29 Books like The Mystery Guest

Murder at the Bookstore

by Sue Minix

When a mystery writer's pen surfaces at her friend's murder scene, the police have only one suspect.

3.26

7k+

📚 Cozy Bookshop Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth ✍️ Writer As Detective 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 🌳 Southern Small Town

Murder at the Bookstore 94%

When a mystery writer's pen surfaces at her friend's murder scene, the police have only one suspect.

by Sue Minix 2023

3.26

7k+ ratings

📚 Cozy Bookshop Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth ✍️ Writer As Detective 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 🌳 Southern Small Town

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

by Catherine Mack • 2024

A mystery novelist's Italian book tour becomes a real whodunit when her blackmailing ex is targeted.

3.45

40k+

📚 Book Tour Murder ✍️ Author Sleuth 👯‍♀️ Sisters And Secrets 🔐 Locked Room Mystery 🪞 Meta Mystery

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies Summary

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies 94%

A mystery novelist's Italian book tour becomes a real whodunit when her blackmailing ex is targeted.

by Catherine Mack 2024

3.45

40k+ ratings

📚 Book Tour Murder ✍️ Author Sleuth 👯‍♀️ Sisters And Secrets 🔐 Locked Room Mystery 🪞 Meta Mystery

The Thursday Murder Club

by Richard Osman • 2020

Four retirees in a quiet retirement village trade cold cases for a live murder investigation.

3.85

804k+

🧓 Retiree Sleuths 🔍 Cold Case Reopened 🤝 Unlikely Partnership 🫂 Found Family Ensemble 💬 Witty Mystery

The Thursday Murder Club 94%

Four retirees in a quiet retirement village trade cold cases for a live murder investigation.

by Richard Osman 2020

3.85

804k+ ratings

🧓 Retiree Sleuths 🔍 Cold Case Reopened 🤝 Unlikely Partnership 🫂 Found Family Ensemble 💬 Witty Mystery

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

by Allison Brennan • 2025

A book lover finds coded blackmail in a beach read. The writer washes up dead.

3.58

7k+

🔍 Amateur Sleuth 📚 Books About Books 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery 🎭 Hidden Identity 💕 Forced Proximity

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds 93%

A book lover finds coded blackmail in a beach read. The writer washes up dead.

by Allison Brennan 2025

3.58

7k+ ratings

🔍 Amateur Sleuth 📚 Books About Books 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery 🎭 Hidden Identity 💕 Forced Proximity

Death of a Gossip

by M.C. Beaton • 1985

A gossip columnist joins a Highland fishing school. She's found strangled. Everyone wanted her dead.

3.64

22k+

🏘️ Village Mystery 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery 👮 Small Town Constable 🏔️ Scottish Highlands 💌 Secrets And Blackmail

Death of a Gossip 92%

A gossip columnist joins a Highland fishing school. She's found strangled. Everyone wanted her dead.

by M.C. Beaton 1985

3.64

22k+ ratings

🏘️ Village Mystery 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery 👮 Small Town Constable 🏔️ Scottish Highlands 💌 Secrets And Blackmail

This Is Not a Game

by Kelly Mullen • 2025

Blackmailed into a mansion party, a grandmother and her granddaughter are snowed in with a killer.

3.41

6k+

🔒 Locked Room Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuths 🤫 Family Secrets ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy ❄️ Snowbound Mansion

This Is Not a Game 94%

Blackmailed into a mansion party, a grandmother and her granddaughter are snowed in with a killer.

by Kelly Mullen 2025

3.41

6k+ ratings

🔒 Locked Room Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuths 🤫 Family Secrets ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy ❄️ Snowbound Mansion

The Morning Show Murders

by Al Roker • 2009

A TV chef becomes the prime suspect when his producer is poisoned outside his Manhattan restaurant.

3.36

1k+

🕵️ Amateur Sleuth 🍳 Culinary Cozy 🎯 Framed For Murder 🎭 Secret Identity 💬 Witty Banter

The Morning Show Murders 93%

A TV chef becomes the prime suspect when his producer is poisoned outside his Manhattan restaurant.

by Al Roker 2009

3.36

1k+ ratings

🕵️ Amateur Sleuth 🍳 Culinary Cozy 🎯 Framed For Murder 🎭 Secret Identity 💬 Witty Banter

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club

by Gloria Chao

Three women learn they share a boyfriend. Their revenge night ends over his dead body.

