The Non-Colonial Mystery Reader (35 books)

I love mystery novels and love how they transport the reader all over the world. However, as a politically conscious reader I am aware of the great number of mystery books written by white people with main characters and settings that are not the ones they were raised in (I'm looking at you Alexander McCall Smith, John Burdett, Colin Cotterill, et al). Not to say that I haven't read and enjoyed these books, but I would love to read more books written by authors who identify with the cultures (and sub-cultures)that they write about. Part of this is a genre-constraint. But not entirely! Please add books in the mystery & thriller genres that meet these criteria, I'm excited to see what the GoodReads Brain Trust comes up with!

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	Out by Natsuo Kirino 3.94 avg rating — 47,727 ratings score: 599, and 6 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo, #1) by Keigo Higashino 4.17 avg rating — 76,624 ratings score: 397, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Wife of the Gods (Darko Dawson #1) by Kwei Quartey (Goodreads Author) 3.78 avg rating — 3,913 ratings score: 294, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Better the Blood by Michael Bennett 3.99 avg rating — 5,065 ratings score: 200, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	The Eye of Jade (A Mei Wang Mystery, #1) by Diane Wei Liang 2.97 avg rating — 1,202 ratings score: 193, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	A Beautiful Place to Die (Detective Emmanuel Cooper, #1) by Malla Nunn 3.90 avg rating — 4,008 ratings score: 192, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Blood Safari (Lemmer #1) by Deon Meyer 3.90 avg rating — 3,833 ratings score: 189, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Nairobi Heat by Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ 3.26 avg rating — 782 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Mojado (Navajo Nation Mystery #4) by R. Allen Chappell 4.37 avg rating — 2,225 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	A Carrion Death (Detective Kubu, #1) by Michael Stanley (Goodreads Author) 3.70 avg rating — 2,206 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Honjin Murders (Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, #1) by Seishi Yokomizo 3.64 avg rating — 22,890 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Widows of Malabar Hill (Perveen Mistry, #1) by Sujata Massey (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 33,252 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Peacekeeper (The Good Lands, #1) by B.L. Blanchard (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 4,087 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris 3.70 avg rating — 23,360 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Blanche on the Lam (Blanche White #1) by Barbara Neely 3.76 avg rating — 5,209 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Het oog van de rode tsaar by Sam Eastland 3.80 avg rating — 4,807 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Ancient Blood (Navajo Nation Mystery #3) by R. Allen Chappell 4.29 avg rating — 2,738 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Murder in the Age of Enlightenment: Essential Stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa 3.86 avg rating — 638 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Frangipani Tree Mystery (Crown Colony, #1) by Ovidia Yu (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 2,945 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Jackal by Erin E. Adams (Goodreads Author) 3.65 avg rating — 18,584 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Lotus Palace (The Pingkang Li Mysteries, #1) by Jeannie Lin (Goodreads Author) 3.79 avg rating — 2,346 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Navajo Autumn (Navajo Nation Mystery, #1) by R. Allen Chappell 3.97 avg rating — 3,270 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong 3.75 avg rating — 16,959 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul (Inspector Singh Investigates #2) by Shamini Flint (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 1,751 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree (Inspector Singh Investigates #4) by Shamini Flint (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 1,057 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Jade Temptress (The Pingkang Li Mysteries, #2) by Jeannie Lin (Goodreads Author) 4.01 avg rating — 1,151 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Feng Shui Detective (Feng Shui Detective #1) by Nury Vittachi 3.57 avg rating — 660 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Boy Made of Dawn (Navajo Nation Mystery, #2) by R. Allen Chappell 4.30 avg rating — 3,152 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Decagon House Murders (House Murders, #1) by Yukito Ayatsuji 3.78 avg rating — 20,457 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Stolen Lives (Jade de Jong, #2) by Jassy Mackenzie (Goodreads Author) 3.74 avg rating — 314 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The Mill House Murders (House Murders, #2) by Yukito Ayatsuji 3.62 avg rating — 5,296 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Noh Mask Murder by Akimitsu Takagi 3.76 avg rating — 1,405 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 16,229 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Paper Butterfly (A Mei Wang Mystery, #2) by Diane Wei Liang 3.28 avg rating — 503 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	Gold of Our Fathers (Darko Dawson #4) by Kwei Quartey (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 603 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars