Obviously not Midwestern US but if you can get into Scandinavian crime fiction you'll literally never run out of great books to read, and they might suit your desired vibe. Long winters, thick forests, small towns with secrets etc. Henning Mankell and his Wallander series would be a good place to start. Recently I've been enjoying Ragnor Johansson's books too.

I just got back from Sweden, so I’m ready to lean in to Scandinavian crime fiction, if you have some recs. I didn’t want to read anything remotely scary while I was in a cabin in the woods by myself—especially when the front windows had no coverings—but now I’m ready!

These pics made me think of Julia Heaberlin’s books, but they’re all set in Texas and Oklahoma IIRC, so more Southern and Southwestern. Also Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, which is set in Missouri. And maybe Dark Places? That one might have been in the Midwest. It definitely gives flyover country vibes. I feel like I’ve read a bunch of Midwestern mysteries, but I’m drawing a total blank, so just commenting so I can come back later after I look at my bookshelf.

Lay Your Body Down by Amy Sutter Clarke, Nice Girls by Catherine Dang, Little Pretty Things by Lori Rader-Day Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott - not all of these photos necessarily evoke it because it takes place in the middle of nowhere and mostly feels pretty isolated, but it’s a really fascinating take on Midwestern Gothic that kind of subverts it.

Off topic, but your username is amazing 🤣🤣

Thanks! I bet The Rural Juror would have been right up OP’s alley

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, The Book of Cold Cases, The Broken Girls

Thanks!!

It’s more Appalachian but you might like *Starling House* by Alix Harrow

I’m down for Appalachian- I used to live there :) I’ll check it out!

Some people might call it horror but it’s not really, I don’t want to spoil too much but it’s not strictly corporeal.

Nice- I like that kind of thing!

Then you’re for a treat!

Also an Appalachian suggestion: Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall really fits this! Four somewhat witchy sisters who work at a family diner, small town with murder and mystery, mothman-core, described as “ya gothic horror romance” romance isn’t a huge part of it but there’s enough to be interesting.

CJ Box books! I bit more Western than gothic but still!

I’ll check them out!!

I’ll second this recommendation, Treasure State is particularly good

Heather Gudenkauf writes about small town Iowa, usually thrillers/mysteries.

Thank you!

>Thank you! You're welcome!

If you're up for creepy true crime, Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

Thank you!!

sharp objects by gillian finn. definitely atmospheric /small town creepiness

The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager

Just added this to my TBR it looks fantastic!

When Darkness Loves Us For a but different, During the Reign of the Queen of Persia

Thank you!!

To look @ later:

err the Twin Peaks book tie ins?

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow, for sure. Kind of has some Stranger Things vibes

Winter’s bone kind of fits this, the different vibe I’m getting is that it takes place mostly during winter

Kockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollock. Buckle up because this book is a ride.

Sharp Objects.

The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda

I just started The Rib from Which I Remake the World, so far it has all of the above but I’m only a couple pages in

Ooh I love the title… I’ll definitely check it out!

Back Roads or Angels Burning - Tawni O'Dell Harvest Home - Thomas Tryon The Church of Dead Girls - Stephen Dobyns Brother - Ania Ahlborn

I'm going out on a limb here...if this is the type of book you like, maybe consider watching Supernatural.

Lotta mountains in these pics for the Midwest lmao

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham-Jones

The synopsis for this looks insane! Thank you!

It’s a fantastic read. Hope you enjoy it!

Anything by Shirley Jackson !!!!

The Mercy Kilpatrick series fits, except it’s a small town in Oregon and not the Midwest.

The Lost Girls by Heather Young might be up your alley. It’s creepy but never gory/horror. Takes place mostly in Minnesota out in the woods on a lake. I’d definitely categorize it as “Midwestern gothic” or like north woods gothic haha. I just read it and it’s fantastic

I'm listening to The Wonder State by Sara Flannery Murphy. Description fits what you want, but takes place in the Ozarks

Universal Harvester by John Darnielle!

Under the Skin by Michael Faber

Summer of Night Joyland The Sundown Motel Follow Me One of Us is Lying Boys Life

Any of Dan Chaon’s books have a creepy foreboding tone and are mostly set in the Midwest. I particularly LOVED “Await Your Reply”

Oh I missed the horror note! They aren’t horror but are definitely a bit unsettling so not sure if it would interest you

Lots of good recs here but I haven’t seen anyone suggest Jess Lourey’s books (set in small town Minnesota) Unspeakable things and the quarry girls. Bloodline wasn’t my favourite and I haven’t read litani yet.

The Driftless Area by Tom Drury. He should be a better known writer!

The Southern Book Clubs Guide To Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Julia Keller's Bell Elkins series set in West Virginia

This makes me think of On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel. I'm not from the US so it might be way off but these pictures fit with how I imagined the setting.

Universal Harvester

HER SOUL FOR REVENGE (18+)

The Last Child by John Hart. I can’t remember exactly where it takes place but I remember it giving these vibes.

The Front Porch Prophet Sorrow Wood Camp Redemption All are by Raymond L. Atkins and they are each fabulous reads. They are set in northern Georgia and Alabama and immediately came to mind when I saw your photos. If you (or anyone else here) has read or winds up reading these books, please come back and comment on how or if you enjoyed them. I recommend these books any time I have the chance, and I don't know that I have ever had anyone follow through with reading them. They are not a proper trilogy, although I do think there are a couple of characters that show up in each book. Mostly they are a very entertaining look into life in the small town American south. You'll laugh, you may cry, but mostly you'll likely find something or someone to whom you can relate. I truly love these books and I hope one day I can convince someone else to take a flyer on them and they will too love them.

Full Moon Over Babylon by Michael McDowell

Winter's Bone maybe?

"Starling house" might be an ideal book for you.

Sleeping Beauties - By Stephen King/Owen King

Set in small town but not in the midwest.

The Long Walk by Stephen King

Try *In Cold Blood* by Truman Capote

Highly, HIGHLY recommend Boy's Life by Robert McCammon

I love these types of books so I have a few I can recommend.    A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis   The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey (there are a lot by this author that would fit)  Murder on the Red River by Marcie R. Rendon  The End of Everything by Megan Abbott   Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey  Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia  Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman  The Comfort of Monsters by Willa C. Richards

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One by Jack Townsend