I love mystery fiction, but once you've read and watched enough, they start to feel very same-y.
What are some mystery books that have unique crimes with unique motivations? I'd be especially interested in books where the detective is NOT a police officer/FBI agent/otherwise working for the government and which don't focus on your typical murders or art/jewelry thefts.
I'm looking for something that's straight mystery, no sci-fi or fantasy please!
Edit: I have read a lot of the well-known classics like Agatha Christie books, Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Whimsy, Raymond Chandler books, Dashiell Hammett's books, etc.
by january_dreams
6 Comments
My go-to for mysteries is Joanne Harris’ Malbry series – Gentleman and Players, Different Class, A Narrow Door, and the paraquel to Different Class, blueyedboy. There’s usually a murder involved somewhere, but less direct than most mystery novels, and none of it involves cops – all the POV characters of the main series are teachers at a posh private school.
Give Frieda Mcfadden books a read if u haven’t. I think u’ll like them.
I’ve only read NEVER LIE and it was great. And I haven’t the Housemaid Series is way better than that.
And then there were none – Agatha Christie
And then there were none – Agatha Christie
The Round House
The Summer That Melted Everything
The Spellman Files
Malibu Burning (Arson investigators for LAPD, so may be too close to police/fbi for you.)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt.