Best Fantasy Murder Mystery Books

The Garrett Files was the very first fantasy murder mystery I read—and it showed me just how much I LOVED the trope being used in a fantasy setting.

The classic hardboiled detective noir story takes place in the city of Tun-Faire, home to everything from dwarves to dark elves, ferocious pixies to petty gods. The comedic tone makes it an absolute delight to read, but the stories aren’t afraid to go dark and mix in a bit of violence. It’s still one of my all-time favorite fantasy series to this day.  

The Tainted Cup delivers a lovely “Sherlock and Watson” flavor with mentor Ana and her protégé/helper Din. Ana is a Sherlockian force of nature, and because we spend the story in Din’s head, we get to marvel at her brilliance right along with him as together, they puzzle through impossibly complex alchemical clues.

That it takes place in a world of sea walls and massive armies defending against attacks by Godzilla-like leviathans just adds a fantastical layer of color.

The Crescent City series is a modern urban fantasy play on murder mysteries. Half-fae party girl Bryce is forced to play detective when a demon murders her best friend. Because it’s Sarah J. Maas, you know there’s a lovely, steamy romance at the heart of the story, which though slow-burn, has plenty of heat. High-stakes investigations and dramatic twists make this a series you can absolutely burn through. 

Twelve magical characters board a ship, but how many will survive to reach the journey’s end?

I enjoyed this one immensely. The characters were so colorful (quite literally), and little Grasshopper was one of my all-time favorite adorable sidekicks. The mystery remains front and center, but there’s so much room for quiet, heartfelt moments that allowed for excellent character development. Cleverly written and well-paced, it was a delight to read. 

For those who love a bit of grumpy-sunshine romance, A Marvellous Light is just the thing. It’s got the murder mystery flavor of Knives Out with a hint of Bridgerton’s historical flair, as the ever-harried baronet Robin Blyth sets out to solve the mystery of his predecessor’s disappearance—which leads to revelations that may very well overturn everything he thought he knew about his world. 

Fans of Gideon the Ninth will love the “escape room” and “locked tomb” vibes of this murder mystery.

 Eleven paladins are sent to investigate the appearance of an ancient temple. Though forced to work together, their disparate holy orders are at odds, which leads to the inevitable yet impossible bloody murders.

It’s a slow descent into madness that culminates in a shocking and spectacular revelation of the true nature of what they’re investigating. Plus, there’s a lovely low-spice, high-steam romance mixed in for good measure.

In the Empire, a new ruler is chosen every 24 years through a grand competition in which eight challengers are pitted against each other. And when one of those eight turn up dead, it’s up to the emperor’s brilliant yet socially awkward High Scholar Neema Kraa to investigate and solve the mystifying crime. It’s a murder mystery that any Knives Out fan would love, all surrounded by the grand stakes of the tournament and told in a beautifully snarky and often humorous voice.