Hi everyone! I promised I was going to keep up with blogging this year… and so far I have failed. but I am going to try and start it up now. One subgenre of mysteries and thrillers that is my absolute favorite kind of read is Locked Room Mysteries or another term for them is Murder Whodunit. What components that make a book a locked room mystery to me is:
An isolated location, usually snowy atmosphere or an island, or some location that has been cut off from civilization due to an extreme weather event or accident.
A murder occurs, and characters may continue to be murdered.
The characters are trapped with said murderer and there are usually clues that the author leaves so that the reader can figure out whodunit.
I love these kinds out reads because I love puzzles and figuring out who the murderer is is always my favorite thing to do when reading these kinds of mysteries. The authors are usually really good at leaving subtle clues and if your paying close enough attention you can find them. Lately the subgenre has become really popular and there have been plenty of good ones coming out. Here are some of my favorite ones below.
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena is my favorite modern locked room mystery. It pays respect to the Queen of mystery, Agatha Christie which I love. The setting is perfectly isolated and there are a variety of characters. The characters are strangers that get stuck at a resort in a snow storm… but are they actually strangers? Lapena does a great job of leaving clues about the murderer and while I figured out the who the murder was there were still plenty of twists to keep me on my toes and a high body count. This one was so fun to read and I couldn’t put it down. There is also a twist ending!
Shiver by Allie Reynolds
Shiver by Allie Reynolds is a new locked room mystery that came out in January. I loved so much about this one. The cover is amazing and instantly draws you in. The setting is again perfectly isolated. This book features a group of friends that haven’t seen each other since the disappearance of you of them, Saskia 10 years ago on the mountain. Now reunited someone is out to figure out what happened… and for revenge. this book is read from one point of view and flashes back and forth between past and present. There are plenty of twists and if you were paying attention you can figure out who the killer is. this one also gets bonus points from me for including snowboarding.
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse is a new locked room mystery that came out last month. It was also the February pick for Reese’s book club. This one is about a sister and detective on leave, Elin, who travels to The Sanatorium which was converted into a hotel to celebrate her brother’s engagement. When her brother’s fiancé goes missing and the bodies start to drop Elin must figure out who the murderer is before the killer strikes again. This one has an isolated setting that is also eerie and has a lot of gothic elements. There is a creepy gothic mystery behind the killings and plenty of twists. This one also has so gruesome details as a heads up. The ending is somewhat of a cliffhanger that leaves you hoping that this won’t be the last time we see Elin.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
The Guest List by Lucy Foley was such a fun locked room mystery. People are gathering on a small island off the coast of Ireland for a wedding. Someone is murdered, and someone on the island is the murderer. By the end of the book every character seems to have plenty of reasons for wanting a certain person dead, but who did it? This one has the perfect moody and isolated setting that doesn’t involve snow. There are also multiple viewpoints and jumps in time. The way way Lucy reveals all the secrets of the guest while building the suspense was masterful. I also did not guess the killer so bonus points for that.
No Exit by Taylor Adams
No Exit by Taylor Adams is a non stop action packed locked room mystery. Darby is on her way home from school when she gets trapped in a blizzard and needs to stop and wait it out at a rest stop. When she discovers a kidnapped child in a van she realizes she is trapped with potentially dangerous people and she needs to find a way to rescue the girl and get to safety but who is the kidnapper? This book is such a fast read there are twists, and so much action that you are propelled through the book at breakneck speed. There is a bit of gore in this one so be forewarned. I loved how this one read as a horror movie and I finished this one in one day.
Death In The Family by Tessa Wegert
Death In The Family by Tessa Wegert came out last year and made Tessa one of my favorite new authors. Shana Merchant, a former NYPD detective moved to the Thousand Islands after being kidnapped by a serial killer and surviving. Shana and her partner Tim get a call about someone being missing from a privately owned Island. Once getting there is is clear a murder has occurred and then a brutal storm traps them on the island with a family, which whom one must be the killer. This one has amazing character development and is actually the first in a police procedural series. there are lots of twists, plus flashbacks that give us insight into Shana’s character. Also the whole family of suspects are unlikeable so anyone of them could easily be the killer.
They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall
They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall is a locked room mystery that takes place on a private island paradise. Each person brought to the island was to something different to lure them there. Soon what seems like a Paradise turns into a nightmare as the bodies begin to drop. This one was a fun read with a tropical setting which is different than most of the isolated settings. The cast of characters all have their own secrets and are all unlikeable people in there own way. This one also uses the seven deadly sins to develop the story which I really liked. The ending is excellent and one that I didn’t see coming.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
I have to include the book that started my interest in the sub genre, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. 10 guests arrive at a private island with there host no where to be found. Each guest has a secret that they would like to keep hidden. And then one by one they start to fall until there are none. This one is a classic and Christie is brilliant. I wasn’t much of a reader until I read this one for school. It was the one book I actually completed for summer reading because the story hooked me!
Other Honorable Mention Locked Room Mysteries to Check out are:
The Sleuth Reader 