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"

[@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

[@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.

[@dougputhoff]

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

[@kathycrapo3224]

@@dougputhoff Absolutely!

[@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

[@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...

[@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

[@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

[@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!!

[@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.

[@donaldmartineau8176]

ALL Sherlock Holmes novels

[@eleanorbrown9532]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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 🙂

[@Sonicman415]

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

[@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.

[@jayceperlmutter4317]

The Big Sleep is a wonderful noir mystery.

[@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

[@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.

[@jennifermorris6848]

Oh my gosh! And the Shadow of the Wind. Carlos Ruiz Zafon. (Followed by Angels Game and Prisoner of Heaven). I have never read a translation that conveyed the beauty in the metaphor, the imagery and literary device. He creates a world in a post war Spain this midwestern American could never understand but I can feel it. I understand the pathos of the characters. It’s amazing

[@barbaralibner176]

Agreed, would make my top 10!

[@marcellom]

well with a review like that, I would be foolish not to read this book. It's on hold on Libby, thank you :)

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@quimbydaddy5392]

Just read The Hound of the Baskervilles❤

[@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

[@majelthesurreal5723]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.” 😂❤

[@thirdspacemaker9141]

Excellent list! Six of them are going on my TBR.

[@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!

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@melinaouzouni6151]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@MrPleers]

Last year I finished all (60) Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I can surely recommend.

[@marcellom]

that is quite an impressive feat

[@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

[@ginbro008]

Try "An Instance of the Fingerpost" by Iain Pears. Wonderful read and taught me a lot about perspectives.

[@marcellom]

@@ginbro008 thank you very much, I have not heard of him, nor has he been suggested yet.

[@tigerspaw]

Let me second that recommendation. “An Instance of the Fingerpost” is fantastic.

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@nanniwa]

Sherri Tepper, who writes science fiction-fiction under that name but writes mysteries as A.J. Orde and B.J. Oliphant. I’ve only read one A.J. Orde, but I’ve read all six of the B.J. Oliphant series. I hadn’t read them in a long time, but I recently decided to read them all, in order, without remembering any of the plots or murderers, and have liked them all. They all have the same main character and her closest friend and her foster daughter. She has had a career solving problems and interesting situations, and she is also what her friend calls a statistical “excess finder of bodies”. The murders are comfortably complicated, and they usually have a couple of of side plots to complicate them further. Plus Oliphant is .very good at writing people with interesting personalities, so makes a satisfying read.

[@marcellom]

I have never heard of these and you're the first to recommend them, so thank you very much, I will certainly attempt to procure at least the first of the series

[@2024FingersCrossed]

I haven't read The Maid, Evelyn Hardcastle, J.K.Rowling, I will put them on my list since I have read the others you mentioned and loved them. Thank you.

[@marcellom]

@@2024FingersCrossed of the three mentioned I'd say Evelyn Hardcastle was easily the most mind-bending, if that's your thing. Stu Turton has a new book I'm actually starting today as well, very excited. Thank you for watching/commenting 🙂

[@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 😊

[@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

[@libbylandscape3560]

All good recommendations thanks! I highly recommend this series that I’ve listened to multiple times. I love how well written they are, how the words flow, rich character development, and the complexity of the stories. They are the Li Du Series by Elsa Hart placed in 18th century China, book 1: Jade Dragon Mountain, book 2: The White Mirror, book 3: City of Ink. They could be independently read but are a continuous story. Mine are Audible books and the reader does a wonderful job of creating different character voices. In a nutshell the main character, Li Du, sets out to solve the mystery surrounding the death of his beloved mentor. Various plots, twists, surprises, and shocks happen along the way.

[@marcellom]

Thanks for the recommendation, I will certainly follow through. I love audiobooks, given that I watch my two young children during the day they are often the only way I can read a book in a timely manner. With that said, these sound fantastic

[@libbylandscape3560]

@ hope you enjoy them, I was sorry they ended.

[@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 🙂

[@Alex-xn8pq]

Thank you! Horowitz now on my list. I appreciate the introduction to authors I have not read.

[@marcellom]

@Alex-xn8pq you are in for a treat, he is a truly fantastic modern author

[@goingwalkaboutnow]

As a voracious reader, I really appreciate your commentary. Keep it up!

