Mysteries

Mysteries

Looking to download free and discounted mystery ebooks? Well then, you sleuth, you’ve found the right place. Satisfy your crime solving needs in this category, and never pay more than what you should. We routinely feature the best authors of mystery ebooks, and they always promote their ebooks to you--for free or for a discount.

 

Definition of "Mystery Genre": Fiction in which a detective resolves a crime or series of crimes.  This genre can also be referred to as detective or crime novels.  The plot of a mystery ebook focuses on the crime that needs to be solved, and the detective that will solve it.  Typical elements include the detective being in danger, a host of suspects with their own motives, and clues, motives and alibis.  The genre can vary greatly dependent on the time in which the mystery is set, as that will drive what tools the detective has at his/her disposal.

 

Some examples of the best mysteries of all-time include Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon), Agatha Christie (Murder on the Orient Express), Caleb Carr (The Alienist), Lyndsay Faye (Dust and Shadow), James Cain (The Postman Always Rings Twice).  Of course, many of these are the best mystery ebooks of all time, as well as classics.  We try to bring you free and discounted mystery ebooks on their way to being the tops in their genre.

Prime Time Murder (Hollywood Whodunit Book 1)

by Brittany E. Brinegar


She's little. She's feisty. Spoiler alert, she's not the killer.

Move to Hollywood. Catch her big break. Become a movie star. Nowhere on Becky Robinson's to-do list does it say discover a dead body or become the prime suspect.

Becky's first day on set is anything but glamorous. Between coffee runs and walking the star dog, she discovers the body of a prominent actress. Not exactly how she pictured seeing her name in the papers. And they didn't even spell it right.

After finding evidence at the crime scene, the cops are on her trail and a Hollywood hunk is in the hot seat.

To clear her name and discover whodunit, Becky rubs elbows with Tinseltown insiders. With the help of her best friend and an adorable puppy, they attempt to expose the killer before he claims his next victim.

-----------------------------------

Prime Time Murder is the whimsical first installment in the Hollywood Whodunit cozy mystery series.

If you love clumsy heroines, a Hollywood backdrop, quirky suspects, and an adorable rescue puppy this series is for you!

 

Hollywood Whodunit Series Order

  • Book 0: Lake Day Shenanigans
  • Book 1: Prime Time Murder
  • Book 2: Stand-In Murder
  • Book 3: Music City Murder
  • Book 4. Trap Door Murder
  • Book 5: Fool's Gold Murder
  • Book 6: Holly Jolly Murder
  • Book 7: Blue Suede Murder
  • Book 8: Family Reunion Murder
  • Book 9: Summer Vacation Murder
  • Book 10: Sunlight Swindler Murder
  • Book 11: Castle Island Murder
  • Book 12: Fixer-Upper Murder
  • Book 13: Hometown Murder

 

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Five Card Murder: A clean-read private investigator mystery

by Bruce Hammack


An inheritance worth millions. A killer with a list… and Smiley’s on it.

Blind PI Smiley's job as executor of a large Texas estate is complicated by the rancher’s suspicious death. While the sheriff is investigating the rancher’s death, the ranch foreman is found murdered.

Smiley begins his executor duties and quickly realizes any of the four siblings could be guilty of one, or both, of the murders. There’s no love lost in the dysfunctional family. But which one wanted the land bad enough to kill for it? Or was it a conspiracy?

When Smiley is hired by the foreman’s family to find the killer, his investigation unearths a long-buried family secret that could solve the mystery, but will it also lead to more killing? Steve needs to stop the killer or the next funeral could be his.

Escape to South Texas with Smiley and McBlythe as they seek to untangle the web of intrigue, mystery and murder surrounding the last undeveloped lakefront property in the state.

Smiley and McBlythe deliver a page-turning mystery that will keep you up way past your bedtime, all with no graphic violence, sex or foul language.
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The Right Side: A Novel

by Spencer Quinn


In this "brilliant...deeply felt" (Stephen King) novel by the 
New York Times bestselling author of the Chet and Bernie mystery series, a deeply damaged female soldier home from the war in Afghanistan becomes obsessed with finding a missing girl, gains an unlikely ally in a stray dog, and encounters new perils beyond the combat zone.

LeAnne Hogan went to Afghanistan as a rising star in the military, and came back a much lesser person, mentally and physically. Now missing an eye and with half her face badly scarred, she can barely remember the disastrous desert operation that almost killed her. She is confused, angry, and suspects the fault is hers, even though nobody will come out and say it.

