Help me fill in this vague recollection of a story I read? I read it probably as recently as last year. I don't remember if it's a short story or an incident in a novel. [more inside]
posted by Infinity_8 on Jan 17, 2013 - 6 answers

What are the best non-Doyle Sherlock Holmes stories, collections, and novels?
posted by jsturgill on Dec 7, 2012 - 20 answers

Recommend mystery fiction, especially mystery fiction by authors whose works were adapted into Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes [more inside]
posted by GlassHeart on Jun 11, 2012 - 14 answers

What-was-that-book-filter: 70's or 80's (?) heist (?) novel that involved shutting down L.A. by closing a couple of freeways and the central telephone switching system. [more inside]
posted by dersins on Jul 15, 2011 - 10 answers

Where is the best place to start reading Agatha Christie novels? Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple? [more inside]
posted by Fizz on Mar 31, 2011 - 21 answers

Please recommend mystery/thriller novels with incredibly complex plots. [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Jun 4, 2010 - 39 answers

Need help remembering the title of a line of young adult books from the 80s involving mysteries and requiring a mirror to solve. [more inside]
posted by charlesv on Mar 18, 2009 - 4 answers

Where can I find out more about the investigation techniques used by private investigators? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jan 19, 2009 - 9 answers

Can you recommend some good mystery novels for me to read? The last mystery novels I read that I really liked were the Hilary Tamar series by Sarah Caudwell. I liked those because they were fairly light and not gory. But I especially liked them because the dialogue/narration was sharp, witty, and wry. What are some other mystery writers who write like this? [more inside]
posted by bluefly on Jul 25, 2008 - 33 answers

What's the best plays-fair, all-clues-on-the-table mystery? [more inside]
posted by jbickers on Nov 29, 2006 - 20 answers

What's the most exciting novel you've ever read? I mean this in the simplest sense: an exciting plot. I'm looking for page-turners. Novels that keep you on the edge of your seat and refuse to let you sleep until you finish them. I'm looking for genre novels -- but I don't care what genres: Mystery, thriller, sci-fi, etc. (though sci-fi/fantasy has been done-to-death here, so I'm really more interested in other genres.) Oh, I care about words. So no matter how exciting, I'll quit reading if the prose is crappy. [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on May 25, 2006 - 148 answers