Mystery Book Covers

Looking for design inspiration for your mystery book? Check out this collection of intriguing covers designed by professionals on Reedsy. See one you love? Hire that designer on our marketplace to bring your mystery to life.

Designer: Nejc P.

A Hard Frost

Crisman Strunk

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"When we began developing the cover, Crisman Strunk already had a strong idea in mind: a frost-covered Appalachian field with a body in the distance. With that direction established, my goal was to transform the concept into a strong, commercially effective cover that immediately establishes genre and tone. I used strong perspective to create depth, negative space to build tension, and a limited color palette to keep the mood focused and cohesive."

Designer: Nejc P.

Fools Hollow

Dennis Prestwood

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"For this cover, the goal was to merge two visual worlds: the nostalgic charm of classic Hardy Boys covers and the symbolic structure of a traditional tarot card. Florida pines frame the scene, tarot iconography anchors the layout, and key paranormal creatures appear as archetypes. The result reinforces the novel’s central tension while inviting readers to open the book and solve the mystery themselves."

The Truth About Unspeakable Things book cover, by Vanessa M.

Designer: Vanessa M.

The Truth About Unspeakable Things

Emily A. Myers

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"This cover leans into secrecy and danger. The closed blue door suggests things hidden, things locked away, while the glimpse inside hints at intimacy, vulnerability, and risk. It mirrors Emma’s story of trying to rebuild after violence, caught between wanting safety and being pulled back into something dark. The contrast between beauty and threat reflects a journey where love, fear, and survival exist side by side, and where the truth comes at a cost."

Save the Queen City book cover, by Vanessa M.

Designer: Vanessa M.

Save the Queen City

Kaitlyn Vincie

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"This cover is designed to feel like a playing card, clean, bold, and a little deceptive. The symmetry and framed layout hint at rules, risk, and chance, echoing a story where everyone has something to hide. The glamorous surface reflects Nikki’s media world, while the city in the lenses suggests danger hiding in plain sight, reinforcing the idea that in this game, you never know who is holding the winning card."

Designer: Jonathan H.

The Runaways

Adrian Bourdy

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"The Runaways was my second project with Adrian. It’s a novella set in the same expansive science-fiction universe as his debut, The Redemptress. My goal was to use a similar design language while still giving the book its own character. To achieve this, I used the same typographic treatment but changed the perspective to align with the more personal story described in the book."

It Could Have Been Murder book cover, by Alex D.

Designer: Alex D.

It Could Have Been Murder

E.D. Rich

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"The cover captures the fragile boundary between imagination and consequence. The river of blood flowing from the title suggests that ideas themselves carry consequences, shifting from controlled theory to real danger. The figures moving through the scene evoke anonymity, strategy, and an encroaching threat, reflecting a story driven by tension, moral ambiguity, and the unsettling moment when control begins to slip."

Chasing the Bangkok Dragon book cover, by Matthew R.

Designer: Matthew R.

Chasing the Bangkok Dragon

K. E. Karl

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Designer: Victoria H.

Whalers

Kyle Farnworth

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"The tone of this cover needed to feel oppressive and isolating in its colour palette, to match the accusations the protagonist is faced with after a schoolgirl goes missing. Throughout the story, he often feels like he’s drowning, plus the book is set in a small whaling town, and so the image of waves also felt really important, as did a harpoon, targeted at the protagonist's car in place of a whale. "

Designer: Ryan M.

The Awakening

Scott Fedor

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Designer: Pascale H.

Tokyo Juku

Michael Pronko

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Death in The Sun book cover, by Bailey M.

Designer: Bailey M.

Death in The Sun

P.J. Fox

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It Will Last Longer book cover, by Barış Ş.

Designer: Barış Ş.

It Will Last Longer

Tara Sanders Brooks

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Designer: Jessica C.

Ophelia

S. M. Namkoong

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The Art of Obsession book cover, by Danna Mathias S.

Designer: Danna Mathias S.

The Art of Obsession

Douglas J. Ostling

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"The author provided the intriguing cover art, done by his artist son 一 so our goal was to lay the cover out in a way that didn't compete with the art as a focal point. I created a unique cropping of the artwork, and utilized the Z-pattern text layout method to guide the eye from the artwork through the text in a clean, non-obtrusive way."

Young Gun In New York book cover, by Roderick B.

Designer: Roderick B.

Young Gun In New York

Eddie McBoon

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"The cover was designed to evoke a sense of intrigue, placing the character into a well defined setting. Mood above all else. Aesthetically, I was obviously going for a noir feel, but with a modern twist (in its style). The angled smoke plumes in the distance and the smoke from his cigarette to give a bit of movement and dynamism to what could have been too static a scene."

Designer: Nejc P.

Dead Flowers

J.M. Petrick

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"For Dead Flowers, I designed a cover that captures the book’s bold, rebellious spirit and moody noir tone. Drawing inspiration from classic pulp covers, I reimagined their raw energy through a modern lens. Merging vintage grit with contemporary minimalism and a dash of Hollywood flair."

When Things Go Missing book cover, by Owen G.

Designer: Owen G.

When Things Go Missing

Deborah J. Brasket

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"This was a really interesting collaboration as the author Deborah Brasket decided to use an existing, public domain painting by Paul Klee as the basis for the cover. By tweaking the artwork, adding small narrative elements and finding complimentary fonts and design, we managed to create a perfect cover for the novel whilst maintaining the feel and sprit of Klee's original painting."

Designer: Finn D.

05:37

Maria Mutia

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“I captured the unsettling, fragmented prose visually, using chopped-up typography and treated photography. While employing the familiar trope of a mysterious figure, I infused the cover with distinctive visual flair, blending genre familiarity with standout nuance. The bold, balanced color palette grabs attention, pairing rarely-seen shades for striking impact in a crowded marketplace.”

