Best Mysteries, Crime Novels and Thrillers of 2019
Experts’ Lists
Oline Cogdill
Nationally Syndicated Mystery Reviewer
Novels
YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY, Steph Cha
THE LOST MAN, Jane Harper
LADY IN THE LAKE, Laura Lippman
HEAVEN, MY HOME, Attica Locke
THE NIGHT FIRE, Michael Connelly
CITY OF WINDOWS, Robert Pobi
DECEPTION COVE, Owen Laukkanen
THE STRANGER INSIDE, Laura Benedict
THE BETTER SISTER, Alafair Burke
IF SHE WAKES, Michael Koryta
THE WOLF WANTS IN, Laura McHugh
THEY ALL FALL DOWN, Rachel Howzell Hall
THIS TENDER LAND, William Kent Krueger
THE HIDDEN THINGS, Jamie Mason
NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS, Allen Eskens
THIRTEEN, Steve Cavanagh
First Novels
THE NINJA DAUGHTER, Tori Eldridge
TEMPER, Layne Fargo
MIRACLE CREEK, Angie Kim
THE WIDOWS, Jess Montgomery
THE NOWHERE CHILD, Christian White
THE ESCAPE ROOM, Megan Goldin
Marilyn Stasio
Mystery Reviewer
The New York Times
THE BIRD BOYS, Lisa Sandlin
THE CHESTNUT MAN, Soren Sveistrup
CONVICTION, Denise Mina
THE GOOD DETECTIVE, John McMahon
HEAVEN, MY HOME, Attica Locke
THE NEVER GAME, Jeffery Deaver
THE NEW IBERIA BLUES, James Lee Burke
THE NIGHT FIRE, Michael Connelly
THE OLD SUCCESS, Martha Grimes
SARAH JANE, James Sallis
Laura Wilson
Mystery Reviewer
The Guardian
Debuts
KILL, Anthony Good
TO THE LIONS, Holly Watt
TAKE IT BACK, Kia Abdullah
BLOOD & SUGAR, Laura Shepherd-Robinson
SCRUBLANDS, Chris Hammer
AMERICAN SPY, Lauren Wilkinson
Novels
JOE COUNTRY, Mick Herron
THE BORDER, Don Winslow
AGENT RUNNING IN THE FIELD, John le Carre’
HEAVEN, MY HOME, Attica Locke
CRUEL ACTS, Jane Casey
NEVER BE BROKEN, Sarah Hilary
THE WYCH ELM, Tana French
THE CHAIN, Adrian McKinty
THE WHISPER MAN, Alex North (Steve Mosby)
BIG SKY, Kate Atkinson
THE HUNTING PARTY, Lucy Foster
THE GUILTY PARTY, Mel McGrath
WORST CASE SCENARIO, Helen Fitzgerald
THE GODMOTHER, Hannelore Cayre
Ryan Steck
The Real Book Spy
Best Book of 2019
BACKLASH by Brad Thor
Top 5 Action Thrillers
BACKLASH by Brad Thor
LETHAL AGENT by Kyle Mills
DAUGHTER OF WAR by Brad Taylor
TRUE BELIEVER by Jack Carr
MISSION CRITICAL by Mark Greaney
Top 5 Political Thrillers
RULES OF WAR by Matthew Betley
THE NIGHT AGENT by Matthew Quirk
THE PERSIAN GAMBLE by Joel C. Rosenberg
CODE OF HONOR by Marc Cameron
THE RUSSIAN by Ben Coes
Top 5 Spy Thrillers
THE NEW GIRL by Daniel Silva
THE ACCOMPLICE by Joseph Kanon
THE EIGHTH SISTER by Robert Dugoni
UNDER OCCUPATION by Alan Furst
AGENT RUNNING IN THE FIELD by John Le Carre’
Top 5 Military Thrillers
RED METAL by Mark Greaney & Rip Rawlings
RED SPECTER by Andrews & Wilson
TREASON by Rick Campbell
ALL OUT WAR by Sean Parnell
REAPER: THREAT ZERO by Nicholas Irving & Anthony J. Tata
Top 10 Mystery & Crime Thrillers
SOMEONE KNOWS Lisa Scottoline
THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty
OUT OF THE DARK by Gregg Hurwitz
THE NIGHT FIRE by Michael Connelly
MIAMI MIDNIGHT by Alex Segura
TEAR IT DOWN by Nick Petrie
LOOK ALIVE TWENTY-FIVE by Janet Evanovich
WOLF PACK by C. J. Box
THE WAREHOUSE by Rob Hart
THE BORDER by Don Winslow
Top 5 Suspense Thrillers
THE FIRST MISTAKE by Sandie Jones
GIRLS LIKE US by Cristina Alger
RUN AWAY by Harlan Coben
THE BETTER SISTER by Alafair Burke
OUTFOX by Sandra Brown
Top 5 Historical Fiction Thrillers
METROPOLIS by Philip Kerr
ONE GOOD DEED by David Baldacci
THE SECOND SLEEP by Robert Harris
THE MALTA EXCHANGE by Steve Berry
THE FIFTH COLUMN by Andrew Gross
Deadly Pleasures Staff Picks
Ali Karim Best of 2019
CARI MORA, Thomas Harris
WANDERERS, Chuck Wendig
NO MERCY, Martina Cole
ELEVATOR PITCH, Linwood Barclay
THE WAREHOUSE, Rob Hart
Mike Ripley’s Best of 2019
METROPOLIS, Philip Kerr
THE HORSEMAN’S SONG, Ben Pastor
UNDER OCCUPATION, Alan Furst
A SINGLE SOURCE, Peter Hannington
Jeff Popple’s Favorites of 2019
PEACE by Garry Disher
THE LAST HUNT by Deon Meyer (a 2020 novel in the U.S.)
