Book List

Best Mysteries and Thrillers of 2015

THRILLER & SUSPENSE

A DIFFERENT LIE

by Derek Haas

An unflinching little gem of a story: violent, dark, and unrelentingly entertaining. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

THRILLER & SUSPENSE

SPY GAMES

by Adam Brookes

Brookes' second novel is a multipronged spy thriller that fires on all cylinders. A smarter or more exciting mystery likely... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

THRILLER & SUSPENSE

THE STRANGER

by Harlan Coben

Coben can always be relied on to generate thrills from the simplest premises, but his finest tales maintain a core of logic... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

FICTION

A SONG OF SHADOWS

by John Connolly

Connolly infuses his thrillers with enough of the supernatural to please fans of both genres, but it’s his sense of humor,... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

FICTION

X

by Sue Grafton

Grafton’s endless resourcefulness in varying her pitches in this landmark series (W Is for Wasted, 2013, etc.), graced by... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

FICTION

RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER

by Sally Andrew

A delightful debut, tender and funny. The mystery takes on the worldwide problem of abused women while revealing both the... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

THRILLER & SUSPENSE

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

by Paula Hawkins

Even the most astute readers will be in for a shock as Hawkins slowly unspools the facts, exposing the harsh realities of... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

LAST RAGGED BREATH

by Julia Keller

A beautifully crafted mystery in which Keller (Summer of the Dead, 2014, etc.) explores love, hate, and poverty in a place... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

FICTION

HUSH HUSH

by Laura Lippman

Tess' constant worry about whether she's a good mother dovetails ironically with Dawes' fight to win her daughters back.... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

FICTION

CRUCIFIXION CREEK

by Barry Maitland

First of a series. Though you’ll wonder early and often how Harry can possibly survive for any sequels, you’ll hope again... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

FICTION

TAKING PITY

by David Mark

Mark’s fourth (Sorrow Bound, 2014, etc.) is a dark, bloody, twisting tale of love, hate, and greed you can’t put down. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

THRILLER & SUSPENSE

WHERE THEY FOUND HER

by Kimberly McCreight

Genuinely suspenseful and disturbing; McCreight delivers a provocative, timely novel that reminds us that sometimes the... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

FICTION

THE NATURE OF THE BEAST

by Louise Penny

Penny is an expert at pulling away the surface of her characters to expose their deeper—and often ugly—layers, always doing... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

THE DO-RIGHT

by Lisa Sandlin

Despite plot pieces that fit together a little too snugly, Sandlin blends pathos, humor, and poetic prose in a strong debut. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

THRILLER & SUSPENSE

THE BLONDES

by Emily Schultz

A nail-biter that is equal parts suspense, science fiction, and a funny, dark sendup of the stranglehold of gender. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

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