Categories
You know what you like, but you don't know what it's called? Here is your "Mystery Dictionary" to help you in your search.
Academic. Mysteries that occur at a college or higher learning institution and often have a professor as the sleuth.
Adventure. A mystery with lots of adventure.
Amateur Sleuth. Mysteries where the protagonist is an amateur sleuth (not a PI, police officer, or of any other profession that would normally investigate crimes).
Animals. Mysteries where animals play an integral role or are the protagonist's pet.
Anthology. A collection of short mystery stories. Usually about a specific topic.
Antiques/Collectibles. Mysteries either related to antiques or collectibles or the protagonist is an antiques picker or some type of collector.
Archaeology. Mysteries either set in an archaeology dig, with an archaeologist as the protagonist, or a museum related to archaeological finds.
Art. Mysteries where art or works of art are central.
Bibliomystery. Mysteries where the plot, setting, and/or characters are closely associated with the world of books, manuscripts, libraries, archives, etc.
Canadian. Mysteries set in Canada or with a Canadian protagonist.
Caper Novel. Mysteries with humorous plots and characters, which tend to make the reader cheer the hero and hiss the villain.
Cats. Mysteries where a cat plays a major role. In some of them, the cat even speaks. Most of these are cozies.
Chick Lit. These mysteries usually have a sassy urban female protagonist, often with an element of romance along with the mystery.
Classic. A good old fashioned mystery story. Not a thriller.
Cozy. Very little cussing, sex, and violence in the story. Most of these books take place in a familiar setting to the sleuth, and the sleuth is usually a very ordinary person in the community who seems to "stumble" across an inordinate number of dead bodies. There are many subgenres.
Crafts. Mysteries where the protagonist is into at least one craft (like knitting, card making, soap making, candle making, sewing, etc.).
Crime Novel. This category deals with commonplace elements of crime, such as mobsters, crime rings, cat burglars, etc.
Cruise. Mysteries set on a cruise or where a cruise plays a significant role.
Culinary. These mysteries center around cooking and often includes recipes. Many are cozies.
Dieting. Mysteries centering around dieting.
Disaster. A disaster is a major part of the story line.
Dogs. Mysteries where dogs play a significant role in the story.
Espionage. Mysteries with spies playing a central role.
Ethnic. The main character's ethnic background is important to the story.
Forensics. Lots of detail on how science helps solve the mystery.
Gay. Mysteries where the principal characters or protagonists are gay or lesbian. Could also be involved in the culture.
Genealogy. Mysteries where either genealogy plays a central role or the protagonist is a genealogist.
Government Agency. The story has a Government agency integral to the story, i.e. FBI, CIA, Department of Fish and Game, or National Parks.
Hard-boiled. Could be described as "street-smart" mysteries. Deal with real life--harsh at times--and often have a private eye as the main sleuth.
High-Tech. Technology plays an integral role in the mystery.
Historical. Mysteries that usually take place before 1940.
Hobbies. Mysteries with hobbies playing an important role.
Holiday. Mysteries centering around a particular holiday.
Humor. These are books that generally make you laugh out loud. They have a lot of humor along with the mystery. Remember, everyone has a different sense of humor.
Inns. Mysteries set in an Inn or Bed and Breakfast.
Inspirational. Mysteries that are also inspirational.
Landscaping or gardening. These mysteries could be set in a flower shop, gardening or landscaping business, or have landscaping or gardening as the central theme.
Legal. Mysteries with a lawyer as the protagonist, or they are set around the legal system in some way.
Lighthouse. Mysteries with a lighthouse as a setting, or they are set around a lighthouse in some way.
Medical. Either the protagonist is in the medical field, or the setting might be a hospital or other medical facility.
Medieval. All of these tales feature knights and castles. Most are set in England, and quite a few make reference to King Arthur. Usually filled with very detailed historical information.
Music. Mysteries where music is important to the story.
Native Americans. Mysteries pertaining to Native Americans.
Office. Mysteries that takes place or revolve around an office and the workers.
Paranormal. The protagonist or sleuth is often helped by supernatural beings, such as ghosts, spirits from the past, or even an angel or two.
