The 52 Book Club: 2026 Challenge discussion

What is the Mystery Genre Challenge?
Welcome to our very first full-sized genre-specific challenge. This challenge is similar in premise to our annual 52 Book Club reading challenges, with a few key differences:

1) This challenge must be completed using one genre only. All books read for this challenge must be mysteries.

2) There is no timeline for completing this challenge. Take as long or as short as you like.

Our mystery challenge contains fifty different “cases” (we usually call them “prompts”). Match one mystery to each case for a total of fifty different books. Cases are related to different mystery elements and tell you what to look for in a book. Cases are loosely connected to their chapter heading but can be completed in any order.


Chapter One: The Crime
1. A classic mystery (list)
2. An opening line that hooks you (list)
3. An “impossible” crime (list)
4. Murder disguised as an accident (list)
5. A missing person (list)
6. A cozy mystery (list)
7. An unsettling read (list)
8. Title includes the word “death” or “dead” (list)
9. A white-collar crime (list)
10. A humorous mystery (list)


1. A classic mystery. We’re kicking off our challenge with a classic mystery. “A classic” could refer to an author, title, or character who was instrumental in the genre’s formation or evolution. This might be a well-known book, often described as a “classic,” or perhaps a lesser-known novel by a Golden Age mystery writer. (Example: Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, G.K. Chesterton, John Dickson Carr, etc.)

Alternatively, you could also use this prompt to read a mystery with traditional/classic mystery elements – a book that feels very typical of the genre. (For example: a professional or amateur detective solving a mystery using clues, logic, and interviewing suspects, with the culprit revealed and caught at the end.)

2. An opening line that hooks you. Choose a mystery book that grips you right from the first sentence!

3. An “impossible” crime. An “impossible” crime is a sub-genre within the mystery genre that features a seemingly impossible or unsolvable crime. This includes locked-room mysteries (for example: a murder committed in a sealed room) or other “impossible” seeming crimes (murder committed in the snow without footprints, a murderer who can seemingly read their victim’s minds, murderous animated objects, etc.) The crime cannot be taken at face value because it seems impossible; however, when revealed, there is a clever, human-created, explanation.

In this type of mystery, how the crime was committed is just as important as who committed it. The characters may or may not comment on the impossibility of the crime.

As a creative interpretation, you may choose a book featuring a crime that is “impossible” in our world. For example, a sci-fi mystery that uses technology not yet available to us, a paranormal mystery, a fantasy mystery, etc.

4. Murder disguised as an accident. Pick a book where the murder is disguised as an accident. This is a common trope within the genre: covering a crime by making it look like a mishap. In this type of story, our protagonist often takes it upon themselves to prove a crime has actually been committed.

5. A missing person. For this prompt, we’re looking for a mystery that includes a missing person. Characters may be missing for a variety of reasons: kidnapping, intentional disappearance, lost in the woods, seen on camera entering but never leaving a location, etc. This may be fiction or non-fiction. It may be the central plot point or a secondary point within the mystery.

6. A cozy mystery. Cozy mysteries are a popular sub-genre within crime fiction, usually featuring an amateur detective who stumbles across a mystery. With cozies, violence occurs “offstage.” It’s generally a light and comforting read, emphasizing puzzle-solving over suspense. They’re often set in small communities and feature hobbies, pets, or a sleuth’s career.

7. An unsettling read. For this prompt, we’re looking for a book that leaves you feeling unsettled. This does not mean that it has to be graphic in content. This may feature an ominous setting, a character or scene that gives you the chills, an eerie, unsolved true crime, an open ending, an unsettling cover design, etc.

8. Title includes the word “death” or “dead". Any mystery with the word “death” or “dead” in the title will fit this prompt. This may be the main title or the subtitle. This could also feature words like “deadly,” “deathbed,” “deadline,” “deadbolt,” etc.

9. A white-collar crime. A white-collar crime is a financially motivated, non-violent crime. Examples include fraud, bribery, identity theft, money laundering, embezzlement, Ponzi schemes, etc. This may feature large-scale corporate fraud or an individual con artist.

10. A humorous mystery. Humorous mysteries combine puzzle-solving with comedic elements. This may include witty dialogue, lighthearted or “ridiculous” situations, and eccentric or over-the-top characters. Humorous mysteries can range from goofy and light to the darkest of dark humour. While the presentation of the story is humorous, the book is still centered around a mystery.

Please examples of #3 impossible crime book choices?

Would the great alone by Kristin Hannah work for #4? The two characters commit murder and cover it up.

Vicki wrote: "Please examples of #3 impossible crime book choices?"

Look for locked room mysteries, like most of Agatha Christie. Many Japanese mysteries rely on it so much that they have a term for that very trope, misshitsu. Two famous examples are The Decagon House Murders and The Honjin Murders, but many--MANY--other worthy titles exist.

Goodreads also has a listopia for it, so do a search and you'll find all the titles you need, and then some.

1. A classic mystery
2. An opening line that hooks you
3. An “impossible” crime
4. Murder disguised as an accident
5. A missing person
6. A cozy mystery
7. An unsettling read - Wild Dark Shore
8. Title includes the word “death” or “dead”
9. A white-collar crime
10. A humorous mystery

For Case #7 I just finished King of Ashes which was unsettling in every way.

For Case #1 Whose Body?. Very Classic.

When I saw Case #1, I thought of The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, the Princes in the Tower. I have read it trice in Norwegian, and this year I'll all 6 books of The Inspector Alan Grant in English.

I'd recommend Guilty by Definition if you're looking for a missing person book.

For #1, Classic Mystery
I chose the Hound of the Baskervilles, Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I don’t know how I could enjoy mysteries and not have read any of Sherlock Holmes! Enjoyed it very much.
~Blākie

1. A classic mystery
2. An opening line that hooks you
3. An “impossible” crime - The Abyss
4. Murder disguised as an accident
5. A missing person A Bad Day for Sunshine
6. A cozy mystery Shady Hollow
7. An unsettling read - The Sand-Man and Other Stories
8. Title includes the word “death” or “dead”
9. A white-collar crime
10. A humorous mystery