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.

DEADSPEAK, a Standout Serial Killer Novel by Ruth Bainbridge

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The Bottom Line: A standout serial killer novel tailor-made for fans of Alice Sebold and Tana French. The aptly-named DEADSPEAK begins with testimony from 13-year-old Griff Lindon: “I don’t even know where or what I am anymore. I just sit in this perpetual darkness, wondering if I’ll ever be me again.” Griff’s questions are soon answered, as the murdered teenager witnesses the discovery of her […]

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Longreave, a Mesmerizing Horror Novel by Daniel Barnett

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The Bottom Line: Horror fans will find a treasure trove of supernatural surprises in Daniel Barnett’s Longreave. Set in a hotel called Longreave, situated in the fictional Atlantic seaboard town of Manxfield, author Daniel Barnett delivers plenty of creepy ambiance, especially when he introduces Mark Currier, a man who is picking up the pieces after a failed marriage. Mark isn’t unfamiliar with the hotel. His

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Restitution, One of the Year’s Best Thrillers

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The Bottom Line: One of the year’s best thrillers. Rose Edmunds proves that her Crazy Amy series is only getting better with each installment. Has a long-lost Picasso really resurfaced in Prague? That’s the hope of 84-year-old London resident George Smithies, whose father, a gallery owner, was allegedly tortured and killed by the Nazis in 1939. Having avoided his homeland since his escape to England

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Force of Impact, an Addictive Crime Thriller by Bryan Cassiday

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The Bottom Line: A potent shot of contemporary LA Noir that will have readers hooked from page one. Fans of Dennis Lehane and James Ellroy will love Force of Impact. When LA horror novelist Bart Dillinger’s girlfriend doesn’t return home to the condo they share, he calls one of her friends to see if she’s seen her. The awkward call doesn’t produce any leads, so

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The Big Guy, a Superb Prison Thriller by Jason Palmer

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The Bottom Line: This gritty, masterfully crafted thriller about one man’s quest to survive incarceration is a worthy addition to the canon of great prison novels. Seamax prison inmate Percy Croft has kept his nose clean while serving nearly four years of a five-year sentence. He’s got a cushy job in the prison’s furniture factory, and he’s a massive, hulking figure that commands respect from

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A Different Kind of Fire & Fury: Revenge, by Julie Reichwein

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The Bottom Line: A timely, high-octane revenge thriller for the #metoo era. Julie Reichwein’s new thriller is a raw revenge fantasy where fiction meets the real-world fight to stop sexual assault. The story begins as Detective Michelle Velasquez is assigned to two cases, the first of which is the rape of financial company intern Maria Acevedo. The second is a 30-year-old murder case involving her

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The Greatest Good, an Explosive Police Procedural by Craig Hooper

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The Bottom Line: An explosive police procedural with an endearing hero at its core. Readers will be longing for another Craig Hooper novel. Shamed federal agent Garrison Chase is dealing with some first day on the job jitters. After facing legal issues because of his somewhat unorthodox collection of assault weapons, Chase just landed a new gig as the governor’s son’s bodyguard. Things escalate quickly,

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Do Not Ask, a Sexy Legal Thriller by Elaine Williams Crockett

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The Bottom Line: A sexy legal thriller about sex, politics and forensic science. Supreme Court justice Warren Alexander may spend most of his days behind the bench, but the former FBI agent springs into action when the president’s adult twin daughters – along with his own aide – go missing. Curiously, first daughters Eden and Echo dismissed their Secret Service detail. But why? Alexander’s son-in-law,

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Red Notice, a True Crime Financial Thriller by Bill Browder

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The Bottom Line: A titan among financial thrillers, this mind-blowing expose of corruption, fear and greed is an absolute must-read. Although it’s been out since 2015, Red Notice is back in the limelight due to the investigations into the connection between Russia and the Trump campaign. If you’re looking for a smoking gun in this excellent novel, don’t bother, because it’s not there. Read this

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Silent Victim, a Dark Psychological Thriller by Caroline Mitchell

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The Bottom Line: If only they were all this good. A shake-you-to-the-core thriller that will touch every reader’s deepest fears. Emma is a loving wife, a devoted mother…and an involuntary killer. For years she’s been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her as a teen. It’s a secret that might have stayed buried if only her life had been less perfect. A

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