The 9 Best Mystery Novels of All Time

[@kat2743-s7p]

I recommend the man who is considered the first mystery author, Wilkie Collins, who wrote The Moonstone and also The Woman in White

[@marcellom]

thank you! I will read these

[@kentondickerson]

Read Edgar Allen Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"

[@Quianna]

I concur! Both of those novels are excellent. He has several I really like.

[@Silverpintoo]

Yes. I agree.

[@prst4190]

Count Fosco in The Woman in White is one of the most unforgettable characters in literature.

[@tncolmd1615]

Dorothy L. Sayres - Strong Poison & Gaudy Night & any other of the Peter Whimsey mysteries. Golden Age excellence.

[@elainerempel1613]

Dorothy Sayers & Lord Peter Wimsey, YES! Also Josephine Tey, especially The Daughter of Time which researches the evidence about Richard II YEARS before the discovery of his skeleton.

[@teleriferchnyfain]

The Daughter of Time is wonderful!!!!

[@quitequiet1]

Dorothy Sayers is my favorite! I also love one of her non Lord Peter Whimsy short story about mushroom poisoning. I read this after taking organic chemistry so I really appreciated it.

[@mikehigashi9921]

Placet

[@kathycrapo3224]

@@tncolmd1615 Yes, and loved the BBC series with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter.

[@sarahumphries6047]

Two Words: Louise Penny. Start from the beginning with "Still Life" - Three Pines is one of the best settings in mystery fiction and the relationships forged between Inspector Gamache and his team with the Three Pines residents is magical.

[@marcellom]

@@sarahumphries6047 excellent, thank you, I will read these.

[@ketahodgson8637]

I love, love, love the first four books of that series. But got completely turned off after slogging angrily through the fifth.

[@teresahalliday3680]

I was just about to suggest Louise Penny when I saw your post. Agree 100%!!

[@dorothyjohnson6743]

Oh, yes, those books are great! Well , I really like her books 📚

[@marcellom]

@@sarahumphries6047 hey I just wanted to let you know I just finished Still Life and it was an absolute delight, thank you

[@RuthMarx-z4d]

One of my favorite mystery authors is Elizabeth George who writes the Inspector Lynley series. Her books are complex and on the longer side with great character development and usually focus on some social issues as well, such as nature vs nurture; deaf culture; and Pakistani immigration. (The books are set in England. Elizabeth George is American but a real Anglophile). It's best to read them in the order they were written as there are 4 recurring characters who are further developed in each subsequent book. I've read and enjoyed them all; my favorites are "Well-Schooled in Murder", "Missing Joseph" and "For the Sake of Elena".

[@lorigambinos4753]

All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

[@BarbaraBocan]

I love Elizabeth George books. My favorite is In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner. I’ve read it twice & still loved it.

[@891Henry]

Anthony Horowitz is also one of the best screenwriters. He has written some dramatizations of Agatha Christie stories and the wonderful series Foyle's War. Magpie Murders is also a wonderful series on Masterpiece on PBS.

[@julienelson9095]

Foyle's War is my favorite series. Christopher Foyle has integrity and class. Wonderful acting. And of course the writing is sublime as it brings Christopher Foyle richly into life.

[@dougputhoff]

What, no P.D. James? I love her stuff!

[@kathycrapo3224]

@@dougputhoff Absolutely!

[@vintagelady1]

I found her books excruciatingly scholarly & her characters rather stiff, but I slogged through several of them until I gave up. She wrote a book, not a murder mystery, "The Children of Men" that had the most fascinating , packed-with-possibility premise: Women have stopped being able to conceive & for many years scientists have been unable to find the cause. When the book opens, it has been 17 years since the last human baby was born, & he has just been killed (accident or something). Now THAT is serious food for thought---the implications of this would be far-reaching. BUT---a woman in Africa has become pregnant. I was very excited when I started the book, but she killed all of the intrigue, slowly, word by word. Painful. But worth a read, the movie is OK, not special. But what is best of all is that there are so many sorts of mysteries to choose from & while we may be in total disagreement about our favorite writer, we can all agree that WE LOVE A MYSTERY!!!

[@marcellom]

The wait for PD James books on Libby is criminal, I am very excited to read her

[@wholovesyababy5574]

Boring! And unreadable.

[@rae3632]

I love PD James!

[@ediedbdbd7902]

Dorothy Sayers. Same era as Christie, but, unlike Christie, she gives you all the clues well before the end of each book. If we’re only as smart as her, it would be possible to figure out the mystery. Agatha always waits till the very end to give you the crucial clue.

[@marcellom]

@@ediedbdbd7902 Thanks I'm in the process of obtaining the Peter Whimsay audiobooks right now

[@ediedbdbd7902]

@ Please don’t overlook her Harriet Vane series too. I’m especially fond of those. I’d be interested to hear how you think DS stands up against AC.

[@cherylb6755]

@@ediedbdbd7902 Yup. Some of my favorite books of all. 😁

[@TallyDrake]

Christie doesn't ALWAYS withhold information until the end. Sometimes it's a matter of interpreting the clues correctly that comes at the end, but the clues were there (e.g. Five Little Pigs, Curtain). Admittedly a few of her works are as you say, but surely not all.

[@teleriferchnyfain]

Christie gives you the clues as you go along, as Poirot, Miss Marple or whoever ferrets them out. You’ve got the info to solve the crime along with the detective.

[@sueahrenhold3704]

The best writer of "The Golden Age of Mystery" is Josephine Tey. Most people love her The Daughter of Time, but I prefer The Franchise Affair. Total MUST READ

[@andreaozment]

Completely agree. Each of her books is a gem. I do love The Daughter of Time, but I’m equally fond of Brat Farrar. Brilliant.

[@alidabaxter5849]

​@@andreaozmentIn 1990 The British Crime Writers Association voted The Daughter of Time as number one in a list of the best detective novels ever written.

[@BEVERLYRANDOLPH-lx4qu]

Franchise Affair is wonderful. And Brat Farrar. So good. I don’t know how many times I’ve reread all of them!

