Best LGBT Mysteries Books of 2025

* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
LGBT mysteries books offer a unique and thrilling perspective on crime solving. These books often feature queer protagonists who navigate their identities while solving complex mysteries. From cozy mysteries to hard-boiled thrillers, there is something for every mystery lover in the LGBT genre. Some popular titles include "The Last Place You Look" by Kristen Lepionka, "The Monet Murders" by Josh Lanyon, and "The Girl with the Treasure Chest" by Vanda. These books not only offer suspenseful plots and unexpected twists, but also provide representation for the LGBTQ+ community in the genre.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 9 LGBT Mysteries Books
And There He Kept Her: A Novel (Ben Packard, 1)
"And There He Kept Her" is a thrilling police procedural debut novel by Julie Moehling. The story revolves around former police officer Ben Packard, who returns to his hometown in Minnesota to start a new life as a sheriff's deputy. When two teenagers break into a house in search of prescription drugs, they stumble upon secrets that have been kept hidden for over two decades. As Packard leads the investigation into their disappearance, he is forced to confront his own past and uncover the darkness lurking in his hometown. Moehling's writing is sharp, suspenseful, and emotionally powerful. This book is a must-read for fans of Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gardner."
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books, 1)
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles is a gothic scandal meets Bridgerton intrigue in this swashbuckling Regency romance. Gareth Inglis, a shabby London clerk, becomes Sir Gareth after his father's death and inherits a grand house on the remote Romney Marsh and a family he doesn't know. The Marsh is notorious for its ruthless gangs of smugglers, and one of them is Joss Doomsday, Gareth's old lover. The gentleman and the smuggler must trust each other with their hearts and lives. The book is a masterful prose, thrilling romance, fantastic wit, and gripping stakes, making it a unique and compelling read.
Ghost Town
Ghost Town by Keith Chen is a captivating LGBT family life fiction book that tells the story of Kevin Chen, a young gay man who runs away from his oppressive village in Taiwan to Berlin. The novel takes place a decade later, after Chen is released from prison for killing his boyfriend, and he returns to his family's impoverished and desolate village. Through a myriad of voices, both living and dead, the story weaves family secrets, countryside superstitions, and the search for identity. This book is a beautifully written and highly recommended multigenerational family saga that explores themes of past, identity, and family.
Willful Behavior: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery (The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries)
Willful Behavior is a Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon. In this book, Brunetti is asked by his wife's student, Claudia Leonardo, to help obtain a pardon for her deceased grandfather's crime. However, when Claudia is found dead, Brunetti begins to unravel long-buried secrets of Nazi collaboration and the exploitation of Italian Jews. The story is compelling and absorbingly detailed, brilliantly evoking Venetian atmosphere. The characters of Brunetti and his family continue to deepen throughout the series. Overall, this book is a classic example of detective-book murder and a must-read for fans of police procedural books.
Lavender House: A Novel
Lavender House is a suspenseful mystery novel with a queer historical twist. Set in 1952, the story follows Evander Mills, a dishonored policeman who's hired to uncover the truth behind Irene Lamontaine's mysterious death. The Lamontaine family, who owns a soap empire, lives honestly and openly behind the gates of Lavender House, where none of the residents or staff hide who they are. However, to keep their secret, they've needed to keep others out. Lev AC Rosen delivers a deliciously twisty and queer whodunnit in Lavender House, making it a unique addition to the LGBT mysteries books category.
Secrets Typed in Blood: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery
Secrets Typed in Blood: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery is a thrilling historical mystery book that takes place in 1947 New York City. The story follows detective Lillian Pentecost and her partner Willowjean Parker as they investigate a series of murders that seem to be inspired by the gruesome tales of pulp detective magazines. With the pressure of solving three murders at once without tipping off the cops or the press, the duo dives into an underground world of people obsessed with murder. This book is an excellent addition to the Nero Award-winning Pentecost & Parker Mystery series, with unforgettable characters and a gripping plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Trace Elements: A Comissario Guido Brunetti Mystery (The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries, 29)
Trace Elements: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery, written by Donna Leon, is a gripping police procedural book that takes readers on a dark and thrilling journey through the water supply contamination crisis in Venice. When a dying patient at a hospice Fatebenefratelli cryptically reveals that her husband was killed and it was bad money, Commissario Guido Brunetti and his colleague Claudia Griffoni start investigating the case. The story is full of twists and turns that lead Brunetti to realize the perilous meaning in the woman’s accusation and the threat it reveals to the health of the entire region. Donna Leon's exceptional storytelling skills and remarkable characterizations make Trace Elements a must-read for fans of police procedural books.
Instinct (previously published as Murder Games) (Instinct, 1)
Instinct (previously published as Murder Games) by James Patterson is a heart-pounding police procedural novel of suspense. The story revolves around Dr. Dylan Reinhart, an Ivy League criminal behavior expert, and Detective Elizabeth Needham, who team up to investigate a series of gruesome murders. As they try to catch the killer, they realize that the playing cards left at the crime scenes are not just a signature but a deadly hint pointing towards the next victim. With its unpredictable twists and turns, Instinct keeps the readers on edge until the very end. Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful crime novel.
The Verifiers
The Verifiers is a debut novel that introduces Claudia Lin, an amateur sleuth who verifies people's online lives and lies for a dating detective agency in New York City. However, when a client with an unusual request goes missing, Claudia breaks protocol to investigate, uncovering a maelstrom of personal and corporate deceit. The book is a clever and incisive examination of how technology shapes our choices and the nature of romantic love in the digital age. This literary mystery, part family story, is a thoroughly modern twist on classic detective fiction. Overall, The Verifiers is an exhilaratingly well-written book that is both original and intriguing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is a good theme for a mystery book?
For mystery writers a major theme is “crime does not pay.” A minor theme might be “overcoming adversity”—despite failed relationships a character finds a new romance. The theme is usually inferred. It is revealed through subtext, subtle details, and events not mentioned directly.
2. Is Mystery 101 based on a book?
This is another original series, instead of one based on cozy mystery novels like the Aurora Teagarden and Garage Sale Mysteries, among others. This series was written by mystery TV and novel writer Lee Goldberg (Monk, Diagnosis Murder, etc.) and Hallmark writer Robin Bernheim (who also has many other credits).
During our lgbt mysteries book research, we found 1,000+ lgbt mysteries book products and shortlisted 9 quality products. We collected and analyzed 385,174 customer reviews through our big data system to write the lgbt mysteries books list. We found that most customers choose lgbt mysteries books with an average price of $12.65.

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.