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The SILO

Greg Heist

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"We went dark and atmospheric for this debut novel by a former police chief—a psychological literary thriller set in the American Midwest. The cover focuses on the silo at the story’s core, with a subtle blood pool in front as ominous foreshadowing. A large, readable sans-serif font was distressed for a grungy, rough feel, mirroring the novel’s events. The silo motif was repeated throughout the interior design of the book, which I also designed, in section breaks and half-title artwork."

How Not To Kill a Spy book cover, by Driss C.

Designer: Driss C.

How Not To Kill a Spy

John Fullerton

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"The book tells a story of death and mystery. Initially meant to associate lettering and illustration, the design evolved toward a more minimalistic and impactful approach. The angular and rough letters of the title contrast with the curves of the blood puddle, foreshadowing the tension to come. The colours are reminiscent of old polars, while vibrant enough to fit with modern trends."

The Countryside Orphanage book cover, by Joe M.

Designer: Joe M.

The Countryside Orphanage

D.M. Narok

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"The author wanted me to convey a complicated suspense/thriller story in a simple, elegant way — one that evoked a mood rather than telegraphed the plot line. That directive suited my style perfectly, because I tend to prefer captivating, moody images that draw the eye while offering subtle hints of what lies within. I feel like this has both a contemporary yet classic look; one that will look fresh ten years from now as it does today."

Designer: Jason A.

18

Megdad Zaatreh

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"The novel is a mystery about good and evil, focusing on symmetry. A mysterious woman and two six-spotted moths are significant to the plot, so they had to be on the cover. To portray these themes I went with a high contrast color scheme in a vector art style, to give it a modern feel. The woman's obscured face and cutaway title effect are meant to convey there's much more going on under the surface in this story."

Burned Out and Bled Dry book cover, by Margarita C.

Designer: Margarita C.

Burned Out and Bled Dry

Meredith Jacobowitz

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"My goal was to instantly convey the novel's genre—cozy mystery with a touch of humor. Inspired by Saul Bass, I created a shadow suggesting a murder scene, with the hurried protagonist walking over it, unaware of what's awaiting her at the car. The exaggerated, almost caricature-like shadow adds dark humor, softening the tension. The title treatment features an 'o' as an 'eye,' acting as a witness. The metaphor hints that the car holds a secret, with the shadow offering a clue to what's coming."

The Forest of Damned Souls book cover, by Rafal K.

Designer: Rafal K.

The Forest of Damned Souls

The Sinister Mind of Tully

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"It's a Scottish thriller featuring a fresh female constable solving mysterious crimes in the vast Scottish woods, blending thriller, fantasy, and a sci-fi twist. Scottish thrillers are often straightforward, with covers focusing on the main character or motifs. I wanted to go beyond that, highlighting the genre's greatest asset—mystery—without sacrificing artistic quality. The cover itself is a riddle, with the solution revealed only by reading the story, adding intrigue and depth."

The Storm, The Calm and The Growing book cover, by Nejc P.

Designer: Nejc P.

The Storm, The Calm and The Growing

Anna A. Blue

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"For The Storm, The Calm and The Growing, I aimed for an authentic, raw cover to reflect the story’s tone. I printed, tore, and photographed pieces of the title, and handwrote the author’s name to create a personal, intimate feel. The cover embodies the book’s themes: enduring hardships, finding calm in acceptance, and growing stronger. The tactile, torn typography and natural imagery evoke the emotional depth of the romance while visually representing the protagonist’s journey."

Designer: Hugh C.

Blue Van Winkle

Nathaniel David Knox

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"The book is about a multiple perspective family saga with elements of crime, suspense, and romance. The different windows show each character and hints at aspects of the narrative without overtly giving anything anyway. Working closely with the author who wanted a cover that is minimalist and retro but with contrast and texture - the design is inspired by futurist and Art Deco graphic design and the limited sombre colour palette conveys melancholy, hope and a tad bit of danger."

A Cold Night for Alligators book cover, by Nuno M.

Designer: Nuno M.

A Cold Night for Alligators

Viggy Hampton

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"The hand-drawn, distressed calligraphy on this cover conveys a sense of danger and primal energy. The rawness of this approach, combined with the looming red alligator tail, suggests an untamed, suspenseful story. The tail runs diagonally across the cover, creating dynamic movement that complements the title. Its curve guides the viewer’s eye from the upper right to the lower left, pulling the reader into the action, as if they’re being drawn into the alligator's grasp."

Designer: Devin W.

All Good Quests

Joe Graber

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"This book tells a dynamic adventure tale that takes place in a lot of different locations, and the author wanted to feature these elements on the cover. I invoked a travel post illustration style to collage parts of the story into the design and used a textured font to match the type with the illustration. I love the interaction of the main character with the book title in this design."

Designer: Raúl L.

Hollis

Jeff Gomez

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Murder Between the Tides book cover, by Patrick K.

Designer: Patrick K.

Murder Between the Tides

Michael Campling

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"This was one of six murder mystery covers where a strong sense of place is central to the narrative. Each cover features a key landscape element and conveys a feeling of ominousness and foreboding. For this seaside hotel setting, I emphasized isolation by making the building small within the wild landscape. The birds add both perspective and drama, enhancing the eerie atmosphere."

Designer: Matt D.

Deadly Keyholes

Julie Morton

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"This dark, gripping thriller required an Art Deco style to capture the book's era. I combined a graphic Art Deco pattern with a fearful eye peering through a keyhole, creating a stark and striking look."