Books
16 must-read books for Knives Out fans
If you delight in a good mystery, you’ll have no doubt eagerly devoured Knives Out and Knives Out: Glass Onion, the tongue-in-cheek films that pay tribute to Golden Age whodunnits with a thoroughly modern twist.
Now, the franchise is back. Knives Out 3: Wake Up Dead Man (out on Netflix from 12th December) sees Daniel Craig return in the role of private detective Benoit Blanc to investigate the murder of a priest, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, found dead in a sealed concrete box after a sermon. This locked room set-up feels very Agatha Christie-esque and, as with the other two Knives Out films, Wake Up Dead Man is wonderfully entertaining and deliciously funny.
Whether you’ve already watched the latest Knives Out film, or are saving it for the Christmas break, we’ve rounded up some brilliant books that share similar themes – think classic mysteries with quirky detectives, and modern whodunnits with a twist. These books each have a Knives Out vibe, packed with eccentric characters, serpentine plots and malevolent murderers with a point to prove. If you suspect foul play, you’re in good company…
Books like Knives Out:
Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
1. Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
While it might seem unlikely that anybody could out-nasty Knives Out’s Thrombeys family, the Cunninghams give them a good run for their money. The Cunningham family have got one thing in common: they’ve all killed someone. So when a body is discovered during a family reunion everyone’s a suspect. But who is the murderer?
Delivering a twist on the classic whodunnit, this unexpected mystery has a bold beginning and continues apace with its own uniquely quirky style. Darkly comic, subversive and hugely entertaining, this is a must-read.
The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery
2. The Murder At World’s End by Ross Montgomery
The blend of clever whodunnit and humour are what makes the Knives Out films such a hit, and The Murder at World’s End has the same mix of mystery and mayhem.
The unlikely sleuths in this case are under-butler Steven and his employer, potty-mouth octogenarian Lady Decima, who are racing to work out who killed the Viscount of Tithe Hall whilst he was locked inside his study, alone.
The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha
3. The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha
Much like the first Knives Out film, a chunky inheritance is at stake in The Inheritance, and a family full of leeches wants to get their hands on it.
The Agarwals have gathered for a family reunion on a luxury private island off the west coast of Scotland, where patriarch Raj plans to decide how to split his petrochemicals empire between his three children. But with a family this dysfunctional, bitter secrets, betrayals and back-stabbing come bubbling to the surface and the weekend ends in murder.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Rian Johnson, Knives Out’s creator and director, has always said that Agatha Christie is a huge influence on him, and you can see this inspiration in the setting, sense of paranoia and shocking reveal of this classic crime novel.
As Europe teeters on the brink of war in 1939, ten strangers are lured to an island mansion where the hosts are mysteriously absent. It soon becomes apparent that the guests are there for a reason – each accused of a terrible crime. One after another the guests are murdered… but will anyone survive judgement day?
Whose Body? by Dorothy L Sayers
5. Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
Like the Knives Out films, Whose Body? is a playful take on the classic murder mystery, with Sayers poking fun at existing detective fiction.
This crime novel was first published in 1923 and introduced Dorothy L Sayers’ aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey. It has one of the most original crime scenes written: a naked man is found dead in a bathtub, wearing only a pince-nez. Nobody knows who he is or how he ended up there, then in comes witty Lord Wimsey to solve the mystery – whilst quoting poetry and drinking Napoleon brandy.
A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz
6. A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz
If you like your detectives sharp and quick-witted like Benoit Blanc, look no further than Detective Daniel Hawthorne.
The third instalment in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series sees narrator Anthony Horowitz accompany Detective Daniel Hawthorne to a boutique literary festival on the Channel Island of Alderney to talk about their new book. But when the festival’s wealthy sponsor is found dead in unusual circumstances, suddenly Hawthorne and Horowitz have a mystery on their hands.
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
7. The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
Like in Knives Out: Glass Onion, this book is set on a gorgeous and remote location with a sordid underbelly.
An idyllic wellness retreat off the coast of Devon has a secret: years before, the island where it is located, known locally as Reaper’s Rock, was the favourite haunt of a serial killer. But now, decades later, a woman is found dead. The detective on the case soon discovers the victim wasn’t a guest – and history seems to be repeating itself…
A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle
8. A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle
With a final twist worthy of Agatha Christie herself – and reminiscent of the Knives Out films – this claustrophobic locked-room mystery is perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz.