[@marcellom]

@@goingwalkaboutnow thank you ☺️ I appreciate that, and I plan to, to the degree my two very young children allow lol

[@annmurphy677]

Very nice commentary-thanks!

[@marcellom]

Thank you for the kind comment 🙂

[@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.

[@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.

[@rickhaydan3433]

Almost all the novels by Tana French. A couple of them are more like thrillers, but most are mind-bending mysteries. Ignore the TV adaptation of her first two books. The show stinks because it suffers from the disease I call "the producer needs to make it his own."

[@marcellom]

About a decade ago I read In The Woods, The Likeness, and one other I do not remember the title of. I liked them a lot, especially all the insight into Dublin culture, the audiobooks especially had some great accents. I didn't like how, at least in The Likeness and In The Woods, there was one aspect of the plot that was never explained and sort of left to our imagination. I do plan to revisit some of her later works though, as I definitely enjoyed what I read.

[@elainerempel1613]

PF Chisholm (the nom de plume of Patricia Finney) & Kate Atkinson, 2 British writers who are excellent!

[@Bookishtravels1]

So happy Christie is on there and i adore Magpie Murders 🎉

[@roberthieber1]

Good video. I’ll add The Devil and the Dark Sea to my list. I’d also recommend The Silent Patient if you haven’t read that one yet.

[@marcellom]

@@roberthieber1 thank you, I have read and did enjoy The Silent Patient 🙂

[@steelpaine9932]

Wow, before you started the list, my mind went immediately to And Then There were None, great minds think alike!

[@marcellom]

a true classic, I can't believe I didn't read it until my late twenties. a testament to Christie's talent that a young man in 2018 could have such an excellent experience reading that book for the first time

[@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.

[@michellegleave2550]

Great list. I love many of these books, including Horowitz, Christie and Galbraith. I have the Nita Prose books and the Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle but haven’t read them yet. Must get to them soon! Personally, I also really like Robert Thorogood (The Marlowe Murders series) Richard Oseman and Elly Griffiths….my favourite of hers is The Stranger Diaries.

[@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

[@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 🙂

[@quadropheniaguy9811]

You are a lost soul who needs to be saved. "The hound of the Baskervilles" is a masterpiece. I re-read it every year or so. I also recommend "A scandal in Bohemia" if you want to read an excellent short story by ACD.

[@marcellom]

@@quadropheniaguy9811 cheers, and thank you for the esoteric insult, although I'd argue it's not quite COWARDLY given that I have tried multiple times to read the books. Thank you for the recommendation

[@marcellom]

@@quadropheniaguy9811 haha I see your edit right as I hit send. I appreciate any effort at leading me to the light

[@kellycasperhanson4426]

I absolutely agree with you on Sherlock Holmes' books being too arduous to read, but I've found that I really enjoy them in audiobook format. They help me fall asleep 😴! 👌 Great mystery book list!

[@anneroy4560]

too arduous? how young are you?

[@kellycasperhanson4426]

@anneroy4560 64 years old.

[@mikemcdermott1664]

Totally disagree. Not arduous at all. Some of the vocabulary might be out of date with readers today but stories are fantastic. If you read a couple of the stories you will get used to his writing and descriptive vocabulary. I love Doyle’s short stories. I used to read them in the Navy when I had some time and could read them easily instead of an unnecessary long book that just filled pages. Try them again and really try to understand what’s being written. Doyle has a lot of short stories other than Holmes as well.

[@kellyharrison5184]

I discovered Horowitz's books by accident and love them all.

[@marcellom]

@kellyharrison5184 I'm curious as to what you mean by "by accident". my introduction to Horowitz was through the Magpie Murders audiobook. For some reason I did not understand that Susan Ryeland was a character, and I thought the forward was an actual forward by a real author, and that the Pund book-within-a-book was the book itself. So when the second half started, my mind was truly blown. What a delight that was.

[@cherylwest2543]

Ruth Ware is a good murder mystery writer. Also, Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders are dramatized by PBS mystery series. The books are better of course, so read them first.

[@marcellom]

thank you very much for your comment. I used to like Ruth Ware a lot, but I thought her last book, One Perfect Couple, was confusingly bad. like she decided to get ChatGPT to write it or something, idk. I'll probably still read her next book, though

[@mmeeozzzaaa3421]

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]

@@mmeeozzzaaa3421 thank you, I have dusted off the Stephen Fry audiobooks and plan to try one soon

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@sundancer7381]

Thanks for the list.

