Book List

Best Mysteries & Thrillers of 2013

FICTION

LEXICON

by Max Barry

An up-all-night thriller for freaks and geeks who want to see their wizards all grown up in the real world and armed to the... Full review >

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FICTION

BREAKING POINT

by C.J. Box

Its basis in a real-life conflict makes Joe’s 13th case one of his most tendentious, but it’s Box who makes it one of his... Full review >

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FICTION

LIGHT OF THE WORLD

by James Lee Burke

Pruning away the florid subplots that often clutter his heaven-storming blood baths, Burke produces his most sharply... Full review >

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FICTION

NEVER GO BACK

by Lee Child

For the pure pleasure of uncomplicated, nonstop action, no one touches Reacher, who accurately observes that “I trained... Full review >

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THRILLER & SUSPENSE

THE OCTOBER LIST

by Jeffery Deaver

Perhaps the cleverest of all Deaver’s exceptionally clever thrillers. If you’ve ever wished you could take the film Memento... Full review >

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FICTION

GHOSTS OF BUNGO SUIDO

by P.T. Deutermann

A first-rate yarn of war and the sea that will keep the reader on edge right to the end. Full review >

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FICTION

MIDNIGHT

by Kevin Egan

A crystalline noir nightmare built on the premise that yes, things can always, always, always get worse. Full review >

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MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

THE CUCKOO'S CALLING

by Robert Galbraith

A quick, fun read. Rowling delivers a set of characters every bit as durable as her Potter people and a story that, though... Full review >

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THRILLER & SUSPENSE

THE SHADOW TRACER

by Meg Gardiner

If you can accept the preposterous setup, the ruthlessly two-dimensional villains and the world’s most uncomplaining... Full review >

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MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

THE CROCODILE

by Maurizio de Giovanni ; translated by Antony Shugaar

In this crisply translated novel, de Giovanni explores Lojacono’s loneliness and vulnerability while simultaneously... Full review >

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FICTION

HIDDEN HERITAGE

by Charlotte Hinger

This third case for Lottie (Lethal Lineage, 2011, etc.) is filled with surprising historical information, social commentary,... Full review >

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MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

GOOD PEOPLE

by Ewart Hutton

The sexual peccadilloes are not for the squeamish, but the plot twists are cunning, and Glyn Capaldi is the most appealing... Full review >

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FICTION

SPIRIT OF STEAMBOAT

by Craig Johnson

Unlike Walt’s usual adventures (A Serpent’s Tooth, 2013, etc.), this novella shuns mystery for a wild and dangerous... Full review >

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FICTION

NIGHTRISE

by Jim Kelly

Even if they never came up with such a diabolical plot, long-winded colleagues could well take example from the generosity... Full review >

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FICTION

JOYLAND

by Stephen King

A satisfyingly warped yarn, kissing cousins of Blue Velvet. Readers may be inclined to stay off the Tilt-a-Whirl for a while... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

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