It’s November, 1924, and a cruise liner sets sail with 2,000 passengers onboard. When a man is found dead at the bottom of the staircase, while the ship is out at sea, it’s ruled as an accident. But the ship’s officer suspects there could be a murderer on board…
Speedy Death by Gladys Mitchell
9. Speedy Death by Gladys Mitchell
Like in Knives Out, an unconventional detective is also at the centre of this iconic Golden Age mystery that has stood the test of time.
It’s 1929 and the guests of quintessential English country manor Chaynings are aghast at the disappearance of fellow guest and world-famous traveler Everard Mountjoy and the discovery of a body in a bathtub. A sinister sequence of events follows, as amateur detective and eccentric psychoanalyst Mrs Beatrice Bradley is introduced. But will she solve the peculiar case or is she the prime suspect?
Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi
10. Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi
Grant McAllister, former mathematics professor turned author of crime fiction, has worked out that all murder mysteries follow a set of rules. Now living a secluded life on an idyllic Mediterranean island, he’s tracked down by persistent editor Julia Hart to explore his previously penned works, which in turn lead to a murder that needs solving…
This clever, creative and playful celebration of crime fiction brings a new spin to the genre that makes it a must-read for Knives Out fans.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
11. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Cast of quirky characters? Check! Witty banter? Check! Cosy yet clever mystery to solve? Check! There are definitely lots of similarities between the Knives Out films and Richard Osman’s megahit crime series.
In this first book in The Thursday Murder Club series, we meet the gang of amateur sleuths who meet up every week in their retirement home to discuss cold cases – until a murder on their doorstep plunges them into their first live investigation…
Murder at the Theatre Royale by Ada Moncrieff
12. Murder at the Theatre Royale by Ada Moncrieff
When Scrooge dies onstage on the opening night of A Christmas Carol at London’s Theatre Royale, supposedly of a heart attack, it’s a shock but the show must go on. That is until an old rival of the production’s director is murdered in a dressing room and suddenly there’s real concern that those associated with the play are being targeted one by one…
Like Knives Out, this book is a homage to Golden Age crime fiction that still manages to be entirely original
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
13. An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
A weekend getaway in a cozy lodge in the snowy mountains is just what all the guests at the remote Mitchell’s Inn need, until a storm hits and the body of one of the guests is found in suspicious circumstances. Suddenly the idyllic retreat is looking remarkably less so, especially when a second body is discovered…
Telling the story through a split narrative between the ten guests and those running the hotel, this is a whodunnit that feels like the walls are closing in from the very first page. It’s also a murder mystery where everyone has a hidden agenda, like in the Knives Out films.
One By One by Ruth Ware
14. One By One by Ruth Ware
Saint Antoine is the luxurious location of Ruth Ware’s chilling alpine thriller where an off-site retreat goes horribly wrong when the company co-founder goes missing in the snow, leaving the rest of the group questioning whether it’s an unfortunate accident or if one amongst them is capable of murder. But the plot thickens with the snow outside when an avalanche hits and members of the group are picked off by the mystery murderer.
With a knowing nod to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (also an inspiration for the Knives Out films), this is an adrenaline-fuelled, highly entertaining read full of suspense.
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
15. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
Like the group of old friends invited by tech mogul Miles Bron to his private island in Knives Out: Glass Onion, this group of old friends don’t much seem to like each other that much: deep-seated resentments, secrets and rivalries simmer just below the surface.
A group of old university mates travel to an exclusive lodge in the remote Scottish wilderness for a New Year’s reunion. Very soon a body is found and a freak snowstorm means they can’t leave. They might have all been friends once, but now one of them is a murderer. Exploring the intensity of friendships with a shared history, this is an atmospheric thriller that delights in keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
16. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Evelyn Hardcastle is murdered again and again and again… and the deadly deed is witnessed on repeat by Aiden Bishop. Living the murderous day multiple times, Bishop wakes up afresh each morning in a different body, or “host”, of a guest attending the Blackheath ball that ends when the fatal shot is fired at Evelyn. The day will keep repeating and Aiden will continue to be haunted by the brutal events until he can correctly identify the murderer and in turn release himself from the loop.
Like Knives Out, this book gives a fresh spin to the classic whodunnit. With a labyrinth plot that both baffles and beguiles, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is also a smart, complex thriller that is as original as it is unique.
Have we missed any of the best books like Knives Out? Let us know in the comments below!
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Knives out is such a good movie!