George Easter

Amazon’s Top 20 Mysteries and Thrillers of 2022 So Far

Amazon’s Editorial Team chose these mysteries and thrillers as the best of 2022 so far. This list is not based on sales figures but on the opinions of the team members.

Amazon’s Top 20 Mysteries and Thrillers of 2022 So Far

*1. THE MAID by Nita Prose

  1. CITY ON FIRE by Don Winslow

*3. CAROLINA MOONSET by Matt Goldman

  1. THE OVERNIGHT GUEST by Heather Gudenkauf
  2. BLOOD SUGAR by Sascha Rothchild
  3. THE LOVE OF MY Life by Rosie Walsh
  4. HIDDEN PICTURES by Jason Rekulak

*8. THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB by Harini Nagendra

  1. THE VIOLENCE by Delilah S. Dawson
  2. A FLICKER IN THE DARK by Stacy Willingham
  3. THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR by Nina de Gramont

*12. THE CHASE by Candice Fox

  1. THE CARTOGRAPHERS by Peng Shepherd
  2. THE ISLAND by Adrian McKinty
  3. THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL by Jennifer McMahon
  4. ONE-SHOT HARRY by Gary Phillips
  5. ONE OF US IS DEAD by Jeneva Rose
  6. TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON by Chris Pavone
  7. ONCE A THIEF by Christopher Reich

*20. WHEN YOU ARE MINE by Michael Robotham

Editor’s Comments: I have read five of the above-listed novels. I have indicated which I have read with an asterix in front of the title. All were good but not on my Best of the Year list (yet), with the possible exception of THE MAID, which I found quite impressive. I also liked THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB enough to put it on our longlist for Best First Mystery Barry Award consideration. I still plan to read three more of the listed mysteries.

I think the Jennifer McMahon title borders on horror fiction and the Peng Shepherd title on mainstream fiction. The lines are quite blurred nowadays.

I considered THE CHASE by Candice Fox a fun read. Larry Gandle thought THE ISLAND by Adrian McKinty and THE CHASE exciting thrillers. But we both thought these books stretched credulity to the limits. If you accept the premises of these two thrillers you’ll enjoy the books. If you don’t, you may not like them. Good beach or airplane reads.

Larry Gandle considers CITY ON FIRE by Don Winslow his favorite of the year so far. I’m reading it now, but keep getting sidetracked. Of the books on the list that I’ve read, I would recommend you give CAROLINA MOONSET by Matt Goldman a try (assuming you have already read THE MAID). It is a book that book that surprised me on many levels, not the least of which was the Matt Goldman’s beautiful prose.