[@marcellom]

thanks for the comment!

[@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).

[@kennethwilliams8094]

I agree with you wholeheartedly on Anthony Horowitz. I loved Moonflower Murders and its sequel. Same with your Chrisie picks.I'm definitely going to check out Stuart Turton. I know a lot of people liked The Maid but that one missed me. Not a fan. Like your video.

[@marcellom]

@@kennethwilliams8094 thank you, I appreciate your comment. I think given what you do like, that Turton probably will hit the spot

[@BeauOnTheGo_DC]

And Then There Were None (no longer referenced by its original title - which is a racial epithet) is SUCH a great book!! Also, do yourself a favor and watch the 1945 film of the same name (in black and white) for one of the best adaptations. What about Daughter of Time, by Josephine Tey? Great mystery. I have also been thoroughly enjoying the Cherringham Series by Michael Costello and Neil Richard’s. I love the clever stories, characters who jump off the page, and the relationship between Jack (a retired NY cop) and Sarah (a clever no-nonsense mum moved back to the village of Cherringham). They are short-ish and there are a lot of them. Finally, the Charity Shop Detective Agency by Peter Borland - all 3 books are a treat!

[@lillibettt]

Love the Josephine Tey mysteries. Are you aware of the Nichola Upton series in which Tey is the protagonist? Also recommend.

[@MichaeleBelles]

I taught university English classes using Tony Hillerman mysteries as part of my syllabus; Dance Hall of the Dead, and A Thief of Time were especially successful to teach because the masterful prose is easy the stories teach about cultures most of us know little about. Hillerman is in a class by himself, writing first class mysteries taking place in the American southwest, specifically the Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi reservations. I love to reread them and appreciate his writing all over again. His books have motivated me to take many roadtrips through Indian Country

[@marcellom]

I think Daughter of Time is next on my list.

[@marcellom]

@@billstory8034 you are the worst kind of buffoon: one who thinks he is wise. Begone, clown, you are not welcome here.

[@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!)

[@pauldobson2529]

I tend to concentrate these days on Australian crime fiction. Many excellent writers have come to the fore in recent years, many of them women. Some of course are “outback noir” but there are all sorts of sub-genres which include real surprises. Two of these are The Creeper by Margaret Hickey, set in the Victorian high country, and The Ledge by Christian White. The late Peter Temple immigrated from South Africa in his 20s but, to my mind, no-one “gets” the seamy side of inner Melbourne better. A full TV series was made starring Guy Pearce as the eponymous Jack Irish, but in my mind his best was The Broken Shore, set in and around the western end of the Great Ocean Road of south-western Victoria, and filmed in the area (where I live).

[@marcellom]

you are the first to recommend these- I don't know that I've ever read any Australian crime fiction. they have been added to the list, and thank you

[@SirJosephZhou]

Thanks for the recs!

[@marcellom]

@@SirJosephZhou you are welcome

[@irish66]

Any of Raymond Chandler's novels, except Playback. I particularly recommend The Long Goodbye and Farewell my Lovely. The Underground man by Ross Macdonald.

[@fidomusic]

I highly recommend the British mystery writer Robert Goddard. I read his novel Caught in the Light in 1999, couldn't put it down, and have been hooked on Goddard ever since. He constructs intricate plots which keep you guessing but ultimately make sense. Goddard has a degree in History from Cambridge University and uses it to great effect in his novels, although most of them are not strictly historical novels. Goddard is the only novelist who whenever he has a new book out I go out and buy it.

[@marcellom]

@@fidomusic excellent. I haven't heard of him, but this is a ringing endorsement. I will read his books

[@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

[@madlynx1818]

I’d like to recommend the book ‘The Siege’ by Arturo Perez-Reverte. It’s historical fiction taking place during 1811 in a Spanish city under attack by the French army that’s a thriller with a mystery of a detective trying to psychologically track down a serial killer who’s been killing young girls in a time of bombs and chaos on the streets of the city Cadiz. 👍🏻

[@marcellom]

@@madlynx1818 thank you, I will read it 👍

[@adrianwee7245]

Arturo Perez has quite a few other great mystery novels - Club Dumas, Flanders Panel being the first two I have read. Hollywood killed the first one and someone made a fortune nicking the idea of the second.

