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 1,151-1,200 of 1,666 (1666 new)


message 1151: by Janice (new)

Janice Felgueira The Body Under the Stairs


message 1152: by Anamika (new)

Anamika The imposter in the broom closet.


message 1153: by Helen (new)

Helen Tawney The widow in the parking garage
Hmmm, interesting


message 1154: by Theresa (new)

Theresa The Liar in the Cemetery


message 1155: by Юнна (new)

Юнна The Imposter at the Car Wash :)


message 1156: by Fábio (new)

Fábio The Liar in Room No. 8!


message 1157: by Danielle (new)

Danielle Ford The body in the broom closet.


message 1158: by Kelley (new)

Kelley Byes The Body in the Fun House


message 1159: by Oluchi (new)

Oluchi Buchi-Njere The Stranger at the DMV. 😀😀


message 1160: by Jaime (new)

Jaime The Devil at the Farmer's Market...interesting


message 1161: by Nina B (new)

Nina B The Liar at the Car Wash


message 1162: by Abhishek (new)

Abhishek Abraham The Stranger in the Warehouse


message 1163: by Corissa (new)

Corissa Death in the panic room


message 1164: by Daniela (new)

Daniela Maciel The Devil in the Elevator :D


message 1165: by Gwen (new)

Gwen Brown The widow at the car wash


message 1166: by Algernon Wyck (new)

Algernon Wyck The devil in the meat locker!


message 1167: by Mike (new)

Mike Evil In The Warehouse


message 1168: by Kristine (new)

Kristine Richards The Liar on the Midnight Train.


message 1169: by Amy (new)

Amy The Body on Flight 42


message 1170: by Dorthe (new)

Dorthe The Body at the Two-Star Hotel


message 1171: by the lonely (new)

the lonely bookworm The Stalker on Flight 42.


message 1172: by Rigonia (new)

Rigonia de Windt The Shadow at the Car Dealerership


message 1173: by Danielle (new)

Danielle Gonzalez The Liar on the Midnight Train


message 1174: by Kimber (new)

Kimber The Body in the Broom Closet


message 1175: by Lupita (new)

Lupita Calvillo The Liar at the Car Wash
"It will be ready in 15 minutes"
Scary AF


message 1176: by Michael (new)

Michael The liar in the meat locker


message 1177: by Shawn (new)

Shawn Murder in the Warehouse


message 1178: by Natalie (new)

Natalie Rouge The body at the DMV... it doesn’t sound bad!


message 1179: by Tuesday's Child (new)

Tuesday's Child Murder at the empty zoo :)


message 1180: by Patty (new)

Patty Rehfus The Liar at the DMV.


message 1181: by Rebeka (new)

Rebeka The Body on the Midnight Train...I would love to read that.


message 1182: by Regina (new)

Regina Price Liar in the Broom Closet


message 1183: by Deborah (new)

Deborah The Body in the Emergency room. Meh.......


message 1184: by Brittnee (new)

Brittnee The Body Under the Staircase


message 1185: by Deli (new)

Deli The devil in the wardrobe


Tianna✸loves books✸ The Stalker in the vitamin aisle


message 1187: by Martine (new)

Martine The Shadow of the Strange Woman’s Body on the Midnight Train.

(I have a multicoloured shirt on today, and decided to use them all)


message 1188: by Bianca (new)

Bianca The body in the Casino


message 1189: by Romina (new)

Romina Evil in the all-night diner


message 1190: by Lira (new)

Lira The Stranger...in the Vitamin Aisle


message 1191: by Kat (new)

Kat Murder in the Emergency room


message 1192: by N.E.C.C. (new)

N.E.C.C. The Devil at the Car Dealership.


message 1193: by Brielle (new)

Brielle The Stranger in Room No. 8!


message 1194: by Edie (new)

Edie The Devil in the Wardrobe


message 1195: by N (new)

N The body in the meat locker


message 1196: by Anouk (new)

Anouk Adriana The Shadow in the Fun House!


message 1197: by Michelle (new)

Michelle Winchester "The Stranger in the Fun House" sounds more like a comedy than a mystery novel, but ok :D.


message 1198: by A.khalifa (new)

A.khalifa The Widow at the car delarship


message 1199: by Krishna (new)

Krishna The shadow on the steamboat


message 1200: by Rachelle (new)

Rachelle The Liar at the Farmer's Market


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