THE SCHOLAR by Dervla McTiernan
WHITE HOT SILENCE by Henry Porter
GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL by Michael Robotham
FATAL ALLY by Tim Sebastian
WHERE THE DEAD GO by Sarah Bailey (unpublished in U.S.)
RUN AWAY by Harlan Coben
THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty
TERMINAL BLACK by Adrian Magson (a 2020 novel in U.S.)
Larry Gandle’s Best of 2019
THE LOST MAN, Jane Harper
THE CHAIN, Adrian McKinty
LADY IN THE LAKE, Laura Lippman
THE NEW GIRL, Daniel Silva
CEMETERY ROAD, Greg Iles
THE BORDER, Don Winslow
AMERICAN SPY, Lauren Wilkinson
IF SHE WAKES, Michael Koryta
Kristopher Zgorski’s Top Reads of 2019
Novels
THE BETTER SISTER, Alafair Burke
CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, Hallie Ephron
THE LONG CALL, Ann Cleeves
THE MURDER LIST, Hank Phillippi Ryan
NEVER LOOK BACK, Alison Gaylin
THE STRANGER INSIDE, Lisa Unger
STRANGERS AT THE GATE, Catriona McPherson
THE SWALLOWS, Lisa Lutz
THEY ALL FALL DOWN, Rachel Howzell Hall
YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY, Steph Cha
Debuts
LITTLE VOICES, Vanessa Lillie
MIRACLE CREEK, Angie Kim
ONE NIGHT GONE, Tara Laskowski
THE SILENT PATIENT, Alex Michaelides
THREE-FIFTHS, John Vercher
George Easter’s Favorite Mystery/Crime/Thrillers 2019
THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper
THIRTEEN by Steve Cavanagh
THE GODMOTHER by Hannelore Cayre
GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL, Michael Robotham
KILLING WITH CONFETTI, Peter Lovesey
TRIGGER, David Swinson
THE CHESTNUT MAN, Soren Sveistrup
SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN, S. A. Lelchuk
THE PROMISED LAND, Barry Maitland (not published in U.S.)
HOUSE ARREST, Mike Lawson
BACKLASH, Brad Thor
DECEPTION COVE, Owen Laukkanen
IF SHE WAKES, Michael Koryta
Steele Curry’s Favorites 2019
GALWAY GIRL, Ken Bruen
BALL PARK, John Farrow
THE MOUNTAIN MASTER OF SHA TIN, Ian Hamilton
RAID 42, Graham Hurley (published in the U.K. in 2019)
THE LAST HUNT, Deon Meyer (a 2020 novel in the U.S.)
A TREACHERY OF SPIES, Manda Scott (published in the U.K. in 2018 & the U.S. in 2019)
FATAL ALLY, Tim Sebastian
THE NEW GIRL, Daniel Silva
MEMO FROM TURNER, Tim Willocks (published in the U.K. in 2018 & the U.S. in 2019)
THE BORDER, Don Winslow
and highly recommended
THE NIGHT FIRE, Michael Connelly
LIVES LAID AWAY, Stephen Mack Jones
AND BROTHER IT’S STARTING TO RAIN, Jake Needham
THE CITY IN FLAMES, Michael Russell (published in the U.K. in 2019)
THE GOOD COP, Peter Steiner
WITCHFINDER, Andrew Williams (published in the U.K. in 2019)
Publications’ Lists
Wall Street Journal
Best Mysteries of 2019
Tom Nolan
BIG SKY, Kate Atkinson
YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY, Steph Cha
CONFESSIONS OF AN INNOCENT MAN, David R. Dow
THE SENTENCE IS DEATH, Anthony Horowitz
LADY OF THE LAKE, Laura Lippman
HEAVEN, MY HOME, Attica Locke
THE DARWIN AFFAIR, Tim Mason
CONVICTION, Denise Mina
A BETTER MAN, Louise Penny
THE GOOD COP, Peter Steiner
The Detroit News
Best Mysteries of 2019
YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY, Steph Cha
THE LOST MAN, Jane Harper
LADY IN THE LAKE, Laura Lippman
HEAVEN, MY HOME, Attica Locke
THE NIGHT FIRE, Michael Connelly
CITY OF WINDOWS, Robert Pobi
DECEPTION COVE, Owen Laukkanen
THE STRANGER INSIDE, Laura Benedict
THE BETTER SISTER, Alafair Burke
IF SHE WAKES, Michael Koryta
THE WOLF WANTS IN, Laura McHugh
THEY ALL FALL DOWN, Rachel Howzell Hall
THIS TENDER LAND, William Kent Krueger
THE HIDDEN THINGS, Jamie Mason
NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS, Allen Eskens
THIRTEEN, Steve Cavanagh
The Washington Post
