Let's Play: Create an Ominous-Sounding Mystery Title

Posted by Marie on April 1, 2019
Goodreads Mystery & Thriller Week 2019

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 shirt color 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 mystery title? Share it with us in the comments!

Check out the complete coverage of Mystery & Thriller Week:
Top 100 Mysteries & Thrillers on Goodreads
24 New Voices to Discover in Mystery & Thriller
Spring's Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers


Comments Showing 451-500 of 1,666 (1666 new)


message 451: by Vernice (new)

Vernice Aure The Liar in the All-Night Diner. (I love this!)


message 452: by Michelle (new)

Michelle the Woman in the Broom Closet


message 453: by Emma (new)

Emma The Widow Under the Stairs.


message 454: by Deborah Kirkman (new)

Deborah Kirkman Death on Flight 42


message 455: by Cindy (new)

Cindy Ryan Death at the Car Dealership. (I think I have "read" that one before!)


message 456: by Dawn (new)

Dawn The Body at the Empty Zoo


message 457: by Meagan (new)

Meagan The Stranger at the Farmer's Market! LOL


message 458: by MJ (new)

MJ Deamon Evil in the Warehouse


message 459: by Mary (new)

Mary The Devil in Room 8


message 460: by Maggie (new)

Maggie The Stranger in the Landfill! I'd read it!


message 461: by Julie (new)

Julie Rose Murder in the Two-Star Hotel lol


message 462: by Einolem (new)

Einolem Mick wrote: "Evil at the DMV."

OOOOH!...I like that one! XD


message 463: by Clara (new)

Clara The Liar in the Warehouse :O


message 464: by Sally (new)

Sally My title will be “Murder in the Botanical Garden”.


message 465: by Einolem (new)

Einolem Prissy~ wrote: "Murder in the Broom Closet

(could be scary or funny as hell)"

LMAO


message 466: by Einolem (new)

Einolem "The Stranger in the Swamp"....sounds like a bad trip into the depths of Florida.
XD


message 467: by Quinn (new)

Quinn The Body in the Emergency Room (well, maybe someone would like that, but sounds pretty ordinary to me)


message 468: by Sheila (new)

Sheila Sweeny Murder at the DMV


message 469: by Carrie (new)

Carrie Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) wrote: "The Shadow at the DMV (what the heck is the DMV?)"
Department of Motor Vehicles


message 470: by Belinda (new)

Belinda The Liar in the Cemetery. Shouldn’t that be “The Lier...?”


message 471: by ellie (new)

ellie guilfoyle The Shadow in the Elevator


message 472: by Paula (new)

Paula The Liar in the Warehouse


message 473: by Bruce (new)

Bruce The Liar at the Car Dealership. Doesn't that go without saying? Sounds more non-fiction than mystery/thriller.


message 474: by Becky (new)

Becky Whitten Death in Room No. 8


message 475: by fransarylibros (new)

fransarylibros Murder At The Abandoned Theme Park.. I like it 😎😎


message 476: by E M (new)

E M Bates the shadow in the Parking Garage .....Meh


message 477: by Chele (new)

 Chele The Shadow in Room No. 8


message 478: by [deleted user] (new)

Evil in the Casino


message 479: by Swetha (new)

Swetha Evil in the fun house


message 480: by Shari (new)

Shari Bills The Liar in the Vitamin Aisle


message 481: by Matea (new)

Matea The Widow in the Wardrobe. Sounds like a horror genre Narnia


message 482: by Chris (new)

Chris Kenyon The Liar in The Emergency Room


message 483: by Raven (new)

Raven White The Stranger at the car Dealership LOL!!🤣


message 484: by Kayden (new)

Kayden the liar in the vitamin aisle


message 485: by Karina (new)

Karina Death in the Swamp


message 486: by Karen (new)

Karen Killebrew Murder in the Landfill. Ugh, kind of boring.


message 487: by Becca (new)

Becca Jenkins The Devil in the Two Star Hotel


message 488: by Courtney Mlinar (new)

Courtney Mlinar The Stalker in the Elevator


message 489: by Jade (new)

Jade The Stranger at the Abandoned Theme Park


message 490: by Sasha (new)

Sasha Murder in the elevator


message 491: by Jessa (new)

Jessa Shortridge Death in the Parking Garage
(Has anyone seen Pushing Daisies? This reminds me of the episode "Corpsicle")


message 492: by Rohini (new)

Rohini Sunderam The Stranger at The Farmer's Market


message 493: by Nusca (new)

Nusca Tron The Stranger in the Fun House


message 494: by Sabrina Sellers (new)

Sabrina Sellers The Liar on the Midnight Train 😈


message 495: by Tori (new)

Tori Lane The Body in the Swamp
lol that sounds creepy


message 496: by Anne (new)

Anne The Shadow in the Fun House


message 497: by Singa (new)

Singa Evil in the Car Dealership


message 498: by Alexa (new)

Alexa The Widow in the Fun House.


message 499: by Kate (new)

Kate the widow on flight 42


message 500: by Heather Johnston (new)

Heather Johnston Murder in the meat locker!!


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