Wondering how to Read More Diverse Mystery and Thriller Books? Me too. In this post I discuss how I’m approaching it, some of the challenges readers report, and offer some resources on Mysteries and Thrillers by Black Women Writers, Mysteries and Thrillers by AAPI and Asian Writers, and Mysteries and Thrillers by Hispanic and Latine Authors. Let’s dive in!
Read More Diverse Mystery and Thriller Books
Wondering how to read more diversely in the Mystery, Suspense, and Thriller Genre?
Me too. But first let’s discuss some of the challenges.
Overall, Most Books Are Written, Published and Marketed by White People
If you want to dive DEEP into the issue of WHY, as of a study in 2020, 95% of published authors were white, you can read this excellent report by PEN America.
Here are a few quick points the PEN report makes:
- Publishing diverse books requires having more diversity from the top down: writing, agenting, editorial, marketing, and publicity.
- Publishing is an industry with white men at the top
- Pursuing a career in publishing and writing is expensive, favoring those with financial stability
- Publishing is centered in the United States
- There is still a widespread belief that “diverse books don’t sell”
I Believe That the Mystery Thriller Genre is LESS Diverse Than Others
I don’t have data to prove this, but I have been reviewing across genres since 2011. During that time, I have seen many more diverse books show up in the Literary Fiction, Romance, and Women’s Fiction genres, and in the Young Adult age group.
For the third year in a row, I’ve made a goal! I’m planning to read and review 25 books by authors of color in 2025. I hope you’ll join me.
Reading Diverse Books Can Feel More Challenging, and It Should!
Many of us read to relax and unwind. And to many readers, what’s familiar is comfortable.
But reading to learn, expand your horizons, and develop greater empathy is important too. I’ve seen readers say that diverse books feel different, or confusing, or require greater brain power. Or that translated books sound “off.” That can be true, but if you leave your comfort zone, your reading experience can be rich and rewarding.
Here are some tips for reading more diversely:
- Take more time. If you don’t understand something while reading, give yourself a few minutes to look it up.
- Find a Black owned bookstore near you. Browse, ask the staff for recommendations in your preferred genre, and find a book!
- Read diverse books as part of a book club, so you can commit to absorbing and discussing them with others.
- Pick a goal of reading outside your comfort zone, even if it’s only one book a year!
- f you’re a global traveler, read fiction set in the country you’re going to visit, and written by a native. Download a map or photos of the setting so you can better visualize it.
Mysteries and Thrillers by Black Women Authors
My post is linked above. I’ve been planning to add one for male authors and hope to get to that this year!
These books are a lot of procedurals and thrillers. Having Black main characters gives these books a new perspective of what it’s like to be a person of color working in law enforcement or the criminal justice system.
Cozy Mysteries, Classic Mysteries and Thrillers by AAPI and Asian Writers
This list includes a lot of comic mysteries and cozies, but also some psychological thrillers and classic mysteries!
Mysteries, Thrillers and Horror by Hispanic and Latinx / Latine Authors
Latin America has a strong tradition of magical realism, so these books include modern Gothic novels, horror novels, and books that weave in folklore and folk magic.
If you have books to suggest for my lists, I’d love that! Leave them in comments.
Also here are some more lists of diverse books you might enjoy:
Best YA Books About Immigration
