Let us talk about some of the best mystery manga you should read. I believe, that I, if not everyone else, have been moved by watching Sherlock. Yes, the Benedict Cumberbatch starrer Sherlock.
It made me so much interested in mystery and other related stuff that now I am a sucker for it. I usually watch some similar shows for the feel. But, no show can match the greatness of Sherlock.
I have now found another source of getting into the world of mystery and detectives. And, I think it is safe to say that it has matched the level of Sherlock easily. Yes, I am talking about mystery manga that you should be reading if you are into such a genre.
Some of the best stories are those that let the reader attempt and guess the conclusion for themselves without giving out a clear ending. Most of the time, mysteries are the ideal genre for this style of writing. And perhaps the best medium to capitalize on the genre, in my opinion, is manga.
Everyone enjoys reading stories where the possible solutions aren’t immediately revealed, and we have to piece together the information before the main characters do.
Let us now dive deep into the world of mystery, and allow me to tell you about some of the best mystery manga.
Spy X Family
Let’s start the list with this awesome manga. Every anime fan is now familiar with this spectacular anime and its manga. Spy x Family is just too good and enjoyable.
Although this manga is not hardcore, it is light and funny in tone. For those wanting to read a mystery manga without much gore and stuff should definitely read it.
Moreover, the cute Anya Forger will never fail to make you laugh. The plot is centered around a spy who must “create a family” in order to complete a task; however, he is unaware that the lady he agrees to marry is a competent assassin, and the girl he adopts as his daughter is a telepath.
I recently started watching the Spy x family anime and it is safe to say that I will catch up on the manga as soon as I am finished with the anime.
The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
This manga is a horror-mystery one and will leave you shocked. The show follows the exploits of five young Buddhist college grads who each have a unique talent, some of which are supernatural or involve dead bodies.
Kuro Karatsu, who can “talk” to the recently deceased and learn their final wishes, is the most notable. Based upon it, the group establishes a business endeavor to grant the wishes in exchange for payment.
However, as not all people die naturally or in accidents, the gang frequently runs into corpses involved in criminal activity due to which they are unable to receive such compensation.
The main characters of the series frequently travel outside of Japan for summer jobs or to meet the requests of their “customers,” even though the series is nominally set in modern-day Japan with the main characters hanging out at the Buddhist college they attended near Tokyo.
Some of the other bad stuff is bound to happen, and it is up to you to find out what will happen here.
Moriarty the Patriot
Best mystery manga has to have a mention of, if not Sherlock Holmes, then his rival because he is equally good. Everyone knows about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes is probably the greatest detective ever. Reading the first two lines, if you thought that this manga was about Sherlock Holmes, then my friend, you are wrong.
This manga is about Sherlock Holmes’ arch-nemesis James Moriarty. Don’t think of Moriarty as some low-life being. He is as smart as Sherlock himself. Moriarty is just too clever and cunning that he had Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock trembling with fear even after his death.
The British Empire rose to prominence in the late 19th century. The rigid class division makes it difficult for the average person to effectively get to the top, where the filthy nobility dominates over them all.
William James and Louis James, two orphans whom Albert Moriarty’s family adopted, hate the British Empire with all their might. They both decide to lead a criminal life in order to end this class system.
William James Moriarty runs across Sherlock while executing a complex plan to kill a noble who was pursuing commoners, and Sherlock is able to determine a third party was involved in the murder. Moriarty becomes intrigued by this and decides to accuse Sherlock of killing a count to test his prowess.
This mystery manga is a good read for those wanting an insight into Sherlock Holmes’ rival. There is an anime, too, by the same name on Netflix that you can watch.
Young Kindaichi Case Files
This is a long mystery manga for you to read. It ran from 1992-2017. So that is a lot of super cool content you have to go through. It has been compiled into 88 volumes.
Moreover, this manga has two different parts written by two different authors. Kindaichi is the main character of the manga who is assisted by his best friend Miyuki.
They both visit numerous locations where a murder has occurred, usually including ghosts, curses, myths, and folklore of momentous events from the distant past and use cunning deductions of intriguing clues and his cool wizardry to solve the mystery.
Young Kindaichi Case Files is one of the best mystery manga out there. So, go ahead and start reading it ASAP.
