Quotes On Mystery

If you love a good mystery then you will love this collection curated by the Mystread review team.

“Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.” – Neil Armstrong

“The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.” ― Anaïs Nin

“As we acquire more knowledge, things do not become more comprehensible, but more mysterious.” – Albert Schweitzer

“Mysteries abound where most we seek for answers.” – Ray Bradbury

“Without mysteries, life would be very dull indeed. What would be left to strive for if everything were known?” – Charles de Lint

“I’m for mystery, not interpretive answers. … The answer is never the answer. What’s really interesting is the mystery. If you seek the mystery instead of the answer, you’ll always be seeking. I’ve never seen anybody really find the answer, but they think they have. So they stop thinking. But the job is to seek mystery, evoke mystery, plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom. The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer.” – Ken Kesey

“Mystery is a resource, like coal or gold, and its preservation is a fine thing.” – Tim Cahill

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead — his eyes are closed. The insight into the mystery of life, coupled though it be with fear, has also given rise to religion. To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms—this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness.” ― Albert Einstein

“I think it’s much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of uncertainty about different things, but I am not absolutely sure of anything and there are many things I don’t know anything about, such as whether it means anything to ask why we’re here. I don’t have to know an answer. I don’t feel frightened not knowing things, by being lost in a mysterious universe without any purpose, which is the way it really is as far as I can tell.” ― Richard P. Feynman

“The Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us – there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries.” ― Carl Sagan

“Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.” ― Max Planck

“One (practitioner of science) is the educated man who still has a controlled sense of wonder before the universal mystery, whether it hides in a snail’s eye or within the light that impinges on that delicate organ.” – Loren Eiseley

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” – Rachel Carson

“We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” ― Henry David Thoreau

“Once there were brook trout in the streams in the mountains. You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins wimpled softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and muscular and torsional. On their backs were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery.” ― Cormac McCarthy

“There is one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath.” – Herman Melville

“The only words that ever satisfied me as describing Nature are the terms used in fairy books, charm, spell, enchantment. They express the arbitrariness of the fact and its mystery.” – G. K. Chesterton

“The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” – Eden Phillpotts

“I am a great admirer of mystery and magic. Look at this life – all mystery and magic.” – Harry Houdini  

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” – Rachel Louise Carson

“Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.” – Julia Cameron

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. In their gray visions they obtain glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in waking, to find that they have been upon the verge of the great secret. In snatches, they learn something of the wisdom which is of good, and more of the mere knowledge which is of evil.” ― Edgar Allan Poe

“The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” – Francis Bacon

“When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection.” – Agnes Martin

“Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist.” – Rene Magritte

Check out plenty more mystery quotes, books, podcasts and more at Mystread.

Mystery books to make you feel like Sherlock

If you love a good mystery, you will love these books and eBooks curated by the Mystread review team.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbø

A vicious murderer who uses snowmen as his calling cards: pretty chilling concept, no? When Detective Harry Hole realizes that a recent murder in Oslo follows the same pattern as cold cases from twenty years earlier, he understands that only he can track down the killer before it happens again. And no one is outside Hole’s suspicions, not even his partner.

Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton

This novel’s main characters come from entirely different worlds: Louise works multiple jobs to pay her NYC rent, while Lavinia is a spoiled socialite partying her life away. Yet, the pair forge an unlikely bond after fate brings them together. And once Louise gets a taste of the high life, she’s not about to let it slip away — no matter what it takes.

The Surgeon by Tess Garritsen

Did you know that before Rizzoli & Isles was on TNT, it was a series of novels by Tess Garritsen? The Surgeon is the first in that series, about a murderer whose M.O. is torturing and killing women using seemingly medical knowledge — hence his nickname, “the Surgeon.” Detective Jane Rizzoli begins tracking him based on her understanding of another, a very similar case from several years before… the only thing is, the perpetrator, in that case, was killed. So who is this new Surgeon, and what’s provoking him to such horrific acts?

