For this list, “contemporary” is in relation to books published in the past decade, but the settings may be in the past, present, or future, but the whodunits are timeless. Without further ado, here are five contemporary mysteries to read if you enjoy the classics:

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (2016)

Anthony Horowitz provides readers with a mystery inside another mystery in Magpie Murders. An editor reads the latest of a famous author’s mystery novels (which we also get to read) and discovers the last chapter is missing. As she searches for it, she finds out that the final chapter of the classic who-dun-it may point to an actual murder, not just a fictional one. The novel was turned into a PBS Masterpiece series in 2022.

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (2018)

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton, is a Christie-esque mystery where the stakes for our detective are higher than even he knows at first. Although the narrative suffers from some blatant instances of fatphobia (a warning if you’re sensitive to that), if you can get through it, the mystery itself is a twisty romp. The setting, a crumbling estate far from the nearest signs of civilization, and the cast of characters are reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s novels, though our detective is no Hercule Poirot. In the beginning, he doesn’t even know who he is. The mystery keeps you guessing from the beginning, and no one is who they seem to be.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020)

Creepy, atmospheric, and disconcerting are some of the words that come to mind when thinking of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s gothic mystery/horror Mexican Gothic. In 1950s Mexico, a young woman goes to visit her newlywed cousin at her new home in the Mexican countryside after her cousin sends her a disconcerting letter implying all is not well. Noemi, the main character, digs into the truth, whether her host family wants her to or not. This novel, reminiscent of “The Fall of the House of Usher,” is perfect for an evening of spooky reading.

Body and Soul Food by Abby Collette (2021)

If you enjoy your murder mysteries with memorable characters and a healthy dose of small-town coziness along the lines of Miss Marple, Abby Collette’s Body and Soul Food will be right up your alley. A pair of fraternal twins is pulled into a mystery when a friend/former foster brother is murdered in public on a light rail. After they are labeled as suspects, the siblings determine to discover the culprit, beginning their first foray into detective-work.

Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty (2022)

In Station Eternity, by Mur Lafferty, Mallory, a reluctant “Nancy Drew,” has spent much of her adult life trying to flee from an uncanny ability to find murder wherever she goes. The quest to escape has led her to a sentient space station with few humans on board–as humans are the ones most likely to suffer from her curse–but when the station welcomes a new group of human guests, and with them comes a crop of murders, the longsuffering amateur detective has to put her skills to work to save the day.

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Anansi

Anansi is a well-known figure of African folklore, and for good reason. Stories about the trickster and original spider-man are told by cultures all across the diaspora, and several people of my generation had their first introduction to him in the beloved PBS show Wishbone. There is plenty of inspiration for retellings in Anansi lore, including tales that feature Anansi’s son Kweku Tsin facing a dragon, Anansi stealing the sun and moon, and Anansi earning the right to stories.

Morning Sunrise

“Morning Sunrise” is a short story that follows a father finding a worthy suitor for his beautiful daughter through a clever trick. Morning Sunrise is a young woman so beautiful that every man who sees her wants to marry her. This makes it difficult for her father, who has to choose her betrothed, so he decides to send word throughout the land that his beautiful daughter is dead. Though Morning Sunrise never speaks up for herself in this story, it would be interesting to see it retold from her perspective.

Tail of the Princess Elephant

This one would be fun for anyone who is a fan of enemies to lovers, or even just enemies to enemies with benefits. In “Tail of the Princess Elephant,” a young man steals an elephant princess’ tail to fulfill a promise he made to his mother on her deathbed. In retaliation, the elephant princess transforms herself into a beautiful woman in order to marry the man who stole her tail–and kill him.

The Epic of Sundiata

Sundiata (or Sunjata) is another epic figure in African mythology, though he seems to be less well known than Anansi outside of Africa. Unlike Anansi, though, there is evidence that Sundiata actually existed in real life. In the epic of Sundiata, there is political intrigue, prophecy, and magic, plenty for an epic fantasy retelling.

Princess Yennenga

Yennenga is a princess and a warrior so skilled that her father refused to let her get married. However, Yennenga wants love and a family of her own. When her father locks her up to prevent her from leaving, she escapes in the guise of a man to try to find her own way. Her tale is a founding myth of the Mossi people of western Africa.

Thakane

Thakane, a mythological figure of the Sotho people in southern Africa, is the daughter of a chief who, when her parents die, is left to take care of her younger brothers. Her younger brothers are quite spoiled, and when they refuse to leave school until they receive a specific graduation present worthy of a chief’s sons, Thakane does what she has to do–she sets out to slay a dragon. What’s not to like about a princess who slays her own dragons?

