10 Captivating Paranormal Mystery Series

Trying to solve a tough case is hard enough in the real world. But what if you're a sleuth who can't rule out magic, mythical creatures, and spirits from the beyond? If you want to dive into an exciting story that blends crime with the paranormal, then check out the ten enthralling series listed here. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Paranormal Mysteries: Our 10 Picks

Series Author First Books in the Series
1. Shadow Valley Manor Kerry Schafer Dead Before Dying World Tree Girl
2. Dori Orihuela Mary Castillo Lost in the Light Girl in the Mist
3. Mary O’Reilly Terri Reid Loose Ends Good Tidings
4. The Gift Legacy J.P. McLean Secret Sky Hidden Enemy
5. The Knowing Ninie Hammon The Knowing The Deceiving
6. Dark Hollows Kent Holloway The Curse of One-Eyed Jack The Dirge of Briarsnare Marsh
7. Hode’s Hill Mae Clair Cusp of Night End of Day
8. Dreamslippers Lisa Brunette Cat in the Flock Framed and Burning
9. New Sight C.L. Clark Opening the Veil A Brighter Light
10. Samantha Clark Kathryne Arnold The Resurrection of Hannah The Fear of Things To Come

Fun Activities For Fantasy Fans

8 Great Paranormal Mystery Films

  1. The Ninth Gate (1999)
  2. Orphan (2009)
  3. Lady in the Water (2006)
  4. Topper Returns (1941)
  5. Lady in White (1988)
  6. The Sixth Sense (1999)
  7. The Uninvited (1944)
  8. The Lake House (2006)

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.

A Scientific Approach to the Paranormal

In Depth

How do you explain the inexplicable? What happens in the shadowy underworld where wolves, witches, and shapeshifters make their home? Curious readers don't have to look too far to find the answers. For those with a taste for the weird and the wondrous, here, in no particular order, are some thrilling series about heroes and demons who walk the Earth in darkness.

In the #1 spot is "Shadow Valley Manor" by Kerry Schafer. Maureen just wants to de-stress and recoup in the calming atmosphere of Shadow Valley Manor. As soon as she arrives, however, she finds that the rest facility isn't all that restful. Everyone there is full of secrets, and Maureen, working undercover to find out who, or what, within the manor is on a killing streak, is there for answers. Her quest will lead her toward danger, deception, and a mysterious woman with a full-body tattoo who just might have the answers.

At #2, we have Mary Castillo's "Dori Orihuela" books. At first glance, Dori Orihuela and Vicente Sorolla don't have a lot in common. She's a modern-day detective, and he's a man who disappeared in 1932. While staying in the same old mansion where Vincente was last seen, however, Dori starts to see his murder pop up in her dreams. He's not the only one, either. On a romantic getaway with her old flame, a long-dead woman tries to communicate with her. Is Dori losing it, or does she really have a link to the beyond?

While staying in the same old mansion where Vincente was last seen, however, Dori starts to see his murder pop up in her dreams.

At #3 is the "Mary O'Reilly" series by Terri Reid. After dying, coming back to life, and realizing she can communicate with ghosts, Mary becomes a P.I. in a small Maine town. Now, she's faced with the aftermath of a murder that happened over twenty years ago, along with the killing of a beloved school coach, the sudden death of an aspiring actress, and a Christmas Eve curse. Readers get to follow Mary as she uses her unique talents to communicate with ghosts and bring killers to justice.

For #4 we have J.P. McLean's "The Gift Legacy." When Emelynn Taylor suddenly gets the gift of flight, it feels more like a curse. Unable to control the ability, she returns to her childhood home, where she meets members of a secret society made up entirely of people like her. At first she's delighted to find someone who can teach her how to keep her power in check, but it soon becomes clear that the Fliers are keeping secrets from her, and she'll have to do some digging to learn the truth.

At #5 is "The Knowing" by Ninie Hammon. A tragic school shooting brings Police Sergeant Jack Carpenter to Carlisle Elementary one morning. Instead of an armed gunman, Jack enters the school to find a creature of terrifying, biblical proportion. When he took the call, he knew he'd end up staring evil in the face, but he didn't count on it being so hard to kill. This is a powerful demon twenty-odd years in the making, and it's coming after its victims whether they believe in it or not.

When he took the call, he knew he'd end up staring evil in the face, but he didn't count on it being so hard to kill.

Coming in at #6 is Kent Holloway's "Dark Hollows." The Appalachian town of Boone Creek is cut off from the rest of Kentucky and shrouded in superstition. It's no surprise, then, that when FBI analyst Kili Brennan comes searching for her missing brother, she keeps running into the legend of "One-Eyed Jack," a mythic figure who guards the Stonehenge-like structure Kili's brother was there to research. He's not the only one, either. Boone Creek is cursed, and it's going to take everything Kili's got to break the spell.

At #7 is "Hode's Hill" by Mae Clair. Maya is obsessed with the folk tales surrounding her new Pennsylvania town. According to legend, there's a bloodthirsty monster who stalks the hills and is known only as "The Fiend." What starts as a fun story quickly becomes all too real. After an attack during the annual "Fiend Fest," Maya is compelled to search for answers. But what she finds is darker and more twisted than she could have imagined.

For #8, we find Lisa Brunette's "Dreamslippers." Some private investigators use cameras, stolen identities, and bribes to get leads. All Cat McCormick has to do is take a peek into a perp's dreams to see if he's guilty or innocent. As part of a long line of dreamslippers, Cat is eager to apprentice with her grandmother, a P.I. with the same gifts. Together, they'll uncover scandals, talk to the dead, and hopefully make it home in time for tea.

Together, they'll uncover scandals, talk to the dead, and hopefully make it home in time for tea.

At #9 is C.L. Clark's "New Sight." Cassie is psyched to go out with her hot new neighbor. That is, until their first date gives her a glimpse into a world of pure evil. Someone in town is killing young women, and they're using her neighbor to do it. The question is, how? Fortunately, Cassie can see ghosts, which will be a huge help in the case, especially since she can't count on the police. When it comes to a town like Kensington Falls, both the dead and the living need a hero like Cassie to bring them back into the light.

Finally, at #10 is Kathryne Arnold's "Samantha Clark" series. Sammi Clark is bored. Her life in Florida is fine, but it's not amazing, and while her work as a psychotherapist is challenging, it's not quite engaging enough to keep her interested. Everything changes when a mysterious male figure starts showing up in her dreams. Apparently, this isn't Sammi's first life on Earth, not by a long shot. Being reincarnated, it turns out, is great for fighting crime in a small Florida town, especially when it comes to forces from beyond the grave.