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 601-650 of 1,666 (1666 new)


message 601: by Coco (new)

Coco La The body in the elevator…
well, sounds like it could be strange and funny I guess


message 602: by mand (new)

mand The Woman in the Waiting Room. I'd pick it up to read the blurb, definitely! Invites speculation as to whether she's victim or murderer, why she's there, who she is...


message 603: by Vicky (new)

Vicky Evil in the elevator... sounds good, I'd read it :p


message 604: by Linda (new)

Linda The stranger in the cemetery :DD
It sounds like a children horror litterature, like Goosebumps!!


message 605: by Linda (new)

Linda Sinclair Evil at the Abandoned Theme Park


message 606: by Loreen (new)

Loreen Nurm "The Stranger in the Elevator"


message 607: by Loreen (new)

Loreen Nurm Becky wrote: "Evil at the two-star hotel"

I would actually read this, sounds creepy.


message 608: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Kilmurray The Body in the Warehouse


message 609: by Huda (new)

Huda Siddiqui Death in the Broom Closet ;) :)


message 610: by Yesica (new)

Yesica The widow in Room No. 8... I would read that book for sure!


message 611: by Dorie (new)

Dorie The Liar in the Vitamin Isle.........
Is there Something being put in the vitamins....did he see something in the mirror at the end of the isle......hmmmmm


message 612: by Donna Bateman (new)

Donna Bateman Mine is Evil in the vitamin aisle 😂


message 613: by Amala (new)

Amala Aranake The widow in the parking garage


message 614: by Ron (new)

Ron The Stalker in the Landfill (ew)


message 615: by [deleted user] (new)

The Woman at the Car Wash


message 616: by Maude (new)

Maude The Stranger on the Steamboat

(I'm on board for the Steampunk!!!!!!!)


message 617: by Heather (new)

Heather The Widow in the all-night diner


message 618: by Sally (new)

Sally The stalker in the panic room.


message 619: by Nivea (new)

Nivea Death in the meat locker


message 620: by Zainab (new)

Zainab The stranger on the cruise ship....


message 621: by Helena (new)

Helena Mendonça Death at The Farmer´s Market


message 622: by Angela (new)

Angela The Widow in the Parking Garage


message 623: by Audri (new)

Audri Lovitt The Stranger in Room no. 8


message 624: by lejaa (new)

lejaa Murder in the Panic Room


message 625: by Anna-marie (new)

Anna-marie The Liar at the Empty Zoo


message 626: by Inaya (new)

Inaya Higurashi Death at the DMV


message 627: by Inked Orca (new)

Inked Orca Death in the Emergency Room


message 628: by Aima (new)

Aima The shadow at the farmer's market XD


message 629: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Welton-Lair The Liar in the Warehouse


message 630: by Carla (new)

Carla Death in the Broom Closet


message 631: by Karmen (new)

Karmen The widow under the Stairs


message 632: by Tina (new)

Tina Murder in the parking garage


message 633: by Aakash (new)

Aakash The widow at car wash


message 634: by Anu K (new)

Anu K The Stranger in the Broom Closet


message 635: by Vianescee (new)

Vianescee The Liar in the Vitamin Aisle... sounds rather interesting.


message 636: by Raine (new)

Raine Myers The body in the waiting room


message 637: by Sarah (new)

Sarah M Death at the Car Dealership ... uhm ... I don't know about that one. LOL


message 638: by KathyD (new)

KathyD The Body at the Car Wash


message 639: by Chris (new)

Chris Gager The Devil at the Farmer's Market


message 640: by Donna (new)

Donna Goodnow The Widow in the Emergency Room


message 641: by Elisabetta (new)

Elisabetta The Widow in the Landfill


message 642: by Laura (new)

Laura Death in the broom closet.


message 643: by Paola (new)

Paola The Stranger under the Stairs.
I would definitely read it!


message 644: by Jess (new)

Jess The Stranger in the Emergency Room. lol


message 645: by Shagufta (new)

Shagufta The Stranger in the Emergency Room


message 646: by Cheri (new)

Cheri The stalker in the wardrobe


message 647: by Susan (new)

Susan Rapacz Murder in the broom closet.


message 648: by Emily (new)

Emily  Wood Ishika wrote: "The Widow at the two-star hotel! I would actually read it!!"

Same here :D


message 649: by Effie (she-her) (new)

Effie (she-her) The devil in the panic room. Poor devil. Hope he's ok.


message 650: by Jeff (new)

Jeff Lewis The Stranger on the Steamboat


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