Shattered by one last blow—the sudden death of her hospital roommate, Marci—LeAnne finds herself on a fateful drive across the country, reflecting on her past and seeing no future. Her native land is now unfamiliar, recast in shadow by her one good eye, her damaged psyche, her weakened body. Arriving in the rain-soaked small town in Washington State that Marci called home, she makes a troubling discovery: Marci’s eight-year-old daughter has vanished. When a stray dog—a powerful, dark, unreadable creature, no one’s idea of a pet—seems to adopt LeAnne, a surprising connection is formed and something shifts inside her. As she becomes obsessed with finding Marci’s daughter, LeAnne and her inscrutable canine companion are drawn into danger as dark and menacing as her last Afghan mission. This time she has a strange but loyal fellow traveler protecting her blind side.

Enthralling, suspenseful, and psychologically nuanced, 
The Right Side introduces one of the most unforgettable protagonists in modern fiction: isolated, broken, disillusioned—yet still seeking redemption and purpose. As Harlan Coben raves, this is "a great suspense novel, and so much more. You won't forget the heroic LeAnne Hogan—and the same goes for her dog! Not to be missed."

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Something I Keep Upstairs

by Philip Crawford


"An assured mystery with an engaging narrator and a distinctive cast." -- Kirkus Reviews

Coleman Cooper is a troubled young man who can never get anything right—not even his own suicide.

When he is sent to an open-door mental health facility in a small New England village to get his life back on track, his journey darkens even further: someone starts killing the psychiatrists, one by one.

After taking a job tending bar at a local country inn—the social heart of the quirky little town where everyone knows everyone and grudges can last for decades—Coleman unwittingly finds himself at the center of the investigation, even a suspect.

Yet as villagers dread news of more victims and the police come up empty-handed, it is Coleman, and he alone, who discovers the twisted path to the killer’s identity—and the door to a new life for himself.

 

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The Bequest (Book One of The Guardians Series)

by Hope Anika


Book One of The Guardians Series

Finalist, 2016 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense

Cheyenne Elias has inherited a child. A boy she doesn’t know and doesn’t particularly want; a boy whose mother was once Cheyenne’s most hated person in the world. There are a million reasons to walk away: her anger, her past, her certainty that there is nothing benevolent in this act by a woman who almost killed her. But abandoning the boy to a system she barely survived is not an option.

Will Blackheart has lost everything. His SEAL team, his country, and—upon occasion—his mind. Worse, he’s lost something that has the capacity to kill thousands. Left for dead in the Afghan desert, Will has risen solely to regain that which was taken...and to punish those who dared take it.

His only lead is the son of a dead woman. Her only goal is to save a child. As they come together in a clash of anger, mistrust, and potent, unwanted desire, Will and Cheyenne must put aside their differences and navigate the endgame of a woman for whom nothing was taboo…

Don’t miss the first installment of this intense, suspenseful romance series!

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The New Son

by Iain Maitland


Nina always wanted a child of her own. Now she has one.


Nina feels trapped. Her partner Gary is controlling, his daughter hates her, and she’s recently suffered a miscarriage. Just as her life seems hopeless, Alex, the son she gave up for adoption nearly 20 years ago, shows up at her door. Somehow, he has tracked her down.

Their reunion is everything Nina has hoped for. Now she has a child of her own, someone in the family who really cares about her.

But honeymoons are brief and this one is no exception.

Far from welcoming him, Gary is hostile to Alex and as their arguments become increasingly vicious, it soon becomes clear that Nina must choose between them.

But how will the abusive Gary react if she rejects him? And can she trust Alex? Is he really the loving son he seems to be – or does he have a sinister agenda of his own?


The New Son – the gripping psychological thriller perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, K L Slater.

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The Mazatlan Showdown (The Park and Walker Action Thriller Series Book 1)

by Patrick Weill


2023 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist, best action adventure
2023 Adventure Writers Competition semi-finalist


Champion surfer Jeff Walker was born into tragedy, his father’s life having been cut short before he was born, and his mother succumbing to heartache in a foreign land as she bravely raised him alone. Determined to find his father’s killer, Walker relocates to sunny San Diego and secures a job as a beach lifeguard, in which capacity a rescue mission at sea hurls him into the sticky web of an international smuggling ring.

As Walker, along with a rich cast of characters, aids the police in their investigation, the tension is ratcheted up when he discovers that the mastermind behind the criminal operation is the very man he’s been searching for since he was a teenager! In this tale of revenge, justice, and survival, only one will walk away from the showdown.

Weill’s award-winning debut novel marks the inception of The Park and Walker Action Thriller Series, taking the reader on a wild ride in an array of high-performance vehicles, racing through a variety of stunning oceanfront landscapes. If you enjoy well-crafted storytelling and explosive action, bump 
The Mazatlan Showdown up to the top spot on your to-be-read list.

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Where Fools Dare to Tread: A Monk Buttman Mystery

by David William Pearce


It’s easy to be a nobody when you’ve got nothing to lose, but with his life and potential redemption on the line, can Monk be a somebody people will remember?

