I work in the office and sometimes when there's no tasks or work at all i read books (mainly detectives cause they are fun and easy to grab attention) on my pc and when others see me starring at the screen they think I'm busy working
But i want to read something else. Any suggestions?
Should be something short ( 300 pages tops) and quite entertaining and easy to digest cause my job is a bit stressful at times so i don't wanna read heavy stuff at work
I'm open to any options (but no fantasy or dark romance and related).
by aleksaneza
12 Comments
Grab some old Micky Spillane novels or maybe Bulldog Drummond
John Scalzi’s **Starter Villain** is the most entertaining book I’ve read recently.
It’s a spoof of the early James Bond movies wherein a substitute teacher inherits his estranged uncle’s villainy which comes complete with a secret volcanic lair.
Non-fiction **What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions** by Randall Munroe.
It consists of a series of questions on pop-sci and pop-culture, each answered in one or two paragraphs. The answers are hilarious in a dry-humored way.
An example question is: What would happen if you hit a baseball pitched at 90% of the speed of light?
You’ll leave this world with your butt sewn shut, Robyn Grimm. Easy read pages about truths of what happened to your body after you die.
Try a short stories. Here’s a good start: https://www.shortstoryguide.com/short-stories-about-crime/
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Ed McBain – 87th precinct series
1950’s pulp noir.
The Guncle
Remarkably Bright Creatures
All Creatures Great and Small
Redbird Christmas
The Worlds Stupidest Angel
Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Before the Coffee Gets Cold
Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster – old-fashioned yes, but very moving, romantic and a little mysterious.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Philip K. Dick short stories
If you’re looking for things that are short, entertaining, and easy to read in bursts, here are some great options:
THE SCENT OF SLEEP: Some Things Choose You After You Close Your Eyes — Damien Holloway
A fast, atmospheric psychological horror about people disappearing quietly after three nights of strange dreams tied to a mysterious scent. Brisk pacing and a compelling concept make it perfect for office reading breaks without being heavy.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GBTXTLZ7
And Then There Were None — Agatha Christie
A classic mystery that reads fast, with tight plotting and constant tension. You can pick it up for 5–10 pages and still feel like you’re moving the story forward.
The Silent Patient — Alex Michaelides
Short chapters, clever twists, and very easy to digest. It moves quickly and keeps you guessing.
The Wife Between Us — Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Relentless pacing and great misdirection. Perfect if you like twisty reads that don’t bog down.
The Woman in Cabin 10 — Ruth Ware
A very readable thriller with short chapters and a tense, locked-in setting. Good for brief reading sessions that feel satisfying.
Convenience Store Woman — Sayaka Murata
Not a thriller, but ultra-quick and very engaging. Funny, weird, and easy to glide through — great when you want light, interesting fiction instead of mystery.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time — Mark Haddon
Short, thoughtful, and incredibly readable. Mystery elements plus strong pacing make it easy to keep moving through the story.
The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle — Stuart Turton
A bit more puzzle-driven, but very twisty and quick-moving. Great if you want something that keeps flipping the game board on you.
The James Bond books