Welcome to the Cup of Tea’s Best Books of the Year, where I list the best of the best books I read this year.
Now we come to my favorite genre: mysteries and thrillers. Although there were more misses compared to previous years, I am still proud of my top choices since they brought me the thrills, the chills and the creativity that I look for in the mysteries. You are just dying to just hear what made my list, so without further ado, here are the best mysteries and thrillers of 2023:
Perfectly Nice Neighbors by Kia Abdullah
UK Title: Those People Next Door
This was my first Kia Abdullah book, and after reading this compelling and thrilling story, it definitely will not be the last. Who never knew having an ongoing battle with your neighbour could be so deadly? Those People Next Door takes an interesting look into how far humans will go to protect themselves and the ones they love. It was poignant and thought-provoking and provided a twist that no one, including myself, will not see coming. An excellent read for thriller fans and readers looking for books that are great conversation starters.
The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard
Catherine Ryan Howard returns with a twisty and compelling thriller that will hook readers from beginning to end. A roller coaster thriller of a ride that will leave you disheveled and satisfied that you read an exciting mystery that has so many twists and turns, brought to you by a fantastic author that brings it out the best.
Broadway Butterfly by Sara Divello
I found this to be one exciting and intense historical mystery. You can tell that the author did her research because you, as the reader, feel that you are being transported straight to the 1920s New York City. You also find how history has a knack of repeating itself because you constantly see murder cases, mainly with female victims, are not provided justice, and this detailed and descriptive mystery tries to give the infamous Broadway Butterfly the justice she didn’t get in the past. Perfect for readers who love historical mysteries jampacked with details and accuracy.
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
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!
Murder In The Family by Cara Hunter
Are you able to solve the case before the six suspects do? Hunter takes readers on a twisty and compelling thriller that provides an immersive experience. Written as a script for a crime documentary show, you are taking on a wild full of clues, evidence, and secrets. I love mysteries that encourage the reader to be involved in the story and try to figure out the conclusion and trust me, you will be left shocked when you reach the last page. “Murder In The Family” is innovative in providing mixed media interwoven in the story, making you realize that you are “watching” a true crime documentary. But I don’t think it puts actual crime docs in a good light. This thriller does a great job of showing how sometimes our obsession with true crime can be morally disruptive. But I’ll let you discover that for yourself.
The Drift by C.J. Tudor
Although I have to read something uplifting after this one, this is one of the most innovative thrillers I’ve read in a while. Full of suspense and horror, Tudor rides you with this edge-of-your-seat apocalyptic thriller. With the amazing ability to use genre-blending, readers will have fun figuring out how the three perspectives connect in this horrific puzzle.
The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett
Once again, The Fairway Players are at it again in this holiday mystery where a dead Santa Clause threatens to ruin their Christmas Pantomime (holiday play). This was just as enjoyable as The Appeal. Not only is it full of suspense, but it is also filled with wit and humor. The reader is once again drawn into investigating a mystery but with a holiday spin. It is a quick read, and I think patrons of the list would like to read a sharp, somewhat cozy mystery.
The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters
I loved the family dynamic and the realism that was presented here. It provides a twist towards the end and leaves open-ended questions that the reader can interpret on their own terms. Claudine is an amateur sleuth in finding out what happened to her niece. However, it is not how amateur sleuths are usually depicted in fiction; they are represented uniquely and realistically.
The Khan by Saima Mir
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.
A bold debut and a compelling read, “The Khan” is a book you will never have encountered, and rest assured, that’s a good thing!
Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado
Watch out Mystery Fans, we have a new favorite detective, and her name is Antonia Scott. I think of Scott as a tie between Sherlock Holmes and Temperance Brennan. She adds something exciting to the collection, and if you are looking for something heart-thumping and intriguing to read, you want to pick up Red Queen. Jurado brings something new and exciting to the mystery genre with this first installment. Thriller Fans will find a hard time putting this one down and have a hard time waiting a year to read the next installment.
The Last One by Will Dean
My face was left shocked after I read this locked-room thriller of creative proportions. A trip on a cruise ship is supposed to be relaxing and a picture of paradise, but it quickly turns into a nightmare when Caz wakes up and discovers that she is the only one left on board.
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.
Penance by Eliza Clark
“Penance” was one amazing hell of a book that provides a gut punch to the reader. You start with a narrative that is a fictional account of a republished book that had a warped and manipulative truth that caused it to be “pulled” from the shelves. But as you are reading this, you forget that you are reading a fictional book and you are not reading a true crime book. And that is the whole point. The way Clark constructed this innovative novel will have the reader engrossed as soon as they read that “publisher’s note”.
“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.
Bold, intriguing, and psychologically compelling, “Penance” is a book that will stay with you always once you read it. Perfect for readers who enjoy true crime and unreliable narrators, “Penance” is a book that will leave you speechless.
She Started It by Sian Gilbert
Get ready to read about a party to die for. This fast-paced thriller will be the perfect thing to bring with you the beach this summer. An exciting debut and a perfect read for fans of Lucy Foley and Amanda Jayatissa, this is full of so many twists and turns that will leave your head spinning. You will love to hate characters and every tawdry secret that comes out of their deadly meeting. If you need a book to entertain you for the summer, then this one need to be on your list!
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Reclusive Sally Diamond is thrust into the media spotlight when she tries to incinerate her dead father, causing widespread outrage. Now she’s the center of attention, not only from hungry reporters and police detectives, but also a sinister voice from a past she does not remember. As she begins to discover the repressed memories of her horrific early childhood, Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, big decisions, and learning that people don’t always mean what they say.
But who is the man observing Sally from the other side of the world, and why does he call her Mary? And why does her new neighbor seem to be obsessed with her? (Credit: Gallery/Scout Press)
Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
Are you Team Roach or Team Laura? You’ll have a hard time choosing after reading this captivating thriller!
Not only did I reflect to my bookselling days (and I’m glad I didn’t have to work with people like the ones in the book), but this book also highlights our society’s obsession with the true crime genre and how far that interest can take someone to do dark things.
This thriller was a compulsive read that was both fascinating and thought-provoking. A fresh new take on the thriller genre, Alice Slater is a writer who must be on your radar!
Honorable Mentions
Although these titles didn’t make the list, they were still compelling and thrilling enough for there to be a mention and something readers should definitely check out:
- The Blackhouse by Carole Johnstone
- Murder On The Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict
- Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney
- Against The Currant by Olivia Matthews
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