Barnes & Noble Best Mystery Books of 2023

THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE, Richard Osman
THE RIVER WE REMEMBER, William Kent Krueger
AFTER THAT NIGHT, Karin Slaughter
ZERO DAYS, Ruth Ware
THE RAGING STORM, Ann Cleeves
THE ONLY ONE LEFT, Riley Sager
SMALL MERCIES, Dennis Lehane
ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S. A. Cosby
YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE COME HERE, Jeneva Rose
MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER, Rupert Holmes

In Best Fiction of 2023 list two titles that some consider mystery fiction

BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN, Jessica Knoll
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, Rebecca Makkai

I have read six of the titles and thought highly of those I read, especially the Dennis Lehane. I was surprised at Ruth Ware’s serious chops in writing an exciting action thriller. Kent Krueger’s novel was beautifully rendered as one has come to expect from his standalones. The Richard Osman was a lot of fun and it just missed out on being on my best of the year list. Shall we say an “honorable mention?” Not a bad list, but too short. Where are RESURRECTION WALK by Michael Connelly, THE SECRET HOURS by Mick Herron, EVERYBODY KNOWS by Jordan Harper and THE RUNNING GRAVE by Robert Galbraith, to name a few outstanding mysteries? — George Easter