Let's Play: How To Make An Ominous-Sounding Mystery Title

Posted by Marie on April 2, 2018
Goodreads Mystery & Thriller Week 2018

Mystery & Thriller Week is sponsored by Penguin Random House Audio. Enjoy the suspense on audio.

Mainstream mystery titles have the uncanny ability to turn the ordinary into the ominous. Like a macabre version of Mad Libs, sometimes all a title needs is a combination of a person and a place to achieve maximum foreboding. The Body in the Library, The Couple Next Door, and The Woman in the Window are all prime examples of this. And if you want to turn the terror up a notch, you can never go wrong with adding the word "girl" to let readers know that trouble isn't too far away.

The rules to this game are simple: Match your birth month and birth date to the chart below. Then stand back for that spine-tingling (or snicker-inducing) effect. Who knows? Your title could be the next big name in the mystery genre!



What's your bestselling mystery title? Share it with us in the comments!


Comments Showing 1,001-1,050 of 1,633 (1633 new)


message 1001: by AllyCatt (new)

AllyCatt Death at the car dealership...... Why would you die at a car place!?


message 1002: by Andrew✌️ (new)

Andrew✌️ The Stranger at the Two-Star Hotel.


message 1003: by Cherie (new)

Cherie The Stalker in the Swamp.

Sounds creepy to me. Would make a great horror novel. Remind me to stay away from the swamps....LOL! ;)


message 1004: by Raeanne (new)

Raeanne Murder in the casino


message 1005: by Claudia (new)

Claudia Vico "The Widow in the Wardrobe", by Claudia Vico. Mystery thriller. A
beautifull story riding between Victorian times and the present day.


message 1006: by c (new)

c "The Imposter in the Fun House"

In a Fun House, can you tell?


message 1007: by manon (new)

manon The Widow at the Farmer's Market? Why does this sound like the least scary book ahaha


message 1008: by T.A. (new)

T.A. Beasley Evil on the Cruise Ship


message 1009: by Cassy (new)

Cassy The Devil in the Broom Closet... I'm certainly intrigued haha


message 1010: by Lucyfer (new)

Lucyfer The Devil in the Broom Closet...


message 1011: by Barbara (new)

Barbara The Devil in Room No. 8


message 1012: by Emma (new)

Emma The Stranger in the All-Night Diner


message 1013: by Isabelle (new)

Isabelle Alice wrote: "Death in the Fun House."

I love that one!!!


message 1014: by Michaelangela (new)

Michaelangela Montagna The Liar on Flight 42.

This could actually be a political satire.
Hm....


message 1015: by Alexis (new)

Alexis Death in Room No. 8... and I thought Room 13 was unlucky.


message 1016: by Lori (new)

Lori The stalker on the midnight train


message 1017: by *Maegan* (new)

*Maegan* The Devil in the all-night diner.


message 1018: by Sierra (new)

Sierra The Stranger in the Wardrobe


message 1019: by Serenity (new)

Serenity Death in the Parking Garage... find out what happens when there is only one spot left.


message 1020: by Ronda (new)

Ronda The Shadow at the Car Wash!


message 1021: by Tena (new)

Tena The body in the emergency room sounds kinda normal, like "well yeah, where else would it be?"


message 1022: by [deleted user] (new)

The Liar in the Cemetery


message 1023: by Brenda (new)

Brenda M. The Stranger at the Botanical Garden


message 1024: by Barb (new)

Barb Evil in the Landfill... Must be an environmental mystery. :-)


message 1025: by Melissa (new)

Melissa The Shadow in the Wardrobe... Sounds like a Narnia villain...


message 1026: by Jen (new)

Jen The Stranger on the Fire Escape


message 1027: by Thaíssa (new)

Thaíssa The Imposter in the Casino.


message 1028: by Kayla (new)

Kayla Longenecker The body on the steamboat.


message 1029: by Christine (new)

Christine Byleveld The Devil in the Swamp....don't go swimming....


message 1030: by Rhonda (new)

Rhonda Lee Wunder The Woman on the Cruise Ship


message 1031: by Srivalli (new)

Srivalli Hiatus) The Liar in the All-Night Diner
Now, if I can write a story for this!


message 1032: by Icee (new)

Icee "The Liar in the Parking Garage"


message 1033: by Vinh-Thang (new)

Vinh-Thang The Widow on Flight 42 :)


message 1034: by Valeria (new)

Valeria The Devil in the midnight train....Actually I like it


message 1035: by jaadhimalli (new)

jaadhimalli The Imposter at the abandoned theme park


message 1036: by Senthil (new)

Senthil Ramesh The stranger in the parking garage


message 1037: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Balzia The Woman at the Farmer's Market


message 1038: by Graça (new)

Graça Death at the DMV xD makes a lot of sense to me :D


message 1039: by Nektaria (new)

Nektaria The Imposter at the Botanical Garden


message 1040: by Sunny (new)

Sunny The Stalker in the Parking Garage


message 1041: by Jonathon (new)

Jonathon Nichols "The Liar on Flight 42"


message 1042: by Velina (new)

Velina Pencheva The Woman in the Cemetery , sounds intriguing 🔅


message 1043: by Ilaria (new)

Ilaria The Imposter in the Vitamin Aisle


message 1044: by Traci (new)

Traci Pierpont The Stranger on the Midnight Train - this sounds great!


message 1045: by Zhuo (new)

Zhuo Zhang Murder at Farmer's Market


message 1046: by virginia (new)

virginia james murder at the dmv


message 1047: by Emily (new)

Emily The Liar on the Cruise Ship


message 1048: by Amber (new)

Amber The Stranger in the Swamp. . . I wouldn't read this. . . Lies. I'll read anything!


Jennifer, Just beyond normal ♑ the stranger on flight 42


message 1050: by Réka (new)

Réka The Shadow in Room No. 8 :P


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