[@sarahy1680]

If you're having trouble with Doyle's sometimes less than sparkling prose, you might try Granada Television's Sherlock Holmes series, starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes and David Burke (first series) and Edward Hardwicke (all later series) as Watson. These adaptations are beloved, with good reason! The casting is perfect (best. Holmes. EVER. fight me!), the period recreation is delightful, and there's plenty of action that makes it clear just how thrilling these stories were to Victorian and Edwardian readers.

[@libbylandscape3560]

Yes! I second the Granada series of Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett. KZbin has the whole series free.

[@marcellom]

Is that so? We do love a free KZbin series in this house

[@BEVERLYRANDOLPH-lx4qu]

I’m with you, BEST Holmes ever! All the quirks and mannerisms and beautiful delivery. I won’t fight you; you are correct!

[@chacallachaise]

“Elementary” and “Sherlock” are IMO excellent adaptations of Doyle’s iconic characters.

[@sandyreid4028]

Rowling is an amazing woman and author. Just love her. Agatha Christie and Doyle are so good. I enjoy them over and over.

[@lindafarnes486]

No one mentioned Raymond Chandler. He wrote some fantastic novels. The Bug Slkep, Lady in the Lake etc. Leslie Charteris The Saint novels. Ellis Peters.

[@deborahbriscoe-graves6244]

Dorothy l Sayers is a phenomenal author! Her sleuth is Lord Peter Wimsey, 2nd son of the Duke of Denver. The first book in the series is "Whose Body? You'll meet Lord Peter, his Butler, his mother, the Dowager Duchess, The adventures take place in England between the World Wars.

[@marcellom]

@@deborahbriscoe-graves6244 I am midway through Whose Body right now 🙂

[@LadySilmarien]

Dorothy Sayers’s “The Nine Tailors” is considered one of the 4 best mystery novels of the 20th century. If you have not read it, please do. It’s brilliant. Also love Wilkie Collins. “The Moonstone” is fabulous.

[@marcellom]

Thank you, I definitely will read Sayers as I just finished Whose Body and enjoyed it quite a bit, and many people have recently recommended Wilkie Collins. I think in light of your comment, I will likely make Nine Tailors my next Sayers book.

[@pauldobson2529]

@@LadySilmarien that rings a bell. Fascinating book, particularly as it relates to the peculiar geography of East Anglia. Have His Carcase is a real twist.

[@cherylmead8144]

I’m reading it now. Fabulous.

[@Alphadog9964]

I second the person who recommended Josephine Tey. Sadly she wrote only a few books. Each is amazing. Of modern authors I strongly recommend Elly Griffiths and Deborah Crombie. Both have written series that go into the teens. I have read all of them twice and will probably read them all again if I live long enough. I was glad to see Magpie Murders as number one. Serious Anthony Horowitz fan. The PBS adaptation of Magpie Murders, also written by Anthony is also excellent. Even if you have read the book it is worth watching. Magnificent casting of Susan and Pund. Also many thanks to all the people who made recommendations.

[@lesliematteis8010]

Yes. I love Josephine Tey.

[@MMargaretRiley]

Josephine Tey is a pen name used by P.D. James.

[@lesliematteis8010]

@@MMargaretRiley you are mistaken

[@Alphadog9964]

⁠It is not. It is a pen name for Elizabeth MacIntosh who died in the 1950’s.

[@woronzof3909]

Absolutely love Tey!!

[@barbaranewman884]

I just found your site and was hoping I would hear that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was on your list! This is my all time favorite mystery book!

[@teleriferchnyfain]

Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, & Agatha Christie. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Hound of the Baskervilles). Edgar Allen Poe (Murders on the Rue Morgue). Wilkie Collins (The Moon Stone & The Lady in White). PD James.

[@Sandra-cw6vt]

I love the old ones too the best!

[@tgill2943]

Wow! Where were you in my literate youth? All a bunch of relatable weirdos. I appreciate the comradery. Although I did perceive Wilkie as a bit of a wanker.

[@marcellom]

@teleriferchnyfain I just finished my first Sayers book and enjoyed it quite a bit, thank you for the other recommendations. PD James comes up quite a lot

[@OFWarhhbTN]

The best Ngaio Marsh are the theater ones: Final Curtain ; Night at the Vulcan ; Killer Dolphin - 2 or 3 others.

[@wendyprest7479]

Don't miss The Thursday Murder Club about 4 residents of an old folks community (a very nice one) who look up unsolved murders and...solve them. Wonderful characters.

[@marep5597]

I tried to read it. Couldn’t finish it.

[@judylittle5285]

M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth mysteries. Set in North Scotland. Great characters, elements of dry humor too. About 30 books in the series.

[@idaslapter5987]

BBC made a TV series that ran for 3 seasons starring Robert Carlyle. It was made in the mid 90s, so its pretty dated, but I still love it.

[@marcellom]

Sounds right up my alley. Thank you 🙂

[@judylittle5285]

@@idaslapter5987 imo the TV series was pretty awful partly because the Hamish character was completely miscast. Carlyle over 6ft tall , lanky, flaming red hair and handsome....I don't think so!!! None of the production quality of Agatha Raisin, also by Beaton.

[@idaslapter5987]

@@judylittle5285 It has a place in my heart because I saw it before I knew it was originally a series of books. Yep, the TV adaption of Agatha Raisin is pretty amazing :)

[@mofolk8896]

Dorothy L Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Louise Penny, Rex Stout, Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter)

[@Sandra-cw6vt]

thank you my absolute favorites except for martha grimes too.lolo

[@eileengiuliani289]

Yes! Rex Stout and his iconic sleuth Nero Wolf and the ever-ready wingman Archie Goodwin. Excellent, enjoyable and great plots!

[@mofolk8896]

I voraciously read all the Golden Age mysteries by the end of my teens, then moved onto spy novels (John LeCarré, Len Deighton). My stepdad put me onto Louise Penny after seeing the tv adaptations.

[@patriciaaturner289]

Elizabeth Peters: the Amelia Peabody series. Suspense, not necessarily murder mysteries.

[@RavenThom]

Rex (Nero Wolfe ) Stout.

