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6 Murder Mystery Novels to Read After Seeing Knives Out

by  | January 2

So you’ve solved the mystery of who murdered Harlan Thrombey in Knives Out and now you’re wondering what’s next. Lucky for you, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite murder mysteries to put your newly developed detective skills to good use. If you were blown away by the intricate plotting and multi-faceted characters of director Rian Johnson’s Clue-esque film, you’ll also enjoy these 6 whodunit books. Read on for mysterious cruises, odd towns, and the race to find killers before they strike again.

Death Overdue

Death Overdue

by Mary Lou Kirwin

With the unlikeliest of murder weapons (a bookcase) and the unlikeliest of detectives (the suspect’s librarian girlfriend), Death Overdue is a one-of-a-kind mystery from the first page. Karen’s dreams are about to come true as she and her boyfriend are set to open a bookstore, his ex reappears, demanding a share of his B&B sales. Soon after, she is flattened by a bookcase and Karen must figure out who, of all the people who seemed to have problems with Sally, pushed the bookcase, before her beau is sent off to prison.

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The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing

by Tarquin Hall

Murder is no laughing matter. Yet a prominent Indian scientist dies in a fit of giggles when a Hindu goddess appears from a mist and plunges a sword into his chest. The only one laughing now is the main suspect, a powerful guru named Maharaj Swami, who seems to have done away with his most vocal critic. Vish Puri, India’s Most Private Investigator, master of disguise and lover of all things fried and spicy, doesn’t believe the murder is a supernatural occurrence, and proving who really killed Dr. Suresh Jha will require all the detective’s earthly faculties. Stopping only to indulge his ample Punjabi appetite, Puri uncovers a web of spirituality, science, and sin unique in the annals of crime.

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A Different Kind of Evil

A Different Kind of Evil

by Andrew Wilson

Agatha Christie, at the behest of British Special Agent Davison, is traveling to the beautiful Canary Islands to investigate the strange and gruesome death of Douglas Greene, an agent of the British Secret Intelligence Service. As she embarks on a glamorous cruise ship to her destination, she witnesses a woman fling herself over the side of the ship to her death. After this shocking experience, she makes it to the Grand Hotel and meets two men who are suspected to be involved in the murder of Douglas Greene. Agatha soon realizes that nothing is what it seems here and she is surprised to learn that the apparent suicide of the young woman on the ocean liner is related to the murder of Douglas Greene. Now she has to unmask a different kind of evil in this sinister and thrilling mystery.

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Fatal Inheritance

Fatal Inheritance

by Rachel Rhys

She didn’t have an enemy in the world…until she inherited a fortune. London 1948: Eve Forrester is stuck in a loveless marriage, isolated in her gray and gloomy house when out of the blue, she receives a letter. A wealthy stranger has left her a mysterious inheritance but in order to find out more, she must travel to the glittering French Riviera. There, Eve discovers she has been bequeathed an enchanting villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and suddenly, life could not be more glamorous. But while she rubs shoulders with the rich and famous, challengers to her unexplained fortune begin to emerge—challengers who would love to see Eve gone forever. Alone in paradise, Eve must unlock the story behind her surprise bequest—before her unexpected twist of fate turns deadly.

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The Color of Bee Larkham's Murder

The Color of Bee Larkham's Murder

by Sarah J. Harris

Thirteen-year-old Jasper Wishart lives in a world of dazzling color that no one else can see, least of all his dad. Words, numbers, days of the week, people’s voices—everything has its own unique shade. But recently Jasper has been haunted by a color he doesn’t like or understand: the color of murder. Convinced he’s done something terrible to his neighbor, Bee Larkham, Jasper revisits the events of the last few months to paint the story of their relationship from the very beginning. As he struggles to untangle the knot of untrustworthy memories and colors that will lead him to the truth, it seems that there’s someone else out there determined to stop him—at any cost.

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Holding

Holding

by Graham Norton

The remote Irish village of Duneen has known little drama, and yet its inhabitants are troubled: Sergeant P.J. Collins hasn’t always been this overweight; Brid Riordan, a mother of two, hasn’t always been an alcoholic; and elegant Evelyn Ross hasn’t always felt that her life was a total waste. So when human remains—suspected to be those of Tommy Burke, a former lover of both Brid and Evelyn—are discovered on an old farm, the village’s dark past begins to unravel. As a frustrated P.J. struggles to solve a genuine case for the first time in his professional life, he unearths a community’s worth of anger and resentments, secrets and regrets.

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Photo Credit // Media Rights Capital/T-Street Productions

Categories // Bookish Fun

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