10 Gripping Mysteries by British Authors

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 3 September 2019

British authors have been renowned for writing amazing mysteries since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes. Modern writers continue this tradition, penning clever whodunits and thrilling crime novels that are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. If you're a fan of this genre, consider checking out the well-written works listed here. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

10 Gripping Mysteries by British Authors

Title Author
1. The Comforts of Home Susan Hill
2. The Reckoning James McGee
3. Eleanor's Secret Caroline Beecham
4. Judas Goat Patrick Brigham
5. A Good Death Chris Collett
6. A Shot in the Dark Lynne Truss
7. I Know You're There Sarah Simpson
8. Killing with Confetti Peter Lovesey
9. Something to Hide Deborah Moggach
10. The Man From Berlin Luke McCallin

The History of the Mystery Genre

Some of the world's oldest known stories used the same elements that make modern mysteries so enticing. Homer's famous epic poem The Odyssey is something of a prototype of the genre. The hero's life is in constant danger as he uses his cunning to solve problems and overcome his enemies. But the genre isn't exclusive to Western culture. One of the stories in One Thousand and One Nights (commonly known as Arabian Nights) is considered to be the oldest known murder mystery. This tale, The Three Apples, is full of plot twists and revolves around a mysterious death. Centuries later, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle popularized the genre with his stories about the now-famous Sherlock Holmes. Eventually, of course, mystery made its way from the pages of books to the big screen. Some of the most well-known of these movies were directed by Alfred Hitchcock, who worked on several classics throughout his career, including Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window.

Classic Mystery Books

If you're new to the genre, consider diving into its rich history with these classics:

  1. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
  2. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  3. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
  4. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
  5. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

The History & Appeal of Mystery

In Depth

From baffling whodunnits to intricate political thrillers, mystery books are excellent at keeping readers on the edge of their seats. We have compiled some of the most riveting novels featuring fascinating characters, clever plot twists, and intense suspense. Here, in no particular order, are ten gripping mysteries by British authors.

First up, at #1 is "The Comforts of Home," by Susan Hill. Scottish investigator Simon Serrailler returns home to the city of Lafferton, and finds that a series of troubles have been plaguing the town in his absence. There is an arsonist on the loose, and the police are dealing with a mother who keeps insisting that they work harder to find her missing daughter. Simon soon finds evidence about the girl and takes matters into his own hands, defying the direct orders of his new brother-in-law, the chief constable. As usual, the clever sleuth will do whatever it takes to solve the case.

Next, at #2, we have "The Reckoning" by James McGee. In the year 1813, spy Matthew Hawkwood is called to a London cemetery where the body of a woman lies abandoned in an open grave. His investigation reveals that she was a prostitute, and just one of many to die a gruesome death. When the chief orders that the case is to be closed, due to lack of evidence, Matthew must fall back on his criminal underworld connections to find the truth.

In the year 1813, spy Matthew Hawkwood is called to a London cemetery where the body of a woman lies abandoned in an open grave.

At #3 is "Eleanor's Secret" by Caroline Beecham. It's 1942, and war artist and activist Eleanor Roy has fallen in love with fellow artist Jack Valante. But when Jack's country ships him overseas to fight in the war, he disappears from her life. Decades later, in 2010, Eleanor unearths a precious painting that contains clues about what happened to Jack all those years ago. She recruits her granddaughter to assist her, and together they discover secrets about their family that will change their lives forever.

Next up, at #4 is "Judas Goat" by Patrick Brigham. Chief Inspector Michael Lambert is puzzled by his most recent murder case. The police have discovered the body of a man on a boat in Lambert's jurisdiction. When the body proves too difficult to identify, the inspector follows a series of leads that take him out of the country. Now, if he wants to find the killer, he must travel the world from Bulgaria to Peru as he uncovers an elaborate international plot.

Next, at #5, is "A Good Death" by Chris Collett. Detective Tom Mariner is in the middle of two separate investigations. An arsonist has attacked the vulnerable Shah family, and a man has gone missing just weeks before his wedding. Though at first glance these two events don't appear to be related, the closer Tom gets to solving them, the more connected they seem to be. And when a second body turns up, things get even more sinister.

An arsonist has attacked the vulnerable Shah family, and a man has gone missing just weeks before his wedding.

At #6 is "A Shot In The Dark" by Lynne Truss. The Middle Street Massacre of 1951 has wiped out almost all of Brighton's criminals. Inspector Steine is under the gullible impression that the town is now completely crime-free. So when ambitious Constable Twitten shows up to investigate a series of burglaries, Steine is more than irritated. Shortly after Twitten's arrival, a theatre critic gets murdered in the middle of a performance. Now Steine and Twitten must create a new, larger police force if they are to keep the situation from spiraling out of control.

Landing at #7 is "I Know You're There" by Sarah Simpson. Because of her devastating past, Natalie lives in a constant state of fear. When she moves into a new flat in St. Ives and befriends her kindly neighbors, she feels safe for the first time. But when she is threatened by a strange evil, she quickly realizes that things are not always what they seem. With her life in jeopardy, she must uncover the identity of the person who is trying to harm her, and the culprit may be much closer than she thinks.

Next up, at #8, is "Killing With Confetti" by Peter Lovesey. Criminal investigator Peter Diamond is hired to work undercover security at the wedding of his boss's son. The bride is the daughter of notorious crime lord Joe Irving, who has just been released from prison, and word has leaked that a plot for revenge against Irving could be brewing. Now, Diamond must work carefully to keep the wedding guests safe. At an elaborate venue, with plenty of places for an assassin to hide, he and his team have to stay sharp if they are to prevent an imminent murder.

Criminal investigator Peter Diamond is hired to work undercover security at the wedding of his boss's son.

At #9 is "Something to Hide" by Deborah Moggach. Petra, a woman in her sixties, falls in love with her best friend's husband, Jeremy, when he visits her on holiday. Jeremy's wife Bev, meanwhile, is under the delusion that her marriage is perfect. Across the pond in Texas, Lorrie is trying to make a better life for her family but falls victim to a major scam. And in China, Li-Jing has just discovered that her husband is infertile, but still desperately holds onto the belief that they will have a child. Told from different perspectives, all four women's lives intersect as they each discover that nothing is what it appears to be, and everyone has something to hide.

Finally, at #10 is "The Man from Berlin" by Luke McCallin. Gregor Reinhardt, a military intelligence officer, is investigating the murder of famous female journalist and filmmaker Marija Vukic. Suffering from depression after the death of his wife, Gregor hopes the investigation is an opportunity to restore his mental health. What he can't predict, however, is the level of political intrigue and danger that this case will thrust upon him.