Amazon’s year-end list of the best in mystery, thriller and suspense fiction is always one of the best to come out. I have read 10 of the 40 books listed and have a few more on my nightstand to read in the next few weeks. Six of those I have read are on my personal Best of the Year list. The only one I didn’t care for was LOST MAN’S LANE by Scott Carson, which I consider horror and not mystery.

Standalones

THE GOD OF THE WOODS, Liz Moore — Editor’s #1 Pick of the Year
ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, Chris Whitaker
THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING, Jason Rekulak
LOST MAN’S LANE by Scott Carson
THE EXCITEMENTS by CJ Wray
PONY CONFIDENTIAL, Christina Lynch
KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU by Steve Cavanagh
LISTEN FOR THE LIE by Amy Tintera
BLACK RIVER, Nilanjana Roy
WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND by Wanda M Morris
FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston
WORDHUNTER, Stella Sands
DEADLY ANIMALS, Marie Tierney
THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK by Emiko Jean
WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA? by Dervla McTiernan
A CALAMITY OF SOULS by David Baldacci
BROILER, Eli Cranor
THE UNQUIET BONES, Loreth Anne White
HOUSE OF GLASS, Sarah Pekkanen
THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza

Best New and Continuing Series

WE SOLVE MURDERS, Richard Osman
THE HUNTER, Tana French
THE WAITING, Michael Connelly
CITY IN RUINS, Don Winslow
THE GREY WOLF, Louise Penny
DEATH AT THE SIGN OF THE ROOK, Kate Atkinson
GUIDE ME HOME, Attica Locke
SPIRIT CROSSING, William Kent Krueger
THIS IS WHY WE LIED, Karin Slaughter
EXPOSURE, Ramona Emerson
FAREWELL AMETHYSTINE, Walter Mosley
THE BUTCHER GAME, Alaina Urquhart
THE INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS, John Connolly
TO DIE FOR, David Baldacci
WESTPORT, James Comey
WHAT TIME THE SEXTON’S SPADE DOTH RUST, Alan Bradley
THE SEQUEL, Jean Hanff Korelitz
IDENTITY UNKNOWN, Patricia Cornwell
BLACK WOLF, Juan Gomez-Jurado
THE TREASURE HUNTERS CLUB, Tom Ryan