Yesterday, I asked for book rec suggestions, having completely forgotten that I had this list all ready and drafted. Handily, someone asked for more mystery recs so here we have it! My part two. Part one can be found here. If you’re looking for a good mystery to dive into, look no further!
The Long Call
Ann Cleeves
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc, gay li
CWs: past & implied domestic abuse, rape, mentions of suicide
Why Should I Read It?
This one was recently turned into a (very good) TV show, so you get two for the price of one here! A book and a show! This is a book to read if you like the atmospheric kind of mystery, where you can almost feel the landscape surrounding you as you read. Plus, Matthew and his husband are great characters to read about, so really, you can’t lose on this one.
The Things We Don’t See
Savannah Brown
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mc, bi side characters
Why Should I Read It?
This is not simply a mystery, but it’s also an exploration of healing after trauma, much in the way that Savannah Brown’s first YA novel. Only, in my humble opinion, this one is even better, if you can possibly imagine that. I devoured this in one sitting, having picked it up from the bookshop on a whim, and I adored it.
The Final Child
Fran Dorricott
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mcs
CWs: child death, child abduction, gore, amputation, violence, child abuse, past suicide
Why Should I Read It?
If you haven’t yet read a Fran Dorricott book, then what on earth are you doing with your life?? I’ve been yelling about these books forever, are you finally listening yet? Anyway, this one is pretty much the most actually thrilling thriller I’ve read, guaranteed to keep you up at night both because you can’t put it down, and because you’re now too scared to turn off the light. An entirely compelling read.
Tall Bones
Anna Bailey
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc, Romanian gay li
CWs: domestic abuse, homophobia, racism, implied paedophilia, child abuse, sexual assault, implied rape, homophobic violence, incest, racist violence, attempted lynching
Why Should I Read It?
I would note this one as “read with caution”, to be honest. Because it is great and probably one of my top reads of 2021, but it’s also dark and has a fair few content warnings. But when I say it’s good, I mean it’s really fucking good. Definitely a must-read for me.
The Dead and the Dark
Courtney Gould
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian mcs, Latino bi mc, gay mc
CWs: murder, homophobia, homophobic violence, attempted drowning, child death
Why Should I Read It?
If you asked me to pick a top, say, five books read in 2021, firstly, I would grumble that you’re letting me choose so few, but secondly, my first response would be The Dead and the Dark. I’ve read so many books this year, but there are only two that I’ve read and then immediately gone to purchase (guess the other I dare you). How do I explain how much I adore this book? I cannot. You’ll simply have to read* it.
*Not a suggestion.
Point of Hopes
Melissa Scott & Lisa A. Barnett
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc, bi mc
Why Should I Read It?
“Charlotte, we get it, you want us to read Point of Hopes” and have you yet? Frankly, if I could physically shove this series into everyone’s hands I really would. As is, all I can say is, it’s on Scribd! Get your collective arses in gear and go read it!
Dead Space
Kali Wallace
Goodreads
Rep: lesbian amputee mc, nonbinary li, lesbian, gay & pan side characters
Why Should I Read It?
Sometimes, space mysteries are the best type of mystery. Claustrophobic and atmospheric, this one really transports you to the space station where this book takes place. The entire time you’re reading this one, you’ll be on the edge of your seat; it is, perhaps, more thriller than mystery, but there is an investigation at its heart so I say it counts. And also, it’s massively underrated (only 1,050 ratings on Goodreads, you’re all missing out on a gem).
A Tip for the Hangman
Allison Epstein
Goodreads
Rep: gay mcs
CWs: death, violence, execution (beheading, hang drawn & quartered), gore, implied domestic abuse, child abuse
Why Should I Read It?
Before you start this one, make sure that, if you know nothing about Christopher Marlowe, you do not read the author’s note. Trust me on this one. Let this book consume you with no knowledge of what’s to come. Not that reading the author’s note at all hurts your reading experience—the book is going to ruin you one way or another—but if you don’t like to know what’s coming, yeah… Anyways. Read this one!
People Like Us
Dana Mele
Goodreads
Rep: bi mc, lesbian side characters
CWs: animal murder, past suicide, murder
Why Should I Read It?
Dana Mele’s People Like Us is up there as one of the best YA thrillers I’ve read. It’s an addictive read, one that you’ll find yourself unable to put down. Nothing is quite as it seems, and the story sucks you in with its twists and turns until you won’t have a clue what’s about to happen. And isn’t that the best sort of mystery?
The Quaker
Liam McIlvanney
Goodreads
Rep: gay mc
CWs: homophobia, misogynistic violence, mentions of rape, gore
Why Should I Read It?
I read this book (and its sequel) last month, and found probably one of my new favourite series (ever!) in them. Once you start this book, you’ll be hard pressed to put it down. It’s the best kind of mystery story, one that you can’t see the ending coming from too far off and it’s an ending that surprises you. If there’s a single book I would rec on this list (and that’s a hard one, because I’ve loved all of them), it’s this.
What would you rec?
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