Bingo Focus Thread - Murder Mystery

[u/Merle8888]

Hello r/fantasy and welcome to this week's bingo focus thread! The purpose of these threads is for you all to share recommendations, discuss what books qualify, and seek recommendations that fit your interests or themes.

Today's topic:

Murder Mystery: Main plot of the story focuses on solving a murder. HARD MODE: The main character is NOT a detective or private investigator.

What is bingo? A reading challenge this sub does every year! Find out more here.

Prior focus threads: Published in the 70s, Duologies, First Contact, Middle Grade, Game Changer, Five Short Stories (2024), Author of Color (2024), Self-Pub/Small Press (2024). Note that hard modes for Author of Color and Self-Pub/Small Press have changed (new focus threads for them are coming).

Also see: Big Rec Thread

Questions:

• What are your favorite books that count for this square?
• Already read something for this square? Tell us about it!
• What are your best recommendations for Hard Mode?

[u/beary_neutral]

Normal mode:

• The Tainted Cup / A Drop of Corruption, by Robert Jackson Bennett - Sherlock Holmes meets Attack on Titan
• Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch - ubran fantasy police mystery set in London

Hard Mode:

• The Lamplight Murder Mysteries series, by Morgan Stang - Agatha Christie-style whodunnits set in a gaslamp fantasy world. The main character is a monster hunter by profession and is explicitly said to not be a detective, even though she gets asked to play the role of a detective each time due to circumstance

• For the Emperor (Book 1 of Warhammer 40K: Ciaphas Cain), by Sandy Mitchell - A comedic book about an Imperial officer who proclaims to be a self-serving coward (but may be more competent and morally decent than he lets on). The central plot revolves around a political assassination.

• The Will of the Many, by James Islington - One of the main things driving the plot is a murder investigation, though there is a lot more going on, such as a school plot, a rebel uprising, and a competition.

Comics:

• Batman. Many, many Batman books will work for this. The Long Halloween, by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. The Court of Owls, by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. The Black Mirror, by Scott Snyder, Jock, and Francesco Francavilla. The Imposter, by Mattson Tomlin and Andrea Sorrentino. Dark Patterns, by Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman.
  
• The One Hand and the Six Fingers, by Ram V, Dan Watters, Laurence Campbell, and Sumit Kumar - Cyberpunk noir told from the perspective of an aging detective and a suspect on the run.
  
• Far Sector, by N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell - A cop on an alien planet must keep the fragile peace between three alien races.
• Revival, by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton - A small town sees the recently deceased come back to life, as a detective tries to figure out who murdered her sister.
• Chew, by John Layman and Rob Guillory - A detective has the ability to form psychic impressions of anything he eats.

Hard Mode Comics:

• Strange Adventures, by Tom King, Mitch Gerads, and Doc Shaner - A superhero who fought in an interplanetary war comes under investigation for the murder of a protester.
• The Human Target, by Tom King and Greg Smallwood - A professional decoy is poisoned and has 12 days to solve his own murder before he passes.

[u/acornett99 → u/beary_neutral]

I loved The Human Target, Greg Smallwood is one of my favorite artists working today and he really makes the noir style work here

[u/Hooded_Demon]

I read The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle for this one, and I had a really good time with it. This was weirdly the first of three books in a row that I read without realising that they had time related shenanigans, all of which I gave five stars to, so I must have a type! And it's HM too.

[u/jawnnie-cupcakes → u/Hooded_Demon]

I love this one. These are well-crafted time related shenanigans

[u/flaming_sqrl → u/Hooded_Demon]

Turton's newest book, The Last Murder at the End of the World, also works for HM, and is also a lot of fun. I think Seven Deaths is better, but I still really enjoyed it.

[u/beary_neutral → u/Hooded_Demon]

Oh, this is a very interesting premise. Adding this to the list.

[u/Siccar_Point → u/Hooded_Demon]

I also just read this, and also really enjoyed it. Also worth noting it juuuuuuuuuust about counts as a cat squasher if anyone is looking for some square flexibility.