A dead man’s money is just waiting to be had. A band of fools and a nobody named Monk Buttman unwittingly find themselves caught in a web of murder and revenge between two unseen factions using them as bait. After a good day ends in murder, Monk is tasked with finding the killer. Why him? He’s a nobody! Stuck between powerful forces he can neither control or understand, Monk must survive both the fools and those pulling the strings while also dealing with the affections of two very different women, the troubled Agnes and the disaffected Judith, not to mention the irritation of his erstwhile partner, Mr. Jones. A beating forces Monk to question his own motives and to confront the past that led him to hide in LA. With love and life on the line, Monk must use his wits and guile for all of them to survive.

 
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Naked Once More (Jacqueline Kirby Mysteries Book 4)

by Elizabeth Peters


She may be a bestselling author, but ex-librarian Jacqueline Kirby's views on the publishing biz aren't fit to print. In fact, she's thinking of trading celebrity for serenity and a house far away from fiendish editors and demented fans when her agent whispers the only words that could ever make her stay: 
Naked in the Ice.

Seven years ago, this blockbuster skyrocketed Kathleen Darcy to instant fame. Now the author's heirs are looking for a writer to pen the sequel. It's an opportunity no novelist in her right mind would pass up, and there's no doubting Jacqueline's sanity...until she starts digging through the missing woman's papers--and her past. Until she gets mixed up with Kathleen's enigmatic lover. Until a series of nasty accidents convince her much too late that someone wants to bring Jacqueline's story--and her life--to a premature end.

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Mother Knows Best (Gripping Psychological Thrillers)

by Boris Bacic


She would do anything for her son. Even if it’s against his wishes.


Adam and Beth live a modest but happy married life in Portland, Oregon. The tranquility is shattered when Adam receives a phone call from the hospital: His mother has suffered an accident and needs him. Incapacitated by her broken hip, Adam and Beth extend their invitation to her during her recovery.

At first, the arrangement seems idyllic. Home-cooked meals grace their table, laundry is effortlessly managed, and a newfound harmony blossoms between Beth and Adam’s mom. However, the peaceful interlude is short-lived. The presence of Adam’s mom soon ignites a series of small problems that escalate into conflicts, creating a rift between Adam and Beth. Caught between two fires, Adam must pick a side. Hoping to salvage their marriage, he makes the difficult decision of sending his mom home.

But peace eludes them even after that. The departure of Adam’s mom does not stem the tide of misfortunes that continue berating them. With each passing day when something bad happens, the couple wonders: Is it a coincidence, or are they facing a deliberate act of sabotage?

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Ghostly Manners (A Lorna Shadow Cozy Ghost Mystery Book 1)

by K.E. O'Connor


A new job. A haunted house. A ghost with a problem.


Lorna Shadow wants to be the best personal assistant she can be to the rich and aristocratic. The trouble is, the ghosts have other plans for her!

Gifted with the 
ability to see restless spirits, Lorna treads a thin line between offering the ghosts help and not getting caught talking to thin air!

When the sad, lonely ghost of Beatrice Galbraith appears in Lorna's new place of work and reveals she was
 murdered, Lorna is determined to get justice for her.

She must hunt for the truth, question suspects, and make sure her employer doesn’t figure out the one ability she never puts on her resume.

With the help of her loyal 
ghost-sensing dog, Flipper, and her ditzy, heart-of-gold best friend, Helen Holiday, she’s determined to get to the truth, even if it means risking losing her new job and potentially her life!

***

Enjoy this fun 
cozy ghost mystery, which is full of close friendships, tasty treats over a mug of tea and the cute antics of a ghost-sensing dog.

What readers say:

“A fun, fast and cute read.” Amazon review.

“I can't wait to read another book by this talented author.” Amazon review.

“I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and serious and it was very hard to put down. I will be excited to get the next book of the series. Great reading.” Amazon review.

“Recommend these books to everyone.” Amazon review.

“Loved this book. Couldn't put it down till I finished it then bought the next one. It was a lot of fun.” Amazon review.

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The Empty Chair (Lincoln Rhyme Book 3)

by Jeffery Deaver


Now a gripping TV series starring Russell Hornsby and Michael Imperioli! From the #1 internationally bestselling author of 
The Bone Collector and The Devil’s Teardrop a spine-chilling thriller that puts renowned criminalist Lincoln Rhyme against the ultimate opponent—Amelia Sachshis own brilliant protégé.

A quadriplegic since a beam crushed his spinal cord years ago, Lincoln Rhyme is desperate to improve his condition and goes to the University of North Carolina Medical Center for high-risk experimental surgery. But he and Sachs have hardly settled in when the local authorities come calling. In a twenty-four-hour period, the sleepy Southern outpost of Tanner’s Corner has seen a local teen murdered and two young women abducted. And Rhyme and Sachs are the best chance to find the girls alive.