For more great mystery novels and eBooks, check out Mystread.

The best mystery books to read now

Fans of mystery, you need to get your hands on these books curated by the team at Mystread. We love our mystery novels and hope you enjoy these Mystread reviews.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

A dark, epic saga that’s spawned widespread acclaim and multiple adaptations, Larsson’s Millennium series begin with this book. Lisbeth Salander is a researcher and computer hacker with a troubled past and a taste for vengeance. Naturally, she’s happy to use her skills to help investigate a young woman’s murder. But as she and journalist Mikael Blomkvist get closer to the truth, they start to receive their threats — still, this won’t stop our heroine, who’s determined to bring as many violent misogynists to justice as she can.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Did you think we’d write a list of the best suspense novels ever and not include Gone Girl? What starts as a standard domestic thriller about unhappy couple Nick and Amy escalate into an unputdownable tale of love, duplicity, and media distortion. However, the masterful prose and revolutionary plot twists of this zeitgeist-defining novel can only be appreciated firsthand. If you haven’t read it, read it right now; and if you have, go back and reread it. Trust us; it holds up.

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

What if your husband wrote you a letter containing his deepest, darkest secret, only to be opened in the event of his death… but you accidentally stumbled upon it long before then? When this predicament befalls Cecelia Pitzpatrick, a happily married mother of three, she must decide whether to open the letter and jeopardize her relationship and blissful life — or live in doubt and fear until her husband’s death. Another stunning work of suspense from Moriarty, The Husband’s Secret, takes a relatively simple premise and turns it into something extraordinary.

For more great mystery reads, check out Mystread.

The best wonder and mystery quotes

Rely on Mystread for the best mystery quotes on the web. Here is a collection of our favorite wonder and mystery words reviewed by the team at Mystread.

"Mystery creates wonder, and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand." ~ Neil Armstrong

"The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery." ~ Anais Nin

"We don't see things as they are; we see them as we are." ~ Anais Nin

"The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible." ~ Oscar Wilde

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." ~ Marcel Proust

"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle. The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mystery. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed." ~ Albert Einstein

"It began in mystery, and it will end in mystery, but what a savage and beautiful country lies in between." ~ Diane Ackerman

"The most important thing is not to stop questioning." ~ Albert Einstein

"The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started." ~ T. S. Eliot

"One cannot help but be in awe when [one] contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality." ~ Albert Einstein

"Stuff your eyes with wonder." ~ Ray Bradbury

"The most beautiful emotion we can experience is the mystical. It is the power of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms - this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true religiousness. In this sense, and in this sense only, I belong to the rank of devoutly religious men." ~ Albert Einstein

For more great mystery reads, check out Mystread.

Here are some of the very best quotes from the man of mystery, Sherlock Holmes.

1. “…when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth…” – Sherlock Holmes

2. “Dear God, what is it like in your funny little brain? It must be so boring!” – Sherlock Holmes

3. “I’m not a psychopath, Anderson. I’m a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.” – Sherlock Holmes

4. “Anderson, don’t talk out loud. You lower the IQ of the whole street.” – Sherlock Holmes

5. “Don’t make people into heroes, John. Heroes don’t exist and if they did I wouldn’t be one of them.” – Sherlock Holmes

6. “My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people don’t know.” – Sherlock Holmes

7. “I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection.” – Sherlock Holmes

8. “The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.” – Sherlock Holmes 

9. “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.” – Sherlock Holmes

10. “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” – Sherlock Holmes

11. “I never guess. It is a shocking habit,—destructive to the logical faculty.” – Sherlock Holmes

12. “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” – Sherlock Holmes

13. “Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth.” – Sherlock Holmes

14. “Data! Data! Data! I can’t make bricks without clay.” – Sherlock Holmes

15. “I cannot live without brain-work. What else is there to live for?” – Sherlock Holmes