[@gaelliott61]

Magpie Murders was so good and book two recently landed as well on PBS. I recommend watching the series 1st then, reading the books then watching it again. I’m currently reading and watching the Marlow Murder Club, which is also on PBS right now and it’s becoming humorous, an easy read and a pretty good plot so far.

[@tomh.2405]

James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series, set in Louisiana and focusing on a troubled Cajun cop. My personal favorite entry: "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead." (Although if you're interested, you should start with the first book in the series, "The Neon Rain.")

[@karinbinnie1862]

James Lee Burke should have received a Nobel Prize for Literature long ago. His prose is like poetry and flows like honey. I get caught up in his descriptions of the Bayou Teche and eventually remember that I live in the southwestern desert and wouldn't enjoy living in the bayou at all. His daughter, Alafair Burke, is also a novelist.

[@tomh.2405]

@@karinbinnie1862 It's a pleasure to connect with a fellow fan. Do you have a favorite JLB book? I find that the pleasures of reading him are many-faceted; he has even provided me with my all-time favorite insult. (If you don't mind me going a little crass, let me know and I'll share it.)

[@marcellom]

@tomh.2405 @karinbinnie1862 both of your clear love for this series has given me cause to bump it up on my list, I will hopefully be reading The Neon Rain shortly

[@susandickerso7675]

I also love Burke...his descriptions are lovely...my only problem is the protaganist addictive pain....although i must admit to better relating to addiction...

[@pauldobson2529]

He does write beautiful prose, but to my mind, the essential theme is always the same. He hunts down people who have done bad things, but he gets a bee in his bonnet about something relatively trivial the person has done. And he doesn’t see that he shares most of Clete’s faults.

[@frankshifreen]

LOVE MARTHA GRIMES - HER JURY MYSTERIES ARE ALL GREAT - ALL ABOUT WEIRDLY NAMED PUBS- THE KNOWLEDGE IS ONE PF MY FAVORITES

[@jeniferwatton7994]

Love Martha Grimes books. Also her North American ones...

[@pennybourban3712]

What I love about Marth Grimes stories is they combine a mystery with some amusing characters in the fashion of P.G. Wodehouse.

[@Sat-gg3vv]

I love your list. Read most and just recently found The Maid which I loved for just the reasons you mentioned. Have you read P D James she wrote the Adam Dalgleish books or Niago Marsh she is a ?New Zealand writer very much a contemporary of the great Agatha. I second the recommended Dorothy L Sayers, wonderful imaginative writer. Thank you. ❤ 😊

[@marcellom]

PD James and Dorothy Sayers are both high on my list, probably my next book

[@loriroemer1122]

The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco

[@marcellom]

@@loriroemer1122 you're not the first to have recommended it, I will definitely read

[@jennifermorris6848]

Love this one.

[@susantownsend8397]

@@loriroemer1122 our book club read that this year. While we all thought the mystery was good we also agreed it was way too long, would be better if tighter.

[@peterpuleo2904]

I thought it was boring.

[@mimzee1947]

I thought the book was too long, but the movie with Sean Connery is fantastic!

[@eileensecrest2185]

Have you tried any Ngaio Marsh? Easy to read, the Inspector Allen is a great character, not on the same level as Christie but still good.

[@marcellom]

thank you, I will certainly check her out.

[@MargaretEaton-x6p]

Alleyn

[@SevenLlamas]

I'm re-reading Marsh and finding her Christie's equal and in ways her better.

[@jayceperlmutter4317]

The Big Sleep is a wonderful noir mystery.

[@stinkahny]

For a very different vibe in mysteries, try Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody series (the first is titled "The Crocodile on the Sandbank"), a combination of history, Egyptology, and mystery. Plus a lead character who is a combination of early feminist, aristocrat, and Egyptologist. The mysteries are relatively mild, but the action surrounding them is often delightful: funny, familial, and sometimes quirky. Plus if you have any background in archaeology, there are little "Easter Eggs" planted here and there that will make you smile because you are among those in the know. Utterly delightful in a late 19th-century way.

[@gaillouise8310]

@@stinkahny P.D.James is also one of my favorite mystery writers. I love the Egyptian connection.

[@stinkahny]

One of my favorite series is the Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries by C. S. Harris. Almost Dickensian in feeling and set in Regency England, but written in a very readable style. The first is titled "What Angels Fear" and I recommend that these be read in order because the relationships among the main characters is part of the fun of the reading. Harris usually includes some remarks on the historical aspects of each book at the end of each tale.

[@sandyhagman4417]

Totally agree. One of my favorite series.

[@mimzee1947]

I love this series! It's one of my very favorite series. I love how she weaves in the social issues of the time. Hero & St. Cyr are great characters.

[@TheMariana0295]

Your wallpaper is insane! I love it! Moody and gorgeous. Such a vibe. I’d love to sit in a comfy chair and read a book in there!

[@marcellom]

@@TheMariana0295 thank you so much, I am very proud of it and you are the first person to comment on it. It's from Graham and Brown 🙂

[@TheMariana0295]

@@marcellom thanks! I’m gonna check it out. It’s absolutely gorgeous!

[@JanisOnTheFarmette]

Ohmigosh! I didn’t even register the wallpaper until I saw this comment! It is nearly a perfect match to the wallpaper in my bedroom. The previous owners of our Queen Anne-style home went to town wallpapering the bedrooms with wild florals. My husband and I affectionately refer to this style as “Victorian bordello.” 😂❤

[@ARo-i1y]

I enjoy Nevada Barr’s mysteries. Her protagonist is a park ranger named Anna Pigeon, who solves murders in various state parks. Her writing is fresh and her settings are evocative of man vs nature vs human failings. Her series is amazing.

[@Zorazora1234]

Thanks for the suggestion.. never heard of her or her work!

[@marcellom]

@ARo-i1y you are the only person who has recommended this author, but everything you've described sounds excellent. she's been added to the ever-growing list

[@oldlady1314]

🫢 darn it, you just got me to use the library app to check out the first in the series.

[@pennybourban3712]

Sounds interesting.

