Books for Mystery Writers

Since I started writing in 2012, I have amassed quite a collection of books to help me both improve my craft and keep my stories accurate. We all use Google, of course, but not all the information available online is accurate (imagine that!). These books have been written by experts from all fields including law enforcement and law as well as, of course, writers.


I have some in paperback, but due to either cost or availability many of them are digital books. For convenience and accessibility, I keep them loaded on my laptop and my iPad. This past year I have seen more and more good reference books and thought I would list the ones I have purchased. So in no particular order...

• Reference Books for Mystery/Thriller Writers
• A Lawyer's Primer for Writers: From Crimes to Courtrooms
  
• Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers (Howdunit)
  
• Forensics: A Guide for Writers (Howdunit)
  
• Murder & Mayhem: A Doctor Answers Medical & Forensics Questions for Mystery Writers
  
• Forensics and Fiction: Clever, Intriguing, and Downright Odd Questions from Crime Writers
  
• The Writer's Guide to Weapons: A Practical Reference for Using Firearms and Knives in Fiction
  
• 400 Things Cops Know: Street-Smart Lessons from a Veteran Patrolman
  
• When You’re the Only Cop in Town . . .: A Writer’s Guide to Small Town Law Enforcement
  
• Writers' Guide to Homicide: The mystery writers' textbook on murder and policework
  
• 60 Ways To Murder Your Characters: Crime Writer's Reference Guide
  
• Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel: How to Knock 'Em Dead with Style
  

• Must Have Reference Books for All Writers
• The Positive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Attributes
  
• The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Flaws
  
• The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression
  
• The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to City Spaces
  
• The Rural Setting Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Personal and Natural Places
  
• The Writer's Lexicon: Descriptions, Overused Words, and Taboos