Sink Into a Series™ for Sleuths

12 Great Mystery Book Series to Read Now

From a young adult sensation to a dark tale from the king of horror, and of course the most iconic detective there is, mystery is a genre full of depth and intrigue with a limitless supply of great titles to choose from. Sink Into a Series with us and one of these amazing mysteries below. There is historical fiction and contemporary, long-running series with over twenty novels and a series with only three books, so there should be something to sink into whether you want the deepeset lore or a quick dip.

Click the series title to see a list of all of the books in order.

Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Addictive • Twisty • Modern

What is the Good Girls Guide to Murder series about?

This a young adult mystery book series. Set in a small town, the series starts five years after the tragic murder-suicide of two teenagers. 17-year-old Pip, a smart and determined student, thinks the police were wrong and there is a real killer still on the loose so launches her own investigation. The deeper she and her partner Ravi dig, the more she unearths about the town, and the closer she gets to real danger.

How many books are in the series?

4. The series is made up of 3 novels and 1 novella.

Do you have to read the series in order?

Yes, these books should be read in order. The plot continues across the series, with later novels referencing earlier novels.

Will there be a show or movie?

Yes! BBC Three is currently filming a television adaptation. The series will star Emma Myers as Pip Fitz-Amobi and Zain Iqbal as her investigation partner Ravi Singh. The release date is not yet set.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

No, this series is complete.

The Bill Hodges Trilogy by Stephen King

Twisted • Dark • Psychological

What is the Bill Hodges series about?

The trilogy follows Bill Hodges, a recently retired detective who has to get back in the game in the first book, Mr. Mercedes, when a stolen Mercedes is driven through a crowd, killing eight, and Bill receives a letter from someone claiming to be the driver, who threatens to strike again. A new villain in the second book, Finders Keepers, echoes the themes of Misery and keeps Hodges stuck in the world of killers he tried to leave. This trilogy gives you multiple points of view, including the killer, and explores themes of mental health, legacy, and obsession.

How many books are in the series?

3

Do you have to read the series in order?

Yes, you should. Plots of earlier novels would be spoiled if you start on Finders Keepers (book 2) or End of Watch (book 3), though some readers have said they like reading in 1, 3, 2 order as well.

Will there be a movie or show?

There already is! A 3 season television series aired from 2017-2019 and stars Brendan Gleeson of as Bill Hodges.

Available to stream on: Peacock. Or you can bring home seasons one, two, and three right here.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

While the Mr. Mercedes trilogy is complete, Hodges and his friends do live on. King's Holly series can be seen as a sister series to Bill Hodges, with Holly Gibney and other characters from Mr. Mercedes also appearing in:

• The Outsider
• If It Bleeds
• Holly

The Cat Who… Series by Lilian Jackson Braun

Cozy • Lighthearted • Cat-centric

What is The Cat Who… series about?

Reporter Jim "Qwill" Qwilleran, whose moustache is iconic enough to be a character of its own, and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, are the stars of this cozy mystery series set in the northeast’s Moose County. Koko the cat seems to have a knack for finding clues that drag his owner Qwill into mysteries that put his reporter skills to the test.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, the first book of the series, was published in 1966. The final book, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers, was released in 2007.

How many books are in the series?

29. There are also 3 collections of short stories called The Cat Who Had 14 Tales, The Private Life of the Cat Who…, and Short & Tall Tales: Moose County Legends.

Do you have to read the series in order?

No, this series can be read in any order.

Will there be a movie or series?

Sadly there are no plans for an adaptation of this series at this time.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

No, these 29 are it.

The Leonid McGill Series by Walter Mosley

Cerebral • Intense • Noir

What is the Leonid McGill series about?

From the author of Devil in a Blue Dress, ex-boxer Leonid McGill is a New York City gumshoe with a criminal past that has him looking for redemption. This series follows McGill across several cases and situations and explores how they affect this personal life. The series starts with The Long Fall, where McGill tries to do right but finds he can't say no to the money when an offer from the underbelly to get some intel on the police comes his way. He quickly ends up having to fight for his life.

How many books are in the series?

6

Do you have to read the series in order?

Yes, we recommend reading these in order.

Will there be a movie or series?

Maybe? A pilot based on the first book in the series was in development at HBO back in 2010, with no news since. We’ll keep crossing our fingers for it!

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

Another maybe! The most recent book of this series was published in 2020. No statements we could find have been made that the series is over, so while there is not a title or release date for book #7 we think we can look forward to another McGill mystery soon.

A Sassy Cat Mystery by Jennifer J. Chow

Cozy • Charming • Romantic

What is the A Sassy Cat Mystery series about?