[@krutikakadam02]

9.and then they were none 8. Mystic river 7. The word is murder 6. He cuckoo's calling 5. The murder of Roger ackroyd 4. The Maid 3. The 7 and half death of Evelyn Hardcastle 2. The devil and the dark water 1. Magpie murders

[@louw-reanfourie7255]

Thank you! Was looking for a list to screenshot😂

[@KinderKim-b3x]

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd has an ending that STILL pisses me off.

[@renzo6490]

And Then There Were None.

[@KinderKim-b3x]

Marcello… Shutter Island is worth a read. Quite good.

[@marcellom]

thank you @KinderKim-b3x - I had a tragic experience where after that movie came out, I was eating lunch in an East Village restaurant when the table next to me loudly spoiled the ending. I have never read the book because I am still salty about it.

[@andreamiller3578]

Robert Crais--PI Elvis Cole and his taciturn partner solve hardboiled crimes in LA while somehow bringing the feels with themes of found family, friendship and brotherhood running throughout. Elizabeth Peters--she wrote the Amelia Peabody series set during the Howard Carter era of Egyptian archeology. The books are great fun, sometimes spoofy, sometimes serious, but always well-written mysteries. Any of the 4 series by Stuart Kaminsky. He has a contemplative Chicago policeman, a PI to the stars in the golden age of Hollywood, a more modern PI detective recovering from loss and alcoholism, and a small police series set in Soviet Russia. Agatha Christie's fellow contemporary Queens of Crime: Ngaio Marsh Dorothy L. Sayers Margery Allingham

[@marcellom]

@@andreamiller3578 thank you for this very thorough comment. These all sound like excellent recommendations

[@andreamiller3578]

@marcellom I get a little carried away with book lists. Heh

[@lillibettt]

Extra thumbs up for Ngaio Marsh!

[@susantownsend8397]

@@andreamiller3578 I LOVE the Amelia Peabody series. It includes my all-time favorite book title: “The Last Camel Died At Noon”. “The Crocodile on the Sandbank” (1st book in the series) is another great title. I reread (listen actually as I’m vision impaired) the series every few years.

[@andreamiller3578]

@@susantownsend8397 they are definitely some of my favorites too

[@patriciachinetti8170]

Actually I do like reviews and recommendations… you have a wonderful way of explaining the highlights as you see them,… as an eclectic book lover and veteran of over a dozen book clubs in my life ( proud to say, one I started in the 60’s still actively meets 9 months a year ) I can honestly say, my Town’s public library book club ( once a month meeting ) is my very favorite of all time,… where library patrons are welcome into a large table conference room ( usually up to 20 ppl meet ) and we simply carried in a book or ( up to 4 ) that we had read that month and give a brief opinion and synopsis … it is so inspiring people are all chatting and exuberant all the way out… what a treat to ignite enthusiasm… so yes, should you choose another genre or even a multi form, I would be sure to tune in… thank you, and a gentle reminder that subscribing helps you to continue with this work, is easy to swallow, especially if it means we can get more of your authentic reviews… never mind 1K … go for a million…

[@leonhayes188]

Ruth Rendell and the books she wrote under a pseudonym: Barbara Vine.

[@marcellom]

thank you, this name has come up a lot and is one I will definitely be reading

[@InternationalMysteries360]

Jean Parjeeter of As Time Goes By (British comedy) was always reading Ruth Rendell. They slipped up once and showed the cover but the inside pages were blink.

[@mikequist1]

You hooked me. I read mostly mystery novels and very little mystery gets discussed on BookTube, so your video intrigued me. It was a pleasure to see Agatha Christie getting the chops she so richly deserves, but when you brought out "The Word is Murder", I knew I had found a kindred spirit. So now I'm a subscriber and eagerly await your future content.

[@marcellom]

what a kind comment, thank you so much. I am happy to have one with such good taste in the audience

[@jackieedwards-henry8315]

Thank you for recommending so many new-to-me books and authors in my favorite genre! I have read lots of Agatha Christie, and none by the other authors you mentioned. It’s very nice to have a list of books that deliver and hold interest throughout.

[@marcellom]

@@jackieedwards-henry8315 oh if you like Christie but haven't read Horowitz you are in for a TREAT. Enjoy!

[@artstories52]

About half of these books I have read and agree with your comments and share your enthusiasm. I have not read Turton but I put 7.5 first on my list. That sounds like a book I would enjoy. TY for bringing some new authors to my attention. BTW, loved seeing the different covers. I'm a cover-art fan.

[@marcellom]

thank you! I forewent the different covers for my last few videos, because I thought people didn't care, but I will start adding them again. I also love all the different cover art

[@jennifermorris6848]

Tana French - The Searcher , The Hunter , Into the Woods. Intriguing female author.

[@sandisteinberg731]

I'm reading the Dublin Murder Squad now. ' Just finished the third book. 😊

[@barbaralibner176]

Might be my favorite mystery author overall! Each book from the perspective of a different character, so someone who is a background character in one eventually is the central character in another. We get to see them as their coworkers see them, then meet them and decide for ourselves. Also each has a moody brilliance.

[@marcellom]

thank you! I have actually read the first three books in Dublin Murder Squad, I believe at the time they were the only three books so I stopped reading them. I have planned to pick the series back up for a while now, given all the new installments

[@eonarts]

@@jennifermorris6848 over the pandemic her books kept showing up in a number of free libraries. I managed to find 7 of them! I also discovered Iris Johansen (her mysteries/crime novels are thrillers. Other female authors I found in these little libraries was Ruth Ware, Karin Slaughter, Laura Dave, Ann Cleeves, Lisa Jewell (The Family Remains was excellent), Sandra Brown. And of course there were some Lee Child (Reacher stories). Lately I e not found any good mysteries so I’m off to the library!

[@runnerbean5858]

@@eonartsYou might enjoy Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series if you enjoy Lee Child.

[@DSmith-pc9jn]

How about Graudy Night by D. Sayers? Have you read it?

[@pennybourban3712]

@@mgariepy42 It is not a difficult book.

[@Sonicman415]

Shutter Island is terrifying, in a similar way that the Sixth Sense is.. Mysteries are groovy.

