What are some of the best unknown mystery novels?

For beginners, 'The Girl with a Clock for a Heart' by Peter Swanson is a good choice. It's easy to follow yet full of mystery. The story revolves around a man who reunites with an old love and then strange things start to happen.

One great unknown novel is 'The Shadow of the Wind' by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It's a mystery set in post - war Barcelona, filled with complex characters and a plot that weaves through the city's history. The atmosphere is beautifully created, making the reader feel as if they are walking the cobbled streets along with the characters.

One great unknown fantasy novel is 'The Golem and the Jinni' by Helene Wecker. It weaves together the stories of a golem and a jinni in 19th - century New York. Another is 'Uprooted' by Naomi Novik. It has a unique take on magic and a captivating heroine. And 'Among Others' by Jo Walton is also excellent, with a blend of Welsh folklore and a coming - of - age story.

One great unknown horror novel is 'The Fisherman' by John Langan. It weaves a complex and terrifying tale around a fishing trip that goes horribly wrong, with elements of Lovecraftian horror. Another is 'Bird Box' by Josh Malerman. It has a unique concept where people must avoid looking outside or they'll go insane from seeing some unknown horror. And 'The Troop' by Nick Cutter is also a great pick. It involves a group of Boy Scouts on an island facing a parasitic horror that slowly consumes them.

'The Ryuo's Work is Never Done!' is also a good unknown light novel. It focuses on the world of shogi, a Japanese board game. The story is not just about the game itself but also about the relationships and growth of the characters involved. It has a charming protagonist who is a shogi master and his interactions with those around him, especially his young protege, make for an engaging read.

Well, 'Bluebird, Bluebird' by Attica Locke is a great unknown crime novel. It combines elements of racial tension and crime in a small - town setting in the South. Then there's 'The Widows of Malabar Hill' by Sujata Massey. This book is set in 1920s Bombay and features a female lawyer investigating a mystery. And 'Before the Fall' by Noah Hawley is also a good pick. It has a plane crash as the starting point for a complex web of mystery and intrigue.

One of the best unknown classic novels is 'The House of Mirth' by Edith Wharton. It offers a profound exploration of New York society in the early 20th century, with a complex and tragic heroine. Another is 'The Return of the Native' by Thomas Hardy. It delves deep into rural English life, with themes of love, fate, and the unforgiving nature. And 'The Portrait of a Lady' by Henry James, which tells the story of an independent - minded American woman in Europe and her journey through love and self - discovery.

The novel 'The Girl with a Clock for a Heart' by Peter Swanson is a great mystery. It involves a complex love story intertwined with a web of lies and secrets that lead to a murder mystery. The twists and turns in the plot are what make it a great read for mystery enthusiasts.

One great unknown sci - fi novel is 'The Stars My Destination' by Alfred Bester. It has a unique take on teleportation and a very noir - like feel to the story. Another could be 'The Lathe of Heaven' by Ursula K. Le Guin. It explores themes of reality alteration in a really thought - provoking way. And 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' by Walter M. Miller Jr. is also relatively unknown but is a deep exploration of post - apocalyptic society and the role of the Church within it.

Another good one is 'Hyperion' by Dan Simmons. It's a space - opera epic that weaves together the stories of several pilgrims on a journey to the Time Tombs on the planet Hyperion. The book is rich in world - building, with diverse cultures and technologies, and it also delves deep into philosophical and religious themes.