Home - Where you will find out more about mystery novels, find new authors, and learn about some really great older ones.

Mystery Author Index

Murderous Occupations

• Academics in Mystery Novels - This list is from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• A Brief History of Academic Mysteries, Campus Thrillers and Research Noir - An article and booklist by Molly Odintz in Crime Reads, August 29, 2019
• Accounting, Accountants, and Income Taxes - This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Archaeologists and Anthropologists - A list from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• Murder is an Art - Mysteries set in the art world. This list is by the St. Charles Public Library.
• Popular Art Theft Books - This list is from Good Reads.
• Beauty Shop Mystery Series - This is from the Cosy Mystery List.
• Funeral Based Mysteries - Occupations such mortician, funeral director, undertaker and so on. This list is from Good Reads.
• Labor Union Crime Fiction - This list is by Janet Rudolph
• Legal Mysteries - An extensive list from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• Book Store Owner Mysteries (and Some Publishing Mysteries, Too) - This list is by The Cozy Mystery List.
• Cozy Mystery Librarians - This list is by the Cozy Mystery List.
• Library/Librarian Mystery Series - This list is by Janet Rudolph, May 18, 2021.
• 8 Great Mystery Series Featuring Librarians as Amateur Detectives - An article by Victoria Gilbert in Crime Reads, Dec. 19, 2022.
• Bookstore Mysteries - This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Bibliomysteries - Mysterious Press is publishing bibliomystery novellas by noted authors such as Anne Perry and Laura Lippman in ebook format.
• Books and Publishing Industry Mysteries - List is by Reader's Advice. This list is rather dated.
• Main Sleuth Who is a Nurse or a Midwife - This list is by the Cozy Mystery List.
• Mystery Book Series with a Music and/or Musician Theme - This list is from the Cozy Mystery List Blog.
• Musical Mysteries - This list is from Good Reads.
• Music in English Detective Fiction - An essay by Phillip L. Scowcroft.
• Musical Mysteries - List from Readers Advice
• Presidential Crime Fiction - Elections, politics, and more. This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Teachers as Main Sleuths in Mystery Books - This list is by the Cozy Mystery List.
• Death at the Theater - This list is from Library Book Lists.
• Veterinarian Cozy Mysteries - This list is by the Cozy Mystery List Blog.

Death in the Home, Garden or the Ballpark

• Where to Start with Culinary Cozy Mystery Series - There are to many of them that you will appreciate this guide from the Cozy Mystery List.
• Amateur Sleuths: Housewives - The list is compiled by Reader's Advice.
• Cozy Mystery House Keepers, Cleaners, Maid Services, Laundromats… - This list is by the Cozy Mystery List Blog.
• Home Repair and Interior Design Cozy Mysteries - This list is by the Cozy Mystery List Blog.
• Interior Decorators - This list is from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• Antiques Mysteries - Mysteries in the world of antiques collectors and traders. This list is by Reader's Advice.
• Crafts and Needlework Mysteries - This list is from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• Needlework/Sewing Mysteries - This list is by Reader's Advice and is dated.
• Detectives of the Diamond - Article on baseball mysteries by Karen Anderson.
• Cricket and the Mystery Story - An article by Marvin Lachman
• Murder at the Super Bowl and Other Football Crime Fiction - This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Kentucky Derby Crime Fiction - Horse racing mysteries. This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Golf in Crime Fiction - This list is from Library Book Lists.
• Diving and Maritime Mysteries - This list is from Stop You're Killing Me!
• Sailing and Boating Mysteries - This list is by Reader's Advice. It is dated.
• Sports Mysteries - This list is by Reader's Advice.
• Murder at the Olympics - This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Herbs and Gardens - This list of gardening mysteries is from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• Gardening Cozy Mysteries - From the Cozy Mystery List.
• A Thyme to Kill - Article on gardening mysteries from January Magazine.

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Religious Sleuths

• Mystery Novels with a Religious Theme - This list is from the Cozy Mystery List.
• Jewish Mystery Novels - This list is from GoodReads.
• An Intriguing Trio of Jewish Detectives- From Mrs. Peabody's Investigates.
• Amish, Quaker, Shaker and Mennonite Cozy Mystery Series - By The Cozy Mystery List.