3.56

16k+

🕵️ Amateur Sleuths 😈 Revenge Comedy 💕 Found Family 💬 Banter And Bonding 🎙️ True Crime Satire

The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club 93%

Three women learn they share a boyfriend. Their revenge night ends over his dead body.

by Gloria Chao 2025

3.56

16k+ ratings

🕵️ Amateur Sleuths 😈 Revenge Comedy 💕 Found Family 💬 Banter And Bonding 🎙️ True Crime Satire

The Golden Spoon

by Jessa Maxwell • 2023

A storm strands a baking competition at a remote manor, turning rivalry into sabotage and murder.

3.47

54k+

🏚️ Locked Room Mystery 🥧 Culinary Competition 👥 Secret Lineage 🎭 Predatory Mentor 🔍 Sabotage Mystery

The Golden Spoon 92%

A storm strands a baking competition at a remote manor, turning rivalry into sabotage and murder.

by Jessa Maxwell 2023

3.47

54k+ ratings

🏚️ Locked Room Mystery 🥧 Culinary Competition 👥 Secret Lineage 🎭 Predatory Mentor 🔍 Sabotage Mystery

Kill Joy

by Holly Jackson • 2021

At a 1920s murder mystery party, game secrets blur into real suspicions for a teen sleuth.

3.72

177k+

🎭 Meta Mystery ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy 🔍 Friends As Suspects 🕵️ Amateur Detective 💰 Rich Family Secrets

Kill Joy 92%

At a 1920s murder mystery party, game secrets blur into real suspicions for a teen sleuth.

by Holly Jackson 2021

3.72

177k+ ratings

🎭 Meta Mystery ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy 🔍 Friends As Suspects 🕵️ Amateur Detective 💰 Rich Family Secrets

Magpie Murders

by Anthony Horowitz

A mystery author's manuscript is missing its ending. His editor must solve his death to finish it.

3.94

170k+

📖 Story Within A Story 🕵️ Cozy Mystery Subversion 📚 Publishing World Mystery 📄 Manuscript Mystery 🏘️ Small Village Secrets

Magpie Murders 93%

A mystery author's manuscript is missing its ending. His editor must solve his death to finish it.

by Anthony Horowitz 2016

3.94

170k+ ratings

📖 Story Within A Story 🕵️ Cozy Mystery Subversion 📚 Publishing World Mystery 📄 Manuscript Mystery 🏘️ Small Village Secrets

Mother-Daughter Murder Night

by Nina Simon • 2023

When her granddaughter is accused of murder, a mogul with cancer investigates in a coastal town.

3.55

117k+

🕵️ Amateur Sleuthing 🏘️ Small Town Murder 🔒 Family Secrets ⚖️ Wrongly Accused 📖 Character-Driven Mystery

Mother-Daughter Murder Night 93%

When her granddaughter is accused of murder, a mogul with cancer investigates in a coastal town.

by Nina Simon 2023

3.55

117k+ ratings

🕵️ Amateur Sleuthing 🏘️ Small Town Murder 🔒 Family Secrets ⚖️ Wrongly Accused 📖 Character-Driven Mystery

Death by Dumpling

by Vivien Chien • 2018

Lana Lee's lunch delivery kills the property manager of Asia Village, making her the prime suspect.

3.65

14k+

🍜 Restaurant Setting 🕵️‍♀️ Amateur Detective 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery 🤫 Family Secrets 💞 Slow Burn Romance

Death by Dumpling 93%

Lana Lee's lunch delivery kills the property manager of Asia Village, making her the prime suspect.

by Vivien Chien 2018

3.65

14k+ ratings

🍜 Restaurant Setting 🕵️‍♀️ Amateur Detective 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery 🤫 Family Secrets 💞 Slow Burn Romance

Pretty as a Picture

by Elizabeth Little • 2020

A film editor on an island shoot discovers the star posed dead, mirroring the real murder.

3.48

9k+

🎬 Film Set Mystery 📼 True Crime Critique 🔍 Amateur Detective 😬 Anxious Protagonist 👥 Found Family

Pretty as a Picture 92%

A film editor on an island shoot discovers the star posed dead, mirroring the real murder.

by Elizabeth Little 2020

3.48

9k+ ratings

🎬 Film Set Mystery 📼 True Crime Critique 🔍 Amateur Detective 😬 Anxious Protagonist 👥 Found Family

Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder

by Gracie Ruth Mitchell • 2023

A romance writer returns home, moves in with her former crush, and finds a vanishing body.

3.99

7k+

🔍 Amateur Sleuths 🕵️‍♀️ Small-Town Secrets 🏠 Forced Proximity 🛏️ Roommates To Lovers ☀️ Grumpy-Sunshine

Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder 92%

A romance writer returns home, moves in with her former crush, and finds a vanishing body.

by Gracie Ruth Mitchell 2023

3.99

7k+ ratings

🔍 Amateur Sleuths 🕵️‍♀️ Small-Town Secrets 🏠 Forced Proximity 🛏️ Roommates To Lovers ☀️ Grumpy-Sunshine

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

by Jesse Q. Sutanto • 2023

A lonely widow finds a dead man and turns the suspects into family.