16. “There is nothing new under the sun. It has all been done before.” – Sherlock Holmes

17. “I ought to know by this time that when a fact appears to be opposed to a long train of deductions it invariably proves to be capable of bearing some other interpretation.” – Sherlock Holmes

18. “I never make exceptions. An exception disproves the rule.” – Sherlock Holmes

19. “What one man can invent another can discover.” – Sherlock Holmes

20. “The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning.” – Sherlock Holmes

21. “I think that there are certain crimes which the law cannot touch, and which therefore, to some extent, justify private revenge.” – Sherlock Holmes

22. “Having gathered these facts, Watson, I smoked several pipes over them, trying to separate those which were crucial from others which were merely incidental.” – Sherlock Holmes

23. “My mind is like a racing engine, tearing itself to pieces because it is not connected up with the work for which it was built.” – Sherlock Holmes

24. “My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense them with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession,—or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world.” – Sherlock Holmes

25. “When a doctor does go wrong, he is the first of criminals. He has the nerve and he has the knowledge.” – Sherlock Holmes

For more great mystery content, check out www.mystread.com.

Mystery fiction quotes from the greatest crime novelists ever

Fans of crime fiction will love these mystery fiction quotes from some of the most highly-acclaimed writers.

"Amongst the more churlish criticisms leveled against the art of Murder and Mystery, —in their classic literary forms, I should hasten to say—is the objection, whether philosophical or aesthetic, to the inevitable tidiness of the conclusion, toward which the form instinctively moves: whereby all that has been bewildering, and problematic, and, indeed, ‘mysterious’ is, oft-times not altogether plausibly, resolved: which is to say, explained. It is objected that 'life is not like that'…As if it were not, to all right-thinking persons, a triumphant matter that Evil be exposed in human form, and murderers,—or murderesses—be brought to justice; and the fundamental coherence of the Universe confirmed.” - JOYCE CAROL OATES

"I am talking about the general psychological health of the species, man. He needs the existence of mysteries. Not their solution." - JOHN FOWLES

"The detective story itself is in a dilemma. It is a vein which is in danger of being worked out, the demand is constant, the powers of supply variable, and the reader, with each one he absorbs, grows a little more sophisticated and harder to please, while the novelist, after each one he writes, becomes a little more exhausted." - CYRIL CONNOLLY

"If in doubt, have two guys come through the door with guns." - RAYMOND CHANDLER

"There really must be a murder, or at least a major felony -- otherwise, what's the point? Who's ripping off the hand towels at the Dorchester Hotel is hardly the business of a mystery novel." - HOWARD HAYCRAFT

"There simply must be a corpse in a detective novel, and the deader the corpse the better." - S.S. VAN DINE

"The criminal is the creative artist; the detective only the critic." - G.K. CHESTERTON

"I know what kind of things I myself have been irritated by in detective stories. They are often about one or two persons, but they don't describe anything in the society Outside." - STIEG LARSSON

For plenty more mystery, check out www.mystread.com.

The Best Mystery Books For When You Want to Be Like Sherlock

Time to get out the magnifying glass and begin sleuthing like Sherlock with these intriguing and mysterious reads.

Mary Russell’s War by Laurie R. King

These nine short stories and one Sherlock Holmes mystery, King divulges Mary Russell’s life adventures spanning from her teenage diaries in 1914 England to her contemplative thoughts at age 92. Follow along with Russell as she tracks German spies through San Francisco, investigates family mysteries, and searches via a series of postcards for her missing husband — Sherlock Holmes.

The Sculthorpe Murder by Karen Charlton

In 1810 Northamptonshire, every local constable is out looking for the ruthless Panther Gang, a vicious mob looking to claim as much of the county as they could. When an elderly man is robbed and murdered, the magistrates send for help from London. When Detective Stephen Lavender and Constable Ned Woods arrive they soon discover that the murdered man’s life and family were clouded in mystery.

