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There’s something so deliciously satisfying about a locked room mystery, isn’t there?
It’s the perfect blend of how on earth? and who did it? that keeps you hooked from page one.
At its core, a locked room mystery involves a crime—usually a murder—that seems downright impossible to pull off.
The scene is locked up tighter than a vault, and yet, somehow, the deed is done. The real fun? Figuring out the ingenious methods behind it all.
So, how is this different from your run-of-the-mill mystery?
Well, while most mysteries focus on unraveling the who and why, locked room mysteries spotlight the how.
It’s not just about the villain—it’s about their wild, clever, often mind-bending methods.
If you’re someone who loves puzzles and jaw-dropping twists, then you’re in for a treat with these gems.
1. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
If you liked The Guest List, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.
Jess heads to Paris to stay with her half-brother Ben, but when she arrives, he’s nowhere to be found.
The residents of the apartment building are all super mysterious, and it doesn’t take long for Jess to realize that something darker is going on.
The mystery kept me hooked the whole time—I couldn’t put it down!
2. The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada
This one is for fans of complicated mysteries.
The story centers on an astrologer who’s trying to solve a brutal crime linked to the zodiac signs.
Kiyoshi Mitarai, the detective, has just one week to crack the case, and trust me, the clues are all over the place.
I really enjoyed piecing it together, even though the twists kept me second-guessing myself!
3. A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh
A murder mystery game turns real when a guest is found dead at a country house.
Inspector Roderick Alleyn has to dig through everyone’s alibis to figure out what happened, and the whole thing was so fun to read.
The classic who-done-it vibe had me hooked, and I loved how all the little details came together in the end.
4. Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert
I couldn’t stop reading this one!
Shana is a former NYPD detective who’s trying to leave her past behind, but when someone goes missing on a secluded island, she’s pulled right back into the world of crime.
It’s a tense one—everyone has their secrets, and the stormy weather trapping them on the island only makes things worse.
I liked how Shana’s own struggles added depth to her character.
5. Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson
If you like dark, atmospheric mysteries, this one’s perfect.
Ari Thór Arason, a rookie cop, is dealing with some creepy deaths in a small Icelandic
village during an avalanche. The isolation and the constant darkness make everything feel so intense, and I really got sucked into the story as it all unfolded.
It’s one of those mysteries that just builds and builds.
6. The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
Elin goes to a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps to relax, but when her brother’s fiancée goes missing, Elin’s detective instincts kick in.
With a snowstorm trapping everyone inside, the tension ramps up fast, and the mystery behind her disappearance kept me guessing.
It was one of those books where you just know something is off, but you don’t know exactly what.
7. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
You really can’t go wrong with a classic like this. A man is murdered on the Orient Express, and Hercule Poirot is the one who’s got to figure out who did it.
The best part? Everyone’s a suspect, and being stuck on a train in a snowstorm makes it even more intense.
Christie really knows how to keep you guessing—I loved it.
8. They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall
This is such a fun (but creepy) read! Miriam and six strangers are invited to a private island, and surprise, surprise, things go south fast.
People start going missing, and everyone has their own secrets.
The island setting was perfect for building suspense—it really feels like anyone could be behind all the creepy happenings.
It had me on edge the whole time.
9. The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Aiden Bishop wakes up in a different person’s body every day, and he has to figure out who killed Evelyn Hardcastle.
The idea of seeing everything from multiple perspectives is so cool, and it definitely kept me hooked.
It’s unpredictable and kept me on my toes from start to finish.
10. Shiver by Allie Reynolds
A snowy, isolated setting? Count me in. Milla reunites with old friends in the French Alps, and things quickly get dark as secrets from their past start surfacing.
The remote location makes everything feel so much more intense—it’s the perfect setting for a thrilling mystery.
The way the tension built was so gripping, and I loved every twist.
11. One by One by Ruth Ware
Ruth Ware really knows how to write a tense, atmospheric thriller.
A group of coworkers is stuck at a mountain chalet after an avalanche, and trust starts to break down as people start disappearing.
The whole setting just added to the suspense, and I loved how everyone became more and more paranoid.
It’s definitely one of those books where you can’t stop reading until you find out who did it.
Are you ready to crack the case?
Go ahead, pick one up and let me know what you think!
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