This is a unique arrangement of mystery titles- I love it! Reminds me of the references to Clue: Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Dagger, Miss Scarlet in the Dining Room with the Candlestick...

Anywhere and any place in the British Isles, but especially in England! I am a hopeless Anglophile and mystery lover!

Okay, not a single Riley Sager on this list? How can you list books in a creepy apartment and not have Lock Every Door? Similarly, you list country houses and don’t mention Home Before Dark?

Cool categories!! 📚🥰

In the very cold place section, I would add Moon of the crusted snow.

I have a lot of reading to do!

Iris wrote: "I've been binge reading Agatha Christie books lately and in my opinion, she is the best in this genre! Lately, her books are the only ones I feel like reading!! So if you never tried on of her stor..."

I've practically read all of the Hercule Poirot books. Have you seen any of the Kenneth Branagh movies? I've just watched Death on the Nile. I hope he makes another one.

Effie (she-her) wrote: "In the very cold place section, I would add Moon of the crusted snow."


I've read it! I wish it was longer.

Give me space or give me death

I enjoy any location as long as it is well written! I want it to continue throwing little clues here and there to keep me wanting to read! I love plot twists!

I love Agatha Christie! I will be honest though, did NOT enjoy "The Maidens" by Alex Michaelides...

When you said “by setting “ I was hoping you meant by location. I live in the US and like to read books set in other countries, especially historical fiction.

Libraries won out for me! -- great list, I have read several of these already.
Another list that would be great-- Novels arranged by the country each is set in-- I guess with a category for "mixed"

ooohhhh this is an intriguing topic. From looking at the list, my favourites are on a boat or an island

How about mysteriously inherited houses? Ugh, love.

Rebecca wrote: "How about mysteriously inherited houses? Ugh, love."

My thoughts, too. Love the old mansion or castle and isolated gothic structures settings. A great one on that list is "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield!

oh yes!! mysteriously inherited houses -- especially if haunted!

Wendy wrote: "How about series - I want to find mystery/thrillers that are a series of books with the same characters."

You should look at Canadian author Louise Penny; 15 books set in rural Quebec with Inspector Gamache. Not only is he in all the books but so are other police detectives and residents of the town of Three Pines where the books are set.

Rosie wrote: "Death on the Nile
Murder on the Orient Express
Agatha Christie

I loved both Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, if anyone is even tempte..."

Excellent choices, but then almost all her books are excellent reads.

Just so many authors/titles to review; who knows how many get added to my TBR list:)

Iris wrote: "I've been binge reading Agatha Christie books lately and in my opinion, she is the best in this genre! Lately, her books are the only ones I feel like reading!! So if you never tried on of her stor..."

AC is the best. I'm on my second go-through of all her books.

Nono wrote: "Seems like Hotels and Libraries are my favourite settings. :)"

Awesome list .
I'm drawn to the dark academia and poison cuisine books .

Melissa wrote: "I love how this was categorized. Wish I could save this list"

Same .

For mysteries with a strong sense of place and people I'd recommend one of the best mystery writers of the 21st century, Louise Penny, whose books mostly take place in Three Pines, a fictional small town in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Her recent political thriller, co-authored with Hilary Clinton, State of Terror is also superb.

Constance wrote: "For mysteries with a strong sense of place and people I'd recommend one of the best mystery writers of the 21st century, Louise Penny, whose books mostly take place in Three Pines, a fictional smal..."

I agree! I've read them all including State of Terror.

These taglines made my day !!!!!!

Rather than generic locations - seashore, city, library, etc., I've somehow managed to develop a preference for thrillers that take place in some of my favorite cities and regions : New Orleans, California, the American West in general, the UK, etc.

what a creative post! islands are one of my favorites, Loved Lucy Foley's The Guest list! Agatha christie started me off on mysteries when I was a young girl, and she is timeless as I still enjoy her books!

I'd point out that the murder in Janice Hallett's The Appeal doesn't happen in a theatre, though amateur dramatics are involved. Still well worth reading, though.

More importantly, surely any list of murders in a locked room should have at least one by John Dickson Carr, the true master of that genre? Unfortunately much of his work is still out of print, but The Hollow Man (aka The Three Coffins) and Till Death Do Us Part are both highly recommendable and available.

