Mystery and Suspense

Ghost with a lantern
From ghosts to zombies throughout the years, find a curated collection of deep cuts in our collection to get you in the perfect mood this spooky season.
Couple embracing under a red umbrella near the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
I know some people like to read a book while they're on vacation that's set in their traveled-to destination. I've strived to do that, but haven't always been successful. Therefore, the recommended books below are a mix of what I have read and what I'm hoping to read someday.
Image of a dark figure in a long red cloak. Only the hands are visible.
Is your child obsessed with the creepy and macabre? Can they not get enough of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and plan on moving on to Stephen King? You’ll find that these books are terrifying while being a little more age appropriate.
Newspaper clipping with the headline "Tense Throng Hears Liggett Deny Mrs. Cunningham's Charges."
It’s the month of love (the end of it), but that can also mean heartbreak. Take a look back at an unfortunate story from Nashville’s past—about 90 years ago—when a love affair went horribly wrong.
Photo of the Edward Carmack statue in front of the capitol building
Anyone who’s walked down Charlotte Ave near the Capitol may recognize the statues along its edges—Sam Davis on the southwest corner and Sgt. Alvin C. York on the southeast. But do you know who stands in the middle, overlooking it all, or why that figure is there?
A notice for Capitol Chevrolet stating they will be closed today due to the death of their president, Mr. W. Harris Gourley.
Last month marked the 50th anniversary of the murder of W. Haynie Gourley, the owner of Capitol Chevrolet on Murfreesboro Rd. Today, this tragedy remains as one of Nashville's most notorious unsolved crimes.
The book cover for Stephen King's "The Dead Zone," featuring a glowing blue face and an EKG line on a dark background.
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Johnny Smith wakes up from a coma to find everything around him changed, including himself.
B&W older promo shot of author Sue Grafton.
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Sue Grafton, author of the Kinsey Millhone alphabet mysteries and legendary pioneer for women in detective fiction, died last week at the age of 77.  
book cover. Ilustration of train stuck in a snow drift.
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Agatha Christie may have secured eternal recognition for a classic murder mystery involving a train and copious amounts of snow, but she wasn't the only skilled mystery writer of yesteryear to use those elements in service to an enjoyably twisty adventure.
Headshot from a Cohn High School yearbook in 1963.
If the name “Paula Herring” sounds familiar, you may already know where this is going. If not, keep reading. This post explores the tragic 1964 murder of young Paula Herring, drawing from Michael Bishop’s new book, A Murder in Music City: Corruption, Scandal, and the Framing of an Innocent Man.
Allegedly book cover
She was convicted of murder at age nine. Now she is pregnant and in state custody at age sixteen.
Vintage book cover for The Red Right Hand with a hand clutching at sand.
Unique and frightening, this anomaly of a novel combined mystery and horror to illusory, bewildering effect.
Book cover for "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark".
Is your tween's favorite holiday Halloween? Do they love creepy, spine-tingling reads? Are you worried they aren't ready for certain titles? Check out these titles that are varying degrees of terrifying.
Book cover for Killfile next to an image of Chris Farnsworth.
It's Burn Notice meets Psych with just a hint of Jack Bauer for zest. How much better can you get?
Cover for the TV show "The Fall" starring Gillian Anderson.
Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson is called away from London to  review the handling of a murder investigation led by police in Northern Ireland. Gibson quickly finds procedural mistakes, and evidence that another recent murder may make this the work of a serial killer. When yet another victim is discovered, Gibson is put in charge of the investigation.