10 Best Countryside Mystery Books, Secrets of a Small Town
When it comes to intrigue and suspense, there’s nothing quite as compelling as a mystery tale unfolding within the charming yet tight-knit communities of small towns. Here, we dive into the best countryside mystery books which superbly encapsulate the allure of such surroundings while unfolding sinister secrets that lurk beneath the seemingly idyllic facade. Taken together, these novels paint a rich tapestry of not only mystery but also reveal the intimate lives, relationships, and dynamics of small town people in the backdrop.
Each novel has its unique charm. Some are whodunits, keeping you guessing till the very end. Some dwell into the psychological depths of its characters evoking a palpable sense of dread, while others take you on breathless chase with their relentless pace. You'll experience it all - the character-driven artworks, high stake twists, and the satisfaction of the mystery knot unravelled.
Even if you are a dyed-in-the-wool city dweller, these books will transport you right into the heart of quaint cafes, quiet lakes, and that one scary house at the corner which holds all the town's secrets. So get in the groove, grab a warm drink, and get ready to embark on some of the most exciting literary journeys to the heart of mystery.
『The Secret of Willow Inn』
Two women fighting for their dreams--one who's long lost hers--are united by tragedy and a long-held secret. Pregnant with her first child, Emily Hayes is eager to help her mother finish transforming an estate into the Willow Inn and write a novel about Willow Falls' colorful history. A tragic event threatens her parents' plans to refurbish an abandoned hotel and transform the obscure Georgia setting into a tourist destination. Sadie Lyles left Willow Falls a murderer who'd killed the town hero. She returns as a despised felon and seeks solace in the town's café. Emily struggles to unite the close-knit community and becomes Sadie's biggest advocate. She strives to uncover the truth about the crime and save her town from dying. To appease her father, Rachel, a VP in his Atlanta real-estate-development firm, relegates her acting dream to secret performances for imaginary audiences. After meeting charming, flirtatious Charlie Bricker, manager for Willow Falls' future vineyard, she vows to break free from her father's control. The tragedy and Willow Inn's secret past launch Emily and Rachel on a collision course with destiny and truth. General Content (G) (I): Contains little or no; sexual dialogue or situations, violence, or strong language. May also contain content of an inspirational/religious nature.
Author | Pat Nichols |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Guiding Light Women's Fiction |
Release Date | Jan 10, 2019 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Hound of the Baskervilles』
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles gripped readers when it was first serialised and has continued to hold its place in the popular imagination to this day. Could the sudden death of Sir Charles Baskerville have been caused by the gigantic ghostly hound that is said to have haunted his family for generations? Arch-rationalist Sherlock Holmes characteristically dismisses the theory as nonsense. And, immersed in another case, he sends Dr Watson to Devon to protect the Baskerville heir and observe the suspects at close hand. With its atmospheric setting on the ancient, wild moorland and its savage apparition, The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the greatest crime novels ever written. Rationalism is pitted against the supernatural and good against evil as Sherlock Holmes sets out to defeat a foe almost his equal. This edition contains a full chronology of Arthur Conan Doyle's life and works, an introduction by renowned horror scholar Professor Christopher Frayling discussing the background to the novel and the legends and events that inspired the story, with further reading and explanatory notes. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Author | Sir Arthur Conan Doyle |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | National Geographic Books |
Release Date | Oct 01, 2001 |
Source | Google Books |
『They Call Me Crazy』
Cass Adams is crazy, and everyone in Deacon, Kansas, knows it. But when her good-for-nothing husband, Roland, goes missing, no one suspects that Cass buried him in their unfinished koi pond. Too bad he doesn't stay there for long. Cass gets arrested on the banks of the Spring River for dumping his corpse after heavy rain partially unearths it.The police chief wants a quick verdict--he's running for sheriff and has no time for crazy talk. But like Roland's corpse, secrets start to surface, and they bring more to light than anybody expected. Everyone in Cass's life thinks they know her--her psychic grandmother, her promiscuous ex-best friend, her worm-farming brother-in-law, and maybe even her local ghost. But after years of separate silences, no one knows the whole truth. Except Roland. And he's not talking.
Author | Kelly Stone Gamble |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | |
Release Date | Oct 22, 2014 |
Source | Google Books |
『The Dry』
Federal Agent Aaron Falk attends the funeral of his best friend, Luke. Twenty years ago when Falk was accused of murder, Luke was his alibi. But now more than one person knows they didn't tell the truth back then, and Luke is dead.