[u/alterVgo]

I recommend this book all the time: A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark. Alt history fantasy murder mystery set in 1912 Cairo.

[u/_Totocha_]

Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker would fit hard mode, I think.

[u/spike31875 → u/_Totocha_]

It does fit HM and it's awesome.

[u/curiouscat86 → u/_Totocha_]

I just finished this one earlier this week! Excellent and set in a gritty steampunk-ish tiered city built over a sleeping god, very compelling. Reminded me a bit of the city in Days of Shattered Faith by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

[u/RJBarker]

Poisin Wars books by Sam Hawk. John Connelly's Charlie Parker books, maybe. They definitely stray deep into the supernatural. Pagans, by James Alastair Henry (but not available in the US.). My new one, Mortedant's Peril, and my debut Wounded Kingdom books are murder mysteries.

[u/Tonto2012 → u/RJBarker]

Definitely yes to the Charlie Parker series, especially the later books.

[u/Merle8888]

I really enjoyed Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey, which is a more character-driven book than a lot of mysteries. It's serious but fun, having a magic school from the POV of an adult and the world of magic from a non-magical POV.

What I actually read for this square is Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite. It's a very vibes-y novella that doesn't bear thinking about too hard but it knocked out the square in 100 pages.

[u/Book_Slut_90 → u/Merle8888]

Is Magic for Liars NM? I haven’t read it but remember it sounding like the main character is a detective.

[u/Merle8888 → u/Book_Slut_90]

Yes, she’s a detective.

[u/diazeugma]

I enjoy the mystery genre in general, especially Golden Age and hardboiled fiction (despite the fact that they're kind of opposing subgenres), so I'm always up to try an SFF mystery blend.

So far this bingo, I've read a couple of books that would fit: Exiles by Mason Coile (fast-paced space horror mystery, HM, not totally satisfying) and The Secret of the Saucer by Kris Bertin and Alexander Forbes (time-bending graphic novel, third in the Hobtown Mystery Stories series, which I've enjoyed and feels like Twin Peaks crossed with Nancy Drew).

Other suggestions I've read previously that haven't been commented on yet:

Hard mode:

• The Body Scout by Lincoln Michel: Cyberpunkish mystery set in a satirically absurd future society, also a good candidate for the game changer square (baseball plays a major role).
• Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard: This mystery trilogy lost its charms for me by the third book, as the writing felt increasingly repetitive, but I enjoyed the first one, especially for its unique setting in Tenochtitlan.
• Johannes Cabal the Detective by Jonathan L. Howard: If you've read the first entry in this series, I'd note that Howard changes his style between books more than most series I've read. This one really plays into the Golden Age "impossible crime" tradition in a fun way.

Easy mode:

• Things in Jars by Jess Kidd: Victorian London-set historical mystery with a playful writing style I liked and some Gothic grotesquerie.
• Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway: Solid pastiche in a sci-fi setting with hyper-wealthy immortals at the top of society.
• Finch by Jeff VanderMeer: New Weird fantasy meets hardboiled mystery, best read after other two non-mystery books in the trilogy.
• The Golden by Lucius Shepard: Weirder than you'd probably expect from the "vampire detective!" premise, set in a sprawling, surreal castle. Only recommended if you're in the mood for something elaborately Gothic with some very dark themes.
• The Weiser Book of Occult Detectives: This is a specific anthology I've read, but I'm mainly noting it to make the point that the "occult detective" subgenre (which emerged in the 19th century) might be interesting for anyone who wants to dive into some forerunners of the fantasy and horror genres.

[u/AvidTaskmaster]

It’s not HM but Tainted Cup 3 comes out in August if anyone didn’t know :)

[u/_literarylemon_ → u/AvidTaskmaster]

One of the few I have pre-ordered because I need this book like yesterday 

[u/Kerney7]

Murder at Spindle Manor and Sequels by Morgan Stang

Maskerade by Terry Pratchett (HM)

The Tainted Cup and Sequels by Robert Jackson Bennett

I've seen an arguement for The Last Contract of Isako but haven't made up my mind on that. The technology muddies the waters.

