There’s nothing I love more than sitting down with a queer mystery or thriller—obviously, as a writer of the genres myself! The twists, the turns, the “oh my god!” moments, there’s nothing like it. Add the riches of queer history, the complexity of queer identity, and the double-lives queer people often have to live and you’ve got a recipe for a killer thriller.
Across YA and Adult, queer mystery and thriller are catching steam, throwing out convention and leaving us gasping at that final twist. Below are some of my favorites in both age categories, from the Dorian Gray inspired to the wilds of 1800’s smuggling rings. I hope you’ll pick up a few if you haven’t read them yet!
SHE’S TOO PRETTY TO BURN by Wendy Heard: queer thriller inspired by Dorian Gray, has everything a Dorian Gray fan-girl like me could ask for. Entrenched in the rebel art scene, Heard’s morally gray and complex characters are as twisty as the plot itself. Arson, murder, and stalking abound in this rollercoaster of a book as Mick finds herself drawn into Veronica and Nico’s world.
LAVENDER HOUSE by Lev C. Rosen: I’m a long-time fan of Rosen’s work in YA, but the Evander Mills series—of which LAVENDER HOUSE is the first—hooked me even deeper. Set in the 1950’s with a bit of a Knives Out-esque flavor, we explore the lives—and deaths—of the Lamontaine Estate, family and staff and the secrets that are keeping them safe—but also letting a killer get away with murder.
AND DON’T LOOK BACK by Rebecca Barrow: Barrow is a must-buy for me. AND DON’T LOOK BACK dives into the life of Harlow and her complicated relationship with her mother. They’ve spent their entire life running—and when Harlow is forced to confront the past when an accident kills her mother, leaving behind a mysterious safety deposit box with clues to a life Harlow’s mother never told her about. This is what I would call a gut punch of a book. A thrill-ride that leaves you emotional, unsettled and hungry for more.
A LINE IN THE DARK by Malinda Lo: While Lo is better known for her brilliant queer historicals, her earlier sci-fi and thrillers are a must for queer genre fans. A LINE IN THE DARK explores the complexity and intensity of female friendship and the lines between friend and crush.
COME OUT COME OUT by Natalie C. Parker: I admit to being a bit of a tease for putting a book not out until August on this list, but I would be remiss to not include it. Mixing queer horror and mystery, Parker delves into heartbreak, family complexities, romance and a presence in the woods that does not intend to let our main characters go—or remember the truth. Parker is Queen of atmosphere and spookiness—she had me screaming by the end of chapter one!
THE BEST BAD THINGS by Katrina Carrasco: Set in the 1800’s, this tale of a former Pinkerton detective Alma who is tasked with hunting down stolen opium by the mysterious Delphine, head of a smuggling ring and her new boss. Disguised as a man, Alma infiltrates a crime organization and wins their trust…but if they find out she’s a double-agent, all will be lost and she’ll be six feet in the ground. An evocative, atmospheric and propulsive read!
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