• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peanut Blossom
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Book Club
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • HOLIDAYS
  • BOOK CLUB
  • COOKBOOKS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • HOLIDAYS
    • BOOK CLUB
    • COOKBOOKS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Blog » Book Recommendations

    Best Murder Mystery Books for Book Club

    Published: Sep 25, 2021 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Share
    • Email Friend!
    Collage of Four Murder Mystery Book Covers - Lemon Tart, Good Girl Bad Girl, Loves Music Loves to Dance, and The Silent Patient.

    Looking for a good murder mystery book, especially if you are new to the genre, can be a bit daunting. These not too scary books are highly recommended by the avid readers of the Peanut Blossom Book Club for Recovering Readers.

    Collage of four murder mystery books - Girl in the Window, Magpie Murders, Lemon Tart, and The Guest List.

    One of my favorite things about the awesome members of the Peanut Blossom Book Club is the steady stream of amazing recommendations the ladies are ready to give whenever someone has a request.

    As we head into fall, more requests have popped up for good mystery books or thrillers for people who are new to this genre and maybe not fully ready for the scariest of the scary.

    Our members came through with recommendations for the best mystery books that are not too scary, not too gory, and not too intense.

    In short, they're perfect for those who are new to the genre or for book clubs where some members don't often read murder mysteries or say they don't like them.

    Because that's what book club is for, right?? To introduce readers to something new? But if audiobooks are more your speed, don't miss this list of the best mystery audiobooks for road trips.

    Go ahead and tiptoe out of your comfort zone and find ideas for a suspense novel that you'll never want to put down.

    You've been warned: you'll want to clear your calendar!

    The Best Murder Mystery Books

    This list of the best murder mystery books for newbies comes from the recommendations of the ladies of the Peanut Blossom Book Club.

    When asked what their favorite mystery books are, these titles flew to the top of the list.

    Want to join us? Come check out the Peanut Blossom Book Club here.

    1

    Good Girl, Bad Girl: A Novel

    2

    The Silent Patient

    Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

    3

    Lemon Tart (Culinary Mysteries Book 1)

    Award-winning author Josi S. Kilpack introduces a new series of culinary "cozies" that is sure to tantalize mystery lovers. In this debut volume, cooking aficionado-turned-amateur detective, Sadie Hoffmiller, tries to solve the murder of Anne Lemmon, her beautiful young neighbor - a single mother who was mysteriously killed while a lemon tart was baking in her oven. 

    4

    And Then There Were None

    Ten people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to an isolated mansion on Indian Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island they are cut off from everything but each other and the inescapable shadows of their own past lives. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts. And one by one, they die…

    5

    Loves Music, Loves To Dance

    After college, best friends Erin Kelley and Darcy Scott move to the city to pursue exciting careers; Erin is a promising jewelry designer, Darcy finds success as a decorator. On a lark, Darcy persuades Erin to help their TV producer friend research the kinds of people who place personal ads. It seems like innocent fun...until Erin disappears.

    6

    Magpie Murders: A Novel

    When editor Susan Ryeland is given the manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest novel, she has no reason to think it will be much different from any of his others. After working with the bestselling crime writer for years, she’s intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries disturbing sleepy English villages.

    7

    The Woman in the Window: A Novel

    Anna Fox lives alone—a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors. But does she know what's real and what's in her head when she sees things she shouldn't?

    8

    The Broken Girls

    Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants—the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the ones too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall, and local legend says the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their friendship blossoming—until one of them mysteriously disappears....

    9

    The Guest List: A Novel

    The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner  – The bridesmaid – The body. On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one.

    More Great Reads

    • Collage of four book covers: Lonesome Dove, Kings of Texas, Badluck Way, and Holidays on the Ranch.
      12 Cowboy Books for Yellowstone Fans
    • Collage of four books: The Sundown Motel, Home Before Dark, The Searcher, and The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, four of the best thriller books ever.
      Best Thriller Books Ever
    • Collage of four book covers: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, 1984, The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, and Little Women.
      15 Classic Novels to Read Again
    • A collage of book covers about the royal family.
      The Best Royal Romance Books
    Collage of Four Murder Mystery Book Covers - Lemon Tart, Good Girl Bad Girl, Loves Music Loves to Dance, and The Silent Patient.

    More Book Recommendations from Our Book Club

    • A photo collage shows historical fiction books about the royal family along with modern biographies of Prince Harry and Princess Diana.
      16 Books About the Royal Family Fans of The Crown will Love
    • A collage of 4 photos of books about Scotland that fans of Outlander will enjoy
      13 Books About Scotland Outlander Fans Will Love
    • A photo collage shows the covers of several daily devotionals.
      12 Joyful Devotionals for Moms
    • Photo collage of 9 books illustrates how to select a 3x3 challenge.
      3x3 Reading Challenge

    Reader Interactions

    Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

    More about me →

    What's Trending Now

    • A photo collage shows the variety of recipes that can be made in a bread maker.
      50 Best Bread Machine Recipes
    • A blue baking dish filled with mac and cheese with bread crumb topping. A serving spoon has removed a portion to show the creamy elbow noodles.
      Make Ahead Mac and Cheese
    • An airfryer basket has 7 seasoned chicken tenderloins golden brown and cooked.
      Healthy Chicken Tenderloins in the Air Fryer
    • Two salmon filets are surrounded by fresh green beans in an air fryer basket.
      How to Cook Salmon in Air Fryer

    Popular

    • A freezer-friendly metal pan holds an 8x8-inch apple crisp with crumble topping.
      Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp
    • A stack of the best books for book club in 2023
      Best Book Club Picks 2023
    • A taco salad made with mini frozen tacos.
      10-minute Trader Joe's Meals
    • A young kid's hand is holding a homemade pizza lunchable.
      30 School Lunch Ideas for Kids
    • A collage of easy dinners for busy nights.
      30 Quick Dinners for Busy Nights
    • A photo collages shows several easy dinner ideas kids could make.
      Easy Dinner Ideas for Yo-Yo Nights {You're On Your Own!}
    • A meal train dinner kit featuring supplies for tacos sits in an aluminum tray for delivery.
      30 Clever Meal Train Ideas with Recipes
    • Harry Potter themed snacks are in a platter with a witch hat sitting next to an open copy of a Harry Potter book.
      21 Harry Potter Snacks for Movie Night

    Footer

    As Seen On

    The Taste of Home Logo
    The Pioneer Woman Logo
    The Country Living Logo
    The Buzzfeed logo
    The Good Housekeeping Logo

    About

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Contact
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer

    Favorites

    Bread Recipes
    Soup Recipes
    Quick Dinner Recipes
    Harry Potter Fan Club
    Reading with Kids

    Holidays

    Easter Recipes
    4th of July Recipes
    Catholic Celebrations
    Thanksgiving Recipes
    Christmas Recipes

    Recipes

    Appetizers
    Dinners
    Salads
    Side Dishes
    Desserts
    Brunch
    Homemade Pantry

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2023