25-year-old Mimi Lee is running a new pet grooming shop, Hollywoof, in Los Angeles, with her cat Marshmallow, a long-haired all-white fluffball who talks to her (really!). Already overwhelmed with a new business and a mother who insists she needs a boyfriend, Mimi turns amateur-sleuth when she becomes the top suspect in the murder of a cruel dog breeder in book 1, Mimi Lee Gets a Clue.

How many books are in the series?

3

Do you have to read the series in order?

No. There will be some minor spoilers on Mimi’s personal life if you hop in late, but the mysteries of each book are self-contained and they can be read on their own.

Will there be a movie or series?

There are no plans for a Sassy Cat adaptation announced at this time.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

No further sequels have been announced for this series. Though the author has said Marshmallow is such a fun character to write, so we hope she returns to the series someday!

Miss Marple by Agatha Christie

Classic • Clever • Ingenious

What is the Miss Marple series about?

Things are not always what they seem in this series from the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. Miss Jane Marple lives in the village of St. Mary Mead, and is independently wealthy with no husband or children, giving her plenty of time to act as an amateur consulting detective in a town that seems to always have another intricate, devious caper at hand. Fans love Marple because she is a real woman you would love to sit down to tea with.

The series spans several decades, written between 1930 and 1976, and the novels update with the times, with some characters even aging in "real time" across the series if you read them closely.

How many books are in the series?

12, plus there are several short story collections centered around Miss Marple. The first appearance of the character actually happens in a short story collection, The Thirteen Problems.

Do you have to read the series in order?

No, the books can be read in any order.

Will there be a movie?

The Miss Marple series has been adapted several times over the years.

• Murder, She Said (1961)
• Murder at the Gallop (1963)
• Murder Most Foul (1964)
• Murder Ahoy (1964)
• The Mirror Crack’d (1980)
• A Pocket Full of Rye (1983)
• BBC’s Series: Miss Marple: The Complete Collection (1984-1992)
• From 2004 to 2005, there was an anime adaptation from Japanese TV network NHK called Agatha Christie’s Great Detectives Poirot and Marple which featured both of Christie's iconic detectives.
• ITV's Series: Agatha Christie's Marple (2004-2013)

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

While the main series itself is done, Marple's adventures were recently continued with Marple: Twelve New Mysteries, a short story collection published in 2022, with each story by a different author.

The Flavia de Luce Series by Alan Bradley

Quirky • Suspenseful • Nostalgic

What is the Flavia de Luce series about?

The youngest sleuth on the list, 11-year-old Flavia de Luce is an aspiring chemist growing up in 1950s England. Each book is a new mystery which Flavia gets caught up in, using her scientific knowledge to solve crimes ranging from theft to murder. The series is a blend of cozy mystery, coming-of-age, and historical fiction.

How many books are in the series?

10

Do you have to read the series in order?

No, they do not have to be, but we do recommend it as they are written and published in chronological order.

Will there be a movie?

Yes! Announced this year, Martin Freeman and Isla Gie are set to star in a film adaptation of the first book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. The release date has not yet been set.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

Good news, author Alan Bradley said on Facebook this year that yes, he does intend to write more Flavia books! There is not yet a title or release date for the next in the series.

The Kinsey Millhone Series by Sue Grafton

Gritty • Fast-paced • Character-driven

What is the Kinsey Millhone Series about?

Set in a fictional California town called Santa Teresa, this series follows rebellious private investigator Kinsey Millhone, a hard-boiled woman who is called to solve only the most difficult cases in town. Fan favorite cases include when Kinsey was framed by an arsonist, Kinsey going undercover, and one of the darkest, when Kinsey has to help a young man convicted of sexual assault when his crimes come back to haunt him.

This series is often called the "alphabet novels" because of the title structure. Beginning with A is for Alibi and followed by B is for Burglar, the books follow that pattern all the way to Y is for Yesterday. One book breaks the pattern, being simply, X.

How many books are in the series?

25

Do you have to read the series in order?

Every book is a standalone mystery solved within that book, so it can be read out of order. Fans  recommended to read them in order to appreciate the character arcs Grafton has crafted throughout the 25 book series.

Will there be a movie or show?

There are no movies or series of the Kinsey Millhone books at this time. While the rights for a television adaptation were acquired in 2021, there have not been any updates on the project and author Sue Grafton had expressed she preferred her work never be adapted.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

No. Author Sue Grafton passed away in 2017 before the final planned book, Z is for Zero, was written. Her family has said they will not hire a ghostwriter per Grafton’s wishes.

Dublin Murder Squad by Tana French

Intense • Psychological • Vivid

What is the Dublin Murder Squad series about?

Unique to the list, each book in this series features a new first person POV detective, with the commonality being that they are always set in Dublin, Ireland and always feature a murder investigation. The strength of this series is the quality writing that immerses you in the setting and deep, thoughtful characters.

How many books are in the series?

6

Do you have to read the series in order?

No, these can be read in any order. We do suggest reading In the Woods and The Likeness as a pair because they follow two closely related characters, but that is not mandatory.

