Mysteries are probably the most widely read genre, as they appeal to a large cross-section of the reading population. The central part of any mystery novel is the mystery itself, or the puzzle. Over the course of the book, the author provides clues, which a savvy reader can then put together and guess the ending. The puzzle also usually involves a crime, most often a murder. Lastly, the main character in a mystery will fall into one of three categories: a police detective, a private investigator or an amateur detective.
Amateur Detectives
Police Detectives
- Nevada Barr
- MC Beaton
- Stephen Booth
- Michael Brandman
- Richard Castle
- Michael Connelly
- Patricia Cornwell
- Deborah Crombie
- Colin Dexter
- Linda Fairstein
- Elizabeth George
- Tess Gerritsen
- Leslie Glass
- Joan Hess
- Tony Hillerman
- P.D. James
- J.A. Jance
- Faye Kellerman
- Ed McBain
- Val McDermid
- Jill McGown
- Nele Neuhaus
- Carol O’Connell
- Robert Parker
- Ridley Pearson
- Anne Perry
- Ian Rankin
- Kathy Reichs
- J.D. Robb
- Peter Robinson
- John Sandford
- Alan Scholefield
- Julie Smith
- Aimee Thurlo
- Ted Wood
Private Investigators
- Ace Atkins
- Richard Barre
- Rhys Bowen
- Liza Cody
- Robert Crais
- Lindsey Davis
- Sarah Dunant
- Charles Finch
- Lee Goldberg
- Sue Grafton
- Jane Haddam
- Parnell Hall
- Laurie R. King
- Dennis Lehane
- G.A. McKevett
- Marcia Muller
- Robert B. Parker
- Sara Paretsky
- Lawrence Sanders
- Steven Saylor
- Stuart Woods