Books
7 must-read books for Only Murders in the Building fans
Are you excited for the new series of Only Murders in the Building? The third series of the Disney+ show is out on 8 August and we can’t wait to see the hijinks that await Mabel (Selena Gomez), Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short) as they work together for a third time to solve a murder. Unlike in previous seasons, this murder does not take place in the luxury New York apartment block, The Arconia. Instead, we know from the Season 2 finale that a theatre actor (played by Paul Rudd) has collapsed on-stage, in front of an audience full of witnesses.
Only Murders in the Building has earned a strong fan base thanks to its shocking plot twists, loveable characters, and warm tone. But you can find these same qualities in plenty of good murder mystery novels. So, below, we’ve rounded up the best books for fans of Only Murders in the Building.
Books like Only Murders in the Building
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The first book in Richard Osman’s bestselling series introduces us to four unlikely friends in a retirement home who investigate unsolved murders. But when someone is killed on their doorstep, the group find themselves in the middle of their first live case.
Only Murders in the Building has a similarly mismatched set of loveable characters who bond over their love of true crime. Both this book and the New York-set TV show are addictive, suspenseful, and heart-warming in equal measure.
Read our exclusive extracts from the series so far: The Thursday Murder Club, The Man Who Died Twice and The Bullet That Missed.
The Twist of A Knife by Anthony Horowitz
The Twist of a Knife by Anthony Horowitz
In the third season of Only Murders in the Building, an actor collapses in front of a theatre full of people – a locked-room mystery that echoes Anthony Horowitz’s cosy crime caper, The Twist of the Knife.
The narrator (a fictionalised version of Horowitz himself) is putting on a play in London, leaving his days of solving crime with his partner Daniel Hawthorne behind him. But when his play receives a savage review from a critic who is then murdered, all evidence points to him. Can Hawthorne save him now – and will he want to?
Read an exclusive extract from The Twist of a Knife.
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
The Murder Game by Tom Hindle
Nine guests assemble at Hamlet Hall for a murder mystery game with a 1920’s twist. But when one of the guests is found dead, everyone is a suspect. And in a close-knit community, old rivalries run deep…
This is a locked-room mystery has a cast of eclectic (and highly suspicious) characters, making it perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building. It has all the tension and shocking plot twists that you would expect from the show – or, indeed, a classic Agatha Christie novel.
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
In Only Murders in the Building, the gang launches a crime podcast to document their investigation. Similarly, Lisa Jewell’s latest book has a true crime podcast at its heart.
Successful presenter Alix is approached by Josie, who proposes they make a podcast about her life and the terrible things she has been through. But Alix gradually senses that all is not as it seems… This page-turner is perfect for fans of true crime narratives (not least because it’s structured like a Netflix documentary) and will keep you guessing until the last page.
Read our list of Lisa Jewell’s books in order.
Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Ernie Cunningham comes from a long line of murderers: his parents, his siblings and his in-laws have all killed someone (mostly by accident). He has killed someone too, so he’s understandably apprehensive about a big family reunion. And when a body is found in the snow, it’s almost certainly the work of a Cunningham. But which one?
This whodunnit is atmospheric and full of dark humour – and its witty undertones make it a perfect pairing for Only Murders in the Building.
Read an exclusive extract of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto
Sixty-year-old tea expert Vera Wong spends her days sleuthing on the internet (mostly to see if her son has a girlfriend yet). But when a man falls down dead in the middle of her tea shop, she has a real murder mystery on her hands. Since she doesn’t trust the police, Vera decides to investigate herself. This unlikely detective would fit right in with the cast of Only Murders in the Building.
1st to Die by James Patterson
1st to Die by James Patterson
Homicide inspector Lindsay Boxer has a serial killer on her hands: a murderer who targets newlywed couples on their wedding night. Lindsay is determined to bring the killer to justice, and teams up with Claire, a leading coroner, Cindy, a journalist, and Jill, a top attorney. Together, this unlikely group of women form the Women’s Murder Club.
While this is more of a thriller than a cosy mystery, the dedication and teamwork of the characters reminds us of the hit Disney+ show.
Read James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club books in order.
Will you be watching the new series of Only Murders in the Building? Let us know in the comments below…
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