Partner Sleuths. A pair of sleuths solving a mystery.
Police Procedurals. The main characteristic of this type of mystery is its realistic portrayal of police methods in solving crime. Police novels, or procedurals, usually center on a single police force or precinct, with each individual within becoming an integral part of the story.
Political. Mysteries with politics playing a large part in the story.
Private Investigator. The main character is a P.I.
Psychological. Mysteries where the protagonist is a psychologist or other type of analyst, or the mystery could be a psychological thriller.
Puzzles. Mysteries that present a good puzzle.
Religious. A church or religion is integral to the mystery.
Reporter. A mystery where a reporter is the protagonist or plays a major role.
Romantic. Mysteries where romance plays an integral part in the story.
Senior Sleuths. Mysteries where the protagonist is an amateur and is generally retired or older.
Serial Killers. Mysteries that have a serial killer.
Small Town. Mysteries set in a small town.
Soft-boiled. Geared for the reader who wants the feel of a hard-boiled mystery, but has a more tempered sense of optimism. Sometimes it is a bit more humorous than hard-boiled. Usually not quite as violent.
Southern. Mysteries with a southern flavor or set in the south.
Sports. Mysteries where sports play an integral part in the story.
Suspense. Story line is based on a fear of harm, with the reader tempted to look over their shoulder as they read to see who is creeping up behind them.
Thrillers. Mysteries with lots of action and tension, created on the protagonist's ability to find themselves in very dangerous circumstances--and surviving them.
Time Travel. Mysteries where the main characters go backward or forward in time.
Traditional. Mysteries that are more traditional in nature.
Travel. Mysteries where travel is a strong theme. Also, the protagonist might be a travel agent.
True Crime. A mystery written about a real crime.
Vampire. Mysteries with vampires.
Video Games. Mysteries where video games play a significant role.
Whodunit. A standard mystery, such as a "traditional" or "classic" mystery, often set in the 1920s and 1930s. The basic clues are revealed little-by-little throughout the entire book. Based more on plot than on characters.
Wildlife. Mysteries with wildlife playing a central role.
Writer's Info. Instructional books to help writers.
Young Adult. Mysteries for children and teenagers.
Academic. Mysteries that occur at a college or higher learning institution and often have a professor as the sleuth.
Adventure. A mystery with lots of adventure.
Amateur Sleuth. Mysteries where the protagonist is an amateur sleuth (not a PI, police officer, or of any other profession that would normally investigate crimes).
Animals. Mysteries where animals play an integral role or are the protagonist's pet.
Anthology. A collection of short mystery stories. Usually about a specific topic.
Antiques/Collectibles. Mysteries either related to antiques or collectibles or the protagonist is an antiques picker or some type of collector.
Archaeology. Mysteries either set in an archaeology dig, with an archaeologist as the protagonist, or a museum related to archaeological finds.
Art. Mysteries where art or works of art are central.
Bibliomystery. Mysteries where the plot, setting, and/or characters are closely associated with the world of books, manuscripts, libraries, archives, etc.
Canadian. Mysteries set in Canada or with a Canadian protagonist.
Caper Novel. Mysteries with humorous plots and characters, which tend to make the reader cheer the hero and hiss the villain.
Cats. Mysteries where a cat plays a major role. In some of them, the cat even speaks. Most of these are cozies.
Chick Lit. These mysteries usually have a sassy urban female protagonist, often with an element of romance along with the mystery.
Classic. A good old fashioned mystery story. Not a thriller.
Cozy. Very little cussing, sex, and violence in the story. Most of these books take place in a familiar setting to the sleuth, and the sleuth is usually a very ordinary person in the community who seems to "stumble" across an inordinate number of dead bodies. There are many subgenres.
Crafts. Mysteries where the protagonist is into at least one craft (like knitting, card making, soap making, candle making, sewing, etc.).
Crime Novel. This category deals with commonplace elements of crime, such as mobsters, crime rings, cat burglars, etc.
Cruise. Mysteries set on a cruise or where a cruise plays a significant role.
Culinary. These mysteries center around cooking and often includes recipes. Many are cozies.
Dieting. Mysteries centering around dieting.
Disaster. A disaster is a major part of the story line.
