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 551-600 of 1,666 (1666 new)


message 551: by Stephanie (new)

Stephanie The Devil in The Emergency room


message 552: by I Sniff My Books (new)

I Sniff My Books (Elizabeth) The Shadow at the Car Wash


message 553: by Mary Tyllia (new)

Mary Tyllia The Liar in the All Night Diner


message 554: by jhawkgirl (new)

jhawkgirl The Devil in the Parking Garage


message 555: by Bob (new)

Bob Cantrell My would be The Imposter in the Parking Garage.


message 556: by Gee (new)

Gee Cee the Shadow on Flight 42. sounds like a sci fi mystery


message 557: by Gee (new)

Gee Cee Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) wrote: "The Shadow at the DMV (what the heck is the DMV?)"

The Division of Motor Vehicles


message 558: by Erna (new)

Erna The Liar in the Swamp


message 559: by Gee (new)

Gee Cee Belinda wrote: "The Liar in the Cemetery. Shouldn’t that be “The Lier...?”"

too funny. a lying lier!


message 560: by malinda (new)

malinda The Stranger in the Cemetery


message 561: by Avi (new)

Avi The Body in Room No. 8. Honestly don't know if I would read it.


message 562: by Anja (new)

Anja Riemer The Woman on the Fire Escape.


message 563: by Norma (new)

Norma Murder in the vitamin aisle


message 564: by Porsha (new)

Porsha Sera Murder in the warehouse


message 565: by Kelly (new)

Kelly Gardner The Liar in the Vitamin Aisle

Death by vitamin D deficiency?


message 566: by Jaci (new)

Jaci The Liar in the Landfill


message 567: by Apricity (new)

Apricity The Devil in the Parking Garage
(sounds weird)


message 568: by Mariane (new)

Mariane The Liar at the Botanical Garden.

Sounds more like a comedy.


message 569: by Abby (new)

Abby  H Murder in the Meat Locker


message 570: by Am (new)

Am The Devil in the broom closet


message 571: by Agnes (new)

Agnes Murder at the DMV


message 572: by Mariel (new)

Mariel The Liar in the Cemetery


Alex (Calliopes Fensterbank) The Liar on the Fire Escape :D


message 574: by Kiefer (new)

Kiefer H The liar in the all night diner!


message 575: by Heather (new)

Heather The Imposter in the Fun House


message 576: by Liz (new)

Liz The Body at the Abandoned Theme Park


message 577: by Maria (new)

Maria Murder in the meat locker


message 578: by Abigail (new)

Abigail The Body at the DMV


message 579: by Rita (new)

Rita Walker The widow in the casino


message 580: by Betty (new)

Betty Tóth The widow on the midnight train


message 581: by Christina (new)

Christina Smith The Liar at the Farmer's Market


message 582: by Lauren (new)

Lauren The Shadow in the All-Night Diner...Sounds kind of stalkerish,lol


message 583: by Jane (new)

Jane The Stranger in the Wardrobe


message 584: by Daniyal (new)

Daniyal Ghani (Dan) The Widow in the Elevator


message 585: by Mel (new)

Mel The stranger at the car wash. Yikes! I have seen some interesting characters at my local car wash. A book ready to happen?...hmmmm.


message 586: by Hannah (new)

Hannah The Widow at the .... DMV

*So spooky*


message 587: by Nicole (new)

Nicole The Liar in the Swamp. Huh. Sure has a mystery ring to it.


message 588: by Julia (new)

Julia "The Devil in the Vitamin Aisle" - Murder of a health nut?


message 589: by Hilary (new)

Hilary Murder in the cemetery👻


message 590: by Aleida (new)

Aleida The Body In The Cemetery.

. . . Just wow. So original. I am in awe.


message 591: by Eunie (new)

Eunie Gie The shadow in the broom closet


message 592: by Lewerentz (new)

Lewerentz The liar in the elevator ;-D


message 593: by Amira (new)

Amira The stranger in the emergency room


message 594: by Roanna (new)

Roanna the body under the stairs


message 595: by Kalliopi (new)

Kalliopi Evil Under The Stairs


message 596: by margaret (new)

margaret Death in the casino


message 597: by Meriyou (new)

Meriyou Evil at the Car Dealership


message 598: by Babdit (new)

Babdit the liar on flight 42.
wow, i would actually read this one


message 599: by Adam (new)

Adam Rodgers The Widow in the Wardrobe


message 600: by Silvia (new)

Silvia Turcios Death in the Broom Closet


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