Discover published sets by community

This sub-genre combines historical fiction with mystery, with the plot taking place in a well-defined historical period. Examples: Umberto Eco's 'The Name of the Rose', Ellis Peters' 'The Cadfael Chronicles'.

Sub-genre that focuses on the psychological state of characters, including the criminal, victim, and detective. Examples: 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn, 'Before I Go to Sleep' by S.J. Watson.

Sub-genre that takes place in a world where history has diverged from the one we know, and the mystery unfolds within this alternate setting. Examples: 'Fatherland' by Robert Harris, 'The Yiddish Policemen’s Union' by Michael Chabon.

Mysteries that revolve around lawyers or courtrooms, where the legal system plays a central role in the plot. Examples: John Grisham's 'A Time to Kill', Scott Turow's 'Presumed Innocent'.

This sub-genre includes elements of the supernatural or fantastic in the plot, characters, or setting. Examples: Charlaine Harris's 'Sookie Stackhouse' series, Jim Butcher's 'The Dresden Files'.

Sub-genre that combines humor with mystery, making the investigation or scenarios comedic. Examples: Carl Hiaasen's 'Skinny Dip', 'The Spellman Files' by Lisa Lutz.

A sub-genre of crime fiction where sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, often occurring in a small, socially intimate community. Examples: Agatha Christie's 'Miss Marple' series, M.C. Beaton's 'Hamish Macbeth' series.

This sub-genre focuses on the procedures of the police work and crime-solving process, often with a detailed depiction of a police detective's hard work. Examples: Ed McBain's '87th Precinct' series, Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö's 'Martin Beck' series.

A sub-genre in which a crime, often murder, is committed under seemingly impossible circumstances, like a locked room. Examples: John Dickson Carr's 'The Hollow Man', Gaston Leroux's 'The Mystery of the Yellow Room'.

A light-hearted sub-genre that focuses on the planning and execution of a crime, often told from the criminals' point of view. Examples: 'The Great Train Robbery' by Michael Crichton, 'The Hot Rock' by Donald E. Westlake.

Mysteries that revolve around doctors, medical professionals, or outbreaks of diseases. Examples: Robin Cook's 'Coma', Tess Gerritsen's 'Harvest'.

A sub-genre that features tough, cynical, and disillusioned detectives. It places an emphasis on sexual relationships and violent action. Examples: Raymond Chandler's 'The Big Sleep', Dashiell Hammett's 'The Maltese Falcon'.

A sub-genre characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity. It often involves a flawed protagonist and a sense of pervasive pessimism. Examples: James M. Cain's 'Double Indemnity', Cornell Woolrich's 'Rear Window'.

Sub-genre that mixes spy fiction with mystery, focusing on the activities of secret agents and the detection of espionage. Examples: 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' by John le Carré, 'The Bourne Identity' by Robert Ludlum.

Sub-genre that focuses on crimes or mysteries with an environmental angle, often involving pollution or conservation efforts. Examples: 'The Monkey-Wrench Gang' by Edward Abbey, 'Ill Wind' by Nevada Barr.

A sub-genre with plots reliant on technology, where the technology or scientific concepts play a central role in the resolution of the plot. Examples: Michael Crichton's 'Jurassic Park', Tom Clancy's 'The Hunt for Red October'.

A sub-genre featuring a protagonist who investigates crimes but does not get paid for the work, typically for personal reasons. Examples: Dorothy L. Sayers's 'Lord Peter Wimsey' series, Elizabeth Peters's 'Amelia Peabody' series.