There’s something irresistible about a mystery set in a confined space. No one can leave. Everyone’s a suspect. Secrets bubble up like clockwork. And just when you think you’ve figured it out, another layer unfolds.
The locked-room mystery isn’t new. But it’s definitely having a comeback.
Agatha Would Be Proud
Today’s authors are breathing new life into this classic format. In books like Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, and Lock Every Door by Riley Sager, we see familiar setups: an isolated location, a limited cast, a slow unravelling.
But these stories add psychological grit, unreliable narrators, and trauma-informed characters. It’s not just about who did it; it’s about why we look away, whom we believe, and what we’re capable of in desperate moments.
Why Readers Are Obsessed
We live in a world of chaos. These stories give us controlled tension. They drop us into tight spaces, raise the stakes, and make us pay attention. The answers are always there, buried in plain sight.
And let’s be real: it’s fun to play detective.
A Few Modern Favourites:
- Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
- Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
If you love clues, closed doors, and twisted endings, this subgenre is your sweet spot.
Have a locked-room favourite? Share it—we’re always hunting for more.