Billy Bat
Do not mistake Billy Bat for popular DC hero Billy Batson Billy Bat is written by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. The plot follows Japanese-American comic book artist Kevin Yamagata as he creates the well-known detective series “Billy Bat” starting in 1949.
He returns to Japan to ask the character’s creator for permission to use Billy Bat after learning that he might have unintentionally borrowed the character from an image he saw while serving in the occupied country of Japan.
But when he gets there, he finds himself caught up in a web of murder, deception, and prophecy that all points to Billy Bat. It quickly becomes clear that Billy Bat’s true nature is much greater than Kevin could have ever imagined, spanning centuries and continents.
Kevin discovers that The Bat is connected to an old scroll that is claimed to give its owner the power to conquer the entire planet. After knowing the true mystery behind Billy Bat, Kevin’s life is turned around. Join Kevin on his adventures to uncover the real mystery behind the myth of Billy Bat
MPD Psycho
This manga is collected into 24 volumes sure to give you a good read in the mystery genre. It ran for 2 decades, from 1996 to 2016. Japanese investigator Yosuke Kobayashi is pursuing a serial killer who dismembers his victims.
His sanity crumbles when his girlfriend becomes a target of the killer. He develops Multiple Personality Disorder and kills the serial killer. Due to this, he receives a life sentence.
Years later, it is discovered that one of his identities is a gifted detective; as a result, after being released from prison, he begins working with Machi Isono, a private criminologist, to solve the murders that appear to be tied to his numerous personalities.
The mystery behind these murders and Yosuke’s various personalities is very gripping and will leave you in awe for sure.
Made In Abyss
This manga takes more of an adventure trope but is not short of mystery at all. Don’t go on the cover of the manga and take it as a child’s series. Made in Abyss is very dark and, obviously, is rated above 18.
The town of Orth is unique because it was constructed around the imposing Abyss, a marvel that has never been fully explored.
People who go too far down never come back, but those who are courageous enough to go through its realms are referred to be “Cave Raiders” and are celebrated as legends.
A young girl named Riko, the offspring of one of the most renowned Cave Raiders of all time who vanished on an expedition many years ago, resides in this village. When Riko encounters Reg, a weird robot that seems to have emerged from the Abyss, her life is forever altered.
Riko and Reg enter the Abyss’ depths prepared to face all of its horrors since they think this is a sign from her mother, who is thought to be trapped there. Made in Abyss is also available in the form of three movies, and an anime series set to premiere on July 6, 2022.
These, according to us, are the best mystery manga. Tell us your favorite ones and what you would like to see next.
Honorable Mention
The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World
A middle-aged office worker named Keita Murakami unexpectedly discovers a portal in his apartment that transports him to a familiar-but-strange fantasy realm. Realizing that his smartphone still works on the other side, he begins placing online orders from Earth—everything from everyday household items to modern tools—only to have them delivered via magical couriers in this new world.
Over time, Keita’s reputation grows as villagers and adventurers alike marvel at the “mystery items” he summons: electric fans that help outrun scorching desert heat, inflatable mattresses that transform his shabby tavern rooms into cozy retreats for weary travelers, and even a rice cooker that feeds an entire guild.
Rather than chasing glory as a hero or warrior, Keita’s days revolve around balancing mundane responsibilities—handling HR tasks for the local craftsmen’s guild and mediating disputes between merchants—with the simple pleasure of unboxing a new gadget. His practical, middle-aged perspective brings unexpected solutions to common problems: antibacterial hand sanitizer keeps the tavern’s illness outbreaks at bay, while smartphone-powered translation apps bridge language gaps between humans and elves.
Along the way, Keita forms warm friendships with an assortment of characters—a retired knight who guards his parcel drops, a young sorceress who tests modern cosmetics for magical side effects, and a curious merchant who hopes to adapt Earth’s small appliances into handmade replicas.
As each episode unfolds, the story highlights how everyday conveniences can feel miraculous in a world without electricity, plumbing, or online shopping. Keita’s routine—ordering, receiving, and explaining each item—creates a comforting rhythm that blends office life with lighthearted fantasy.
Even as he ponders whether to return to Japan, he finds unexpected purpose in helping others improve their quality of life. Ultimately, “The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World” celebrates small comforts, community bonds, and the idea that thoughtful innovations—no matter how ordinary—can become
