Renowned syndicated critic Oline Cogdill who writes for the Sun-Sentinel in Florida has come out with her annual list of Best Mystery Books of 2021. This a list that I always pay a lot of attention to because I highly value her opinions. She is also a long-time member of the Barry Award nominating committee, and we so appreciate her efforts on that committee.

Oline Cogdill’s
Best Mystery Books of 2021

THE TURNOUT, Megan Abbott
THE COLLECTIVE, Alison Gaylin
THE DARK HOURS, Michael Connelly
THESE TOXIC THINGS, Rachel Howzell Hall
RAZORBLADE TEARS, S. A. Cosby
1979, Val McDermid
DREAM GIRL, Laura Lippman
THE PERFUME THIEF, Timothy Schaffert
CLARK AND DIVISION, Naomi Hirahara
LIGHTNING STRIKE, William Kent Krueger
THE SURVIVORS, Jane Harper
THESE SILENT WOODS, Kimi Cunningham Grant
PALACE OF THE DROWNED, Christine Mangan
WHAT’S DONE IN DARKNESS, Laura McHugh
THE LOST VILLAGE, Camilla Sten
HAIRPIN BRIDGE, Taylor Adams
VELVET WAS THE NIGHT, Sylvia Moreno-Garcia
WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME, Wiley Cash
THE NEIGHBOR’S SECRET, L. Alison Heller
PICKARD COUNTY ATLAS by Chris Harding Thornton

Debuts
WHO IS MAUDE DIXON?, Alexandra Andrews
GIRL A, Abigail Dean
THE OTHER BLACK GIRL, Zakiya Dalila Harris
MY SWEET GIRL, Amanda Jayatissa
ARSENIC AND ADOBO, Mia P. Manansala
MANGO, MAMBO, AND MURDER, Raquel V. Reyes
ALL HER SECRETS, Wanda M. Morris

Editor’s Note: I’ve only read six of these, so I’ve got some catching up to do.