Dogs. Mysteries where dogs play a significant role in the story.
Espionage. Mysteries with spies playing a central role.
Ethnic. The main character's ethnic background is important to the story.
Forensics. Lots of detail on how science helps solve the mystery.
Gay. Mysteries where the principal characters or protagonists are gay or lesbian. Could also be involved in the culture.
Genealogy. Mysteries where either genealogy plays a central role or the protagonist is a genealogist.
Government Agency. The story has a Government agency integral to the story, i.e. FBI, CIA, Department of Fish and Game, or National Parks.
Hard-boiled. Could be described as "street-smart" mysteries. Deal with real life--harsh at times--and often have a private eye as the main sleuth.
High-Tech. Technology plays an integral role in the mystery.
Historical. Mysteries that usually take place before 1940.
Hobbies. Mysteries with hobbies playing an important role.
Holiday. Mysteries centering around a particular holiday.
Humor. These are books that generally make you laugh out loud. They have a lot of humor along with the mystery. Remember, everyone has a different sense of humor.
Inns. Mysteries set in an Inn or Bed and Breakfast.
Inspirational. Mysteries that are also inspirational.
Landscaping or gardening. These mysteries could be set in a flower shop, gardening or landscaping business, or have landscaping or gardening as the central theme.
Legal. Mysteries with a lawyer as the protagonist, or they are set around the legal system in some way.
Lighthouse. Mysteries with a lighthouse as a setting, or they are set around a lighthouse in some way.
Medical. Either the protagonist is in the medical field, or the setting might be a hospital or other medical facility.
Medieval. All of these tales feature knights and castles. Most are set in England, and quite a few make reference to King Arthur. Usually filled with very detailed historical information.
Music. Mysteries where music is important to the story.
Native Americans. Mysteries pertaining to Native Americans.
Office. Mysteries that takes place or revolve around an office and the workers.
Paranormal. The protagonist or sleuth is often helped by supernatural beings, such as ghosts, spirits from the past, or even an angel or two.
Partner Sleuths. A pair of sleuths solving a mystery.
Police Procedurals. The main characteristic of this type of mystery is its realistic portrayal of police methods in solving crime. Police novels, or procedurals, usually center on a single police force or precinct, with each individual within becoming an integral part of the story.
Political. Mysteries with politics playing a large part in the story.
Private Investigator. The main character is a P.I.
Psychological. Mysteries where the protagonist is a psychologist or other type of analyst, or the mystery could be a psychological thriller.
Puzzles. Mysteries that present a good puzzle.
Religious. A church or religion is integral to the mystery.
Reporter. A mystery where a reporter is the protagonist or plays a major role.
Romantic. Mysteries where romance plays an integral part in the story.
Senior Sleuths. Mysteries where the protagonist is an amateur and is generally retired or older.
Serial Killers. Mysteries that have a serial killer.
Small Town. Mysteries set in a small town.
Soft-boiled. Geared for the reader who wants the feel of a hard-boiled mystery, but has a more tempered sense of optimism. Sometimes it is a bit more humorous than hard-boiled. Usually not quite as violent.
Southern. Mysteries with a southern flavor or set in the south.
Sports. Mysteries where sports play an integral part in the story.
Suspense. Story line is based on a fear of harm, with the reader tempted to look over their shoulder as they read to see who is creeping up behind them.
Thrillers. Mysteries with lots of action and tension, created on the protagonist's ability to find themselves in very dangerous circumstances--and surviving them.
Time Travel. Mysteries where the main characters go backward or forward in time.
Traditional. Mysteries that are more traditional in nature.
Travel. Mysteries where travel is a strong theme. Also, the protagonist might be a travel agent.
True Crime. A mystery written about a real crime.
Vampire. Mysteries with vampires.
Video Games. Mysteries where video games play a significant role.
Whodunit. A standard mystery, such as a "traditional" or "classic" mystery, often set in the 1920s and 1930s. The basic clues are revealed little-by-little throughout the entire book. Based more on plot than on characters.
Wildlife. Mysteries with wildlife playing a central role.
Writer's Info. Instructional books to help writers.
Young Adult. Mysteries for children and teenagers.