Dueling Detectives Present:  Best Mysteries of 2023

The Last One by Will Dean

Adena: Finally, a thriller I couldn’t put down. Unique, fast paced and unexpected. While this books certainly strains the confines or reality and human behavior it was the most original book, I read in 2023. I’ve never read a book quite like this one.

Me: This book is a mind-bender and shocking thriller to read. I had no idea where this story was going, but I couldn’t stop myself at just one page. The twists and turns that hit you are brilliantly done, and you wonder how Dean creates such a creative and suspenseful thriller.

The less I say about the book, the better. Just trust me when I say that if you are a fan of twisty and psychological thrillers, then this latest by Dean is a book you need to go and pick up. Especially if you want to read that shocking ending, where my heart still hasn’t recovered.

The Khan by Saima Mir

Me: I never read a book like this before. After hearing about all the buzz and great blurbs given for this book, I am so glad I picked it up. A crime thriller that is gritty and compelling but also with a sense of family and community, Mir has written a stunning debut that stands out from the rest of the crime thrillers out there. The characters here are full of realism and toughness that you may not sympathize with their actions but understand the meaning behind them.

The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett

The Christmas season has arrived in Lower Lockwood, and the Fairway Players are busy rehearsing their festive holiday production of Jack and the Beanstalk to raise money for a new church roof. But despite the season, goodwill is distinctly lacking among the amateur theater enthusiasts with petty rivalries, a possibly asbestos-filled beanstalk, and some perennially absent players behind the scenes.

Of course, there’s also the matter of the dead body onstage. Who could possibly have had the victim on their naughty list? Join lawyers Femi and Charlotte as they investigate Christmas letters, examine emails, and pore over police transcripts to identify both the victim and killer before the curtain closes on their holiday production–for good. (Credit: Atria Books)

The Devil’s Playground by Craig Russell

A tale of murder and mayhem in the golden age of Hollywood. With a plot similar to Silver Nitrate this book follows the trail of a lost horror film but puts a mystery at its center. I enjoyed the plot and gothic horror in this book and the only issue I had is the amount of timelines. This book focuses on 2 main timelines but has chapters in an additional 2 others that bogged down the story. I enjoyed the way they all came together at the end but think this book would’ve been stronger without so many.

Penance by Eliza Clark

Me: Penance is an amazing critique of the true crime genre and how we as a society can sometimes use it as a form of entertainment and not realize that these were real events that happened to real people. We love hearing about them but don’t realize that the truth can be manipulated. I also loved the characters in this book. The small town of Crow felt so real and although I have never grown up in a small town, the characters, and the environment stood out to me and made me feel like I was there horror and all.

Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy

Me: Reading Win Lose Kill Die brought memories of watching High School Slashers as a teenager, but this one throw different red herrings and misdirection that you are left shocked and chilled when you reach the end. You have secret societies, secluded schools, twisted ambition and of course, teen drama…everything you need in a dark academia. You want to get your hands on this dark and creepy thriller that will take you on one horrific ride.

The Society For Soulless Girls by Laura Steven

Me: Dark and insightful, just like The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Hyde, Steven brings a compelling retelling that is perfect and relevant for the 21st century. Steven has created a haunting, dark academia that is a great page-turner. You have everything you need for this to be a wonderful read: paranormal events, suspenseful mystery and a lovely LGBTQ romance. This feminist twist of Jekyll and Hyde is a story that will stay with readers for a long time and share an important message that begins with the epitaph:

For the girls who were born angry.

The Drift by C.J. Tudor

Me: Although I have to read something uplifting after this one, this is one the most innovative thrillers I’ve read in awhile. Full of suspense and horror, Tudor takes you on a ride with this edge of your seat apocalyptic thriller. With the amazing ability of using genre blending, readers will have a fun time figuring out how the three perspectives connect in this horrific puzzle.

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett

Me: Absolutely loved this one! Hallett has another winner here! This page turner of a mystery may have you scratching your heads, but in a good way! Hallett has created a unique mystery that is amazingly clever but a story that is full of heartbreak and tenderness as well. For readers who love doing puzzles and you will find this to be a “cracking” good read!

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels

Me: This was such an amazing ride. I never read a dystopian like this one! I was turned off from the genre after reading “The Hunger Games.” But after reading this “The Stranded,” if they turn out to be like this, I will be reading more of the genre. It was so well written and filled with everything that will have a reader on the edge of your seat: action, amazing world building, and great character development. All great aspects that make it one of my favorites of 2023.

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