S.A. Cosby’s All the Sinners Bleed is a nerve-jangling, thought-provoking, often heartbreaking read that follows the first Black sheriff of a rural county in Virginia.
The Best Mystery & Suspense of 2023
In 2023, historical mysteries reckoned with the myths of America’s past and thrillers exposed the pitfalls of true crime obsession. Of course, the cozy craze continued—not one, but two charming, clever and bloodless whodunits made our best-of-the-year list.
Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women is a primal scream for women past and present.
By Jane Harper
Jane Harper’s lyrically written, immersive and slow-burning mystery Exiles is a powerful send-off for beloved character Aaron Falk.
By Ariel Lawhon
Atmospheric, unique and elegantly written, The Frozen River will satisfy mystery lovers and historical fiction enthusiasts alike.
The Last Devil to Die is equal parts well-plotted mystery, scintillating repartee and deep reflection on what it means to love.
By turns witty, warm, charming and poignant, The Motion Picture Teller is perhaps Colin Cotterill’s finest novel thus far.
William Kent Krueger’s page-turning, rewarding mystery The River We Remember is a superb exploration of the prejudices and complexities of post-World War II America.
By Mick Herron
Sly and suspenseful, The Secret Hours is both a marvelous standalone novel and a stunning companion to Mick Herron’s Slough House series.
Jesse Q. Sutanto hits all the right notes in Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, a cozy mystery worth reading for its hilariously meddlesome titular character alone.
Previous Best Mystery & Suspense lists
Recent starred mystery
By John Straley
John Straley’s nonstop, high-octane Big Breath In introduces the unforgettable Delphine, a 68-year-old cancer patient-turned-investigator.
By Pip Drysdale
World-weary and distinctively jaded, The Close-Up is a fantastic, Los Angeles-set neo-noir.
Robert Harris’ Precipice dramatizes a real-life scandal: On the eve of World War I, the British prime minister engaged in a national security-jeopardizing love affair.
Deadly Animals, Marie Tierney’s brilliantly plotted debut mystery, introduces readers to Ava Bonney: a 14-year-old English girl obsessed with decomposing bodies.
John Banville’s The Drowned is mystery fiction that rises to the level of full-on, capital L literature.
Exposure is equally—if not more—electrifying than Ramona Emerson’s debut, the National Book Award-longlisted Shutter.