Now that it is finally beginning to feel like fall in Northwest Arkansas, it’s a good time to find a new TV show, book or movie to dive into. Unlike any other season, fall always seems like the perfect time to read or watch a new murder mystery. While having a Stars Hollow fall is a great way to start the season, the cold calls for something a bit more sinister. With that in mind, here are my top murder mysteries for fall:
“Knives Out” (2019)
When I think of a fall murder mystery, I immediately picture “Knives Out.” When author Harlan Thrombley (Christopher Plummer) is found dead one morning in his wooded mansion, all eyes turn to his dysfunctional family and his dutiful staff. Starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas, among other A-List actors, this movie takes the traditional murder mystery and adds in hilarious twists and turns as it flips between the unfolding story and police interviews. After the first movie’s success, Netflix took over the franchise, releasing “Glass Onion” and “Wake Up Dead Man.” If you like classic Agatha Christies with a modern twist, this one is for you.
“Enola Holmes” (2020)
The story of Sherlock Holmes has been told over and over since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle debuted his master of deduction in 1887 with “A Study in Scarlet.” This time, however, the focus is on his little sister Enola, played by Millie Bobbie Brown. “Enola Holmes” follows the 16-year-old as she runs away from her brothers to find her missing mother in London. On her way, she stumbles upon Viscount Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), and the two work together to unravel the conspiracy her mother, and ultimately themselves, have become caught up in. While the story doesn’t start off with a murder, the characters are exposed to more and more danger around every corner as deceptions come to light. In addition to the first “Enola Holmes,” Netflix has also released “Enola Holmes 2” and “Enola Holmes 3.”
“Bones” (2005-2017)
While “Bones” isn’t predominantly a fall TV show, its status as a procedural crime drama earns it a spot on this list. “Bones” follows a forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan, and her team as they help out with FBI cases where nothing is left of the deceased but bones. “Bones” helped set the formula for many of the crime procedural shows today with its quirky police consultants and (mostly) by-the-book detectives. Spanning 12 seasons with roughly 20 episodes each, “Bones” has plenty of material for anyone wanting to stay out of the cold and looking for a new binge-worthy favorite.
“The Mentalist” (2008-2015)
“The Mentalist” is another classic crime procedural. Following CBI consultant Patrick Jane, “The Mentalist” tells the story of a former psychic trying to prove that all it takes to solve a murder is good deduction skills. While the premise may sound slightly similar to fans of NBC’s “Psych,” Jane’s character takes on a much more serious role throughout the show, trying to come to terms with the death of his family by the serial killer Red John. Despite its more serious take on the classic crime procedural, “The Mentalist” is full of sarcasm and witty remarks reminiscent of BBC’s “Sherlock.”
“Castle” (2009-2016)
The final procedural on this list is none other than ABC’s “Castle.” “Castle” follows author Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) as he tags along on NYPD Detective Kate Beckett’s (Stana Katic) assignments so that he can gain material for his new heroine “Nikki Heat.” As Castle refuses to ever take anything too seriously, Beckett’s no-nonsense outlook on police work causes the two to be at odds most of the time, adding to the back-and-forth banter and undeniable chemistry between the two. Complete with cameos from famous mystery writers, “Castle” is perfect for any literature lover's fall watchlist.
Agatha Christie Murders
Obviously you can’t have a list of top murder mysteries without mentioning the “Queen of Crime” herself, Agatha Christie. While Christie originally rose to acclaim through her novels, she has maintained her top spot in the mystery world through their countless movie and TV show adaptations. Recently, several of her novels have taken over the big screen through actor and director Kenneth Branagh’s take on Hercule Poirot, starting with “Murder on the Orient Express” and continuing with “Death on the Nile” and “A Haunting in Venice.” Netflix has also adapted one of Christie’s novels recently with “Agatha Christie's Seven Dials” starring Mia McKenna-Bruce, Edward Bluemel and Martin Freeman. My personal favorite Christie novel is “And Then There Were None,” which was adapted most recently in 2015 by BBC.
“The Thursday Murder Club”
You may know “The Thursday Murder Club” through its Netflix adaptation, but it earned its spot on this list through the five-book series by Richard Osman. While the club usually meets to discuss cold cases, things heat up when people connected to their retirement community start dying. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron may seem like quintessential retirees, but as the novels develop, their true sides are revealed as they play those around them like chess pieces to make sure the truth is revealed. While Osman hasn’t released any new books in this series recently, he just came out with “We Chase Shadows” the sequel to “We Solve Murders.” If you are a fan of senior sleuths, consider also checking out “The Marlow Murder Club” (and its accompanying PBS show) and “Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.”
The Pen & Ink Mysteries
In the mood for a cozy mystery? Look no further than Krista Davis’ “Color Me Murder,” the first in the Pen & Ink Mystery series. In this series, bookstore manager and adult coloring book maker Florrie Fox seems to be constantly stumbling across murders in quaint Georgetown. Throughout this four-book series Florrie works with her friends at the bookstore and Sergeant Eric Jonquille to figure out who is disrupting the peace in their corner of Washington, D.C. Davis is a longtime mystery writer with two other series “A Domestic Diva Mystery” and “Paws & Claws Mystery” in her repertoire.
“Killing November”
Looking for something a bit more high action? “Killing November” by Adriana Mather is the perfect pick. November Adley is a normal girl, or so she thinks, until she wakes up in a castle in the middle of nowhere. That is when she learns that she is actually the latest in a long line of assassins and is part of a secret society. As she learns the rules of her new life, people begin to die around her, making her further question who her parents really were. Although this is a young adult novel, it includes many heavy themes as November deals with the loss of her parents and the world as she knows it. Mather, thankfully, didn’t stop with “Killing November" but continued her story in “Hunting November.”
While this isn’t an exhaustive list, I hope you found some inspiration for a good mystery to spice up your fall. So turn on “No Body, No Crime” and get to sleuthing!
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