The Top 10 Must-Read Mysteries For Autumn 2024

From A Southern Gothic Horror Mystery To A Murder At A Hitchcock-themed Hotel, This List Has Something For Everyone!

Welcome to a brand new edition of Only Murders In The Inbox! If you’re a regular reader, thanks for returning, I appreciate you. If you’re only just now joining us, hello, we’re happy to have you! Every week, OMITI covers murder mysteries in literature and entertainment. We delve into the ways the Mystery genre is significant in pop culture. You’ll also find curated suggestions and lists here so if you’re looking for a particular type of book, movie or series, I’ve got you! If you’re new to Only Murders, start here:

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When the first of October hits, it’s time to get out the cardigans and oversized hoodies, set up the Halloween decorations and carve some pumpkins. The other obvious priority at the top of my to-do list at the beginning of the month is to peruse new releases in crime fiction. Once I’ve figured out what I want, I quickly go on the Libby app linked to my public library to reserve what I want to read most. If I’m lucky, it’s a shorter than six-week wait, or better still, an audiobook version is available. If you’d like some ideas of what’s hitting shelves in the next three months, here are ten must-reads for fall. Go ahead and reserve these on Libby now or preorder them through your favorite bookstore.

10. Killing Time by M.C. Beaton with R.W. Green

Cotswolds Sleuth Agatha Raisin is investigating a string of shop burglaries when one robbery takes a more serious turn and the shop owner, a friend of Agatha’s, is found murdered. While trying to solve the mystery of her friend’s death, Agatha is also planning a soirée at Charles Fraith’s Barfield Manor (surprise, surprise) and jaunting off to Mallorca to meet up with former-cop-turned-dance instructor John Glass for some romance. This cozy mystery does some zig-zagging between Mallorca and the Cotswolds, straddling the fence on romantic intrigue and amateur investigating, with some typical formulaic but fun shenanigans as expected from this cozy series. M.C. Beaton passed away in 2019 (the hit British television series starring Ashley Jensen dedicated its Series Four to the popular writer), so R.W. Green took up the mantle of keeping Agatha Raisin, and Beaton’s other popular investigator, Hamish McBeth, alive and well. This is his fifth Agatha Raisin mystery. The novel is published by Minotaur Books in the U.S. and Little, Brown Book Group in the U.K. and is out now.

9. We Solve Murders By Richard Osman

Retired investigator Steve Wheeler’s only excitement lately has been the quiz night at the pub and spending time with his cat; that is, until his daughter-in-law Amy Wheeler contacts him with a problem. Amy has been working security on a remote private island for an ultra-famous bestselling author, Rosie D’Antonio, and things have gotten sticky. There’s a dead body and missing money and Amy isn’t sure who else to call, so she calls Steve for help, and soon they’re both wrapped up in a chase for the truth. This is the first book in the newest series from Richard Osman, best known for his books about The Thursday Murder Club, which is now a new series for Netflix set to air early in 2025. The novel is published by Pamela Dorman Books and is available now.

8. Now Or Never: Thirty-One On The Run by Janet Evanovich

Can you believe the Stephanie Plum series is already in its thirty-first installment? Let’s be honest, the first fifteen are stronger than the last fifteen, but medicore-Evanovich can still be better than many mystery writers at their absolute best. In the latest mystery, Stephanie Plum is at a crazy crossroads — she said yes to the two main men in her life, Ranger and Morelli, and now she’s not sure who to choose or how to get out of it. In the meantime, she’s pursuing a handful of ridiculous, comical fugitives — as well as one very scary one named Zoran, a laundromat owner by day and a self-proclaimed vampire by night with a penchant for draining blood out of women. Then he decides maybe Stephanie should be next, and that’s when she realizes she has bigger problems than choosing which man is most important to her. This latest book in the series is published by Atria Books and is available November 19th, 2024.

7. The Waiting by Michael Connelly

In this sixth Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch Novel, LAPD Detective Renée Ballard expands her search for a serial rapist and murderer called the Pillowcase Rapist. However, the investigative unit hits roadblocks when they hone in on their suspect, all while Detective Ballard's badge, gun, and ID are stolen. As she worries about enemies within the police department ending her career, she realized she has no choice except to reach out to the one person who can help her — Harry Bosch. This novel from Little, Brown & Company is available on October 15th, 2024.

