Crime Thriller Books

The best crime thriller book reviews. “Crime thriller” is a catch-all term for thriller subgenres that feature a struggle for dominance between criminals and law enforcement, such as mafia thriller, police procedural, detective fiction, true crime, serial killer fiction and others.

Treasure Coast, an Engrossing Crime Thriller by James Foley

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The Bottom Line: An engrossing, character-driven crime thriller that thoughtfully explores grief, atonement and post-loss romance alongside gritty police work. Recommended for Karin Slaughter fans.  Miami senior homicide investigator Lisa Owens became a police officer as a direct response to the unsolved shooting death of her fiance, Scott Diaz. Was Scott, a congressional aide, gunned down for political reasons? When a D.C. cop invites Lisa […]

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Dirty Deeds, a Clever Murder Mystery by Deborah Shlian and Linda Reid

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The Bottom Line: A cleverly-constructed murder mystery with a one-of-a-kind heroine at its core. The fourth book in the Sammy Greene series opens in New York City, as smug real estate tycoon Vince Garibaldi is lured into a midnight hour meeting. After handing over a thumb drive and denying accusations of being a snitch, he’s summarily bludgeoned to death, belted into his Porsche, and sunk

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Stuntman

The Stuntman, an Impeccably Paced Action Thriller by Evan Graver

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The Bottom Line: Don’t miss this sharply funny, impeccably paced action thriller. Amidst an ocean of heroes who take themselves far too seriously, Luke Wesson is a breath of fresh air. The Stuntman opens on a Hollywood movie set as Luke Wesson – doubling for actor Jordan Reese – prepares to jump his motorbike onto the roof of a moving train. After a bee sting triggers

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The Best C.J. Box Books, Ranked in Order

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What are the best CJ Box books? For newcomers to Box’s work, deciding which book to pick up first is a serious challenge. That’s because Box has been incredibly prolific in the years since the publication of his first novel. Box is best known for his Joe Pickett series, featuring an honest, upright, hardworking and faithful Wyoming Game and Fish warden. Pickett’s famous flaw is

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Don’t Look Down, a Surprise-Filled Murder Mystery by Matthew Becker

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The Bottom Line: Brimming with strong personalities, Don’t Look Down is a surprising and propulsive murder mystery, as well as a worthy follow-up to Run.  The follow-up to Matthew Beckers’ must-read debut novel Run opens on Theodore Roosevelt Island with the murder of a United States Senator. As homicide Detective Emilia Brown and her new partner begin investigating the Senator’s disappearance, she interviews Ben Walsh in an attempt to get insight into a

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Psychopathic, a Highly Recommended Psychological Thriller

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The Bottom Line: Melby reinvigorates the psychological thriller with a peerless heroine, masterclass pacing and a judicious sense of foreboding throughout.  Psychiatrist Faith Galloway is the epitome of resilience. The blind physician, accompanied by a German Shepherd named Zeus, seems to have a heightened sense of awareness, moving easily through city streets and train stations. She enjoys a strong professional reputation for treating especially troubled patients,

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Black Yéʼii, a Must-Read Small Town Crime Thriller by Joseph Lewis

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The Bottom Line: A must-read small town crime thriller that will please new and old fans. Black Yéʼii opens in Waukesha, Wisconsin, as Carmen Benevides finds three terrifying strangers on her doorstep. The trio is searching for her teenage son, Angel, and they won’t take no for an answer. Minutes later, Angel receives a text message from his mother’s phone: I need you to come home right away. It’s

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The Girl Goes Home, an Edge-of-Your-Seat Murder Mystery by Dorian Box

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The Bottom Line: The Girl Goes Home delivers an edge-of-your-seat murder mystery years in the making, along with explosive courtroom drama and a compelling emotional arc for the series’ favorite duo. For fans who have followed Emily Calby’s plight after the brutal murder of her mother and sister in the series’ first installment, the book’s opening feels like a triumph in itself. This, the fourth book in Dorian Box’s Emily Calby series, finds our heroine

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Manic Edge, a Riveting Mafia Thriller by C.J. Simone

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The Bottom Line: Music stardom meets mafia meddling in this riveting continuation of the Children of the Mob series.  The second installment in C.J. Simone’s Children of the Mob series continues the story of Gabe Giordano, Savannah Fletcher and their up-and-coming band, Shine. In Manic Mission, Gabe, an Italian-American heartthrob, was determined to break from his abusive environment and make a living in the music business. As Manic Edge opens, Shine has a song climbing

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