Brad Rouse

Mystery publishers are reveling in a surge of genre mashups. Creative pairings combine classic crime thrillers with elements of genres as wide-ranging as horror, romance, dystopian, sci-fi, paranormal, political, and western. New mystery titles also feature historical characters like Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare. Why this influx of genre mashups?

Over the last five years, audiobook revenue in the U.S. has increased by an astonishing 113 percent, making it the fastest-growing book format in the U.S. The category is flourishing as publishers continue to innovate and grow their reach. 

As 21st-century global turmoil persists, readers are finding a safe harbor in mysteries. “People love consistency, familiarity, charm, and humor. That’s the type of stuff that warms readers’ hearts and makes them want to come back time and time again,” says Crooked Lane Books Publisher Matt Martz.

Indie publishing’s inclusive ecosystem offers ever-expanding opportunities for writers and readers alike. The wide range of authors and subjects parallels the wide variety of indie business models and missions—from MIT Press’s academic foundations in Boston to Interlink’s scrappy start in a Brooklyn basement.

Graphic novel sales keep increasing as stories explore a growing range of personal identities, life experiences, and subject matter. Pioneering narratives by diverse artists draw audiences eager to see these stories told in the graphic novel format.

As we head into year three of a worldwide pandemic, it’s not surprising that stress and burnout are at all-time highs across many professions and major swaths of the American public. Tellingly, the American Psychiatric Association’s “Healthy Minds Monthly” poll from December 2021 found that “more than one in four Americans (26%) or more than 67 million adults say that next year (2022), improving their mental health is on their minds.”

Technological and social changes have revolutionized librarianship, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the country, librarians have become local community leaders on issues like diversity, equity, and the fight against disinformation. 

The Hispanic population is the fastest growing demographic segment in the United States today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people identifying as Hispanic reached 64.1 million in 2020, an increase of nearly 1 million individuals over the previous year.  Publishers have also welcomed this growing market with expanded resources and great enthusiasm.

This year, publishers are finding that more readers than ever are seeking comfort from great stories, in particular mysteries. The titles featured here cover a wide variety of subgenres within the category, like psychological suspense, police procedural, romantic, and cozy mysteries.