A good 'mindspace investigations' novel usually has a complex mystery, interesting characters, and a unique setting. The plot should keep you guessing and the characters need to be relatable.
Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express' is a great one. In this book, detective Hercule Poirot investigates a murder that occurs on a train. The confined setting of the train adds to the mystery as Poirot has to sift through the alibis and motives of the various passengers.
There was a true CSI story where a body was found in a forest. The CSI team immediately started looking for evidence. They found some footprints near the body. By measuring the size and the pattern of the footprints, they could estimate the height and weight of the suspect. Later, they found some skin cells under the victim's fingernails which led to a DNA match and the arrest of the killer.
In undercover investigations, sometimes journalists also play a role. They might go undercover to expose the seedy underbelly of sex - for - cash industries. One journalist pretended to be a client interested in paying for sex and uncovered a network that was exploiting immigrant women. This led to public awareness and action against such exploitation.
One interesting finding could be the common themes that run through different ghost stories across cultures. For example, the idea of a restless spirit often appears in many. Another might be the psychological aspect, how people's fears and beliefs shape these stories.
The key elements often include the sense of cosmic horror that Lovecraft is known for. There are eldritch monsters, strange and otherworldly locations. The protagonists often find themselves in situations that defy normal human understanding, facing ancient and malevolent forces that are far beyond our comprehension.