6. The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

In the White Mountains in New England, hotelier Alfred Smettle runs the Hitchcock Hotel. The location is an Alfred Hitchcock fan’s paradise, with props and memorabilia in every guest room and regular screenings of Hitchcock’s movies. When Alfred plans the celebration of the first anniversary of the hotel opening, he invites his old friends from his college film society to join him, all of whom he hasn’t seen for sixteen years, with unforeseen consequences. This is Stephanie Wrobel’s third book, full of well-developed characters and Easter eggs. If you appreciate Hitchcock’s work but also know the history behind his obsessive behavior with some of his stars as I mentioned in this Grace Kelly article last year, you’ll appreciate that Wrobel doesn’t sweep this under the rug. This novel is published by Thorndike Press and is available now.

5. This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

In this 1960’s Southern gothic horror debut novel from Del Sandeen, Jemma Barker leaves Chicago to take a position with the mysterious Duchon family of New Orleans. When she moves into the antebellum home, she soon discovers the family harbors dark secrets and a curse that they’re convinced Jemma can help them escape. This novel falls somewhere between a spooky ghost story and a sinister mystery in historical fiction, so it’s perfect for fall! Del Sandeen is also from my neck of the woods, so I wanted to give her a proper shout-out. This novel is published by Berkeley/Penguin Random House and is available now.

4. Booked For Murder by P. J. Nelson on Penguin Random House

Speaking of spooky houses, Booked For Murder is set in a creepy Victorian home in Enigma, Georgia. When Madeline Brimley‘s Aunt Rose passes away, she inherits not only the house but also the bookstore which her aunt had been running out of her home. However, once Madeline settles in, someone tries to scare her off, first by setting the gazebo in the backyard ablaze, then by murdering someone in her bookshop. Once she realizes she’s next, she’s in a race against the clock to solve the mystery before it’s too late. This is the first in a new cozy series called An Old Juniper Bookstore Mystery, and is P.J. Nelson’s debut novel. This book is published by Penguin Random House and is available on December 10th, 2024.

3. Drop Dead Sisters by Amelia Diane Coombs

Appreciate black humor? Start with this novel from romance writer Diane Coombs. This is the first of a two-book series about The Finch Sisters. Drop Dead Sisters is about an accidental murder during a Fourth of July family vacation with three sisters. While they’re on camping trip, the trio discovers a dead body at their campsite. They decide to cover up the murder, and soon the story becomes a comedy of errors. There’s a handsome park ranger, sisterly bonding despite differences, and oblivious parents who are just trying to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Actress Mindy Kaling handpicked this novel for publication through her publishing house Mindy’s Book Studio, in partnership with Amazon. The novel is published by Mindy’s Book Studio and will be available on November 1st, 2024.

2. The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

The new novel from Louise Penny is the nineteenth mystery in the #1 New York Times-bestselling Armand Gamache series and is one of the most anticipated literary releases in mysteries this year. A mysterious chain of events leads to a shocking event at the beginning of this story, which then takes Inspector Gamache and his team on a search for the truth and people they can trust. This book is brimming with puzzles, cliffhangers and uncertainties, and is considered to be one of the strongest entries in the Inspector Gamache series. This book is published by Macmillan Publishers and will be available on October 29th, 2024.

1. The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

In the mood for a psychological thriller? If you loved The Girl On The Train, you’re probably as eager for this new novel from Paula Hawkins as I am! This slow burn murder mystery is set on the Scottish isle of Eris, where artist Vanessa Chapman lives. When an actual human bone is found inside a sculpture Vanessa made, this discovery links three people together, and the mystery unfolds from there. The story of The Blue Hour jumps between flashbacks and diary entries, with an emphasis on the mystery and the build-up to what’s actually going on. Go in blind! The novel is published by Mariner Books and will be available on October 29th, 2024.

Song of the Day: “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine” by The Killers