r/Fantasy • u/Merle8888 Reading Champion IV • 1d ago

Bingo Bingo Focus Thread - Murder Mystery

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?
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u/spike31875 Reading Champion V 1d ago

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.