CrimeReads Best Crime Novels of 2023

Here is the first of many lists to come from CrimeReads.

BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN, Jessica Knoll
CROOK MANIFESTO, Colson Whitehead
BEWARE THE WOMAN, Megan Abbott
EXCAVATIONS, Hannah Michell
PET, Catherine Chidgey
AGE OF VICE, Deepti Kapoor
EVERYBODY KNOWS, Jordan Harper
ALL THE SINNERS BLEED, S.A. Cosby
PENANCE, Eliza Clark
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, Rebecca Makkai
I’M NOT DONE WITH YOU YET, Jesse Q. Sutanto
THE REFORMATORY, Tananarive Due
THE EDEN TEST, Adam Sternbergh
EVERY MAN A KING, Walter Mosley
SING HER DOWN, Ivy Pochoda
THE SHARDS, Bret Easton Ellis
THE STOLEN COAST, Dwyer Murphy
CONFIDENCE, Rafael Frumkin
OZARK DOGS, Eli Cranor
HOT SPRINGS DRIVE, Lindsay Hunter

Comments: This list has a definite “literary” bent to it, shunning a lot of more “traditional” mysteries. There is also a bit of self-serving with the editor of CrimeReads having his own book (THE STOLEN COAST by Dwyer Murphy) on the list. But to be fair, that book has appeared on other “best” lists.
If Crime Reads follows the same pattern as last year, there should be Best Espionage, Best Psychological Thrillers, Best Noir Fiction, Best Debuts, Best Historical Fiction, Best International Crime and Best Speculative Mysteries Lists coming out soon.