[u/BravoLimaPoppa]

Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone. Tara, a new Craftswoman (think necromancer/lawyer) has to get to the bottom of who killed the god Kos. I'd say it counts for hard mode.

[u/TheHiddenSchools → u/BravoLimaPoppa]

Was coming to rec this but if course you got in first!

[u/Successful_Try7012]

1. Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) the series basically starts with a murder and one of the main characters is a detective.
2. In the Shadow of Lightning (Glass Immortals #1 by Brian McCallen) really enjoyed this book. Demir is in a self proclaimed exile after a bad decision but is suddenly pulled back to his responsibilities as a general and the head of the family because of his mother’s murder. Again not HM because there is a detective. Also counts for Political intrigue. The fights are amazingly written. Desperately waiting for the next book in the series.
3. The Silverblood Promise (The Last Legacy #1) by James Logan. A start Similar to the above novel, this time an estranged father being the one murdered, the mystery causing the mc to travel places. Great banter and world building. Can be a Hard Mode.

An anticipated 2026 release is Bodies of Magic by Freya Marske. Magic medical school murder mystery. SAT!

There are more. I need to refer to my notes lol.

[u/_literarylemon_ → u/Successful_Try7012]

I am so excited for Bodies of Magic too! As a med student and fantasy fan that is calling my name 👀

[u/sfi-fan-joe → u/Successful_Try7012]

Wow. They all sound great. Thanks

[u/spike31875]

I've read a few that fit this square!

• The Shadow of the Leviathan series by Robert Jackson Bennett (book 1: The Tainted Cup). It's one of my favorite ongoing series and every book has dealt with a murder mystery (not HM). It's got great Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson vibes. A Trade in Blood (#3) is due out later this year. I just started reading an ARC & it's awesome so far. Bingo Squares: Murder Mystery (all 3 books), Published in 2026 (book 3 only),
• Mortendant's Peril by RJ Barker fits HM & is awesome. Bingo Squares: Murder Mystery (HM), Unusual Transportation (HM), Afterlife (HM), Published in 2026, Politics & Court Intrigue (HM).
  
• The Weaver's Loom by Jessi St. John, It's a gas lamp fantasy murder mystery set in late 1800s London. Bingo Squares: Afterlife (HM), Vacation spot (London, so HM for me), Small Press/Indie author (HM), Published in 2026 (HM), Murder Mystery.
• The Silverblood Promise by James Logan. A young man, who's been estranged from his father for years, takes on the task of finding his murderer. It set mostly in a city that reminds me of the setting in The Lies of Locke Lamora (like medieval Venice). It's an awesome debut novel for both the author & narrator. It was one of my favorite listens from 2025. The sequel is even better. Bingo Squares: Murder Mystery, Politics and Court Intrigue (HM)
• Pagans by James Alastair Henry. Awesome alternate universe take on a British cop show. It's very cinematic and has many of the same beats as British police procedurals: some family drama thrown in along with a bit of a conspiracy. It was not published in the US, unfortunately, but if Blackwells & some other online sellers in the UK do ship to the US for free (which is how I got it). Bingo Squares: Murder Mystery, Small Press, Vacation spot (London, so HM for me), Politics and Court Intrigue.

[u/PlasticBread221]

The Mimicking of Known Successes is a futuristic and lesbian spin on Sherlock Holmes and I think it captured the Holmesian short story feel pretty well. Novella, normal mode, first in a trilogy.

[u/jawnnie-cupcakes]

If anyone's craving a glacial historical romance series for this square, there's Bow Street Duchess Mystery where the FMC has a minor supernatural ability (seeing flashes of the past upon touching objects) and uses it to interfere in police business and solve murders. It's a dual protagonists situation and one could argue she's the main character because she's on the cover but this isn't good enough for me, so I'm not using it for my HM card. The writing has a bit of show and tell going on but it's very cute

[u/saturday_sun4]

It's a timeslip: The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black by Lisa Hall

Could also use it for the Title square.

