I think 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern also fits. While it's more of a magical mystery, it has a very unique and strange setting. The circus that appears only at night and the competition between the two magicians within it are full of mystery. There are all kinds of strange and beautiful elements in the circus that keep you guessing as to how it all works and what the end result of the competition will be.
Then there's 'Annihilation' by Jeff VanderMeer. The area known as Area X is filled with all kinds of strange and unexplained phenomena. The mystery of what exactly is going on in Area X and why it has such a strange effect on those who enter is what makes this novel so engaging. It's full of biological oddities and psychological twists.
Sure. 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer' by Patrick Süskind. It's a really weird and captivating mystery about a man with an extraordinary sense of smell who becomes a serial killer. The way Süskind describes scents and how they drive the protagonist is both strange and fascinating.
Sure. 'Bone' by Jeff Smith is a great start. It has elements of mystery within its fantasy world. The Bone cousins find themselves in a strange land full of mysteries, like the identity of certain creatures and the secrets of the valley they're in.
For beginners, 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie is great. It has a simple yet engaging plot. Ten people are invited to an island and then start getting killed one by one. It's easy to follow and gets you hooked on the mystery genre.
'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving is another excellent choice. It's a well - known short story that features the headless horseman, a very iconic ghostly figure. The story is set in a small, spooky town and has elements of mystery as Ichabod Crane tries to figure out the truth behind the horseman's hauntings.
Sure. 'The Westing Game' by Ellen Raskin is a great start. It has an interesting mystery that is not too complex for new readers. The characters are diverse and the plot unfolds in an engaging way.
Sure. 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie is a great start. It has a simple yet engaging plot where ten strangers are lured to an island and then start getting killed one by one. It's easy to follow and gets you hooked on the mystery genre.
I think 'The Westing Game' by Ellen Raskin is suitable for beginners. It's a mystery novel with a bit of a different feel, more focused on the puzzle - like nature of the mystery. Also, 'The Secret of the Old Clock' by Carolyn Keene is a good entry - level mystery. It has a young female detective, Nancy Drew, and the plot is full of intrigue but not overly complicated.
Another great one is 'The Crying of Lot 49' by Thomas Pynchon. It's full of strange symbols, odd characters, and a mystery that seems to keep expanding the more you read. Pynchon weaves a complex web of ideas and events that leave the reader constantly questioning what's really going on.
Sure. 'Nancy Drew' series is a great start for beginners. These books have been around for a long time and follow the adventures of Nancy Drew as she solves various mysteries. They are easy to read and have engaging plots. Another one is 'The Hardy Boys' series. The Hardy brothers are always getting into mystery - solving situations, and the stories are written in a way that's accessible for young readers new to the mystery genre. 'Encyclopedia Brown' is also good. Each story presents a small mystery that the super - smart Encyclopedia Brown has to solve, and it's a fun way to get into the world of mystery novels.
Sure. 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' is an early mystery novel. It was written by Edgar Allan Poe.
Sure. 'The Boring Mystery Case' is a bad one. It fails to create any sort of mystery atmosphere. The clues are just randomly scattered and don't lead to a logical conclusion. The main character who is supposed to solve the mystery is not very likable either.