That is the most wonderful service to readers (of my sort that I've ever seen, or could have imagined for that matter. It gives the term "a keeper" a whole new quality. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Leann wrote: "I'd love to see a similar list by geographical location ... love me a mystery in a European setting."
I've been reading two mystery series set in France. One by Jean-Luc Bannalec has seven so far, set all in different towns in Brittany. The first book is Death in Brittany. The other is usually set in southern France: Death at Chateau Bremont is the first - by ML Longworth.

I agree. A primary character in all of her mysteries is the environment. The role it plays in the character's death is usually not evident until well into or near the end of the book. I hope she publishes another mystery soon!

For By the Shore, two suggestions:

Lynne Truss' Constable Twitten series of mysteries are written in her signature humorous style and great fun to read. The first book is A Shot in the Dark. All are set in the resort community of Brighton.

Andrea Camilleri's 27 book series featuring Inspector Montalbano is very entertaining. Set in the fictitious town of Vigata, Italy, the inspector solves crimes while dealing with pressure from both the Mafia and the corrupt police force. The banter between him and the men on his force is priceless. Begin with The Shape of Water.

And to suggest a new category - Victorian Mysteries:
Will Thomas writes the Barker and Llewelyn series (13 books so far) , set in late 1800's England. B&L are enquiry agents who work with Scotland Yard to solve and prevent crimes. The first book, Some Danger Involved, is a great place to start.

Supratim wrote: "A nice list - but what about small towns/ villages near forests/ swamps?"

Any of the Louise Penny books, set in the forest of Three Pines in Canada.

I wish there was a Florida category. MAYBE--arrange them by State in the USA, or by country.

Robin wrote: "When it comes to settings I like a warm climate. Which puts Andrea Camilleri's Montalbano series right up at the top of the list."

My favorite!

The mysteries by Iran Pears are also good. They combine art and investigation via members of an Italian Art Crimes unit.

looks like my favourite is 'in a country house'

Sarah’s reading journey wrote: "Would anyone mind recommending bookstore mystery / thriller novels please"

Bookriot.com has a list of bookstore mysteries

The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley is so good that even my friend that doesn't particularly like to read is devouring it. James Crumley is considered to be a master.

Jeremy M Ellis wrote: "How about a category for the Australian Outback - I'd be hard pressed to think of many books with a better setting-as-a-character than Jane Harper's "The Lost Man". Her best book so far in my opini..."
The Lost Man is chilling. The heat and isolation...

Gail wrote: "Leann wrote: "I'd love to see a similar list by geographical location ... love me a mystery in a European setting."
I've been reading two mystery series set in France. One by Jean-Luc Bannalec has ..."
Two new authors for me to look out for. Thank you.

Gargi wrote: "Sarah’s reading journey wrote: "Would anyone mind recommending bookstore mystery / thriller novels please"

Bookriot.com has a list of bookstore mysteries"

Also - Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson - although not set in a bookstore, is a very unique mystery novel related to murder mystery novels!

Jeremy M Ellis wrote: "How about a category for the Australian Outback - I'd be hard pressed to think of many books with a better setting-as-a-character than Jane Harper's "The Lost Man". Her best book so far in my opini..."

Love all of her books! Haven't found a similar author yet.

I had read a lot of the recent books on this list but all found a lot I had read before my time on Goodreads so hadn't reviewed. I scored in all categories.

I've been frustrated in trying to remember a mystery I read that features a man who has fallen (unable to get up again) in either a country shed or cellar. What I mainly recall is the author's description of what falling feels like (how slow it seems to happen). The setting, I think, is in a remote place (Scandinavia? Scotland?). Anybody got an idea? Thanks. Claudia

A very cold place and at the table are some of my favorites. What about bakeries and mental institutions (especially abandoned ones)?

What a fun list. I like these new groupings. I was expecting them to be organized by locale--I was hoping for some set in Boston. This makes me want to check out a few of the new categories I've never read--like space. I loved the tagline for By the Shore, "The other kind of beach body."

I highly recommend "The Winter People" by Jennifer McMahon. Not strictly a mystery, although there is definitely a mystery at the heart of it. It's more along the lines of psychological thriller/horror. Perfect for the "In A Very Cold Place" category!

I think this is a great way to suggest books! I know there are other categories, but it would be impossible to categorize them beyond this. Thanks again.