For beginners, 'The Haunting of Hill House' is a great start. It's not too overly complex in its horror but still creates a really effective spooky atmosphere. The story is easy to follow and the setting of the mansion is well - described.
I would recommend 'And Then There Were None'. It has a clear plot structure and the mystery unfolds in a way that's easy for new readers to understand. The murders in the mansion setting are really engaging and it's a classic that has influenced a lot of other horror novels.
Well, 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie is a classic that involves a group of people in a mansion and a series of murders. It's full of suspense and keeps you guessing. 'The Woman in Black' also has elements of a spooky mansion and a terrifying presence. Oh, and 'The Shining' by Stephen King is set in a haunted hotel (which can be considered like a mansion) and is filled with psychological horror and murder - ish themes.
A third option could be 'Big Little Lies' by Liane Moriarty. It was very popular in 2019. It's a murder mystery that also delves deep into the lives of the characters, their relationships, and their secrets. It's easy to get into as the story is told in a very engaging way, with a mystery that slowly reveals itself.
The 'Enola Holmes' series could be a good start too. It has a young and feisty female detective as the main character. The mysteries are engaging and not overly complicated, and it has a bit of a historical charm to it as it's set in Victorian England.
I'd recommend 'The Westing Game' by Ellen Raskin. It's a murder mystery that's also suitable for younger readers or those new to the genre. It has a unique set of characters and a plot that keeps you guessing. 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' by Holly Jackson is also a great beginner's choice. It follows a student who decides to re - investigate a local murder case as a school project. The writing is accessible and the mystery is full of suspense.
For beginners, 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' is a great start. It's a classic that shows the transformation of a man into a more primitive and violent version of himself, which is a basic concept in body horror. Another good one is 'The Hunger' by Whitley Strieber. It has elements of body horror as it deals with a strange illness that affects the characters in a very physical and disturbing way. And 'Hell House' by Richard Matheson has some body horror elements too, especially in the way the haunted house affects the bodies of those who enter it.
For beginners, 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle is a great start. It has short stories that are easy to follow and introduce you to the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his methods of solving mysteries. 'Murder on the Orient Express' by Agatha Christie is also suitable. It has a fairly straightforward plot with a lot of interesting characters and a classic 'whodunit' feel. Another good one is 'The Westing Game' by Ellen Raskin. It's a young - adult murder mystery that is engaging and not too complex.
For beginners, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' by Arthur Conan Doyle is a great start. It's a Sherlock Holmes story with a spooky mystery involving a cursed family and a terrifying hound. The writing is accessible and Holmes' deductive reasoning is fascinating to follow.
I would recommend 'The Secret Adversary' by Agatha Christie. It's an easy - to - follow mystery with two young adventurers trying to solve a mystery involving a missing girl and possible murders. 'The Body in the Library' by Agatha Christie is also a good option. The setting is a small village where a body is found in the library and Christie weaves a great mystery around it. 'The Cuckoo's Calling' by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) is another great beginner - friendly murder mystery. It has a private detective, Cormoran Strike, investigating the death of a supermodel.
For beginners, 'Murder on the Orient Express' by Agatha Christie is a great start. It's easy to follow and has a very interesting premise. A murder occurs on a train, and the detective has to figure out which of the passengers did it. Christie's writing is clear and engaging.
The 'Goosebumps' series by R.L. Stine is also great. These books are full of twists and turns, with just the right amount of horror for young adults. They often have a moral or lesson at the end, which is a plus. Each book in the series offers a different horror - themed adventure.