This was my greatest reading year ever. Over the course of the past 12 months, I checked out four hundred and fifty-seven 2025 mystery/suspense/thrillers. I say “checked out” because while I started four hundred and fifty-seven books, I DNF’d (did not finish) about 20-25% of them. I try to give a book 50 pages before I abandon it so I think a 20-25% abandonment rate is fair.

On the flip side, of those four hundred and fifty-seven titles, I can heartily recommend 45 of them – an approval rate of about 10% which I think is also fair. I am, admittedly, a very hard read.

I went over that Top 45 list and narrowed it down to a Top 25 (which was tough) and then narrowed THAT list down a Top 10 (which was even tougher).

I’m sure critics and award associations will have their opinions on what should and should not make a Best Of 2025 list but given that I’m pretty damn sure none of them checked out over four hundred and fifty books this year, I’d argue I am in a better position to offer an informed opinion.

So, without further ado, here are my TOP 10 CRIME READS of 2025 – the creme de la creme top 2.2%. Cozy mysteries, police procedurals, heists, historical crime fiction, domestic and legal thrillers – there’s a little something for everyone..

10. Hang on St. Christopher by Adrian McKinley

A carjacking gone wrong and the death of a solitary, middle-aged painter draw D.I. Sean Duffy into a case involving the CIA, MI5 and Special Branch.

A terrific protagonist in Detective Inspector Sean Duffy, and a thoroughly absorbing read.

1. Needle Lake by Justine Champine

Following the death of a man in the woods, 14-year-old Ida learns that her older cousin, Elna, holds a shocking secret.

A wonderful, grounded, character-driven coming-of-age story with a slow but compelling build to its thriller/mystery turn.

1. Blood Ties by Jo Nesbo

Brothers Carl and Roy Opgard have killed their way to the top in the small town of Os, but with a new police investigation, a higher body count looms in the picturesque horizon.

Early in the year, and I already knew this one would be one of my favorite crime reads of 2025.

1. Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

The story of Wendy and Thom’s marriage is told in reverse, painting a portrait of a marriage defined by a single terrible act they plotted together many years ago.

Told in reverse but sets up a nice little twist at the end.

1. Coram House by Bailey Seybolt

Struggling true crime writer Alex Kelley is asked to ghostwrite a book about Coram House, an orphanage with a dark past.

An intriguing set-up that had me on board until halfway through where I thought it became obvious who the murderer was – then I waited for our protagonist to catch up and when she finally did the author pulled the rug out from under us and it turned out we were both wrong! Great twist!

5. Friends Helping Friends by Patrick Hoffman

Bunny Simpson is faced with a choice: jail or go undercover for the Feds. Soon, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous web of extremism, corruption, and bad decisions.

Three terrific characters in Bunny, Jerry and Helen.

1. The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace by R.W.R. McDonald

After her schoolteacher is found dead, 11-year-old Tippy joins forces with her gay uncle and his boyfriend to investigate.

Super gay and a lot of fun.

1. Venetian Vespers by John Banville

1899. Struggling writer Evelyn Dolman and his new bride visit Venice for their honeymoon, but a series of inexplicable events soon have him questioning his sanity.

Not since Nicholas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now have I been so immersed in a more deliciously diabolical Venetian setting. Banville’s prose is enthralling, a sinister slow build of bewildering mysteries, hidden agendas, and well-orchestrated turns. And this story’s climax is less a denouement and more the equivalent to a trap springing shut, trapping the reader, and our protagonist, alike.

1. The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer

The theft of a scarlet egg sets two friends on a journey through the cruel world of egg trafficking and on the trail of a priceless collection of eggs lost to history. Until now.

Pretty damn brilliant.

1. What About the Bodies by Ken Jaworowski

Three lives collide in a gritty rust-belt town—a single mother covering up a deadly mistake, a young man on a mission to honor a dying wish, and a musician racing to escape a violent debt.

Absolutely love the three characters driving these three interconnected stories that pay ultimately pay off in utterly delightful fashion.

Rounding out the TOP 25…

11. Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd (A standout protagonist in former nun Nora)

12. Red Water – Jurica Pavičić (Bleak yet compelling – 2025 translation)

13. The Proving Ground – Michael Connelly (Usually not a fan of legal thrillers, but this one had me hoooked)

1. What Kind of Paradise – Janelle Brown (Touching)

2. A Novel Murder – E.C. Nevin (Fun and funny. A surprising delight.)

3. Leo – Deon Meyer (A pulse-pounding ride – 2025 translation)

4. Poor Girls – Clare Whitfield (One of my top crime reads of 2024 gets its 2025 North American release)

5. A Beautiful Family – Jennifer Trevelyan (A terrific POV protagonist in 10-year-old Lucy)

6. Girl Falling – Hayley Scrivenor (Solid twist ending)

7. North Country – Matt Condurant (Great characters and the book really ramps up to satisfying payoff)

8. The Award – Matthew Pearl (A humorous and at times dark foray into the world of publishing)

9. Karma Doll – Jonathan Ames (The ending is a bit bonkers, but getting there was a blast)

10. Dead Money – Jakob Kerr (Delivered some terrific twists)

11. Crooks – Lou Berney (Loved all of the quirky family members and their respective stories)

12. The Grapevine – Kate Kemp (A terrific debut!)