By the end of the year I will have read 120 crime and thriller novels, a little down in number from last year’s all-time high of 156. My goal going forward is 10 books per month, which is reasonably attainable for me. I realized as I was nearing year’s end that I had neglected a favorite subgenre’ – espionage fiction. So that’s what I’ve been mostly reading of late. Two more to go before the next issue comes out on February 9, 2026 – Dan Fesperman’s PARIAH and Paul Vidich’s THE POET’S GAME.
I notice that there are a lot of U.K and Australian crime novels on this year’s list. Ooops – my bias is showing. I can unashamedly recommend each title listed below.

Crime Novels
LEO, Deon Meyer – Top Pick
CROOKS, Lou Berney
HANG ON ST. CHRISTOPHER, Adrian McKinty
HEARTWOOD, Amity Gaige
THE WHITE CROW, Michael Robotham
WITNESS 8, Steve Cavanagh
MARBLE HALL MURDERS, Anthony Horowitz
THE IMPOSSIBLE THING, Belinda Bauer
THE PROVING GROUND, Michael Connelly
THE GOOD LIAR, Denise Mina
SILENT BONES, Val McDermid

Crime Novels published only in the U.K.
THE BROKEN RIVER, Chris Hammer
A VOICE IN THE NIGHT, Simon Mason
HUMAN REMAINS, Jo Callaghan
THE DAUGHTER, T. M. Logan
THE RED SHORE, William Shaw
THE FINAL VOW, M. W. Craven

Debuts
STILLWATER, Tanya Scott
THE VANISHING PLACE, Zoe Rankin
THE DENTIST, Tim Sullivan – first U.S. publication in 2025

Thrillers (Action and Espionage)
MIDNIGHT BLACK, Mark Greaney
CLOWN TOWN, Mick Herron
WOLF SIX, Alex Shaw – U.K. only
THE PERSIAN, David McCloskey
THE PROTOCOLS OF SPYING, Merle Nygate – U.K. only