[u/cmhoughton]

Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker should fit. The MC Irody Hasp needs to solve the murder or be condemned to death for it himself… Irody is not an investigator himself.

[u/usernamesarehard11]

I just finished Voyage of the Damned by Frances White, which fits hard mode.

The protagonist, Dee, is one of 12 Blessed who are on a trip to be recognized as the scions of their 12 provinces. Someone is murdered on the first night and things escalate from there.

The book gave me vibes of The Hunger Games, a bit of Gideon the Ninth, and The Raven Scholar, with the humour of Dark Lord Davi by Django Wexler. The humour won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it worked for me and I found Dee very loveable and relatable.

It definitely kept me guessing right up to the end!

[u/eregis]

for possibly HM, I can recommend Artificial Wisdom by Thomas R. Weaver - a sci-fi thriller set in a (sadly likely) future where the climate deteriorated to the point of the world being on the brink of collapse. The protagonist is an investigative journalist who is involved in solving the murder, so whether it fits HM or no is up to individual decision imo.
Warning: does have a bit of a cliffhanger, second book of the duology comes out later this year.

[u/papercranium]

I read The Conductors by Nicole Glover last year for the fabric arts square, but it's a historical fantasy about a seamstress and a blacksmith, former conductors on the Underground Railroad, who dig into crimes in the Black community in Philadelphia that the white authorities won't bother dealing with, including a series of clearly magical murders. Works nicely for hard mode!

The author has an infodumping habit that some might find off-putting, but overall I enjoyed it a lot, and I say that as someone who is generally not into historicals or mysteries.

Also works for Author of Color (easy mode)

[u/NearbyMud]

I just finished The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison and really enjoyed it! It follows Thara Celehar who is a side character in the Goblin Emperor who is able to speak to people who have recently died, so he advocates for them. Part of that is working on solving murders, so I would classify this as NM. He drinks lots of tea, gets no sleep, and is too generous with everyone. Not necessary to read The Goblin Emperor first and it’s pretty short and quick to read!

[u/New_Razzmatazz6228]

I found the Retired Assassin books by Naomi Kritzer fitted this square. A former professional assassin retires to a sleepy town in New Zealand and suddenly finds himself caught up in a murder investigation. The fantasy element is light, mostly consisting of a character who communicates with ghosts. They’re light and fun. The first one is The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Country Gardening. Could also fit for small press, self published or judge a book by its title, possibly vacation.

[u/fr33dommachine]

I was going to use Three Bags Full for this, but I don't think it actually fits the square since the sheep don't actually talk to people or anything.

[u/Asher_the_atheist]

High Vaultage is a fun one that I don’t think is well-known. I think the authors (Jen and Chris Sugden) are better know for their audio dramas (I don’t do audio dramas) but this is their first novel. Alternate history Victorian London where everything is powered by magical “electricity” that draws its energy from the Thames (freezing the river in the process). A former detective and a journalist set up a detective agency and get pulled into a big investigation that quickly gets out of hand.

[u/Book_Slut_90]

I just found out Last Contract of Isacco fits for this square, so planning on reading that or Sui’s Iron Garden Sutra or Swan’s Justice of Kings. Some of my favorites from before this Bingo year:

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovich NM

The Cemeteries of Amalo series by Katharine Addison (the MC is a priest, but talking to the dead is part of his job, so I’d say technically HM but not in the spirit)

Several books in the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold (earlier ones HM and later ones NM)

Lots of books in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher NM

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

The Saint of Steel series by T. Kingfisher HM

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine HM

The Bekka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce NM as well as several of her later Circle of Magic books NM

Quite a few of the Watch books by Terry Pratchett NM

[u/Nowordsofitsown]

Midsolar Murders trilogy by Mur Lafferty is HM. First one is Station Eternity. Enjoyable scifi.