Start here · Essential guide
Recommended Mystery and Thriller Books
A reader-friendly guide to recommended mystery and thriller books, from golden age classics to modern psychological suspense, with tips for choosing your next read.
Genres & Series
Mystery Thriller Gothic
5 guides, starting with Recommended Mystery and Thriller Books.
Cozy Mystery Plot Ideas
Original cozy mystery plot ideas, including murder and non-murder premises, plus advice on hooks, suspects, clues, pacing and title ideas for your own story.
Gothic Romance Characters
A guide to Gothic romance characters: the heroine, brooding hero, house, servants and famous couples, with examples and tips for writing them.
Gothic Short Stories Examples
Gothic short stories examples from Poe to Angela Carter, with what makes a story Gothic, where to start reading and plot ideas for writing your own.
Modern Femme Fatale Examples
Modern femme fatale examples from film, books and TV, plus the archetype's noir origins, common types, criticisms and tips for writing the character well.
Related topics
More in genres & series
Book Genres Overview 5 guides, starting with Book Genres Explained: The Main Genres Readers Love Right Now. Book Series Guides 7 guides, starting with Best Family Book Series to Read Together. Fantasy Genre 5 guides, starting with Fantasy Stories for Adults: A Genre Guide. Romantasy Paranormal 5 guides, starting with Romantasy Tropes.