Multicultural Detectives

• Popular African American Mystery Novels - This list is from GoodReads.
• African American and Black Mysteries - This list is from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• African American Mystery Writers and their African American Detectives - This article is by The Los Angeles Public Library, 2018.
• Crime Fiction's Pioneering Women of Color - An article by Valerie Wilson Wesley at Crime Reads, February 22, 2022.
• Beyond Shaft - Black private eyes in fiction. This is an article by Kevin Burton Smith in January magazine.
• Crime Fiction by Native Americans - An article by David Nemeth in the blog Do Some Damage, 2017.
• Hispanic Detective and Mystery Fiction - From the Charlotte Mecklenberg Public Library.
• The Asian Detective Novel from Racist Caricature to Authentic Representation - An article by Pooja Makhijani in Crime Reads, Feb. 1, 2017.
• Ten Must Read-Mysteries by Asian authors - by Kara Williams, April 22, 2021
• Muslim Mysteries - This list is from the Chicago Public Library.

Crime For the Holidays

• Holiday Mystery Book Lists - Mysteries for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and many others. These lists have been prepared by the Cozy Mystery List.
• Holiday Mystery Lists - Janet Rudolph has compiled book lists for many, many holidays and this site will lead you to these excellent lists.
• May Day and Morris Dancing Mysteries - This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Holiday/Calendar Based Mysteries -"Murder and Mayhem never take a day off". This list is compiled by Reader's Advice.

Historical Mysteries

• Historical Mystery Fiction - Extensive lists by period and by author.
• Historical Mystery Novels - These lists are from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• Historical Mysteries with Women Sleuths - Women detectives from all time periods compiled by the Women in World History Curriculum project.
• World War 1 Mystery Novels - This list is from Good Reads.
• Rethinking the American Home Front During World War II - Mystery novels from a neglected period in American history. This is an article by Paul D. Marks in Crime Reads.
• Real People as Detectives - An extensive of famous people solving crimes by Stop, You're Killing Me.
• Mystery Books with Real People as Characters - This list is from the Cozy Mystery List Blog.
• Author as Sleuth - Mysteries which feature a real life author (such as Jane Austen or Edgar Allen Poe) solving crimes. This list is from Reader's Advice and is dated 2011.
• 17 Crime Fiction Series That Use Real Historical Figures as Sleuths - this is an article by Heather Redmond in Crime Reads, Oct. 9, 2020.
• Crime Thru Time - Site devoted to historical mysteries. It is now somewhat out of date.

Miscellaneous Mystery Lists

• Cat Themed Mystery Novels - From the Cozy Mystery List.
• Dog Theme Mystery Novels - From the Cozy Mystery List.
• Upper Crust - Murder among aristocrats and the super rich. This list is by Reader's Advice.
• Gay and Lesbian Mysteries - This list is from Stop, You're Killing Me.
• Top 10 Cold Case Mysteries - From DeadGoodBooks. 2014
• Popular Cold Case Mysteries - From GoodReads.
• Mysteries Set at Conventions - This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Drowned Towns - Mysteries and other books concerned with the flooding of towns,cities and other areas. This list is by Library Book Lists.
• Earth Day Mysteries: Environmental Crime Fiction - This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• Hurricane Mysteries - This list is by Janet Rudolph.
• The Hard-Boiled Gazetteer to the Weather - Mysteries set in difficult weather conditions. This is an article by Bill Ott in Booklist, May 1, 2018.
• The Game is Afoot: 10 Mysteries and Thrillers Based Around Games - This list is from Book Riot.
• 12 Mystery Novels for Fans of Literary Fiction - List from BookRiot.
• Locked Room Mysteries - A very long list from Goodreads
• The Top Ten Locked Room Mysteries - From The Guardian
• Mystery Books Without a Murder - This list is by the Cozy Mystery List.
• Nazi Art Theft in Crime Novels - This list is from Library Book Lists.
• Paranormal Mysteries - This list is compiled by Reader's Advice.
• Science Fiction Mysteries - Books which are both science fiction and mystery.
• Senior Sleuths Mystery Novels - Murder solved by the Medicare set. This list is from the Cozy Mystery List.
• Full Figured Sleuths - Plus sized sleuths. This list is by Cozy Mystery List.
• Shakespearean Mysteries - Mysteries which feature Shakespeare or his plays. This list is by Janet Rudolph.

Other Sources of Reading Lists

• Stop, You're Killing Me! - Many lists by location, historical period, and by occupation.
• Cozy Mysteries by Theme - Great collection of lists by the Cozy Mystery List
• Gumshoes, Sleuths and Snoopers - A searchable database of detective fiction written between 1930 and 1960. It is based upon the George Kelly Paperback and Pulp Fiction Collection at the University of Buffalo.

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This site is maintained by Linda Bertland, Philadelphia, PA. Please address any comments, additions, or corrections to info@sldirectory.com