Jeff Popple is our Australian correspondent for Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine and reviews crime fiction from the U.K and worldwide thriller fiction. Crime fiction in Australia has been really smokin’ in the last few years so his insights have been especially helpful to us not living in Australia. I’ve read some wonderful novels based on his recommendations. He also has a fascinating blog called Murder Mayhem and Long Dogs that I regularly peruse.

Jeff Popple’s Best of 2022

Crime
THE DARK FLOOD, Deon Meyer
DESERT STAR, Michael Connelly
A HEART FULL OF HEADSTONES, Ian Rankin
EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE, Benjamin Stevenson
LYING BESIDE YOU, Michael Robotham (2023 title in U.S.)
THOSE WHO PERISH, Emma Viskic
THE FURIES, John Connolly
THE ACCOMPLICE, Steve Cavanagh

Thriller
BAD ACTORS, Mick Herron
YESTERDAY’S SPY, Tom Bradby
THE MATCHMAKER, Paul Vidich
WINTER WORK, Dan Fesperman
COLD FEAR, Webb & Mann
ONE STEP TOO FAR, Lisa Gardner

Debuts

THE TORRENT, Dinuka McKenzie (Australia only)
WAKE, Shelley Burr
BLACK RIVER, Matthew Spencer (in U.S, June, 2023)
THE PARTISAN, Patrick Worrall
DIRT TOWN (U.S. title –DIRT CREEK ), Hayley Scrivenor

Comments: Great lists! I’ve read 12 of them. Jeff and I have very similar tastes so this should not be a surprise.