9 Funny Mystery Books that Will Make You Die of Laughter

When struggling mystery writer Finlay Donovan learns that she’s in jeopardy of losing custody of her kids, she is desperate to find a job with stable income. Being a hired assassin was not exactly what she had in mind, but that’s what fate — or, rather, a stranger at Panera — offers her. But when someone else kills her target before she can untangle herself from the whole business, she’s forced to hide the body and find the murderer before she’s accused of the crime.

American Simon Kirby-Jones hopes to settle into a quiet life blending in as a totally normal expat in an English village. Difficult when you’re a gay vampire, but somehow he manages. But when a murder upends his charming neighborhood, he’s forced to uncover the secrets — and culprit — behind the shocking crime.

Following a financial rough patch, all actress Dayna Anderson wants is to help her parents keep the family home. After witnessing a hit-and-run, Dayna is determined to catch the killer — at first for the reward money but later to avenge the victim’s untimely death. But the further Dayna descends into Hollywood’s criminal underbelly, the more she puts herself in danger of being permanently silenced.

The year is 1991, and a fictional version of Star Trek actor Brent Spiner receives a series of threatening packages at his trailer. Rather than wait for an incompetent detective to fail at catching the criminal, Brent goes on a mission to catch the stalker himself — preferably before they find and kill him. Darkly comedic, this mystery blurs the line between fandom and obsession and examines what happens when celebrity worship becomes unhinged. 

Meddelin “Meddy” Chan didn’t mean to kill her blind date, but, well…accidents happen. It’s up to her aunties and their family wedding business to keep Meddy from getting charged for murder and maybe even help her find a happily-ever-after with her ex-boyfriend.

After his boyfriend and agent break up with him right after his 40th birthday, mystery writer Christopher Homes feels like life couldn’t get worse. He realizes how wrong he is when he finds his editor murdered in the woods. Life always has a way of hitting a new rock bottom. With the help of an old flame who returns to his life, can Christopher bring the murderer to justice and clear his name?

Dirk Gently is a private investigator with an unusual theory about the interconnectedness of the universe. When an unexplainable murder occurs, Dirk believes the key to proving his theory — and maybe even saving humanity — lies in solving it.