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 651-700 of 1,666 (1666 new)


message 651: by Kendra (new)

Kendra Murder at the Botanical Gardens. I need to get on writing this short story now before someone else does.


message 652: by Kendra (new)

Kendra Cassie wrote: "The Liar in the Waiting Room"

I'm just wondering doctor, nursing staff, or another patient. Is it a
murder mystery or a comedy do tell.


message 653: by Sara (new)

Sara Baptista The Devil in Room No.8


message 654: by Michael (new)

Michael Prentice The Body in the Landfill


message 655: by Neha (new)

Neha Jain The Stranger at the Car Dealership


message 656: by Veena (new)

Veena  D The Liar in the Landfill


message 657: by Nanadhoi (new)

Nanadhoi The Stranger in the cemetery.


message 658: by Breea (new)

Breea Milburn Evil in the Elevator <3


message 659: by Nichelle Marshall (new)

Nichelle  Marshall Death On The Fire Escape


message 660: by Pamela (new)

Pamela Mine is "The Liar in the Panic Room."
My Husband's is "The Shadow in the Fun House." Those titles sound to me like a couple of Psych Thrillers.


message 661: by Deborah (new)

Deborah Roberts Death...in the parking garage!


message 662: by Deborah (new)

Deborah Roberts Sayak wrote: "The Body on the Midnight Train"

LOL! (Unfortunately, this may actually be true!)


message 663: by ♛primadonna♛ (new)

♛primadonna♛ Evil at the Farmer's Market


message 664: by ♛primadonna♛ (new)

♛primadonna♛ My husband's would be The Stranger in the Vitamin Aisle.! Hilarious!!


message 665: by Ashley (new)

Ashley The Body in the Waiting Room...yeah I would read that.


message 666: by Aidan (new)

Aidan Schrodinger The body at the two-star hotel.


message 667: by Shannon (new)

Shannon "The Stalker at the Farmer's Market" is the kind of content I live for.


message 668: by Ann (new)

Ann The Body in the Parking Garage. TYPICAL!!


message 669: by Audra (new)

Audra The Shadow in the Wardrobe.


message 670: by Terry (new)

Terry Moore The Liar at the Empty Zoo


message 671: by Jessie (new)

Jessie The Liar at the DMV


message 672: by Mo (new)

Mo Smith The Body at the Abandoned Theme Park


message 673: by Pam (new)

Pam Carmichael Death in the landfill
This was fun!!!


message 674: by Julie (new)

Julie I'm going with The Stranger and The Widow in the Elevator


message 675: by Carol (new)

Carol Murder at The Two Star Hotel


message 676: by Luísa (new)

Luísa The liar at the Farmer's Market


Lesley Book Lover The liar on the midnight train


Vageesh Singh Baghel Stranger in the parking garage


message 679: by Jesa (new)

Jesa Burgoyne The widow at the DMV


message 680: by Ema (new)

Ema Murder in the room no. 8 :)


message 681: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer The Stranfer in the Casino


message 682: by Patty (new)

Patty Whyatt The Liar in Room No. 8


message 683: by Janita (new)

Janita Monteiro The woman on flight 42


message 684: by Ayny (new)

Ayny The Body under the Stairs.
what type of body? Upstairs or Downstairs?


message 685: by Stephanie (new)

Stephanie The imposter in the Emergency Room.


message 686: by Michelle (new)

Michelle Gulbis The widow on flight 42


message 687: by Ladypessi (new)

Ladypessi Death in Room No. 8


message 688: by Mina (new)

Mina Vucicevic Murder in the Fun House :)


message 689: by Jansen (new)

Jansen Albuquerque The Liar at the Farmers Market

I think I already read that one 🤔


message 690: by lee (new)

lee arnstein The Liar in the Panic Room


message 691: by Kari (new)

Kari The Stranger Under the Stairs. yikes- I hope they aren't under my stairs..... that is creepy!


message 692: by Reem (new)

Reem The Window on the Steamboat
Not bad


message 693: by Kadi (new)

Kadi P Everyone's sounds great and then mine is The Widow in the Landfill like whaaaaat😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️


message 694: by Mel (new)

Mel Murder in the swamp....


message 695: by Michele (new)

Michele The Stalker on the Steamboat


message 696: by Chandra (new)

Chandra The Stranger in the Meatlocker


message 697: by Kelli (new)

Kelli Elijah Evil In the Meat Locker


message 698: by Leah (new)

Leah Just announcing my upcoming book, The Liar in the Parking Garage! It'll be out April 1st, 2020!


message 699: by Maggie (new)

Maggie The Devil in the Wardrobe!


message 700: by Artur (last edited Apr 04, 2019 02:30PM) (new)

Artur The Stranger under the Stairs lol


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