Our Favorite Books of 2023
By Crime HQ
December 22, 2023
Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly: Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller enlists the help of his half-brother, Harry Bosch, to prove the innocence of a woman convicted of killing her husband.
“A tightly coiled novel . . . Connelly’s superb plot maintains high suspense until the final page, a hallmark of this author’s reputation.”―Oline Cogdill, South Florida Sun Sentinel
Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell
“In this thrilling new installment of Patricia Cornwell’s #1 bestselling Scarpetta series, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself in a Northern Virginia wilderness examining the remains of two campers wanted by federal law enforcement. The victims have been savaged beyond recognition, and Scarpetta must discover who would commit murders this savage, and why.”
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
“In All the Sinners Bleed, S.A. Cosby once again proves awe-inspiring with the breadth of his talents. Both a provocative crime novel and a profound exploration of race, religion, and romance (or something like it), the narrative is punctuated by sinewy prose, visceral action, and an underlying emotional truth that transcends fiction.”
A Second Shot by Cindy Dees
A Second Shot by Cindy Dees could have another title: The Spy Who Came In From the Cold. Here’s why: “Fifty-five-year-old Helen Warwick is as good as it gets at spy craft but that didn’t stop her masters from forcing her retirement. Ruefully, she sees it as an opportunity to foster better relationships between her and her three adult children.” Moving from estrangement to intimacy is a great goal but the book opens with her son’s house being bombed on New Year’s Eve while Helen babysits his pooch. It gets better from there: non-stop action with not-so-former spy Helen figuring out why.
Dead Man’s Wake by Paul Doiron
At long last, Stacey Stevens and Mike Bowditch get engaged. It’s been a twisty road to their engagement weekend at Mike’s dad’s lakeside home–and since we’re in Mike Bowditch territory, there’s a dead body in the lake.
“The mysteries are absorbing and cleverly plotted, but watching Mike Bowditch mature, knowing that he’s almost always the smartest man in the room, is equally felicitous.”
Liar, Dreamer, Thief by Maria Dong
“Maria Dong’s debut novel is a tremendous achievement of both suspense and empathy. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a deeper, more nuanced look at the intersection between mental illness and crime thriller, or for anyone just looking for a truly terrific read.”
Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni
“Dugoni mixes chess and the courtroom to create another stellar thriller. Readers with no understanding of chess will not feel lost, and the mystery blends the classic Paul Newman film, The Verdict, with Perry Mason in refreshing ways. Justice has rarely been this compelling.”
Dreambound by Dan Frey
“Dreambound is an astonishing work of maturity and empathy that had me sobbing like a baby through the ending pages. It’s hard to say more, because I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything about this amazing book, but if you’re a parent who cares about connecting with your kids, like I am, as well as a fan of both the fantasy and mystery genres, then you absolutely must read this smart, stylish heartbreaker of a novel.”
Reykjavík by Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Fourteen-year-old Lára disappears from the small island of Videy, just off the coast of Reykjavík without a trace. As time passes the mystery becomes Iceland‘s most infamous unsolved case. What happened to the young girl? Is she still alive? From the Crown Prince of Icelandic Noir and the Prime Minister of Iceland comes a chilling atmospheric mystery you won’t want to miss.
When I’m Dead by Hannah Morrissey
Acclaimed author Hannah Morrissey takes readers back to the bleak town of Black Harbor in When I’m Dead, in which the daughter of a medical examiner has gone missing and several other girls have been murdered. Set during spooky season, this read is not for the faint of heart.
“Enjoying the twists and turns along the way is only icing on the reader’s metaphorical cake.”
Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 by T.J. Newman
Soon to be a major motion picture, Drowning is Newman’s adrenaline-fueled thriller about a commercial jetliner that crashes into the ocean and sinks to the bottom with passengers trapped inside—and the extraordinary rescue operation to save them.
Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce
“Reef Road is a potent melding of contemporary crime(s), a cold case, and the COVID pandemic. If you haven’t yet read Deborah Goodrich Royce, you’re missing out.”
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
“This is the kind of book that wrings your heart and shakes your soul, if you’ll let it. I’m so glad I did, and hope you will, too.”
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Inheriting your uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who’s running the place.
After That Night by Karin Slaughter
GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton are back in an electrifying thriller from New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter.
“[G]rueling, pitiless, yet compassionate…. It’s a signal achievement of Slaughter that the climactic revelations add still another layer of horror to her tale.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on After That Night
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
“I laughed and cried and felt very, very seen. I adored this tremendously large-hearted and cleverly crafted novel and hope you will, too.”
All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham
“All the Dangerous Things is stellar suspense at its very best. More than a crime story (though it’s certainly that), the book is also contemplation of motherhood, sisterhood, womanhood. Rather than falling victim to the dreaded sophomore slump, the author takes the best elements of her debut (complex characters, atmospheric setting, faulty memory, toxic secrets) and amplifies them to dizzying effect.”