by WB Intern Jackie Gonzalez
The thrill of a mystery novel is the mind-stimulating and curiosity piquing plot that keeps you at the edge of your seat. By focusing on figuring out whodunit, readers get the perfect mental workout by analyzing the psychological makeup of the characters and what drives them, then using it to figure out why the crime was committed and who is the guilty party. The best part is when the author throws in red herrings, which are added details to a story that purposefully mislead the reader by laying a false trail. This keeps readers guessing to the very end.
These features are multiplied when they’re part of a series. Readers love to bond with characters or a particular “world” and live there for as long as the author allows them. When we’re looking for a good mystery book, we try to focus on those that are a part of a series. Here are five of our faves!
1. The Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson
Criminals in the city of San Francisco seems to be busy, and the SFPD works tirelessly taking them down. Although the SFPD is made up of all genders, it’s the four strong women who make up the Women’s Murder Club, and each woman holds a piece of the puzzle: Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Yuki Castellano is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas is lead crime writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Together, they collaborate with out of the box ideas, while sidestepping their bosses, and help each other solve these cases. The shorter chapters and fast paced prose make these novels page turners and difficult to put down. The series is currently at 22 published books.
Find book one of twenty two here.
2. Faces of Evil by Debra Webb
This romantic suspense series follows Deputy Chief Jess Harris and Chief Dan Burnett, who used to date and after two decades apart, are now working together on a major case that has overwhelmed the city of Birmingham with fear. With each lead they follow and each dangerous situation they end up in, Jess and Dan become closer, realizing that the spark between them is still there. All 11 books in the series focus on the primary serial killer, “The Player,” but with each additional case that pops up, Debra Webb is able to spice up a story of romance with the page turning action of a pulse pounding psychological thriller.
Check out the series here.
3. Cormoran Strike Series by Robert Galbraith
J.K. Rowling tried her hand at mystery writing under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith. The ongoing detective series features Cormoran Strike, an Afghanistan war vet with a prosthetic leg, who now works as a P.I., and his assistant, Robin Ellacott. In the first novel, we’re introduced to Strike, who is struggling to keep his business afloat. When he gets his first big case, he hires Robin, and soon, they begin to take on complex cases that the local police are unable to solve. Due to his unorthodox tactics for obtaining information, Strike always comes through for his clients. The setting of London gives the perfect eerie ambience to send the readers’ pulse racing as they follow Strike on his dangerous adventures. The 10 book series is now a popular TV show that can be seen on Cinemax and HBO.
Purchase it here!
4. The Bailey Weggins Series by Kate White
Bailey Weggins is one of the most beloved characters in any mystery series. She’s relatable as a woman in her 30s, who is divorced, and struggles to find and keep a relationship. As any single, workaholic with nothing else to keep her busy would do, Bailey pours herself into her career as a true crime writer for a top women’s magazine in Manhattan. This smart, spunky, and sassy heroine is always ready for a challenge. In fact, she has a sixth sense when it comes to seeing the truth in a story, and since she is so good at it, people seek her out for help finding answers. As a result, Bailey finds herself getting caught in the eye of unsolved crimes, which consistently puts her life in danger. The series is at 8 novels so far, but fans of Bailey are always anxiously awaiting her next move.
Find the first book of this series here.
5. You Series by Caroline Kepnes
“Hello, you…” How far would you go for the perfect love? Just like the popular Netflix series, the novel series features Joe Goldberg, a young man who develops a dark obsession with different women – starting with Guinevere Beck. All it takes is a couple similarities or a smile in his direction to convince Joe that they’re soulmates, and he will stop at nothing – including stalking, murder, and theft – to get the women of his dreams. As soon as these women rub him the wrong way or become suspicious of him, their lives are in danger. The series features chilling accounts of unrelenting passion, and tales of love, sex, and death. The brilliant way in which Caroline Kepnes chronicles Joe’s thought process and the actions inspired by those thoughts, will keep you looking over your shoulder, making sure your doors are locked, and never trusting anyone.
Dive into the mind of Joe Goldberg here.
Which mystery series is your favorite?
About the Author
Jacqueline Gonzalez is a writer and editor and currently resides in Corpus Christi, Texas. She has a BA in English from Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi and an MA in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a contributing writer for The Bend Magazine and Visit Corpus Christi, and she is currently working on her first short story collection. Outside of writing, she enjoys reading, watching true crime documentaries, and spending time with her family, dog, and cat.