberties the author takes will delight and surprise readers. Read if you’re into thrills and twists, but also enjoy romance with tension you can slice right through. The scenes between the two protagonists will have you torn between turning the page and rereading again and again!
Perfect for fans of the Lady Janies and Stalking Jack the Ripper, the first book in the Jane Austen Murder Mysteries trilogy is a clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice that reimagines the iconic settings, characters, and romances in a thrilling and high-stakes whodunit.
When a scandalous murder shocks London high society, seventeen-year-old aspiring lawyer Lizzie Bennet seizes the opportunity to prove herself, despite the interference of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the stern young heir to the prestigious firm Pemberley Associates.
Convinced the authorities have imprisoned the wrong person, Lizzie vows to solve the murder on her own. But as the case—and her feelings for Darcy—become more complicated, Lizzie discovers that her dream job could make her happy, but it might also get her killed.
Three of Jane Austen’s classic novels receive a murder mystery makeover in this romantic and thrilling three-book series that’s perfect for fans of The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy.
Pride and Premeditation is followed by Sense and Second-Degree Murder, in which aspiring scientist Elinor Dashwood and her sister Marianne, a budding detective, work together to solve the mystery of their father’s murder.
10. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
True crime aficionados will have something in common with the main character in this creepy coming-of-age. Set in the posh Ellingham Academy, the book gives off dark academia vibes. The dual timelines present us with a mystery in the present and a 1920s kidnapping and murder. This story ends in an epic cliffhanger—you’ve been warned. Thankfully, the boarding school story continues in books two and three of the series in the same name.
New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson weaves a delicate tale of murder and mystery in the first book of a striking new series, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and E. Lockhart.
Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”
Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.
True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester.
But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.
11. The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson
Although The Box in the Woods counts as number four in the Truly Devious series, it serves as a standalone novel. The same gang reunites to solve a forty-year-old mystery. Set in a summer camp with a murder at the center, it gives off serious slasher vibes.
After solving the case of Truly Devious, Stevie Bell investigates her first mystery outside of Ellingham Academy in this spine-chilling and hilarious stand-alone mystery from New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson.
Amateur sleuth Stevie Bell needs a good murder. After catching a killer at her high school, she’s back at home for a normal (that means boring) summer.
But then she gets a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls—the site of the notorious unsolved case, the Box in the Woods Murders. Back in 1978, four camp counselors were killed in the woods outside of the town of Barlow Corners, their bodies left in a gruesome display. The new owner offers Stevie an invitation: Come to the camp and help him work on a true crime podcast about the case.
Stevie agrees, as long as she can bring along her friends from Ellingham Academy. Nothing sounds better than a summer spent together, investigating old murders.
But something evil still lurks in Barlow Corners. When Stevie opens the lid on this long-dormant case, she gets much more than she bargained for. The Box in the Woods will make room for more victims. This time, Stevie may not make it out alive.
12. You Were Never Here by Kathleen Peacock
You Were Never Here is a paranormal whodunit sprinkled with a little bit of fantasy. The story is character driven but the author leaves a trail of clues behind that keep you engaged until the very end. These pages are abound with turns and twists. For those who know the special bond of a childhood best friend, fans of Twin Peaks, and readers who enjoyed Ghost Gifts by Lauren Spinells.
Cat hasn’t been to Montgomery Falls, the town her family founded, since she was twelve years old. Since the summer she discovered she could do things that no normal twelve-year-old could do. Since she had her first kiss with Riley Fraser.
Since she destroyed their friendship.
Now, five years later, she’s back and Riley has disappeared.
When Noah, Riley’s brother, asks for help in discovering what happened, Cat is torn between wanting to learn the truth and protecting the secret that she’s been guarding ever since that summer she and Riley stopped speaking.
Only one choice will put her in a killer’s sights…
13. Sadie by Courtney Summers
Go into this book knowing that it’s much more than a whodunit, it’s a beautiful and brutal read. Read if you’re looking for a complex character on the hunt for more than just the answer to who—one out for blood.
A missing girl on a journey of revenge. A Serial-like podcast following the clues she’s left behind. And an ending you won’t be able to stop talking about.
Sadie hasn’t had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she’s been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.
But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie’s entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister’s killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.
When West McCray―a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America―overhears Sadie’s story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie’s journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it’s too late.
14. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
One of Us is Lying is what would happen if Pretty Little Liars and The Breakfast Club had a baby. It’s a riveting and incredibly impressive debut. Recently it has been adapted into a television series, with the first season currently available on Peacock. The second season is set to premiere in October, but booklovers will want a dose of both the TV and book series. Books one and two are out on shelves now!
Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.
Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon’s dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose?
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.
15. There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
Fans of horror should add There’s Someone Inside Your House to their TBR if they haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading it. It gives off teen slasher vibes reminiscent of Scream. This whodunit is packed with action, if that’s what you’re looking for. After the shock of its ending, you can head over to Netflix to stream the movie.
Love hurts…
Makani Young thought she’d left her dark past behind her in Hawaii, settling in with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska. She’s found new friends and has even started to fall for mysterious outsider Ollie Larsson. But her past isn’t far behind.
Then, one by one, the students of Osborne Hugh begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasingly grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and her feelings for Ollie intensify, Makani is forced to confront her own dark secrets.