Author | Jane Harper |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Macmillan |
Release Date | Jan 10, 2017 |
Source | Google Books |
『Red Bones: the Shetland Series 3』
Author | Ann Cleeves |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Pan |
Release Date | Mar 18, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Raven Black』
Introducing Inspector Jimmy Perez. Raven Black is the first book in Ann Cleeves' bestselling Shetland series - now a major BBC One drama starring Douglas Henshall. A remote community with a killer in their midst . . . On New Year's Day, Shetland lies buried beneath a deep layer of snow. Trudging home, Fran Hunter's eye is drawn to a vivid splash of colour on the white ground, ravens circling above. It is the strangled body of her teenage neighbour. As Fran opens her mouth to scream, the ravens continue their deadly dance . . . The body is found close to the home of a lonely outcast and local suspicion falls firmly on him. But when Inspector Jimmy Perez insists on broadening the search for suspects, a veil of distrust and fear is thrown over the entire community. As the case develops, Perez finds himself peering deeper into the past of the Shetland Islands than anyone wants to go. The case files of Jimmy Perez continue in White Nights, the thrilling second Shetland novel.
Author | Ann Cleeves |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Pan |
Release Date | Mar 18, 2021 |
Source | Google Books |
『Barely a Spark』
Police Sergeant Jim Sanders has been appointed the Acting Police Chief while his boss takes a vacation in Montana. Jim thinks two weeks will be a breeze, crime isn't a big thing in the small town of Bradford, Pennsylvania. Was it an accident? Maybe suicide? Or could it have been something more sinister. John Crocker was not a well liked man. He smoked too much, drank too much, and gambled too much. But even he had a family and they deserved to know the truth. Small town Klondike, up the hill from Bradford, suddenly sees a spike in vandalism. Cabins ransacked, cars trashed - who is responsible? Summer tourist kids or someone more menacing? Sometimes, two weeks can seem like a year...
Author | D. B. Mcnicol |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Createspace Independent Publishing Platform |
Release Date | Nov 11, 2013 |
Source | Google Books |
『In the Woods』
Twenty years after witnessing the violent disappearances of two companions from their small Dublin suburb, detective Rob Ryan investigates a chillingly similar murder that takes place in the same wooded area, a case that forces him to piece together his traumatic memories.
Author | Tana French |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Penguin |
Release Date | Jan 01, 2007 |
Source | Google Books |
『Rebecca』
Author | Daphne du Maurier |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | |
Release Date | Mar 07, 2016 |
Source | Google Books |
『Dead And Buried』
Brutal acts of firestarting have ravaged the Peak District, and now a new wave of moorland infernos sweeps across the national park. For DS Ben Cooper, the blazes are best left to the firefighters, even with the arsonists still at large. But when an intruder breaks into an abandoned pub, Cooper is on the case - and he swiftly unearths a pair of grim surprises. The first is evidence of a years-old double homicide. And the second is a corpse, newly dead... What links the three deaths? Where are the missing bodies? Who is responsible - and how do the raging fires fit in? For Cooper and his rival DI Diane Fry, it's the most twisted investigation of their lives... and with an ingenious killer pulling the strings, it could also be their last. Drenched in atmosphere and danger, Stephen Booth's relentless new thriller builds to a shock finale that will catch even the most seasoned suspense readers off guard.
Author | Stephen Booth |
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Price | unknown |
Publisher | Sphere |
Release Date | Jun 21, 2012 |
Source | Google Books |
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend these 10 countryside mystery books for anyone who has a penchant for suspense, riddles, and rustic charm. Whether you're lounging in your cozy bed on a rainy day or packing a book for a long overland trip, these novels will make your heart pound and your mind wander through the uncanny secrets of small-town life. Each story is delicately weaved with an engaging plot, intriguing characters, unexpected twists, and beautifully detailed rural settings that pull you right in. The authors have an uncanny knack for keeping readers on their toes, landing them right at the heart of the mystery where each flip of the page brings them closer to the truth. You will find yourself lost in the pages, hooked by the compelling narrative and the tantalizing secrets of the rural landscape. The narratives blend grit, humor, and raw human drama in such a way that you'll find it hard to put the books down. They're absolute page-turners! Whatever your usual literary preferences may be, give these countryside mystery books a crack, and I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised. One thing's for sure; there's more than meets the eye in these small-town secrets. Happy reading, pals!
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