[@LeonieHarrison-h8j]

Loved Shutter Island

[@gordonburroughs2474]

I was so impressed by “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” by Benjamin Stevenson that I went out of my way to gift copies to friends. The sequel, “Everyone on this Train os a Suspect” was just as good. I cannot recommend them enough.

[@marcellom]

@@gordonburroughs2474 I've read them. I thought the plot of the first one was really good, but found the narration just a little too tongue in cheek. Then I read the second, which is full of more meta commentary on the genre as a whole, and loved it, which has caused me to revise my opinion on the first one in my mind.

[@gordonburroughs2474]

I certainly understand that. On paper, the idea of a fourth wall breaking mystery is terrible in my mind, but I found the narrator so endearing that I found myself enjoying it tegardless. I’m looking forward to the short story this holiday season. I’ve added Mystic River and the Magpie Murders to my TBR.

[@marcellom]

​@@gordonburroughs2474 this trend of authors coming out with holiday themed short stories is excellent, I also am looking forward to it

[@donaldmartineau8176]

ALL Sherlock Holmes novels

[@eleanorbrown9532]

Yes - just get used to the prose because they are perfect!

[@MaryAnnAngros-fq9yy]

Yep

[@peterpuleo2904]

@@eleanorbrown9532 Yes. Only four novels, each excellent.

[@Um-a]

Obviously

[@kushpatel3142]

I am so so so glad you had the Cuckoo's Calling on your list. Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott are my favorite duo of all time!

[@marcellom]

Same, that's what's kept me going through some of the slower books in the series. Pure love for the characters

[@runnerbean5858]

Try Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme books then. There is a delightful couple in that as well.

[@kathycrapo3224]

Patricia Wentworth. Maybe not “the best”, but my favorite. Less well-known contemporary of Agatha Christie. Especially the Maud Silver series.

[@marcellom]

everything is subjective; I will certainly check her out

[@Maxdoll-v1q]

Yes! She is excellent.

[@tracys.6033]

Magpie murders was an absolutely great book. One of the best!

[@JTK122]

Here's one that might interest you - “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” by Alan Bradley. The setting is 1950 England, with a unique protagonist - an 11-year-old girl named Flavia de Luce. Flavia lives in a large mansion with her father and two older sisters. The two older sisters are constantly tormenting Flavia, and the way these girls go at each other is hilarious. (They are not what you would call “sweet” girls.) Even though she is the youngest, Flavia is more than an intellectual match for her sisters and has a knack for revenge that she carries out in some very inventive ways. She is a genius at chemistry and is fascinated with poisons. When Flavia finds a dead body on the mansion grounds, she isn’t frightened; she thinks it’s the most exciting thing that has ever happened to her. Flavia becomes quite incensed that the local police force treats her condescendingly, so armed with her quick wits and prodigious knowledge of chemistry, she goes into action to solve the crime.....

[@marcellom]

This has been on my list forever, I started it once but due to life circumstances wound up abandoning it. I will surely try again, especially given this glowing review. Thank you!

[@JTK122]

@@marcellom - No worries. To be fair, I don't have any literary expertise, I just love mysteries. And I tend to like mysteries where young kids - especially precocious ones - have important roles, so maybe I'm overrating it. But I think this kid is a very cool character. You will be able to assess the book much better than me, so I'd like to hear your own analysis sometime - even if you don't find it as compelling. (P. S. Some of the Martha Grimes novels also have young kids in interesting roles, although not as primary characters.)

[@marcellom]

@@JTK122 Friend, I think we probably have similar levels of literary expertise lol. I just have a KZbin channel. I'll certainly be reading this, and I suspect I will enjoy it quite a bit. I've got a video in the works where I review recommendations from this comment section, that one will certainly be in it. Thank you again for the thoughtful comment, it means a lot. This video got bigger than expected, and you'd be surprised (or maybe not) at how uncharitable some people have been. Anyway, digressing a lot here. Enjoy your day!

[@Maxdoll-v1q]

This series is terrific in audio book.

[@marcellom]

Yeah I'm almost done with this and it was so good.

[@annakozlowski4837]

I have read most of the classics but have you ever read Emily Brightwells Mrs Jeffries mysteries charming you will love all the characters it's that warm bath you talked about❤Thanks from a first time subscriber

[@davidcheater4239]

I also like Tony Hillerman, Rex Stout, Dorothy L. Sayers, Diane Mott Davidson, Carolyn Hart, and Jane Haddam. My favourite book is The Affair of the Blood Stained Egg Cosy - which is a bit of a pastiche of classic mystery. Right now, I'm reading and enjoying Keep This To Yourself by Tom Ryan

[@jeniferwatton7994]

Love Tony Hillerman and now his daughter, I think her name is Ann, or Anna Hillerman, has taken over and writes about Jim Chee and Bernie...

[@judem429]

Tony was a friend of mine. Best oral storyteller I ever heard!

[@marcellom]

The Affair of the Blood Stained Egg Cosy has been added to the list, thank you!

[@lindafarnes486]

Yes, Tony Hillerman wrote some great novels.

[@sunnieJ7389]

I enjoy Carolyn Hart’s books too

[@francis726]

I love Conan Doyle's relatively spare, almost clinical (he was a doctor, after all) prose. His talent was exceptional, imo, and he gets into the important details quickly and deftly.

[@tvm001]

A wonderful list - very difficult to make any list of "best" given the number of titles and taste of readers but I have read 5 of your recommended books and agree with your comments. I will add the others to my wish list. Another one for you to consider is "The Big Sleep" which is one of my all time favorites, and it is the best of the hard-boiled detective style. In my opinion of course.

[@zyugulikkkk]

Thanks to your recommendation, fans of mysterious novels in China will find it easier to access works from Japan. Among them, Kubinashi no gotoki Tataru Mono(首無の如き祟るもの) by Shinzo Mitsuda(三津田 信三) is a masterpiece of orthodox detective fiction. I’m not sure if there is an English translation available, but this book is very popular in China, and I strongly recommend you to read it.