Closed Casket by Agatha Christie / Sophie Hannah

When famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and Inspector Edward Catchpool of Scotland Yard are invited to Lady Athelinda Playford’s party at her Irish mansion, the two are confused. The world’s most beloved children’s author wants them at her party, but why? When they arrive to discover that Lady Playford has decided to cut off her two children from her will and instead leave her entire fortune to an invalid who only has weeks to live. Poirot begins to glean that Lady Playford invited them there because she expects a murder.

Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner

Edith Hind, a beautiful graduate student at Cambridge University and daughter of the surgeon to the Royal Family, has gone missing and detective Manon Bradshaw is determined to find her alive. With only a few clues to go off of— a smattering of blood in the kitchen, her keys and phone left behind, the front door ajar but showing no signs of forced entry — Bradshaw is forced to investigate deeper into Edith’s personal life. She begins to worry when she discovers a tangled love life and erratic behavior leading up to her disappearance, knowing that every second that passes is pushing her further away from finding the girl alive.

For more fascinating mystery reads, check out www.mystread.com.

The Twisted Tale of Murder, Mansions, and Skylights

In 1971, John List committed a horrific crime that would shock the entire United States: He murdered his mother, wife, and three kids inside their New Jersey mansion. The List family was somewhat reclusive, however, and with no regular visitors to the mansion it wouldn’t be until a month later that their bodies were discovered. John List, in the meantime, had skipped town, and the ensuing police search would prove fruitless. List managed to disappear for 18 years, and had even remarried, but was eventually found thanks to an episode of America’s Most Wanted.

After being captured, List claimed that he murdered his family due to their crushing debt, a product of both their lavish mansion and their numerous medical expenses. According to a psychiatrist who testified in the trial, List only saw two choices: Go on welfare to support the family, or send them to heaven. List was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences without parole, and would die in prison in 2008.

There’s a twist to the story, however. As it turns out, List’s mansion was adorned with a skylight rumored to be an original from Tiffany. The skylight alone would have been enough to pay off any debt List may have incurred and then some. It was unclear if List was aware of the skylight’s origin or of its value when he committed the gruesome murders.

Looking for some more mystery? Visit our online library at www.mystread.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.

Inherent Vice: A Darkly Comic Detective Film

Based on Thomas Pynchon’s 2009 novel of the same name, 2014’s Inherent Vice was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and released to mixed reviews. Some critics thought the plot to be too convoluted and often difficult to follow, but the award nominations, including two Academy Awards nominations and a Best Actor Golden Globe Award nomination, indicated that at least some thought otherwise.

The film touts no shortage of star power, with an impressive cast that includes the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Owen Wilson, Katherine Waterston, Eric Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio del Toro, Jena Malone, Joanna Newsom, Jeannie Berlin, Maya Rudolph, Michael K. Williams and Martin Short. Inherent Vice marks Paul Thomas Anderson’s second major collaboration with Joaquin Phoenix following 2012’s The Master, although much of the supporting casts can be seen making appearances throughout Anderson’s many films as well.

While the cast alone would be reason enough to watch the film, the plot certainly doesn’t disappoint either. It follows private investigator Larry "Doc" Sportello, a 1970’s California stoner hippie, who gets involved in the seedy Los Angeles criminal underworld following the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend and her wealthy boyfriend. While themes of drug culture and counterculture make the film just a little less than family friendly, it’s still an entertaining watch by all accounts, one that could be appreciated by mystery buffs and comedy fans alike.

Looking for a deep dive into the world of mystery? Visit our online library at www.mystread.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.

Must Watch Detective Shows You Can Stream Right Now

If you’re looking for some great TV, look no further than these three shows currently streaming on Netflix.

Jack Taylor. Starring Game of Thrones’ Iain Glen as the titular Jack Taylor, this gritty Irish detective drama thrills and compels every bit as much as it entertains. Taylor, a street tough ex-cop kicked off the force for assaulting a politician turns to the world of private investigation, taking on the cases that the cops won’t and letting nothing get in his way, not even the law, when solving them. Taylor breaks the rules to help others, all while battling his own demons.

