7 Mystery & Thriller Books About Dance That Don't Miss a Beat

Luna Martin is the moll of the infamous LA gangster “Fingers.” With that terrifying resume in mind, she tends to get whatever she wants—including dance lessons from Hollywood's best dancer, Fred Astaire.

In order to avoid the flirtations—and left foot—of the dangerous woman, Astaire pays PI Toby Peters to step in and pose as a dance instructor. But when someone cuts in with a knife and slits Luna's throat, Fingers makes Peters and even more compelling offer: solve Luna's murder or die.

Now Astaire is using his fancy footwork to investigate alongside the rumpled gumshoe who's just hoping to make it through another day.

The Happy Hoofers are a group of five fabulous middle-aged friends—Tina, Janice, Pat, Mary Louise, and Gini—that have a shared love of dance and travel.

These talented women post a video of their tap dancing routine on the internet, and before long it gets them a fif performing on a Russian river cruise.

However, when the ship's chef is murdered and one of the passengers goes missing, the Hoofers know they'll have to watch their step. But they might as well add a bit of amateur sleuthing to their resume…

Leah Siderova is meant to be on stage performing ballet, not answering questions in an interrogation room at Manhattan's Twentieth Precinct. Unfortunately, for the second time this year, that's exactly where she is.

But she wasn't the one who killed the new director of the American Ballet Company. And it's not her responsibility to find out who did.

She wants nothing to do with this investigation. She's got enough going on with her relentless online troll.

But sometimes ballet really can be murder.

Temple Barr is a feisty redhead happily engaged to radio host Matt Devine.

She's supportive of him spending a week doing a televised charity event in Las Vegas, “Dancing with the Celebs.” That is, until it seems a killer is making their mark on the dance floor.

Now there's a lot more danger for ex-priest Matt than looking unsexy during the tango. And young tween Mariah, the daughter of homicide cop C.R. Molina, is also in the crosshairs as she dances in the show's Junior Division.

Forced into bringing back her teen persona Zoe Chloe Ozone, it's up to Temple to keep Matt and Mariah from high-kicking the bucket.

And don't worry, feline detective Louie is still on the case in the 21st installment of the Midnight Louie Mysteries.

Reuben Frost is taking in the beauty of Fifth Avenue when he loses his balance—only to be caught by a tiny ballerina. Hailey Coles is surprisingly strong as she saves the retired lawyer from hitting the ground.

And, unfortunately, it won't be long before Frost has the opportunity to repay her kindness. There's been a murder at the National Ballet, and he's the only one that can save the show.

Clifton Holt may be a great choreographer, but he's made no friends as an artistic director. When he's stabbed to death at the stage door, everyone thinks it's the work of a mugger—but Frost thinks it's far more complicated than that.

But can he find the killer before the final curtain?

Jade Riley is a rookie journalist who has just moved to Houston. She's determined to pen a story that finally gets her career off the ground, and the cold case dropped in her lap by her ballroom dance instructor might be just the thing to do it.

Anton Valencio has been trying to outrun his past for a very long time. Despite being born into an infamous New Orleans crime family, he build a reputation as a respected dance instructor.

But the murder of his fiancée’ has gone unsolved, and he is consumed with grief. However, he's positive he knows who killed her.

Jade and Anton work together to wade through the secrets and betrayal, but someone wants to keep the dark truths of his family locked up tight.

Identical twin sisters Olivia and Clara Marionetta are ballerinas rehearsing for the ballet Coppélia at the newly opened Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.

At first glance, the twins complement each other perfectly. While Olivia is a dutiful and self-strict ballerina, Clara is rebellious and fiercely independent.

Clara has been making time with Nathan, a passionate pianist at the theater, while Olivia is unaware that she has charmed Samuel, a shy apprentice ballet shoemaker.

The story of Coppélia follows a young man who has a growing obsession with a life-size doll. And now, as the sisters rehearse, it seems this ballet may turn into a dark truth.

All Samuel wants is to be noticed by Olivia, no matter the cost. And Nathan struggles to find his footing as a musical child prodigy in an adult world, while reality begins to blur with his dark fantasies.