The prime suspect is a peculiar teenage truant known as the Insect Boy, so nicknamed for his disturbing obsession with bugs. Rhyme’s unsurpassed analytical skills and stellar forensic experience, combined with Sachs’s exceptional detective legwork, soon snare the perp. But even Rhyme can’t anticipate that Sachs will disagree with his crime analysis and that her vehemence will put her in the swampland, harboring the very suspect who Rhyme considers a ruthless killer. So ensues Rhyme’s greatest challenge—facing the criminalist whom he has taught everything he knows in a battle of wits, forensics, and intuition.

With the intricate forensic detail, breathtaking speed, and masterful plot twists that are signature Deaver, 
The Empty Chair is page-turning suspense of the highest order.

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Skin Deep (Detective Marcy Kendrick Book 1)

by Theo Baxter


Detective Marcy Kendrick is chasing a killer. And this time, it’s personal.


Marcy Kendrick is a cop with a body count. A successful detective in LAPD Homicide, she is infamous for one thing: killing three serial killers before they could be brought to trial.

Marcy knows her actions were in self-defense, but her co-workers can’t help wondering if she is on some kind of vendetta - because Marcy’s own mother was brutally murdered by a serial killer. Is this her way of getting payback?

Adding to the pressure on Marcy, her ex-husband, Jordan Brasswell, has just been promoted over her, and seems determined to keep her under a microscope.

Then a series of murders rocks the city. And this killer has the same MO as the man who murdered Marcy’s mother.
As the best detective in the department, Marcy is assigned to the case – and immediately starts receiving disturbing messages. The killer taunts Marcy, promising more deaths and telling her that the two of them are very much alike. They’re both murderers.

As the copycat killer continues to play mind games with Marcy, she realizes that it has to be someone close to her. Can Marcy catch the killer before another victim meets a grisly end?


Skin Deep – the first in the thrilling new series featuring Detective Marcy Kendrick.

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The House Across the Lake: A Novel

by Riley Sager


THE INSTANT 
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Named a most-anticipated summer book by 
USA TodayPeople, E! News, CosmopolitanPureWow, CNN.com, New York Post, CrimeReads, POPSUGAR, and more 

The bestselling author of 
Final Girls and Survive the Night is back with his “best plot twist yet.” (People, "Best Summer Books")

Be careful what you watch for . . .

Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of bourbon, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple living in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is powerful; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.

One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage isn’t as perfect as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey immediately suspects Tom of foul play. What she doesn’t realize is that there’s more to the story than meets the eye—and that shocking secrets can lurk beneath the most placid of surfaces.
 
Packed with sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy plot twists, Riley Sager’s 
The House Across the Lake is the ultimate escapist read . . . no lake house required.

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The Perfect Friend: a twist-filled psychological thriller

by J.V. Cardy


Lou has finally found a friend. Now she’ll do anything to keep her.


Anna is in a good place in her life – a husband she loves, a great job, a lovely home. Everything is perfect.

But then she gets a call from an old girlfriend, Lou, whom she hasn’t seen for twenty years. Lou, now seeming troubled and off kilter, wants to confess to a fatal hit-and-run from back in the day – an accident which Anna helped cover up. If Lou goes to the police, Anna’s life is over, she’ll lose everything she has worked so hard to build.

Anna can see that Lou is not in a great place, and hopes that if she can help her old friend get back on her feet, she’ll forget about confessing. So Anna invites Lou to move into her home.

Lou is delighted and sees this as a sign that Anna still loves her, that they really are best friends forever.

But Lou isn’t easy to live with. At first, she’s demanding, then openly menacing – using her desire to confess as a weapon to get what she wants.

Anna realizes she needs to get free of Lou no matter what it takes. But when she finally acts decisively, she opens the gates to hell. Because Lou is far more disturbed than Anna realizes, and enraged by her rejection, she plans a revenge beyond Anna’s wildest nightmares.


The Perfect Friend – the chilling psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst and Kiersten Modglin.

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The Fallen Angel: A Novel (Gabriel Allon Book 12)

by Daniel Silva


Art restorer, assassin, spy—Gabriel Allon returns in The Fallen Angel, another blockbuster espionage thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva. The acclaimed author of Portrait of a Spy, Silva (“a world class practitioner of spy fiction” —Washington Post) is an undisputed master of the genre who has brought “new life to the international thriller” (Newsday).

A breathtaking adventure that races around the globe, The Fallen Angel begins in Rome, where Allon is called upon to investigate a murder at the Vatican, one with disastrous repercussions that could plunge the world into a conflict of apocalyptic proportions. If you haven’t yet been drawn into Daniel Silva’s thrilling universe of intrigue, danger, and exceptional spycraft, start here—and see why the Philadelphia Inqurer declares that, “The enigmatic Gabriel Allon remains one of the most intriguing heroes of any thriller series.”

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