Best Quirky Mystery Books (2026): 5 Picks Compared

The best quirky mystery books are the ones where the detective is as odd as the crime. We compared five quirky mysteries by humor, series length, page count and publication date.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Curiosity Thrilled the Cat	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The Reluctant Detective	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	The Unlikely Murder Club	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Over Her Dead Body	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Cat Killed A Rat	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat

Sofie Kelly·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A magical cat mystery by Sofie Kelly, Book 1 of 16 in the Magical Cats series, 336 pages.

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Pros

• 336 pages, the longest here
• Book 1 of 16, a long series
• Berkley publisher, 2011 edition

Cons

• No series number beyond Book 1
• Cat-focused, not for all readers
• 2011 publication, an older edition

2

The Reluctant Detective

Adrian Spalding·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A humorous crime mystery by Adrian Spalding, Book 1 of 8 in the Martin Hayden series, 334 pages.

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Pros

• 334 pages
• Book 1 of 8, a solid series
• Humorous, no-violence tone per readers

Cons

• No publisher stated
• British humor may not suit all
• 2019 publication

3

The Unlikely Murder Club

Gina X. Grant·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A humorous senior sleuth mystery by Gina X. Grant, Book 1 of 7, 2025 edition.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 7, a fresh series
• 2025 publication, the newest here
• Senior sleuths, a fun twist

Cons

• No page count stated
• No publisher stated
• Ex-con protagonist needs a preview

4

Over Her Dead Body

A B Morgan·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A humorous private investigators mystery by A B Morgan, Book 1 of 4 in The Quirk Files.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 4, The Quirk Files
• Award-shortlisted fiction
• Husband-and-wife investigators

Cons

• No page count stated
• 2021 publication
• Dark plot twists need a preview

5

Cat Killed A Rat

ReGina Welling·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A quirky cozy mystery by ReGina Welling, Book 1 of 4 in the Ponderosa Pines series.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 4, a complete series
• Small-town cozy tone
• Mother-daughter writing team

Cons

• No page count stated
• 2015 publication, an older edition
• Cozy-only, no hard crime

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More picks to compare

• Can I Kill Him Now?Quirky mystery, 2018 publication.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

22 October 2026

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs humor, readability, value, series depth and edition. All five are Book 1 of a series, so a reader who likes one can keep going. None states a warranty term, which is normal for books. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best quirky mystery books

Pick the flavor of funny

The Reluctant Detective and Cat Killed A Rat are humorous cozies; The Unlikely Murder Club is senior sleuths; Over Her Dead Body is quirky private investigators; Curiosity Thrilled the Cat is magical cats. Match the humor to the reader.

Check the series length

Series run from Book 1 of 4 to Book 1 of 16. A longer series means more books if the reader gets hooked. All five are series starters, so start at Book 1.

Check the page count and date

Page counts run from 334 to 336 where stated; three list no page count. Publication dates run from 2011 to 2025. A newer book may feel more current; an older one may be a proven favorite.

Before you buy

• Check the format: the listings here are single volumes, not box sets.
• For a series, buy Book 1 first and confirm the series number on the listing.
• Read the description for tone, since quirky covers a wide range from cozy to dark.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a mystery quirky?

An odd detective, an unusual setting or a humorous tone. The books here range from magical cats to senior sleuths.

Are these part of a series?

Yes, all five are Book 1 of a series, from Book 1 of 4 to Book 1 of 16. Start at Book 1.

Which is the longest book?

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat at 336 pages and The Reluctant Detective at 334 pages. Three list no page count.

Still deciding? Our top pickCuriosity Thrilled the Cat

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Related lists

See every thriller and mystery list and all fiction lists.

More lists: browse quirky mystery series, thriller and mystery books and mystery books for discussion.