Waterstones Best Crime & Thrillers 2023

British Bookstore Chain Waterstones comes out each year with a list of best crime and thrillers. This year’s list is a bit top heavy with overly long lists. But there are still some very good books on the list so I think there is value in posting it.

Cosy

THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE, Richard Osman
A DEATH IN THE PARISH, Reverend Richard Coles
THE CHRISTMAS APPEAL, Janice Hallett
WEST HEART KILL, Dann McDorman
DEATH AT THE CHATEAU, Ian Moore
THE CAT WHO SOLVED THREE MURDERS, L. T. Shearer
HERULE POIROT’S SILENT NIGHT, Sophie Hannah
THE CHRISTMAS JIGSAW MURDERS, Alexandra Benedict
A VERY LIVELY MURDER, Katy Watson
MURDER AT HOLLY HOUSE, Denzil Meyrick

Detectives

THE RUNNING GRAVE, Robert Galbraith
THE SECRET, Lee & Andrew Child
HOLLY, Stephen King
KILLING MOON, Jo Nesbo
THE SHADOWS OF LONDON, Andrew Taylor
DEADLY GAME, Michael Caine
THE RAGING STORM, Ann Cleeves
TRAITORS GATE, Jeffrey Archer
THE GREAT DECEIVER, Elly Griffiths
STOP THEM DEAD, Peter James
THE LOCK-UP, John Banville
PAST LYING, Val McDermid
THE GOLDEN GATE, Amy Chua
A GAME OF LIES, Claire Mackintosh
THE ENCHANTERS, James Ellroy
CAST A COLD EYE, Robbie Morrison
SCARLET TOWN, Leonora Nattrass
THE EDGE, David Baldacci
THE WATCHMAKER’S HAND, Jeffrey Deaver
RESURRECTION WALK, Michael Connelly
GASLIGHT, Femi Kayode
UNNATURAL DEATH, Patricia Cornwell
STANDING IN THE SHADOWS, Peter Robinson

Thrillers

THE YEAR OF THE LOCUST, Terry Hayes (2024 title in the U.S.)
KALA, Colin Walsh
THE EXCHANGE, John Grisham
GENEVA, Richard Armitage
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL, Rose Wilding
PENANCE, Eliza Clark
DEATH OF A BOOKSELLER, Alice Slater
THE CLOISTERS, Katy Hays
NONE OF THIS IS TRUE, Lisa Jewell
THE MAIDEN, Kate Foster
THE GIRL WITH THE EAGLE’S TALONS, Karin Smirnoff
THE SQUARE OF SEVENS, Laura Shepherd-Robinson
BROKEN LIGHT, Joanne Harris
LOYALTY, Martina Cole
HOMECOMING, Kate Morton
DROWNING, T. J. Newman
LOOKING GLASS SOUND, Catriona Ward
CONVICTION, Jack Jordan
THE TRIAL, Rob Rinder
KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU, Steve Cavanagh (2024 title in the U.S.)
CENTRAL PARK WEST, James Comey
THE PEOPLE WATCHER, Sam Lloyd
THE CRASH, Robert Preston
CITY OF DREAMS, Don Winslow
FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU, Caroline Kepnes
THE GAME, Martin Kemp
THE WHISPERS, Ashley Audrain
73 DOVE STREET, Julie Owen Moylan
MURDER IN THE FAMILY, Cara Hunter

Espionage

THE DEFECTOR, Chris Hadfield
THE SECRET HOURS, Mick Herron
ON HIS MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE, Charlie Higson
TOMáS NEVINSON, Javier Marias, Margaret Juli Costa
KENNEDY 35, Charles Cumming