This content material comprises affiliate hyperlinks. Once you purchase by means of these hyperlinks, we could earn an affiliate fee.
Job #3 of the 2025 Learn Tougher Problem is “read a queer mystery” and I’m joyful to report that I needed to work to slender this listing down. Discovering LGBTQ rep in thriller—or some other style—shouldn’t require intense sleuthing, however it wasn’t that way back that the thriller style lacked variety on each stage. Whereas we nonetheless have an extended approach to go in direction of parity in queer illustration, it’s very nice to have a number of titles to advocate in a listing like this and never have it’s the identical handful of titles advisable time and again.
I’ve a number of collection starters and some standalones to advocate for this Learn Tougher job, all by and about queer folks. A lot of the titles are from the previous couple of years, and a pair are 2025 releases. In historic mysteries, we’ll journey to Georgian London,Twenties Harlem, and nineteenth Century Chicago. In up to date mysteries, we’ll head to Salt Lake Metropolis recreation store, an unique boarding faculty, the London drag scene, and extra. Get able to chase down clues, map out theories, and work out whodunit. That’s proper, of us: be homosexual, resolve crimes.
Board to Demise by CJ Connor
Ben is a queer thirtysomething divorcée who’s come again dwelling to Salt Lake Metropolis to run his household’s board recreation store. As soon as a married English professor in Seattle, he now spends his days caring for his ailing father and a Chihuahua named Beans whereas making an attempt to make ends meet as his father’s medical payments pile up. Then an area toy and recreation collector approaches Ben with a uncommon alternative: to purchase a turn-of-the-century version of the sport that impressed Monopoly at a fraction of what it’s price. Ben turns the supply down as a result of there’s no means the deal is legit; however when the collector is discovered lifeless at Ben’s entrance door with a backpack filled with $100 payments, Ben is the #1 suspect. This cute quozy thriller is by E book Riot contributor CJ Connor!
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Devon and Chiamaka are two queer Black college students—and the one Black college students—on the unique Niveus Non-public Academy. They’ve simply been named prefects of their senior class, giving them every one thing shiny so as to add to their school functions and placing them within the working for valedictorian. However shortly after the announcement goes dwell, some mysterious determine who goes by Aces begins utilizing nameless texts to disclose secrets and techniques about Devon and Chiamaka, the type of secrets and techniques that would wreck every little thing they’ve labored so exhausting to attain. Because the texts maintain coming, the stakes maintain climbing, escalating from a merciless prank to a lethal recreation involving a secret society.
Useless Useless Ladies (Harlem Renaissance Mysteries #1) by Nekesa Afia
Louise Lloyd is simply making an attempt to dwell a traditional life along with her buddies and girlfriend in Twenties Harlem, working days at a café and nights at Harlem’s hottest speakeasy. However when an altercation with a police officer results in her arrest, the police see a possibility to make use of Louise, who not solely survived a kidnapping ordeal in her teenagers however helped different ladies escape. They challenge her an ultimatum: she may also help them look into the unsolved murders of a number of younger Black girls or else be thrown in jail. Seeing no different selection, she agrees to hitch the investigation, placing her within the path of a assassin.
Content material for All Entry members continues beneath!
The feedback part is moderated in line with our neighborhood tips. Please test them out so we will keep a protected and supportive neighborhood of readers!