The Fall. Compared to a game of cat-and-cat as opposed to cat-and-mouse, The Fall tells the tale of an intelligent serial killer on the loose in Belfast being pursued by a cold, calculating detective who is every bit as intelligent. The series stars Gillian Anderson (of X-Files fame) in the role of the detective, a role which she has described as her all-time favorite, and a few episodes into the show it’s easy to see why. Jamie Dornan stars opposite Anderson as the serial killer, and his performance is every bit as riveting, making this a show not to be missed.

River. British drama at its finest, River stars Stellan Skarsgard as detective inspector John River with the Metropolitan Police Service who tries to solve the mystery of his murdered partner. As River investigates her murder he digs up conspiracies and cover ups, all while solving day-to-day cases and dealing with his own personal trauma after the event. His investigations lead to compelling encounters with grieving family members, ex-cons, and fellow officers, who River suspects had a hand in the whole affair.

Looking for a deep dive into the world of mystery? Visit our online library at www.mystread.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.

The father of the mystery genre

The mystery genre is something that we take for granted now, but there was a time when it didn’t exist. In fact up until 1841, there was no such thing as the mystery genre; its first inception was as a locked door mystery by the great American poet and novelist, Edgar Allen Poe.

Edgar Allen Poe

Poe is mostly known for his poetry and gothic works such as the poem “The Raven”, but his detective, C. Augustine Dupin, was the influence behind Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes; and though Sherlock Holmes is considered to be the detective responsible for popularizing the genre, he wouldn’t exist without Edgar Allen Poe.

The Murders in La Rue Morgue

Not only is The Murders in La Rue Morgue the first modern detective story, it is the mystery short story that spawned the genre. Set in Paris in 1840, the narrator (not unlike Watson) tells the story of how he met the detective, Dupin and how they shared shabby quarters together. Dupin’s analytical deductions are astounding (not unlike Holmes) and it is with great interest that the pair read the newspaper story about the murders of Madame L’Espanaye and her daughter who were found dead at the home in La Rue Morgue.

The door was locked, no money was taken and all that was left in the room was a straight razor and some tufts of grey hair. Yet through deduction, Dupin solves the mystery and in doing so launched one of the largest and most popular reading and viewing genres the modern world knows.

To find more mystery writers, check out www.mystread.com where you’ll find plenty of authors and their books from the mystery genre.

Rules for Writing Mystery

Ready to take the plunge and write your own mystery novel? Here are some rules to follow from award-winning author Susan Spann.

1. Make it about murder. While some authors manage to pen a good mystery surrounding a non-lethal crime, the best of the best, according to Spann, center their tales around a good old fashioned murder.

2. Designate your detective. Before rushing into murder most foul, plan out your crime, and plan out your detective. Your readers will be far more interesting in who’s solving the case than they will be in the case itself.

3. Damage your detective. Heroes aren’t perfect, and your detective shouldn’t be either. Make them emotionally damaged, physically impaired, perhaps even otherwise addicted. In short; make them interesting!

4. Your detective needs a backstory, but don’t write it out directly. An intriguing backstory is one that’s delivered in bits and pieces throughout the novel, rather than in one great big chunk.

5. Make some people before you murder them. Your story takes place somewhere, during a certain time period. Take the time to develop that world, imaginary or otherwise, to give your murder and mayhem a proper backdrop.

Armed with these tips you’ll be writing a great mystery in no time, and as your plot progresses you may just come up with some rules and tips of your own. Happy writing!

Looking for a deep dive into the world of mystery? Visit our online library at www.mystread.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Female detectives in fiction: The women who crack the case

Agatha Christie was a trailblazer in many ways. The British crime writer helped to popularize the mystery genre and was one of the most prominent female writers of her time. But she also challenged convention by having a woman as one of the main investigative minds in many of her novels. Miss Marple was an amateur sleuth who possessed a quick wit and was adept at uncovering the most complex of mysteries.

