Recs if you like The Hound of the Baskervilles...

Based on the list/book published in 2006, general editor Peter Boxall.

If we are going to do Qwordy's the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do 3.0 - we should probably get some Pagebound badges along the way! I'm specifically going to be adding books from Quests and readalongs that go past the July start date and match at least one of these title prompts: Periodic Table, Familial Terms, Rainbow of Words (also Joseph's coat), Numerical Titles, Titular Counting 5+, Pun in the Title, and First & Last Name in the Title. Recommendations welcome!

Books for those who want to be well-read without the debt (created by someone with said debt)

Note: I will be deleting my PB account within the next two weeks, and I believe this list will be erased. Feel free to screenshot it if you see anything that interests you! ☺️ 3/17/2026

Books in this list are in at least two quests. Thus helping to earn more badges. Books will span different genres. Once I scan through all the quests, I plan to further organize the list. I am thinking of creating a seperate list and moving the books with three or more quests to the new list and keeping the two badge books in this list. Are there other ways you would organize a list this big?

For when reading a classic feels too daunting. Classics under 200 pages!

classics (including modern classics) under 200 pages

TIME’s list of “the most gripping, twist-filled, satisfying, and influential mystery and thriller books” running all the way back to the 1800s

As seen on Lithub

Every book depicted on PBS's Wishbone (1995–1997)

we have crime! we have thunderstorms! we have quicksand! we have romance sub plots! we have old timey investigators! we have some sexism and racism that definitely needs to be addressed by modern audiences…

Keeping those narrators unreliable and those mansions decaying. Embrace the madness and dark appetites of Gothic Literature.

A comprehensive list from Dr. Rebecca Marks (ig:culture_dumper).

As a parent of 2 boys, I want to introduce them to good literature as early as possible! This is my list of classics that are appropriate for kids to listen to (read them aloud or listen to the audiobook). I’ve left some off this list due to misogyny and racism I thought was unforgivable. But ALL these books were written by imperfect people in an imperfect world, there may be topics you may need to have deeper conversations with your kids. ❤️

Books featuring our favorite four-legged companions

red herring: 1. a dried smoked herring, which is turned red by the smoke. 2. a clue or piece of information that is, or is intended to be, misleading or distracting. these will make you go on a fishing expedition, if you will. this list will feature books highlighting the second definition.

19th century (and a little early 20th) fiction about private detectives and clever con artists (or both!)

No specific theme here I've just found books over time. All books are under 300 pages and I hope you find something you enjoy!

Dark tales of mystery, romance and the supernatural