The amazon.com editors have come up with a list of the Best Mystery and Thriller Novels of 2024 So Far. The list is divided into two categories – Best Standalones and Best Series Entries. They have also chosen LOST MAN’S LANE by Scott Carson as the Best Mystery of 2024 So Far. It should be noted that Scott Carson is a pen name for the talented writer Michael Koryta.

On my own personal Best of 2024 List So Far (also on amazon’s list) I have KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU by Steve Cavanagh, THE MOUNTAIN KING, Anders del la Motte and BLACK WOLF, Juan Gomez-Jurado. David Baldacci’s A CALAMITY OF SOULS just missed the cut for me. There are several titles on these lists that I intend to read before year’s end (titles by Wanda M. Morris, Walter Mosley, Harini Nagendra, Scott Carson, and Ken Bruen). Other DP contributors have on their Best of 2024 So Far lists: THE HUNTER by Tana French (twice), CITY IN RUINS by Don Winslow (twice), GALWAY CONFIDENTIAL by Ken Bruen (twice), FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elson and THE LAST WORD by Elly Griffiths.

It also should be noted that my favorite mystery of the year so far, ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK by Chris Whitaker, is an amazon editors’ best of the year so far pick – but in the literary fiction category.

So what books should have been on a Best of 2024 List So Far, but aren’t on the amazon list? I would say the following:

CALIFORNIA BEAR by Duane Swierczynski
CLOSE TO DEATH by Anthony Horowitz
ORDINARY BEAR by C. B. Bernard
ASSASSIN EIGHTEEN, by John Brownlow
THE SCARLET PAPERS by Matthew Richardson
SOMEONE SAW SOMETHING, Rick Mofina
PAPER CAGE, Tom Baragwanath

Amazon Editors’ Best Mystery and Thriller Novels of 2024 So Far

Best Standalones

LOST MAN'S LANE by Scott Carson

FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston

KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU by Steve Cavanagh

LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera

THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK by Emiko Jean

THE EXCITEMENTS by CJ Wray

RAINBOW BLACK by Maggie Thrash

NIGHTWATCHING by Tracy Sierra

THE MURDER OF MR. MA by SJ Rozan

MIDDLETIDE by Sarah Crouch

WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND by Wanda M Morris

WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA? by Dervla McTiernan

THE FIVE YEAR LIE by Sarina Bowen

THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza

A CALAMITY OF SOULS by David Baldacci

HOLY CITY by Henry Wise

SMOKE KINGS by Jahmal Mayfield

SLEEPING GIANTS by Rene Denfeld

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH by Sarah Reida

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEVLINS by Lisa Scottoline

Best New and Continuing Series

THE HUNTER, Tana French

CITY IN RUINS, Don Winslow

FAREWELL AMETHYSTINE, Walter Mosley

A NEST OF VIPERS, Harini Nagendra

CLETE, James Lee Burke

THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS, John Connolly

THE LAST WORD, Elly Griffiths

THE COMFORT OF GHOSTS, Jacqueline Winspear

AN INCONVENIENT WIFE, Karen Olson

THINK TWICE, Harlan Coben

THE MOUNTAIN KING, Anders del la Motte

STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE, Lisa Gardner

NOTHING BUT THE BONES, Brian Panowich

GALWAY CONFIDENTIAL, Ken Bruen

BLACK WOLF, Juan Gomez-Jurado

WESTPORT, James Comey

DEATH TO THE CORE, Joyce Tremel

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE AUNTIES, Jesse Q. Sutanto

CAST A COLD EYE, Robbie Morrison

THE FRAMED WOMEN OF ARDEMORE HOUSE, Brancy Schillace