[@fromcolorado3367]

Great video! Thanks! I'm anxious to read a few of these. Love the Agatha Christies you mentioned. I'll mention an author from the mid-19th century: Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone and The Woman in White are very enjoyable.

[@johannagoldenberg3300]

Because The Moonstone is considered "the first mystery novel," I bought it at a booksale and found it excruciatingly boring. Maybe I'll have to try again. I didn't even finish it the first time, and it takes a lot for me to abandon a book, once started.

[@sandisteinberg731]

Do you consider Michael Connelly, John Grisham, and David Baldacci mystery writers?😊

[@marcellom]

@sandisteinberg731 that is a great question. I think they are, strictly speaking, although they obviously fall into their own respective subgenres. I read a lot of John Grisham when I was in High School and enjoyed it quite a bit, but haven't read too many legal thrillers since. it is definitely something I will get into again, as time allows. I want to get more versed in Golden Age authors first, as this comments section has revealed that I am woefully under-read in that area

[@sandisteinberg731]

@@marcellom I would think that detective mysteries would be high on the list here, but I didn't see them. That's why I asked. If retired detective Hercule Poirot is celebrated, why not Detective--later retired detective then private investigator-- Harry Bosch? (PS I love Poirot so much that I refuse to read the book in which Christie killed him off!)

[@sandisteinberg731]

Why did you publicly edit my message?! Harry Bosch is an LAPD detective in most of the Michael Connelly books. He retires and begins working in a cold case unit. Later he becomes a private investigator. I will not be subscribing to your videos

[@marcellom]

@sandisteinberg731 I think there is some confusion, I did not edit your comment. I don't think creators actually have the ability to edit comments on KZbin. But you can subscribe or not as you prefer.

[@richardreich8044]

Ruth Rendell. For the genre you like, any of the Wexford series. The Barbara Vine novels are more psychological, with perhaps enough mystery in A Fatal Inversion or Gallowglass.

[@marcellom]

Thank you, I've got both of her names on hold on Libby right now 🙂

[@jaybuckeye2866]

Queen Elizabeth was a fan. She made Rendell a Life Peer, also did that for P. D. James.

[@hollyvanwye9294]

I love the Ruth Rendell mysteries, particularly her Inspector Wexford series, and also the psychological stuff she wrote as "Barbara Vine." She was a remarkable human being in her own right as well as a gifted writer.

[@rebeccamacleanmezzo-sopran7903]

An interesting list. Agatha Christie is definitely without peer. I am surprised that you didn't include any of the Marples. I think A Murder is Announced is my favorite Christie novel. It is a priceless little gem about village life that could almost stand on its own without the murders. The first time I read it I was blown away by the ending. And for plotting alone, I would recommend The Pale Horse, which has one of the most ingenious and diabolical plots I have encountered in a mystery. Other than Christie I would definitely recommend Ruth Rendell both as herself and writing as Barbara Vine. Probably one of my favorites is A Sleeping Life, which also has a shocker of an ending. The Chimney Sweeper's Boy (Barbara Vine) isn't a murder mystery but it is a mystery. I found the book riveting and probably read it in one or two days. I haven't read any Horowitz but am enjoying the Magpie Murders series on PBS and I also know that he has written screen plays for Midsomer Murders, which is my favorite tv program, particularly the early episodes.

[@marcellom]

@@rebeccamacleanmezzo-sopran7903 I have intended to read one of the Marple novels for a while, I may bump them up on the list. Thank you for the additional recommendations, these all sound worthy of a read

[@K98McKean]

Great list! Mystery on the Midnight Express by Florence Bearden is another one to add to your collection. This illustrated mystery combines captivating art with a high-stakes murder plot on a train. It’s a feast for the eyes and a thrilling read, perfect for anyone who enjoys illustrated books with strong storytelling.

[@marcellom]

@@K98McKean this sounds excellent, thank you

[@katykrebs9707]

How about PD James?

[@runnerbean5858]

Just wanted to say I have subscribed to the channel as I enjoyed the way you presented the books.

[@El_Barril]

I generally recommend 3 novels: Michael Connelly's The Poet, James Sanford's Rules of Prey, and, if you dare, Every Dead Thing by John Connolly.

[@marcellom]

Thank you for these, they've been added to the list, though I will probably save Every Dead Thing for when I don't have a young daughter lol

[@sunnieJ7389]

All of John Sanford books are great. I’ve just discovered the four Kidd books

[@mimzee1947]

I absolutely agree with your recommendations! John Connelly is a great writer but the violence in that book was too graphic for me so I haven't read anymore books by him.

[@SusanArmbrecht]

Would like to see more of your current mystery recommendations. My favorite current author is Horowitz and all time is Agatha Christie.

[@marcellom]

@@SusanArmbrecht well we share a few favorites for sure then 🙂 if you haven't gotten into Stu Turton I can't recommend him enough. He just released a new book called The Last Murder at the End of the World that's pretty good. I definitely plan to do more current rec videos though, thank you!

[@SusanArmbrecht]

I will try him. I also loved The Maid I thought your list was great.

[@bobpourri9647]

Just before you said "I haven't read any Sherlock Holmes stories...." I was wondering if the Dibdin novel "The Last Sherlock Holmes Story" was in your list. I am guessing not, now. Great mystery, but one needs a fairly good background with the originals to follow/appreciate Dibdin's work here.

[@melinaouzouni6151]

Such a wonderful and informative review. Thank you so much!!

[@dontrapani7778]

Loved this video!! I'm a huge fan of Anthony Horowitz through his TV shows, and tried The Magpie Murders based on that. It confused me at first but once I figured out what was going on, I really got into it. Also loved the Hawthorne series, AH really came up with something unique there. Haven't read all of them but they are terrifc. Also have read many Agatha books and love them all.

[@marcellom]

Yeah the Hawthorne series is great. The most recent installment is probably my favorite in the whole series.

[@doughyden7988]

Any of the Arkady Renko novels by Martin Cruz Smith, especially Gorky Park and Polar Star. Also The Skull Mantra by Eliot Patison.

