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 Four: The Clues
31. A missing murder weapon (list)
32. Solved with forensic science (list)
33. Mystery / other genre (list)
34. A snowy setting (list)
35. Hidden rooms and secret passages (list)
36. A book you can’t put down (list)
37. Includes an inheritance or will (list)
38. “I know what you did last summer (list)
39. Published before 1960 (list)
40. Has flashbacks (list)


31. A missing murder weapon. Choose a murder mystery in which the murder weapon has gone missing or is not found at the scene of the crime. Often, the perpetrator has deliberately concealed or removed the weapon. The weapon may or may not be found over the course of the book.

32. Solved with forensic science. Forensic science is the application of scientific methods and techniques to investigate a crime. This may involve DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, toxicology, bloodstain patterns, etc. For this prompt, we’re looking for a mystery that was specifically solved through the use of some type of forensic science.

33. Mystery / other genre. Mysteries can be found across genres. For this prompt, we want the mystery genre to collide with another genre of your choosing. This may be a historical mystery (mystery combined with historical fiction), fantasy mystery, sci-fi mystery, romantic suspense mystery, paranormal mystery, mystery thriller, etc. The mystery is still a key part of the story, but it blends core parts of one genre with another.

34. A snowy setting. Choose any mystery with a snowy setting. This may be set in a cold climate, an isolated mountain resort, or characters trapped in the midst of a blizzard. Snow or cold temperatures may or may not factor into the actual mystery (missing footprints in the snow, anyone?)

35. Hidden rooms and secret passages. Is there anything more mysterious than a house full of hidden rooms and secret passages? For this prompt, pick a book that features architectural misdirection. This may include a hidden room, secret passage, tunnel, a maze-like house, stairways to nowhere, etc. This may or may not play a key role within the mystery.

36. A book you can’t put down. Found a book you just can’t put down? Use it for this prompt! (Hint: This is another prompt that is difficult to plan for in advance. Feel free to shuffle books from prompt to prompt after reading, or try a re-read or favourite author for this prompt!)

37. Includes an inheritance or will. An inheritance is the transfer of money, property, or assets from a deceased person to their heirs or beneficiaries. A will is a legal document which states the wishes of the deceased for their assets. This mystery should feature a will or inheritance in some form. It may be a central plot point, featured in a specific scene, or used as a clue, red herring, or motive.

38. “I know what you did last summer". An individual or a group of friends share a dark, guilty secret… but someone else knows too… For this prompt, choose a book in which a character is blackmailed about or haunted by a past secret or crime they committed. This is a common trope within YA mysteries or thrillers. Use this phrase as inspiration for this prompt. It does not have to be set in summer. The phrase may relate to the book’s theme, plot, dialogue, title, etc.

39. Published before 1960. While there are a lot of amazing modern mysteries, there are also some incredible early mysteries waiting to be discovered! This is an excellent opportunity to explore the evolution of the genre. Pick any mystery that was published before 1960.

40. Has flashbacks. A flashback is a literary device where the narration jumps back to a previous time. A non-chronological timeline reveals past experiences, character motivation, or critical backstory that better explains the events currently happening. For this case, we’re looking for a book that includes multiple flashbacks.

31. A missing murder weapon -
32. Solved with forensic science -
✅33. Mystery / other genre - The Price of Honey
34. A snowy setting -
35. Hidden rooms and secret passages -
36. A book you can’t put down -
✅37. Includes an inheritance or will - The Secret Christmas Library
✅38. “I know what you did last summer - The Replacement
39. Published before 1960 -
40. Has flashbacks -