I get asked this question constantly: "I want to get into mystery series, but where do I even start?" And honestly, it's a harder question than it sounds. The mystery genre is enormous, with countless sub-genres and reading levels and tones. Pick the wrong entry point and you might think you don't like mysteries when really you just started with the wrong one.
So I've put together this list based on years of successfully converting people to mystery readers. These aren't necessarily the "best" mystery series—that's subjective and depends on what you're looking for. These are the series most likely to hook a new reader and make them want more.
What Makes a Good Entry Point?
Before I get to the list, let me explain my criteria. A great starter series should: be accessible without feeling dumbed down, have a likeable protagonist you want to spend time with, include satisfying mysteries you can actually solve along with the detective, not require extensive genre knowledge to appreciate, and make you immediately want to read the next book.
With that in mind, here are my picks:
1. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
I put this first because it's converted more non-mystery-readers than any other book I recommend. Four septuagenarians in a retirement village meet weekly to investigate cold cases, then stumble into a real murder. It's cozy without being saccharine, clever without being smug, and funny in a way that never undercuts the actual mystery.
What makes it perfect for beginners: the pacing is brisk, the characters are instantly lovable, and the mystery is genuinely satisfying without being impossible to follow.
2. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Precious Ramotswe opens Botswana's first female-owned detective agency and solves problems that range from suspicious husbands to missing persons. The cases are usually not murders—they're the kinds of problems real people have—and the warm, wise tone is incredibly appealing.
What makes it perfect for beginners: no gore, no darkness, just a wonderful character navigating interesting problems. It's like a warm hug in book form.
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
This might seem like a strange choice for beginners since it's darker and more complex than the others. But it's here because it hooked so many people who never thought they liked mysteries. A journalist and a brilliant hacker investigate a decades-old disappearance, uncovering family secrets and corporate crime.
What makes it perfect for beginners: the plotting is propulsive, Lisbeth Salander is unforgettable, and the mystery genuinely keeps you guessing. Just be aware it contains some disturbing content.
4. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
The first in the alphabet series featuring PI Kinsey Millhone, who investigates the murder for which her client's ex-wife was convicted. The series ran for 25 books (through Y—Grafton passed away before completing Z), and while it has its ups and downs, the early entries are consistently excellent.
What makes it perfect for beginners: Kinsey is one of the great PI characters—capable without being superhuman, flawed without being dysfunctional. The California setting is evocative, and the mysteries are fairly clued.
5. Still Life by Louise Penny
Chief Inspector Gamache investigates a death in the idyllic Quebec village of Three Pines in this first entry of what would become a beloved long-running series. The village is warm and quirky, the inspector is thoughtful and humane, and the mysteries explore community and character as much as whodunit.
What makes it perfect for beginners: the cozy village setting is inviting, Gamache is easy to root for, and the series rewards long-term investment without requiring it to enjoy each book.
6. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Three women's lives intersect at a school trivia night where someone ends up dead. The story is told in flashback, with interview snippets from witnesses building toward the reveal. It's domestic suspense more than traditional mystery, but the structure and pacing are irresistible.
What makes it perfect for beginners: the characters feel like people you know (or are), the suburban setting is relatable, and the mystery of what actually happened drives you forward.
7. In the Woods by Tana French
A Dublin detective is assigned to a case eerily similar to an unsolved crime from his childhood—one in which he was the only survivor. French's prose is atmospheric and literary, her characters psychologically complex, and her mysteries deeply intertwined with questions of memory and identity.
What makes it perfect for beginners: it reads more like literary fiction than genre mystery, making it accessible to people who think they don't like mysteries. The atmosphere is haunting.
8. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, chemistry prodigy and aspiring poisoner, investigates a murder at her family's decaying English estate. The setting is 1950s England, the tone is charming and witty, and Flavia is one of the most delightful detective characters in recent memory.
What makes it perfect for beginners: the young narrator makes it accessible, the historical setting is engaging, and the series has a wonderful balance of darkness and whimsy.
9. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
When Amy disappears on her fifth wedding anniversary, suspicion immediately falls on her husband Nick. Told in alternating perspectives, this domestic thriller plays with reader expectations in ways that genuinely shocked people when it was published.
What makes it perfect for beginners: the propulsive pacing makes it impossible to put down, and the structural innovations keep you engaged. Fair warning: the characters are deliberately unlikeable.
10. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Yes, this is technically a children's book, but hear me out. Sixteen heirs are gathered for the reading of millionaire Sam Westing's will and challenged to solve the mystery of his murder. The puzzle is fair, the characters are memorable, and the satisfaction of the solution is immense.
What makes it perfect for beginners: it demonstrates what puzzle mysteries can achieve in a compact, accessible package. If you read mysteries as a kid and are returning to the genre, start here for a reminder of why you loved them.
Where to Go From Here
Start with whichever of these sounds most appealing to you—there's no wrong answer. Once you've found what you like, the mystery genre opens up enormously. Cozy mysteries, police procedurals, psychological thrillers, historical mysteries, amateur sleuths, professional detectives... there's truly something for everyone.
— mrod