Best Thrillers and Mysteries of 2019
THE BETTER SISTER, Alafair Burke
BEYOND ALL REASONABLE DOUBT, Malin Persson Giolito
BIG SKY, Kate Atkinson
CONVICTION, Denise Mina
THE GUARDIANS, John Grisham
LADY IN THE LAKE, Laura Lippman
THE OTHER END OF THE LINE, Andrea Camilleri
THE PLOTTERS, Un-Su Kim
THE QUAKER, Liam McIlvanney
THE TURN OF THE KEY, Ruth Ware
Kirkus
Best Mysteries of 2019
BITTERROOTS by C. J. Box
BAD AXE COUNTRY by John Galligan
THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper
THE RIVER by Peter Heller
MIRACLE CREEK by Angie Kim
DECEPTION COVE by Owen Laukkanen
SAVE ME FROM DANGEROUS MEN by S. A. Lelchuk
LADY IN THE LAKE by Laura Lippman
HEAVEN, MY HOME by Attica Locke
THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty
KNIFE by Jo Nesbo
THE FRAGILITY OF BODIES by Sergio Olguin
GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL by Michael Robotham
THE CHESTNUT MAN by Soren Sveistrup
THE STRANGER INSIDE by Lisa Unger
Publishers Weekly
Best Mysteries of 2019
THE BONE FIRE, S.D. Sykes
CONVICTION, Denise Mina
GAME OF SNIPERS, Stephen Hunter
GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL, Michael Robotham
LADY IN THE LAKE, Laura Lippman
RED METAL, Mark Greaney & Rip Rawlings
THE SILENT PATIENT, Alex Michaelides
THIS POISON WILL REMAIN, Fred Vargas
YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY, Steph Cha
Library Journal
Best Crime Fiction 2019
GIRLS LIKE US, Cristina Alger
ELEVATOR PITCH, Linwood Barclay
THE HOUSE WILL PAY, Steph Charming
THE LONG CALL, Ann Cleves
NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS, Allen Eskens
THE LOST MAN, Jane Harper
A DEADLY DIVIDE, Ausma Zehanat Khan
THE WOLF WANTS IN, Laura McHugh
SARAH JANE, James Sallis
THE CHESTNUT MAN, Soren Sveistrup
Websites’ and Media Lists
Crime Time
The Crime Book of the Year
THE BORDER by Don Winslow
Highly Recommended
HEAVEN, MY HOME by Attica Locke
SARAH JANE by James Sallis
WORST CASE SCENARIO by Helen Fitzgerald
CONVICTION by Denise Mina
LADY IN THE LAKE by Laura Lippman
LITTLE SIBERIA by Antti Tuomainen
THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper
THE WYCH ELM by Tana French
Goodreads
Best Mysteries & Thrillers 2019
Winner
THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides
Nominees with over 5,000 votes
THE TURN OF THE KEY by Ruth Ware
THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper
AN ANONYMOUS GIRL by Hendricks & Pekkanen
THE WHISPERING MAN by Alex North
RUN AWAY by Harlan Coben
LOCK EVERY DOOR by Riley Sager
MIRACLE CREEK by Angie Kim
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth
A BETTER MAN by Louise Penny
THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS by Lisa Jewell
THE CHAIN by Adrian McKinty
NPR
Best Mysteries & Thrillers 2019
THE OTHER END OF THE LINE, Andrea Camilleri
DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD, Olga Tokarczuk
CONVICTION, Denise Mina
LADY IN THE LAKE, Laura Lippman
HEAVEN, MY HOME, Attica Locke
THE SENTENCE IS DEATH, Anthony Horowitz
RECURSION, Blake Crouch
AMERICAN SPY, Lauren Wilkinson
BLACK SOULS, Gioacchino Criaco
THE BORDER, Don Winslow
THE WOLF AND THE WATCHMAN, Niklas Matt Och Dag
A FRIEND IS A GIFT YOU GIVE YOURSELF, William Boyle
AGENT RUNNING IN THE FIELD, John Le Carre’
Crimereads
Best Crime Novels of 2019
HEAVEN, MY HOME, Attica Locke
THE BORDER, Don Winslow
YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY, Steph Cha
BIG SKY, Kate Atkinson
THE TURN OF THE KEY, Ruth Ware
THEY ALL FALL DOWN, Rachel Howzell Hall
THE SWALLOWS, Lisa Lutz
LADY IN THE LAKE, Laura Lippman
A STUDENT OF HISTORY, Nina Revoyr
THE GOLDEN TRESSES OF THE DEAD, Alan Bradley