The Lion Who Took a Woman’s Shape

If you’re looking for dark fantasy or horror inspiration, this would be an excellent place to start. “The Lion Who Took a Woman’s Shape” focuses on a woman whose daughter has been devoured by a lion. The lion decides to take the daughter’s place, stepping into her skin to pretend to be her, and the mother has to get rid of the lion and bring her daughter back.

Any of these would make excellent inspiration for a retelling. There are formidable princesses, terrifying foes, and familiar life lessons, all in a setting full of beauty, history, and culture.

Which would you start with? Tell us in the comments below!

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As the latest in a long line of musical demon hunters, Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoe (Ji-Young Yoo) balance stardom and heroics as they work to create the “Golden Honmoon,” a magical barrier that will protect the world from the threat of soul-devouring demons that live in an alternate dimension. The three young women form Huntrix, a renowned K-pop girl group on the brink of a much deserved vacation.

When Rumi enthusiastically pushes up the release of their newest song, she finds herself forced to confront the parts of herself she desperately tries to hide. That effort becomes much more difficult when she and her best friends and fellow hunters have to face off against an unusual threat: a demon boy band. The Saja Boys, the demon boy band led by the charismatic demon Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), quickly rushes to stardom, presenting a challenge for Huntrix as the two groups battle for the affection of fans and the fate of the world.

KPop Demon Hunters has been described as a love letter to K-pop, and it lives up to that description. Its catchy music, fashion, and fan culture echo current K-pop trends, and the power of music and fan affection amplify the stakes of the conflict between Huntrix and the Saja Boys. In addition to the K-pop appreciation, there are also nods to Korean history and mythology, from Rumi’s throne in the “Golden” MV to Jinu’s demon cat affectionately dubbed “Derpy.”

There is action and humour blended with touching moments of friendship. Themes of hope, companionship, trust, and self acceptance are woven throughout the narrative, in addition to messages about forgiveness and releasing harmful beliefs about yourself. The primary antagonist, and patron of the Saja Boys, is an entity known as Gwi-ma. He feeds off of human souls and uses negative messages to draw people to him. He will identify his victims’ flaws, fears, and shortcomings and bring them to the forefront of their minds before proposing that he offers an “alternative,” a way from them to escape the messages they believe about themselves. But if people let themselves fall for his wiles, they will find themselves turned into demons plagued by guilt and shame.

An opposing, but still harmful, coping mechanism is represented by Celine. Her mantra, which she passes on to Huntrix (it is implied to have been passed on to her as well from previous generations of hunters) is that in order to be an effective hunter and protect the Honmoon, “Your faults and fears must never be seen.” The effort to live by this idea leads to conflict between the members of Huntrix as Rumi attempts to rid herself of her own perceived faults before anyone can find out about them. The conflict has cascading effects as it leads to the Honmoon weakening–allowing more demons into the human realm as fans are won over by the Saja Boys–and it gives Jinu an opening and allows him to ingratiate himself to Rumi.

The character of Jinu is a complicated one. He’s well portrayed by voice actor Ahn Hyo-seop, and his guilt and path to redemption make sense, though his character arc would have been served by more time for exploration, as would everyone else’s. The movie is short, and while it managed to fit a lot in, some aspects are skimmed over.

Viewers are left to wonder about the nature of Rumi’s parentage. We’re told her father was a demon, and both of her parents have passed, but we don’t know what happened or how. In the same way, the movie does little to explain Rumi’s rapid attitude shift at the end, how society adjusted to the mass disappearances (it doesn’t seem like Gwi-ma’s victims returned at the end), or the complexity of demons and demonhood. There are several unanswered questions, leaving things open for a much-requested and now promised sequel, but the story would have benefitted from a deeper exploration of harmful generational messaging and dealing with past sins and shortcomings.

From an artistic perspective, KPop Demon Hunters is immensely enjoyable. Sony Animation utilised vibrant stop-motion-like animation, similar to that used in their Spiderman series, and there are some cute references to romance K-drama, for those who are fans of the genre. The music could have an article of its own. Huntrix’s singing voices are provided by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami as Rumi, Mira, and Zoe, respectively. Andrew Choi provides Jinu’s singing voice as a member of the Saja Boys, and the vocals for the other Saja Boys are provided by Kevin Woo, Neckwav, SamUIL Lee, and Danny Chung. The songs are catchy and well suited for their scenes in the movie, and you may find yourself singing them long after the movie is over. In particular, the message of the final song, “What It Sounds Like,” provides an uplifting finale after the Saja Boy’s enticing invitation to darkness in “Your Idol.”

Ultimately, KPop Demon Hunters is a fun movie with a positive message that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

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