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 351-400 of 1,666 (1666 new)


message 351: by sydneeeey b (new)

sydneeeey b the devil in the cemetery


message 352: by Babor (new)

Babor Khan The Stranger In The Abandoned Theme Park


message 353: by Halan (new)

Halan Torres The liar on the fire escape.


message 354: by Karen (new)

Karen The Widow at the Abandoned Theme Park :D


message 355: by Mojo (new)

Mojo Shivers The Devil at the Empty Zoo

It sounds like a paranormal thriller starring a pair of teens trapped in a zoo somewhere.


message 356: by Niki (new)

Niki The Liar at the Abandoned Theme Park


message 357: by Amber (new)

Amber Martingale The Devil in the Elevator.


message 358: by Emma (new)

Emma Kinsman Death at the Botanical Garden... 10/10 would read


message 359: by Lori (new)

Lori The devil at the farmers market


message 360: by Angie (new)

Angie Rosalina The Body in the Warehouse


message 361: by Mr (new)

Mr Saikaly The Liar in the Wardrobe


message 362: by Cory (new)

Cory The Body in the Cemetary. Well duh. Where else would it be? (Ah shoot, don't answer that.)


message 363: by OneMamaReads (new)

OneMamaReads The Devil at the Car Wash


message 364: by Harper Nicole (new)

Harper Nicole The Liar on the Midnight Train.


message 365: by Stephanie (new)

Stephanie Evil under the stairs.


message 366: by Karina (new)

Karina Kozubik The Shadow in the landfill


message 367: by Alexis (new)

Alexis the stranger at the farmers market


message 368: by Linda (new)

Linda Peacock Death on Flight 42


message 369: by Caroline (new)

Caroline The stranger in the parking garage :o


message 370: by Tyora (new)

Tyora Moody The Liar in the Elevator.


message 371: by Nicole (new)

Nicole Aroca Murder In the fire escape


message 372: by Hannah (new)

Hannah The Body in the Casino


message 373: by VaishnaVi (new)

VaishnaVi THE DEVIL IN THE PANIC ROOM


message 374: by Jezzy (new)

Jezzy The Widow in the Panic Room


message 375: by Anna (new)

Anna Death on the Midnight Train


message 376: by Rehma (new)

Rehma The Liar at the Botanical Garden


message 377: by Shaylee (new)

Shaylee Durfey The Stranger at a the Two- Star Hotel


message 378: by MaWhit (new)

MaWhit Death in the Vitamin Aisle.


message 379: by Alejandra (new)

Alejandra Trejo The Stranger in the Casino


message 380: by herpaperland_ (new)

herpaperland_ the lair on the cruise ship


message 381: by tiTa (new)

tiTa The Stalker in the Meat Locker


message 382: by Feran (new)

Feran the body at them empty zoo


message 383: by Robin (new)

Robin Bishop The Devil in the Elevator.


message 384: by Anshita (new)

Anshita The Liar in the Emergency Room- that just sounds annoying.


message 385: by Lia (new)

Lia The Stalker in the Fun House


message 386: by Sleet (new)

Sleet The widow in the Emergency Room. Pretty accurate, not really scary tho.


message 387: by Dana-Adriana B. (new)

Dana-Adriana B. The body in the car Dealership, :))


message 388: by Arindam (new)

Arindam Panda A widow and a Liar in the Panic Room...


message 389: by Beatriz (new)

Beatriz The Devil under the stairs


message 390: by Hilde Sky (new)

Hilde Sky Evil at the Car Wash


message 391: by Ashley M (new)

Ashley M Death in the Landfill

not sure if I would read that one : /


message 392: by herpaperland_ (new)

herpaperland_ Dana-Adriana B. wrote: "The body in the car Dealership, :))"

sound pretty scary


message 393: by Raghu (new)

Raghu The Stranger on Flight 42


message 394: by Kuro (new)

Kuro The Widow on the Fire Escape


message 395: by Belle (new)

Belle The shadow at the empty zoo


message 396: by Thomas (new)

Thomas Bruso The Stranger on the Midnight Train


message 397: by Ramya (new)

Ramya The Devil in the Fun House


message 398: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Death in The Wardrobe


message 399: by Catie (new)

Catie  Ewing The Shadow in the Closet


message 400: by Arinta (new)

Arinta Kusuma Death in the Vitamin Aisle


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