Nothing delights me more than reading a humorous mystery that combines a page-turning whodunit with laugh-out-loud shenanigans, and I’m lucky to now write them as well in my Hu Done It Series, comprised of The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club and The Mortal Enemy Murder Club. In The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club, three women discover they’re dating the same man and band together to get revenge, only to discover his body and become the #1 suspects. In The Mortal Enemy Murder Club, after solving the murder of their shared ex-boyfriend, the girls are back and they must now save their mortal enemy from murder.
The best part about writing funny mysteries is that when it’s time to give the reader new information, you can deliver it in the most entertaining way possible. Which is why, in The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club, the way that the protagonist, Kathryn Hu, discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her is by walking in, half-naked, on him proposing to one of his other two girlfriends. Then in the sequel, Kathryn and the other girlfriend, now best friends, talk about Kat’s new boyfriend and the size of his thingamajig, only to realize that everyone else, including the boyfriend, can hear them.
A humorous book premise also begs you to lean into the shenanigans. So when I brainstormed the sequel, I was excited to force the girls to work with the revenge podcast host who tried to frame them for murder in the first book. This led to maximal conflict and banter, a long built-in list of suspects, and the chance to include delicious revenge stories like a podcast guest switching the contact names in her cheating ex’s phone so that he accidentally sexts his parents.
One of the reasons humor and mystery make such a perfect pairing is that laughter helps balance the inherent darkness of crime. Humor is a coping mechanism of life and provides much needed breaks for the reader. (And you can read my essay about why this pairing works so well on CrimeReads here.)
So here is a list of humorous mysteries that I have loved, ranging from laugh-out-loud funny to more subtle humor. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
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Birdie Horne, Don’t Cross Mo Ellery
Mo Ellery is down on her luck after she gets fired, dumped, and kicked out of her home, and after she begins working as a school crossing guard, her greatest nemesis dies in front of her and she’s one of the few who believe he was murdered—meaning, she’s going to have to solve this one herself.
This book is a laugh-out-loud, I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened romp from start to finish. Just read the first chapter and see how much you laugh!
Jo Firestone, Murder on Sex Island
A cast member from the hit reality TV show Sex Island goes missing, and producers hire Luella van Horn to go undercover as a contestant to solve the case. And Luella is absolutely hilarious. This book was laugh after laugh, just like the title promises, and it also delivered a surprising ending.
And luckily, you can keep the laughs going with Sex on Murder Island, the second book in the series!
Emma Mills, Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet
When Rachel’s celebrity friend Molly is found dead, she’s the only one who knows she didn’t die of an overdose like everyone claims, and she’s going to have to prove it. This book was filled with humor and banter, all while feeling like you’re living inside a magazine getting the celebrity gossip first. You’ll be sucked into this fun ride immediately and kept guessing until the end!
Mia P. Manansala, Death in the Cards
After a high school tarot reader’s latest client goes missing, she teams up with the girl’s sister to solve the case. This book has an unforgettable voice and a tight-knit family the reader feels a part of, as well as witty dialogue and Mia’s trademark humor from her Tita Rosie’s Kitchen.
Erica Hendry, Let’s Not Go Overboard Here
After Mel’s best friend dies, she embarks on a yacht trip and is the only one who believes that another passenger is in danger. Armed with her pop culture knowledge, she’s determined to solve a murder that no one else believes has happened. This book beautifully balances humor with a tender exploration of grief, making this story wonderfully funny, heartfelt, and entertaining.
Jilly Gagnon, Lana Harper, Cards on the Table
Two witchy sisters are framed for the disappearance of millions of dollars from the estate they’ve been the “witches in residence” for, and they must find a way to clear their names. This one is sneakily humorous, with frequent one-liners that crop up and make you giggle. This has some of everything: suspense, family drama, magic, romance, humor, and a compelling mystery.
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