When Only Murders in the Building premiered in 2021, viewers were quickly won over by the show's winning combination of mystery and humor. The colorful ensemble cast is led by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who play neighbors Charles, Oliver and Mabel in a fictional upscale New York City apartment building, The Arconia.
The only thing these three relative strangers have in common is a shared interest in true crime, which brings them together after a fellow Arconia resident turns up dead. If you're already a fan of the series, then we know you'll love witty crime fiction about amateur sleuths digging where they shouldn't and friends and family who know more than they should.
If you're intrigued by the story of strangers brought together by crime, check out Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. Finlay Donovan is a suspense writer and single mother struggling to make ends meet. When a woman in a cafe mistakes her for a contract killer, Finlay finds herself hard-pressed to say no. The offbeat caper that follows is sure to delight fans of Only Murders.
Early on in the show we learn that actor Charles-Haden Savage and director Oliver Putnam are both considered a bit past their prime. The murder investigations give these "over-the-hill" entertainers something to do, but they are also inspired creatively. Check out these mysteries featuring amateur sleuths over 60.
The Thursday Murder Club and its sequels follow a group of British pensioners who move from discussing true crimes to actually investigating them when a murder takes place in their retirement village. A film adaptation of this cozy mystery is said to be in the works with Steven Spielberg's production company.
In Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions, our detective is more reluctant. German widow Isolde (Auntie Poldi to her nephew) has recently retired to Sicily, her late husband's homeland, where she plans to drink away her last days in the sun and join him in the afterlife. When her young Italian handyman goes missing, the larger-than-life Auntie Poldi just can't help but ask questions. Highly recommended for fans of international mysteries and armchair travel.
Over the course of three seasons, we've gotten steady glimpses into Charles, Oliver and Mabel's romantic lives which are just as interesting and sometimes as chaotic as the murders they are investigating. The romance and mystery get so intertwined that OMITB fans shouldn't overlook these romantic comedies with a touch of murder.
In Jesse Q. Sutanto's Dial A for Aunties, Meddy's bad date leads to a dead body. She enlists her Chinese-Indonesian mom and a team of loyal, but troublesome aunties to handle the body the day before their wedding planning business takes on a massive event. A mystery arises, a romance is rekindled and shenanigans ensue.
Charles, Oliver and Mabel get the idea to start a podcast after discovering they're all obsessed with the (fictional) true crime podcast, All is Not OK in Oklahoma. In Love in the Time of Serial Killers, Phoebe's true crime obsession has her assuming the worst about everyone including the suspicious but handsome new neighbor. Can she learn to trust and love again, or is there really a killer lurking behind every door?
Only Murders in the Building was recently renewed for a fourth season. Hopefully, you'll find a few of these titles helpful in filling the Arconia-sized hole in your entertainment calendar until our favorite podcasters return. Let us know your other favorite sleuth reads in the comments!
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