Will there be a movie or show?

Yes! The first two books were adapted by Starz in 2019 to a series called Dublin Murders.

Available to stream on: Starz; the first episode is free on Amazon Prime.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

This series seems to be complete. There has not been a Dublin Murder Squad book since 2016's The Trespasser. French has continued to write standalone mysteries not set in the universe.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache by Louise Penny

Atmospheric • Procedural • Puzzling

What is the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series about?

Set in the detailed, though fictional, village of Three Pines in Quebec, the series stars the titular Armand Gamache, a compassionate, justice-driven detective in a town full of secrets. Favorite cases of the series include Gamache obtaining a strange map that had been stuffed into the walls of the town’s bistro and Gamache’s first case of the series, where he uncovers a simple hunting accident that was no such thing.

How many books are in the series?

18

Do you have to read the series in order?

No, each book is written as a standalone mystery, with the same detective carrying through the series.

Will there be a movie or show?

Yes there is! Fittingly called Three Pines. It stars Alfred Molina as Gamache.

Available to Steam on: Amazon Prime.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

Yes. Though there is not yet a release date or title for the next in the series, author Louise Penny told The Seattle Times, "As far as I’m concerned, it will never end until I end."

State of Terror in considered a spinoff of the series, with Gamache playing a minor role.

Wyndham & Banerjee by Abir Mukherjee

Historical • Engrossing • Rich

What is the Wyndham & Banerjee series about?

Set in the 1920s, former Scotland Yard detective Captain Sam Wyndham is posted in Calcutta after his time fighting in WWI, looking for a new start to forget the carnage and futility he saw in the war. He shortly meets Surendranath "Surrender-Not" Banerjee, a quick-witted Sergeant, who becomes the friend he needs in a time of political unrest, with the city ready to explode at any moment and every case threatening to unravel the life Wyndham is trying to build.

How many books are in the series?

5

Do you have to read the series in order?

Yes. Character development is important in this series and events and characters will carry over from one book to the next.

Will there be a movie?

There are no adaptations in development that we could find.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

There is not currently any news on a next book in the series. The latest, The Shadows of Men, was released in 2021.

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Classic • Logical • Enigmatic

What is The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes about?

We couldn't make a list of mysteries without the most iconic, genre-defining making the list! If you don’t know, Detective Sherlock Holmes and the always by his side Dr. Watson made their debut in A Study in Scarlet in 1887.

While not the first ever detective series, Sherlock has captured hearts and become such a definitive part of the mystery genre with his analytical nature and puzzling cases, only solved by his superior intellect and deductions made using esoteric, specialty knowledge and pure logic. Plus, his rival, the nefarious Moriarty, gives the series an overarching antagonist while maintaining a case-by-case nature that keeps you reading. Fun fact, the first Sherlock Holmes book was written in only three weeks.

How many books are in the series?

We have to get technical. There are 4 novels, plus 56 short stories which are collected across 5 books, for a total of 9 books in the series.

There are more short stories, cameos, essays, and other writings by Doyle that include the character or are about the character, but are not considered "canonical" to the mystery series itself.

Do you have to read the series in order?

No. There is no official order to the Sherlock books or short stories. We say, start with A Study in Scarlet to get a base, and then read whichever story interests you next! Or, you can get them all in one volume and just read straight through it.

Will there be a movie or show?

Being around for over a century and beloved as he is, the amount of Sherlock Holmes adaptations out there have reached numbers too high to list, including over 25,000 stage adaptations. Some of the most popular adaptations include:

• Basil Rathbone in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes (2009) starring Robert Downey Jr. as the sleuth and Jude Law as the doc.
  BBC's Sherlock (2010-2017) starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock and Watson.
• Mr. Holmes (2015) stars Ian McKellan as an older, retired Sherlock
• Elementary, a modern retelling from CBS that aired from 2012-2019, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu.

Will there be more books in the series or universe?

No, the original series came to an end in 1928.

That has not stopped retellings, remakes, remixes. Sherlock stories continue to be retold like with Enola Holmes, a young adult series from Nancy Springer recently adapted into a Netflix series, that imagines a younger sister of Sherlock and what she could be like. There is also Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse which expands on the life of Sherlock’s canonical older brother to get the other side of the sibling coin. Let's also mention House MD, the Hugh Laurie series on Fox that took Sherlock but made his mysteries medical (which is extra fun because the inspiration for the original Sherlock was a surgeon). For a little inception, you can explore Sherlock, a manga adaptation of the BBC adaptation of the Doyle works.

Will any of these series make it onto your to-be-read pile? Who is your favorite literary detective? Let us know in the comments.
If you are a series junkie, we have more at our Sink Into a Series™ page, featuring the first book in over 100 well-loved, bingeable series.

Read more by Amanda Cleveland