4.02

209k+

🖤 Found Family 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 👵 Meddling Protagonist 🌱 Grief And Healing 🤝 Unlikely Friendships

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers Summary

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers 93%

A lonely widow finds a dead man and turns the suspects into family.

by Jesse Q. Sutanto 2023

4.02

209k+ ratings

🖤 Found Family 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 👵 Meddling Protagonist 🌱 Grief And Healing 🤝 Unlikely Friendships

Murder by Cheesecake

by Rachel Ekstrom Courage • 2025

A wedding to plan, a corpse in the freezer, and four older friends suspected of murder.

3.54

16k+

🕵️ Senior Sleuths 🔍 Amateur Investigation 🫂 Found Family 🎭 Mistaken Identity 👯 Older Women Friendship

Murder by Cheesecake 93%

A wedding to plan, a corpse in the freezer, and four older friends suspected of murder.

by Rachel Ekstrom Courage 2025

3.54

16k+ ratings

🕵️ Senior Sleuths 🔍 Amateur Investigation 🫂 Found Family 🎭 Mistaken Identity 👯 Older Women Friendship

How to Solve Your Own Murder

by Kristen Perrin

A fortune-teller's prophecy foretold her murder; now her great-niece must solve it to inherit.

3.79

132k+

🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🧩 Inheritance Puzzle 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 📂 Cold Case Revisited 📔 Diary Clues

How to Solve Your Own Murder 93%

A fortune-teller's prophecy foretold her murder; now her great-niece must solve it to inherit.

by Kristen Perrin 2024

3.79

132k+ ratings

🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🧩 Inheritance Puzzle 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 📂 Cold Case Revisited 📔 Diary Clues

Apple Cider Slaying

by Julie Anne Lindsey • 2019

Winnie planned a cider shop. A body in the press makes Granny the prime suspect instead.

3.96

4k+

🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🍎 Family Business 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🤗 Found Family

Apple Cider Slaying 92%

Winnie planned a cider shop. A body in the press makes Granny the prime suspect instead.

by Julie Anne Lindsey 2019

3.96

4k+ ratings

🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🍎 Family Business 🔥 Slow Burn Romance 🤗 Found Family

Cocaine Blues

by Kerry Greenwood • 1989

A poisoned heiress draws a detective into 1920s Melbourne, where high society hides a cocaine ring.

3.84

30k+

🕵️ Amateur Sleuth 🤝 Found Family 🎩 High Society Crime 🧪 Poison Investigation 🥂 Roaring Twenties

Cocaine Blues 92%

A poisoned heiress draws a detective into 1920s Melbourne, where high society hides a cocaine ring.

by Kerry Greenwood 1989

3.84

30k+ ratings

🕵️ Amateur Sleuth 🤝 Found Family 🎩 High Society Crime 🧪 Poison Investigation 🥂 Roaring Twenties

Still Life

by Louise Penny

An antique arrow kills a retired teacher in a Quebec village where no one locks their doors.

3.90

288k+

🏘️ Cozy Village Mystery 🫂 Found Family 🎩 Gentleman Detective 📚 Literary Cozy 🤫 Small-Town Secrets

Still Life 92%

An antique arrow kills a retired teacher in a Quebec village where no one locks their doors.

by Louise Penny 2005

3.90

288k+ ratings

🏘️ Cozy Village Mystery 🫂 Found Family 🎩 Gentleman Detective 📚 Literary Cozy 🤫 Small-Town Secrets

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective

by Jo Nichols • 2025

A Santa Barbara cottage community turns amateur detective when murder lands in their hedge.

3.74

5k+

🫂 Found Family 🔍 Amateur Sleuths ⚖️ Moral Ambiguity 🖤 Outsider Redemption 🤫 Cover Up

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective Summary

The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective 93%

A Santa Barbara cottage community turns amateur detective when murder lands in their hedge.

by Jo Nichols 2025

3.74

5k+ ratings

🫂 Found Family 🔍 Amateur Sleuths ⚖️ Moral Ambiguity 🖤 Outsider Redemption 🤫 Cover Up

Without a Clue

by Melissa Ferguson • 2026

Murder strikes a book cruise, forcing an assistant to suspect the seven authors she calls family.

