Oline Cogdill is widely regarded as one of the best mystery/crime fiction critics in the U.S. We are fortunate to have her on our Barry Award nominating committee. When Oline speaks, I listen. You should too.

Here is her list of the Best of 2022 as published recently in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. To read her comments about each book, go here.

Oline Cogdill
Nationally Syndicated Reviewer
South Florida Sun Sentinel

Best Novels
THE CARTOGRAPHERS, Peng Shepherd
BACK TO THE GARDEN, Laurie R. King
ANYWHERE YOU RUN, Wanda M. Morris
SECRET IDENTITY, Alex Segura
WE LIE HERE, Rachel Howzell Hall
DESERT STAR, Michael Connelly
THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, Jennifer Hillier
LIKE A SISTER, Kellye Garrett
KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, Deanna Raybourn
HER LAST AFFAIR, John Searles
FORSAKEN COUNTRY, Allen Eskens
THE FIELDS, Erin Young
THE DROWNING SEA, Sarah Stewart Taylor
TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON, Chris Pavone
RACING THE LIGHT, Robert Crais
COUNTERFEIT, Kirsten Chen

Best Debuts
JACKAL, Erin E. Adams
PAY DIRT ROAD, Samantha Jayne Allen
BEFORE YOU KNEW MY NAME, Jacqueline Bublitz
SHUTTER, Ramona Emerson
THE MARSH QUEEN, Virginia Hartman
ALL THAT’S LEFT UNSAID, Tracey Lien
THE VERIFIERS, Jane Pek
DIRT CREEK, Hayley Scrivenor
A FLICKER IN THE DARK, Stacy Willingham

Best Short Stories
MARPLE: Twelve New Mysteries, various authors
BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE 2022, edited by Jess Walter &
Steph Cha
HOTEL CALIFORNIA, edited by Don Bruns

Best Reissue
THE NEW ANNOTATED STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, edited by Leslie S. Klinger