52 Book Club 2024: #1 Locked-room Mystery

After my breakup, my best friend encouraged me to join a cycling club. I quickly came to realize that this was no ordinary cycling group. To my shock, I stumbled upon my friend, caught up in a moment on her bike, doing something that went far beyond anything I'd anticipated. Surprisingly, instead of running away, a thrill of anticipation flickered within me. Because, truthfully… I'd been waiting for a moment like this for a long time.

When Helena Bale decides that a marriage is overrated, she decides to skip all the formalities and to get to what she really wants; an heir. Headstrong and determined to have her way, she convinces Alexander to abide by her contract. What she didn't count on is how emotional it will all get.

Amaya started experiencing strange things since a strange boy was admitted in her school. Soon she realized that the boy came for her. But who is the boy? And what's the mystery about him?

Born with angelic blood, Lixue has lived her entire life bound to a prophecy she never chose. Raised in the countryside among a family who shared her celestial heritage, she was sent to Heaven at the age of seven to serve the Father and awaken the powers hidden within her soul. But a single night of tragedy shattered her peaceful life—demons invaded their ancestral mansion, and in the battle that followed, Lixue lost both her mother and her brother. From that moment on, her heart closed itself to the mortal world. Haunted by loss and unable to accept death, Lixue disappears into the Philippines, working as a secret agent for her godfather’s underground organization. Her latest mission seems simple: protect Shuji Liao, a world-renowned model, from an unknown stalker. To stay close, she hides her true identity and lives under the same roof as Shuji and his father. But as Lixue investigates, she uncovers a far darker truth—Shuji’s family is entangled in a powerful criminal syndicate that threatens both the mortal and supernatural realms. Shuji, raised between two countries and burdened by a fractured family, finds his once-stable life unraveling. A mysterious incident alters his heart, pulling him away from his girlfriend and toward the woman sworn only to protect him. What begins as duty slowly turns into forbidden love. Unbeknownst to Shuji, a single kiss seals their fate. The prophecy awakens, revealing its cruel demand: Lixue must love Shuji and bear a child destined to save the world from demons, devils, and ancient evils that walk the Earth. But salvation always comes at a price. After their child is born, Lixue vanishes—erased like a dream at dawn—leaving behind a son, a broken lover, and a world saved by a sacrifice no one will ever forget.

"You're breaking up with me kasi sa tingin mo mas magaan? Ganoon ba iyon?" ang mahinahon pero puno ng hinanakit na tanong-sagot sa kanya ni Uriel. Sinubukan niyang magbuka ng bibig para magpaliwanag pero walang anumang salita siyang naibulalas kaya nagpatuloy ang binata. "Kasi wala pa tayong isang taon kaya iniisip mong hindi pa kita ganoon kamahal?" noon na galit na napatayo si Uriel. "Very childish, and I should tell you, that was the most bullshit excuse that I have ever heard!" ang galit na sagot ni Uriel na tila ba hindi narinig ang sinabi niya. Malakas na sampal ang pinadapo ni Therese sa pisngi ng binata dahil doon. "Sa tingin mo madali ito? Ginagawa ko ito para sa'yo!" "Really?" ang binata na mapait pang tumawa. "para sa'kin o para sa sarili mo?" "How dare you!" si Therese na muling napaiyak. "Well same here! Bakit sa tingin mo ba may magbabago sa kundisyon mo kapag inalis mo ako sa buhay mo?" "Tumigil ka!" "No! Hayaan mo akong magsalita okay? You've done too much talking already so I guess it's my turn now!" Natigilan si Therese sa nakita niyang magkahalong galit at paghihirap sa mukha ni Uriel kaya hindi siya nakapagsalita at umiiyak na pinakinggan ang lahat ng sinabi ng binata. "Masakit oo, at ako mismo natatakot na ngayon palang. But I'm not like you. Kasi kahit natatakot ako at nahihirapan, sinusubukan ko paring ihanda ang sarili ko. Pinag-aaralan kong tanggapin ang lahat. Kasi gusto kong maging masaya ngayon, habang nandito ka pa, habang kilala mo pa ako," ani Uriel na tuluyan na nga ring napaiyak. "Simple lang naman ang gusto ko, bigyan mo ako ng role sa buhay mo, kahit maliit lang," ang pagpapatuloy nitong pakiusap saka nagpahid ng mga luha. "U-Uriel," aniyang isinubsob ang mukha sa palad saka napahagulhol.