3.66

6k+

🔍 Meta Mystery 🏠 Found Family 💕 Friends To Lovers 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy

Without a Clue 93%

Murder strikes a book cruise, forcing an assistant to suspect the seven authors she calls family.

by Melissa Ferguson 2026

3.66

6k+ ratings

🔍 Meta Mystery 🏠 Found Family 💕 Friends To Lovers 🔒 Closed Circle Mystery ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy

The Cambodian Curse and Other Stories

by Gigi Pandian • 2018

A locked room, a dead curator, a vanished artifact: a historian hunts truth behind a family curse.

3.92

299

🔐 Locked-Room Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 📜 Historian Detective 🎩 Stage Magician ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy

The Cambodian Curse and Other Stories Summary

The Cambodian Curse and Other Stories 92%

A locked room, a dead curator, a vanished artifact: a historian hunts truth behind a family curse.

by Gigi Pandian 2018

3.92

299 ratings

🔐 Locked-Room Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 📜 Historian Detective 🎩 Stage Magician ☕ Cozy Mystery Energy

Santa Cruise

by Mary Higgins Clark • 2006

Two fugitives in Santa suits board a charity cruise, unaware the guests include amateur sleuths.

3.44

8k+

🚢 Cruise Ship Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 👥 Ensemble Cast 🔒 Locked Room Mystery 😊 Lighthearted Suspense

Santa Cruise 92%

Two fugitives in Santa suits board a charity cruise, unaware the guests include amateur sleuths.

by Mary Higgins Clark 2006

3.44

8k+ ratings

🚢 Cruise Ship Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 👥 Ensemble Cast 🔒 Locked Room Mystery 😊 Lighthearted Suspense

Game of Cones

by Cynthia Baxter • 2020

A storm-trapped ice cream shop owner must solve a heiress's murder at a remote resort.

3.75

182

🍦 Culinary Cozy 🗝️ Locked Room Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🏔️ Isolated Setting 🔐 Family Secrets

Game of Cones 93%

A storm-trapped ice cream shop owner must solve a heiress's murder at a remote resort.

by Cynthia Baxter 2020

3.75

182 ratings

🍦 Culinary Cozy 🗝️ Locked Room Mystery 🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🏔️ Isolated Setting 🔐 Family Secrets

The Night in Question

by Susan Fletcher • 2024

After her care home manager's window plunge, an 87-year-old sleuth unearths a death-haunted past.

4.02

3k+

🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🏡 Retirement Home 👵 Elderly Protagonist ❤️ Late-Life Romance 🤫 Hidden Identities

The Night in Question 93%

After her care home manager's window plunge, an 87-year-old sleuth unearths a death-haunted past.

by Susan Fletcher 2024

4.02

3k+ ratings

🔍 Amateur Sleuth 🏡 Retirement Home 👵 Elderly Protagonist ❤️ Late-Life Romance 🤫 Hidden Identities

We Solve Murders

by Richard Osman

A bodyguard is framed with her own blood when her influencer clients are killed around the world.

4.05

197k+

🕵️ Unlikely Sleuths ⚖️ Framed For Murder 💬 Witty Banter 🌍 International Intrigue ❤️ Found Family

We Solve Murders 92%

A bodyguard is framed with her own blood when her influencer clients are killed around the world.

by Richard Osman 2024

4.05

197k+ ratings

🕵️ Unlikely Sleuths ⚖️ Framed For Murder 💬 Witty Banter 🌍 International Intrigue ❤️ Found Family

Thanksgiving Past

by Kathi Daley • 2020

A Thanksgiving vanishing pulls a newcomer into a mystery tangled with her own lost past.

4.46

2k+

🕵️ Cold Case Mystery 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 🦃 Thanksgiving Setting ❤️ Found Family 🔍 Amateur Sleuth

Thanksgiving Past 92%

A Thanksgiving vanishing pulls a newcomer into a mystery tangled with her own lost past.

by Kathi Daley 2020

4.46

2k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold Case Mystery 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 🦃 Thanksgiving Setting ❤️ Found Family 🔍 Amateur Sleuth

Compare Features	Free	Pro
📖 Read Summaries Read unlimited summaries. Free users get 3 per month
🎧 Listen to Summaries Listen to unlimited summaries in 40 languages	—
❤️ Unlimited Bookmarks Free users are limited to 4	—
📜 Unlimited History Free users are limited to 4	—
📥 Unlimited Downloads Free users are limited to 1	—

People love SoBrief

Join our global community of 600,000+ readers

★★★★★

This site is a total game-changer. I've been flying through book summaries like never before. Highly, highly recommend.

— Dave G

Worth my money and time, and really well made. I've never seen this quality of summaries on other websites. Very helpful!

— Em

Highly recommended!! Fantastic service. Perfect for those that want a little more than a teaser but not all the intricate details of a full audio book.

— Greg M