[@quimbydaddy5392]

Just read The Hound of the Baskervilles❤

[@TheTerryGene]

I loved Horowitz’s “Magpie Murders” and, especially, his series “Foyle’s War.” What, no room for Conan Doyle, Dorothy L. Sayers, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Rex Stout or Ross MacDonald? If you find Sherlock Holmes hard to get through, may I recommend Stephen Fry’s recording of The Complete Sherlock Holmes? His is a delightful performance.

[@marcellom]

@@TheTerryGene thank you, that is my plan for next time I give them a shot. I have them all on audible already. I am on Sayers now 😊

[@artcafe2684]

A great contemporary Mystery writer is Will Thomas. They are in the style of Sherlock Holmes Mystery novels, but with fantastic prose. Some Danger involved is his first book. The Limehouse Text is great, Heart of the Nile, The Black Hand and several others. I just discovered him this year and fell in love.

[@karenryder6317]

I love this series. The character development is done so well, and the plot turns keep you guessing.

[@glendaw5221]

Great list! The only one I had a terrible time with is the Evelyn Hardcastle one. I love the trope and the writing so you would think it could be a favorite book. However, I grew tired of the numerous characters and couldn’t “root for” the main character any longer. Maybe I’ll try it again.

[@marcellom]

@@glendaw5221 cheers, I totally understand how it could be a lot. I think it was worth it, so would of course advise trying again at your own pace. Have you read any of Turton's other books?

[@glendaw5221]

@@marcellom I have been afraid to!

[@elskuperus4393]

Me too . I did not like the ending either.

[@peterpuleo2904]

Too many characters and too many subplots ruin any novel as far as I am concerned.

[@InspiritShawol82]

I finished watching the 2 seasons of magpie murders by horrowitz and now you really encouraged me to read more of his works. I also heard mixed reviews about The 7 ½ deaths but u convinced me to give it a shot. Thank you!!!

[@marcellom]

@@InspiritShawol82 nice! And I think a lot of people found 7.5 deaths to be very convoluted and difficult to follow. I didn't find that to be a deal breaker, and I loved how weird and genre bending it was

[@InspiritShawol82]

@@marcellom It'll be my first book with this kinda time travel almost elements, so excited to try it out. Thanks again!

[@vintagelady1]

Are you joking? Where's Raymond Chandler? "Rebecca"--Daphne duMaurier. And I'm SO sorry there's no murders in this one: No. 1 Ladies' Dettective Agency series. Isn't it marvelous to have such an abundance of riches to choose from in the same genre?

[@marcellom]

@@vintagelady1 truly marvelous. I will check these out, The Big Sleep has been on my list for a while now

[@edwardmedina1236]

If you haven't already found him Will Thomas has a series of Mystery style books. They are similar to a Sherlock Holmes mystery and it's not always a murder. You should check him out if you haven't.

[@marcellom]

@@edwardmedina1236 I have not, but that sounds right up my alley I will check him out

[@plinkiplonk]

Happy to admit I read almost all the books on your list and enjoyed them, although my sweet spot is Golden Age, with Dorothy L Sayers a particular favourite. Since you appreciate new approaches to the genre I would definitely recommend Janice Hallett, starting with The Appeal. Christopher Fowler's Bryant & May series is also very good if you like the more quirky, British books.

[@marcellom]

Yes I adore Janice Hallett, she has become an auto-buy for me. I will check out Bryant & May, thank you :)

[@marcellom]

@plinkiplonk thank you for the Dorothy Sayers recommendation, I have just finished Whose Body and it was extremely enjoyable

[@plinkiplonk]

@@marcellom My pleasure; the later ones get even better IMHO.

[@SeaweavesTLC]

Kwei Quartey is a very good African mystery writer. I’ve read two, but he’s an author I definitely will keep reading. Culturally a very different experience which I enjoyed a lot.

[@pennybourban3712]

Put it on my list.

[@melvincain5012]

Anthony Horowitz was also screenwriter on a number of early episodes of Poirot.

[@marcellom]

@@melvincain5012 I didn't know that, though I did know about midsomer murders, which I've been slowly working my way through

[@RyanLisbon]

No Thomas Harris? Perhaps Red Dragon is more thriller than mystery but its up there with the best. Also PD James and Elizabeth George have incredible series. Great video!

[@marcellom]

@@RyanLisbon adding them to my lists, there's a ton I haven't read but I appreciate the recs I'm getting out of this video

[@carolaustin3785]

Yes, PD James and Elizabeth George are both incredible writers!

[@tommonk7651]

I was going to recommend The Murder of Roger Ackroyd if it wasn’t on your list. Fantastic! And I really like Horowitz….

[@marcellom]

@@tommonk7651 Horowitz basically has the genre on his shoulders, with some company named on this list. Also Janice Hallet has been doing excellent work, if you haven't gotten into her yet

[@tommonk7651]

@@marcellom Thanks. I'll check Hallet out.

[@tigerspaw]

Excellent list. I have several of these already because I am older than dirt. I’ve ordered the ones that I don’t have. I’m definitely subscribing.

[@marcellom]

@@tigerspaw thank you very much, and happy reading 🙂

[@jeniferwatton7994]

Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes, Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin, Dorothy Sayers, PD James, Ruth Rendel, Reginald Hill, Tony Hillerman and now his daughter, Ann or Anna....lots of authors to choose from.

[@marcellom]

@jeniferwatton7994 a nearly overwhelming amount of authors, truly. I just finished Whose Body by Dorothy Sayers and loved it

[@AlineCohen-r2z]

Try Peter Lovesey, his Peter Diamond is a man I'd love to meet! And then there's Val McDermid, Anne Cleeves, Jonathan Kellerman, Michael Connelly, Aline Templeton, Robert Parker...

[@kballuff6124]

Don’t know how you could be an Agatha Christie fan and not have a Louise Penny novel on your list - her books are excellent and very reminiscent of the mystery structure used by Agatha Christie. I would actually give Penny a higher grade for character development.

