Keep Mystery Alive!
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Scroll down to see this year’s schedule and check out selections from years past.
Publication: 1939
THE BIG SLEEP by Raymond Chandler is a classic hardboiled detective novel introducing Philip Marlowe, a private investigator in LA. Hired to resolve a blackmail scheme, Marlowe uncovers a web of corruption and murder. It’s noir storytelling at its best.
Publication: 1940
FAREWELL, MY LOVELY by Raymond Chandler features iconic private detective Philip Marlowe, who investigates the disappearance of an ex-con’s girlfriend, Celebrated for its atmospheric prose and moral complexity, it solidified Chandler’s legacy as a noir master.
Publication: 1940
TRAITOR’S PURSE by Margery Allingham features amateur sleuth Albert Campion. Suffering from amnesia, Campion races to stop a wartime national security threat. Renowned for its psychological depth, it showcases Allingham’s skill at blending espionage with a classic whodunit.
Publication: 1942
LAURA by Vera Caspary is a sophisticated mystery novel blending romance and psychological intrigue. Told through shifting perspectives, it follows a detective investigating the apparent murder of a glamorous ad exec. It remains a cornerstone of noir fiction.
Publication: 1942
REAR WINDOW by Cornell Woolrich is a suspenseful story about a man confined to his apartment who suspects his neighbor of murder after observing strange events through his window. Known for its tension and claustrophobic atmosphere, it inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film.
Publication: 1943
THE MINISTRY OF FEAR by Graham Greene is a thrilling blend of espionage and psychological mystery set in wartime London. The story follows Arthur Rowe, an ordinary man caught up in Nazi intrigue. Celebrated for its moral complexity, it redefined the boundaries of the mystery genre.
Publication: 1943
THE RAT BEGAN TO GNAW THE ROPE introduces small-town lawyer Gil Henry. Praised for its wit and unconventional hero, it’s an early example of blending humor with hardboiled crime fiction. C. W. Grafton was the father of “alphabet series” mystery author Sue Grafton.
HOME SWEET HOMICIDE by Craig Rice features a trio of resourceful siblings who set out to solve a murder in their neighborhood. The novel exemplifies Rice’s talent for blending lighthearted storytelling with intricate puzzles, earning her acclaim in the genre — and a Time Magazine cover.
DEATH COMES AS THE END by Agatha Christie is a groundbreaking historical mystery set in ancient Egypt. When a wealthy patriarch’s death sparks a series of murders within his family, suspicion and secrets abound. It’s the first full-length historical whodunit.
GREEN FOR DANGER by Christianna Brand is a masterful wartime mystery set in a British hospital during the Blitz. When a patient dies under suspicious circumstances, Inspector Cockrill investigates a web of secrets among the medical staff. It’s a standout in Golden Age detective fiction.
DIED IN THE WOOL by Ngaio Marsh is a compelling mystery set on a remote New Zealand sheep farm. When a politician is found murdered in a bale of wool, Inspector Alleyn uncovers political intrigue and secrets. Marsh was one of the Queens of Crime, and this novel is among her best.
THE MOVING TOYSHOP by Edmund Crispin is an ingenious mystery featuring eccentric Oxford professor Gervase Fen. When a poet discovers a murdered woman in a toyshop that later vanishes, Fen investigates the surreal case. Celebrated for its wit and inventive plot, it’s a crime fiction classic.
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