[@madlynx1818]

@@adrianwee7245 Club Dumas didn’t leave a strong impression on me but they turned it into the movie with Johnny depp called the ninth gate and it was a completely different story. I never read the Flanders panel but have read and highly recommend his Captain Alatriste series of six books, it’s like a darker and grittier three musketeers. His book the fencing master is also excellent. I hope the host reads my suggestion of the siege, I’d love to hear it discussed. ✌️

[@punypunny]

Great List! And Then There Were None should be called a Closed Circle Mystery, not a Locked Room Mystery.

[@marcellom]

@@punypunny Thank you for the correction, I will use that term going forward 🙂

[@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.

[@amitsaha9314]

I am going to try out a few of your recommendations. Thanks

[@marcellom]

@@amitsaha9314 you're welcome 🙂

[@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 😀

[@RodericSpode]

I've recently read a couple of English translations of classic Japanese mystery novels. I really enjoyed and recommend both - The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji and The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo. The Decagon House murders was inspired by And Then There Were None, but the story is unique and not a copy of the famous Christie story. And my understanding is that Detective Kijndaichi from The Inugami Curse is one of the most popular Asian detectives. If you are interested in Japanese culture and love a good mystery, these might be up your alley.

[@marcellom]

@@RodericSpode thank you, I actually just read Decagon House and enjoyed it. I will add the Inugami Curse to my list

[@RodericSpode]

@@marcellom Awesome. I hope you enjoy it.

[@themaven2017]

Sue Grafton - known for "the alphabet" series - A is for Alibi and so on. Main character is Kinsey Millhone. Also, Lilian Jackson Braun and "the Cat Who..." series.

[@marcellom]

There are many in this comments section who adore Sue Grafton, I will definitely be reading her books in the near future

[@rgc1600]

Shocked that I've read all your favorites except The Maid. It's on order now. Nice to come on someone with similar tastes.

[@marcellom]

@@rgc1600 the maid is a little outside the cerebral stuff I usually like but well worth the read. And that is pretty cool, these aren't like, the most popular books or anything. You must have good taste

[@1ts7ust7osh]

10:16 10:16 10:16

[@rgc1600]

I've read The Maid now and really enjoyed it. Great recommendation, thanks!

[@rebeccawilkinson1846]

So you believe that if you don’t like a person, it’s all right to steal from them (by not obtaining their work legally)? I am a musician by profession, a reader by personality and life calling, and a (hopefully) future author. I’ve had to deal with deciding how far to let the character and opinions of a creator affect my interactions with the creation for a long time. The most important things are to not sacrifice my own moral code in the process and to maintain humility since my own character has flaws and my opinions have and will change over time.

[@marcellom]

@@rebeccawilkinson1846 I'm glad you've found something that works for you. What I offered was a suggestion, just as every recommendation in this video is. I am not a thought leader or a paragon of virtue. This is KZbin. Everyone is free to do as they wish, and especially to not watch my videos if they find them offensive in any capacity. I think we can approach these situations with nuance, and on a case by case basis. If you're asking if I would steal from you, or someone in your position, in any capacity, the answer is a clear no. I go out of my way to support small artists whenever and however I can. We're all doing our best here, at least I like to hope so. I appreciate your comment, thank you.

[@kw3978]

Question: does the author receive commission if you buy their book from a 2nd hand shop? People do that regularly and I don’t think it’s considered stealing from the author (or is it?) I’m serious. Do writers consider this unethical?

[@rebeccawilkinson1846]

@@kw3978 No, that is not stealing. Neither is using the library (and interlibrary loan). I was referencing Torrent which is considered breaking copyright. I thought about coming back on and suggesting the borrow method. I was just reacting to a social trend to devalue people and their rights if we don’t like their opinions on a given topic. That said, I don’t think the author of this video exhibits that tendency. A lot of people lose sight of which things break copyright and which don’t. This video was not demeaning to any person for viewpoint or other trait. I should have been more careful in how I worded my comment.

[@marcellom]

@@rebeccawilkinson1846 I also do not like that trend at all. And I am glad this previous commenter asked about secondhand shops, since I often use thrift books and book bundler. But the library remains my primary source of books, especially audio. Anyway, I appreciate your comment and the ethics questions it raises, I think it's good to think or talk these things through.