I’ve spoken at length about my love of the gothic genre, whichever variant it comes in. Gothic horror? I’m in. Gothic romance? Shut up and take my money. Gothic mysteries? Well, why didn’t you just say so? Mystery plots hit differently when placed against the backdrop of a Victorian manor or a crumbling abbey. The stakes are twice as high. Sleuthing paired with classic Gothic tropes? Whether they’re played off as straight up Gothic or subverted (like the not-so-naive ingenue), my answer is the same: yes, yes, yes.
When I set out to write this post, I purposefully chose from a mix of classics and more contemporary novels. This is not meant to be a list of all the best Gothic mysteries: any genre that’s a few hundred years old would resist such an endeavor. I left out giants like The Mysteries of Udolpho, not because they don’t belong in this list, but because I wanted it to capture the genre’s longevity. The classics are among the best, no question, but that’s no reason to ignore the great books that have come out since. After all, Gothic mysteries have changed and shifted… as literary genres are wont to do.
Shall we take a look?
Get 15% off annual All Access memberships for a limited time in celebration of Book Riot’s 15th anniversary! Savings amount to more than 3 months of free unlimited access to our entire content archive, plus features like Collections and the New Release Index. Claim your savings and start leveling up your reading life.
The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé
After her father throws her out, Florence maneuvers her way into Rose Hall, where she’s meant to restore the old books in the library. The old tomes hold her interest… as do the rumors about Lord Francis Belfield’s late wife.
But when the library is broken into, apparently with the sole purpose of burning the wife in question’s diary, Florence must grapple with questions that might put her own life at risk.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Rebecca famously follows an unnamed narrator as she tries to find her place at her new home, no easy feat when traces of her husband’s first wife are everywhere. Soon, she’s as obsessed with the late Rebecca de Winter as her husband Maxim is. Mainly, she needs to answer the most pressing question: who was Rebecca?
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
Half horror, half mystery, all Gothic: exactly my kind of book.
After killing his college roommate, Lee flees to Japan, where he seeks refuge in his father’s home. Something is wrong with the house, though… and the young woman with the sword who appears in the yard upon nightfall is only one of the reasons why.
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden
Margaret thinks her luck is finally starting to turn when she finds a job as a governess in the west of England. But the mysteries that surround both her new home and her charge’s mother may prove her belief wrong… especially when her own history overtakes her.
Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee
Who among us hasn’t wished for an unexpected inheritance once or twice? Well, Lucy hasn’t. So when an inheritance does come, immediately casting her as a prime murder suspect and putting her at danger of being murdered herself, she has no chance but to find out who truly murdered her employer.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
When drawing teacher Walter falls in love with his student Laura, he knows the affair is doomed: Laura is engaged to another man. That doesn’t stop him from pining… or from wondering why Laura resembles a mysterious woman dressed all in white.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-García
No list of gothic mysteries would be complete without this instant classic: although it is mostly known as a horror, there’s a strong current of mystery underlying this novel.
When her cousin sends her a plea for help, Noemí embarks upon a journey to High Place. She’s determined not to be afraid of anything or anyone, not even of the house itself. But soon enough, she discovers that it’s not enough to not be afraid… she also has to resist the house’s pull on her.
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? by Henry Farrell
The book that inspired the classic movie, it stars Baby Jane, a former child star who’s grown resentful of her sister Blanche’s fame. Then an accident changes both their lives, leaving Blanche paralyzed and Baby Jane an abusive caretaker.
Years later, however, Baby Jane decides it’s time to make a comeback. And woe is them whoever stands in her way.
If you’d like more Gothic subgenres, perhaps I may interest you in 8 Gothic science fiction novels that will chill and thrill you? Or maybe you’d prefer a beginner’s guide to Gothic fantasy?