However, a lot of mystery novels through the years, and even to the present day, haven’t followed Christie’s lead and included female detectives in the role of chief case-crackers. Here are some female detectives who have bucked the trend though.

DCI Jane Tennison

It was a TV role made famous by Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren, but Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison began life on the pages of a novel by Lynda La Plante. Tennison first appears in the novel Prime Suspect and through a series of books, La Plante details her rise through the ranks despite the numerous challenges along the way.

DI Kate Burrows

Burrows first appears in acclaimed crime writer Martina Cole’s 1993 novel the Ladykiller. Detective Inspector Burrows must stand out in the male-dominated police force and possesses a tough demeanor and seriously intense work ethic to get her through. However, her personal life isn’t so straight-laced as she discovers that the man she has fallen love with is a notorious gangster.

Lisbeth Salandar

More in the amateur investigator role, Lisbeth Salandar is the creation of Swedish author Stieg Larsson and appears in the Dragon Tattoo series of books in which she uses her great intellect, hacking skills and resourcefulness to uncover corruption and violence against women.

See more gripping mysteries solved with the books from www.mystread.com.

Murder Mysteries You Won’t be Able to Put Down

A compelling read can get the blood pumping and the heart racing, and can thrill with every chapter! Here are three murder mysteries that will have you turning pages until the very end.

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke. Described as a thrilling depiction of the intersection between love, race, and justice, Bluebird, Bluebird tells the story of Darren Matthews, a black Texas ranger who is summoned to investigate two murders in the small town of Lark. A writer and producer on the Fox drama Empire, Locke won the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction for her 2016 novel Pleasantville.

Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup. When playboy Vivek “Vicky” Rai is murdered at his own party, investigative journalist Arun Advani interrogates six very different suspects with very different motives. This is Swarup’s second novel, the first being the immensely successful New York Times Bestseller Q&A, adapted into the major motion picture hit Slumdog Millionaire.

Night Film by Marisha Pessl. More of a thriller than a detective novel, Night Film tells the tale of journalist Scott McGrath, who discovers that he himself may be in danger as he investigates the death of Ashley Cordova, the daughter of a controversial film director. A finalist for the 2013 Shirley Jackson Award, Night Film reached sixth on The New York Times Bestseller’s list in September 2013.

Looking for a deeper dive into the world of mystery? Visit our online library at www.mystread.com for a wide range of ebooks, audio books, music and more!

Long-forgotten Masters of Mystery Rediscovered

With so many new and exciting books being released all the time, it’s little wonder that previous titles can easily drift into obscurity, even if they were well-received at the time. The benefit of a good book is that it’s not difficult to revive and to once again enjoy the contents of its pages. Here’s a look at some masterpieces of mystery which we found hiding away in a dusty corner. Enjoy!

The Mysterious Mickey Finn - Elliot Paul

Originally written as nothing more than a parody of S.S Van Dine’s work, this character from Elliot Paul ended up being so loved he had a series of his own. Based in Paris, this sleuth had his own mysteries to solve which inevitably ended up in some hilarious exploits.

Thank You, Mr Moto - John P. Marquand

This novel featured an unusual subject: an agent from the Japanese Secret Service. Scooping a Pulitzer Prize for his efforts, John P. Marquand went on to write a series of books based on this character, each with a compelling mystery to solve. In this book the bad guys are attempting to steal valuable Chinese scrolls, creating anti-American propaganda during sensitive pre-WWII times.

Cat of Many Tails - Ellery Queen

Many feel that this epic adventure is one of the very first serial killer novels to be published. Arguably Ellery Queen’s finest work, it’s set in World War II in blistering heat with New York gripped by a psychotic strangler.

These older mysteries are just the start of some of the books on offer at www.mystread.com so check out the on library and see what you can find.