Jeff Popple’s Best Crime & Thriller Fiction 2023

Our Australian reviewer Jeff Popple is one of my go-to experts and I often read his recommendations. This list with more commentary can be found here.

Crime

EVERYBODY KNOWS, Jordan Harper
I AM ALREADY DEAD, David Whish-Wilson
RESURRECTION WALK, Michael Connelly
THE DETECTIVE UP LATE, Adrian McKinty
THE CARETAKER, Gabriel Bergmoser
THE KIND WORTH SAVING, Peter Swanson
THE LAST DEVIL YOU DIE, Richard Osman

Thriller

THE SCARLET PAPERS, Matthew Richardson
THE SECRET HOURS, Mick Herron
THE RUSH, Michelle Prak (April, 2024 in U.S.)
MOSCOW EXILE, John Lawton
A LINE IN THE SAND, Kevin Powers
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE, Martin Cruz Smith

Debut

THE RUSH, Michelle Prak
BETTER THE BLOOD, Michael Bennett
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, Jo Callaghan
THE DIVE, Sara Ochs
HEADLAND, John Byrnes
HOW TO KILL A CLIENT, Joanna Jenkins
A DISAPPEARANCE IN FIJI, Nilima Rao

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I suppose that books that were on his “Best of 2023 So Far” list on this website that he removed after careful consideration could be considered Honorable Mentions by Jeff:

LYING BESIDE YOU, Michael Robotham (this was a 2022 book for him)
TAKEN, Dinuka McKenzie (Australian)
NO TRACE, Michael Trant (Australian)
KILL FOR ME KILL FOR YOU, Steve Cavanagh
(UK only, August, in the U.S. in 2024)
ORPHAN ROAD, Andrew Nette (Australian)
EXPECTANT, Vanda Symon
THE SEVEN, Chris Hammer (Australian)
EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT, Benjamin Stevenson (Australian, 2024 publication in the U.S.)
HEADLAND, John Byrnes (Australian)
THE DIVE, Sara Ochs (Australian)

Comment: Great lists! I just wish that some of the Australian/New Zealand titles you list were more accessible in the U.S. I look forward to the Michelle Prak title in 2024.