Destined to save the world from its doom caused by an ancient curse that appears every one hundred years, Matthaios Levidis, together with a group of young and brave doctor scientists from Athens, Greece, is set to find and kill the carrier of the curse, the ambitious fashion model Ava Taylor. Ava is suspected to be the first carrier of the unknown virus that turns victims into flesh-eating nocturnal mutants. Ngunit sa halip na si Ava ang natagpuan, isang simpleng probinsiyana ang bumihag sa puso ni Matthaios. But right after he pledged his heart to Nica Masangkay, a dark secret is revealed which compels him to choose between his mission and the woman he loves. IMPORTANT REMINDER!!! I spent time, effort and money in writing this piece of art. Nobody is allowed to make money out of it unless I give my written consent. If I caught somebody COPYING or SELLING the soft copy of this story or any of my stories here on Good Novel, I will make sure that he/she will deal with the law for violating Republic Act No. 8923.

Alyssa Micah is one of the remaining heirs left to take over Zimicah Clan, which had been founded fifty years before she was even expected to enter the world. She is at the age of sixteen and she already carried this heavy responsibility. However, before she is even crowned the new Chief. The night on her coronation she was faced with a heavy storm which threatened to destroy Zimicah. Sinking some of the houses and trees falling destroying those which were still standing. Not knowing what to do Alyssa is drawn into a hollow opening with her friend, Adanna. That simple falling is only the beginning of their journey, as they dug deep into the secrets of Zimicah, discovering shocking truths......

Yselle Morel is watching her family's glassworks collapse—unpaid wages, angry suppliers, a bank ready to shut the gates. When Renaud Valois, a feared billionaire financier, offers a rescue, it comes with a cruel condition: marriage. He says it’s business. His eyes say it’s revenge. In Valois’s riverside estate outside Paris, Yselle plays the obedient wife—smiling, thanking staff, acting harmless. She calls it "wife camouflage." Then she finds a locked room behind the library wall: a war room filled with files, photos, and timelines about her father’s life… and a folder stamped with Yselle’s name. Renaud didn’t choose her. He planned her. As “accidents” start closing in—tampered brakes, poisoned tea, a near fall on a dark stairwell—Yselle realizes the marriage isn’t only punishment. It’s protection. Someone wants her silent before the Day 30 board vote that will decide her family’s future. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she fears the man who raised her. On the eve of the vote, Yselle opens the last drawer in the war room and finds an envelope addressed to her—in her mother’s handwriting. The ink looks fresh. Then the lights go out, and a voice behind her whispers, “Don’t trust your husband.”

My mate, Alpha Ryan, started skipping my healer's appointments after I got pregnant. He always blamed pack business. But I found him at the clinic anyway. He was with another pregnant she-wolf—his childhood friend, Bonnie. He held her with a tenderness he no longer gave me. "I'll take responsibility for this child," he promised her. "He'll be safe." His words shattered my world. Their child? I stormed in to confront them and saw it: his temporary mark on her neck. He swore the pup wasn't his. He claimed a rogue attacked her and the mark was only for protection. His lie was a knife twisting in our mate bond. I was carrying his pure-blooded heir. But he let the pack brand my child a bastard, while hailing her half-blood pup as his true heir. To protect Bonnie, he locked me in a silver-laced cell. The silver was a living death. He didn't realize his mistake until I took the forbidden herbs, sacrificing our child and collapsing in a pool of my own blood. Only then did he cradle my broken body, begging for a forgiveness I would never give.

Ophelia Evans, an orphan and a mystery to everyone, No one knows who she is? Where did she come from? Tristin Rivera, a CEO and a bachelor who is sought worldwide by thousands of women, but other than his name, no one has seen him (still, he is famous). They both are a world apart; they shouldn't meet, let alone falling in love. When these two aren't even in each other's world, that's where fate came. A natural matchmaker… After all, every single pair was a match made in heaven, these two also. Like every love has to go through the test. They also went through the ordeal of destiny and the past trial. What will happen when the truth about their origin comes out, and with that many dangers also? Can they face that? Can their love and determination win through trials and have a happy ending? In the end, will they have their own little sweet and happy ending love story? Let's go and join Ophelia and Tristin's journey...