[@marcellom]

@@kballuff6124 I actually just finished Still Life and thought it was fantastic

[@emroesler]

Anthony Horowitz is a fantastic author. I first ran across him when he did all the screenplays for Foyle's War. I was surprised that the Scandinavian authors weren't listed. The Wallender series I love. Arnarldur Indridasom and Jo Nesbo not to be missed. So many very good books so little time.😊

[@marcellom]

@emroesler isn't that the truth. I will certainly delve into these Scandinavians

[@jacquelinebell6201]

If you listen to Holmes on audio it's a great way to read them. I listen to them so often.

[@helen9073]

What??? P.D. James is missing from your list.

[@marcellom]

I am currently in the middle of A Mind to Murder

[@cindybolling5855]

I,too, read mystery after mystery. Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors. I have read every one of her books, including her autobiography. Of my top five mystery books, she has two on the list. One of those is “The Murder of Roger Aykroyd.” 😁

[@marcellom]

Cindy, you have excellent taste. What else is on your list?

[@mimzee1947]

My favorite series-though maybe it falls more into the thriller genre-is the Pendergast series by Preston & Child.

[@julieloeschke6820]

Please seek out books by Moray Dalton .She is a Golden Age mystery writer with a unique voice.Very unusual plots.

[@marcellom]

@julieloeschke6820 thank you, you are the only person to recommend her so far so I appreciate this very much

[@cherylsneeringer6655]

Daphne duMaurier's Rebecca is a classic; it is like no other. Don't watch the movie; just read the book.

[@MMMMM-v5m]

Try the Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle. it's the First of the Sherlock Holmes books. You could also try : A Scandal in Bohemia' or "A Study in Scarlet" as well

[@marcellom]

@@MMMMM-v5m thank you, I have dusted off the Stephen Fry audiobooks and plan to try one soon

[@peterpuleo2904]

The first S. H. book is "A Study in Scarlet" which is also the best.

[@donaldmartineau8176]

The Curtain A.C.!! Drood by Dan Simmons!! PD James books loved Cuckoo's Calling!! Jonathon Strange and Mr. Nortel S. Clarke The 39 Steps!! Patrick Barlow Rebecca by De Demornie!! key to Rebecca by Follett

[@tommccafferty5591]

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino is a really good mystey by a Japanese Author. The first of a series of three Detective Galileo mysteries.

[@ellenspear50]

Murder mystery is a huge, popular genre. I've casually sampled it for many years. My first was Wednesday the Rabbi Got Wet, by Harry Kemelman. I've since read some Agatha Christie, a lot of P.D. James, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh, and Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens and several American authors. I will keep going -- thanks for the recommendations.

[@marcellom]

Huge, popular, and old, to a degree that so many of its best examples are written by authors long dead. I could have been born in fifty years ago and still have too much to read. I think you're the second person to recommend Wednesday The Rabbi Got Wet, I'll certainly make my way to that one at some point.

[@chaseredmoon407]

I love all kinds of recommendations! I would love to see other lists make their way in-between Animorphs videos. Animorphs can be pretty heavy and its also very long. There is nothing wrong with takinf some breaks

[@marcellom]

Thanks 🙃 I appreciate that. I'm just gonna do every other video, prioritizing Animorphs

[@damiondunn4663]

​@@marcellomi agree with chaseredmoon i dont really mess with mystery books but its nice hearing you talk while i deliver pizzas. That book about the author writing about himself as a detective sounds super dope tho gonna pick it up on audible or at the library if they got it. Keep it up fam

[@jennifermorris6848]

Also thanks for this list. I am working my way through the Galbraith aka Rowlings series and just finished book 6. Painful getting through an audiobook of tweets. Glad to know there is something to look forward to.

[@marcellom]

@jennifermorris6848 yes, I love the Galbraith audiobook narrator, but that format did not do him any favors. the most recent installment was really good, congrats on making it through the slog

[@wendyfranklin6677]

I agree. This was my least favorite in the series.

[@autonomouscollective2599]

I’m a sucker for locked room mysteries, and the _The Three Coffins_ by John Dickson Carr is one of the best. (The British title was _The Hollow Man_ but the American title makes more sense.) There are 2 impossible murders, one in a locked room and another out in the middle of a street. Carr was a master at creating atmosphere and cleverly dropping clues along the way.

[@catabolistnyc1207]

MARGERY ALLINGHAM!!!!!

[@marcellom]

Thank you, noted 🙂

[@antonypowell5712]

Always preferred Campion to Wimsey - both as a character and as a detective.

[@bthomson]

Especially " Hide My Eyes". Great villain!

[@adelezakus4795]

PD James, Ann Cleaves, Jim Kelly, are some authors that I really liked and have read or I should say reread their books at least twice. However, my favourite author of all time is Agatha Christie, whom I have seen everything that has been done on TV and movies and have read all of her books and some of her books at least twice.

[@marywelsh5548]

Have you tried listening to audiobooks Stephen Fry's narration of the Holmes mysteries

[@marcellom]

I have, I love his narration. It didn't help at the time, but I still have them on Audible so I'm listening to Hound of the Baskervilles now

[@bernard.tomasevic]

Watched this a few times! Make a list of the best thrillers? 😊

[@marcellom]

@@bernard.tomasevic it is in the works, thank you for supporting 😀

[@marcellaorourke8997]

Yes, i agree with wilkie collins suggestion!

[@marcellom]

He's on the list 🙂 cool name BTW

[@davidcashin1894]

Honestly Doyle's Holmes Novels were only good, but read the short stories. Those are the classics and the best of his writing. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes contain the best stories. A Scandal in Bohemia, The Adventure of the Speckled Band. I am going to assume you have read Dorothy L Sayers, Rex Stout, Dashiel Hammett, and Wilke Collins. But have you read Jasper Fforde The Big Over Easy and or The Fourth Bear? And lastly Azimovs The Caves of Steel.

[@gaileverett]

Thank you for pointing out the differences in the Holmes works, I agree with you completely. The Speckled Band story really creeped me out, and The adventure of the Dancing Men had me completely stymied. (Sorry, I don't know why I can't make a capital a with my keyboard all of a sudden).

[@sundancer7381]

Thanks for the list.

[@marcellom]

thanks for the comment!