What Are the Best Book Club Books on Kindle Unlimited Right Now?

Bob and Shirley's Guide to Murder - Suzy K Quinn

I'll start with myself because honestly, why wouldn't I.

Bob and Shirley are pub landlords in the fictional English village of Great Oakley. They bicker constantly, love each other deeply, and keep finding dead bodies - which neither of them asked for.

The books are written in alternating voices, so you get Bob's version of events and then Shirley's version, which is often completely different. This is very good for book clubs because half the group will side with Bob and half with Shirley, and you'll be arguing about who was right for the entire evening.

All the Bob and Shirley books are free on Kindle Unlimited. Pop them on your Kindle and you're good to go.

Why it works for book clubs: Strong characters people disagree about, short enough that everyone actually finishes it, and lots of lovely village murder to discuss.

The Hamish Macbeth Series - M.C. Beaton

M.C. Beaton was a genius and I will not hear otherwise.

Her Hamish Macbeth series is set in the Scottish Highlands and follows a wonderfully lazy police constable who would really rather not solve any murders but keeps being forced into it by circumstance. The books are short, funny, and feel like a warm hug wrapped in a Fair Isle jumper.

Several titles are available on Kindle Unlimited, which means your whole book club can access them without spending a fortune. Brilliant.

Agatha Raisin - M.C. Beaton

Yes, M.C. Beaton twice. She earned it.

Agatha Raisin is everything I aspire to be - a woman who moved to the Cotswolds, refuses to apologise for her ambition, and solves murders mostly to impress people. She is gloriously flawed and very, very funny.

Perfect for book clubs that want a strong female lead who isn't always likeable but is always compelling. Several books available on Kindle Unlimited.

In a Dark, Dark Wood - Ruth Ware

If your book club wants something a bit darker and more twisty, Ruth Ware is your woman.

This one is a locked-room mystery set at a hen party in a remote glass house in the woods. It's the kind of book where you genuinely cannot work out who did it until the end, and the end will cause arguments. Very good for book clubs. Very available on Kindle Unlimited.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good book club book on Kindle Unlimited?

The best book club books are the ones where not everyone agrees. You want strong characters, a bit of moral ambiguity, and ideally an ending that divides the room. Murder mystery books are brilliant for this because there's always a debate about whodunit, whether justice was served, and whether the detective was actually that clever or just lucky.

Are all these book club books really free on Kindle Unlimited?

Yes - all the books listed here are in Kindle Unlimited at the time of writing. Availability does change, so always worth checking before your meeting. If in doubt, the Bob and Shirley series is definitely in there. I put it there myself.

How long should a book club book be?

Under 350 pages is the sweet spot in my experience. Long enough to feel like a proper read. Short enough that your busiest member actually gets to the end. All the Bob and Shirley books hit this target on purpose.

What's the best murder mystery book club book for a group that doesn't usually read crime?

Start with something warm and funny rather than dark and gritty. The Bob and Shirley series, the Hamish Macbeth books, or Agatha Raisin are all very accessible. They're much closer to character comedy than crime fiction, so they work brilliantly for book clubs that wouldn't normally pick up a murder mystery.