Award category archive

Publishers Weekly Best Books – Mystery/Thriller Winners

Browse Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller winners and nominees by year. This archive follows one award category across the full Publishers Weekly Best Books history.

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller Cross-year archive

2025

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller results for the 2025 award year.

View full 2025 awards

Cape Fever

Davids, Nadia

Standalone · Thriller

Dec-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Crooks

Berney, Lou

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Doorman

Pavone, Chris

Standalone · Thriller

May-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Fever Beach

Hiaasen, Carl

Standalone · Mystery

May-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Human Scale

Wright, Lawrence

Standalone · Thriller

Mar-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Listen

Bronwasser, Sacha

Standalone · Mystery

Nov-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Murder in Paris

Blake, Matthew

Standalone · Thriller

Sep-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Saint of the Narrows Street

Boyle, William

Standalone · General Fiction

Feb-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Salt Bones

Givhan, Jennifer

Standalone · Thriller

Jul-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne

Currie, Ron, Jr.

Standalone · Thriller

Mar-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

We Don't Talk About Carol

Berry, Kristen L.

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Jun-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Your Steps on the Stairs

Molina, Antonio Munoz

Standalone · Thriller

Apr-2025 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

2024

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller results for the 2024 award year.

View full 2024 awards

Ash Dark as Night

Phillips, Gary

A Harry Ingram Mystery Series · Book 2 · General Fiction

Apr-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Bright Objects

Todd, Ruby

Standalone · Literary

Jul-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

City in Ruins

Winslow, Don

Standalone · Thriller

Apr-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Lost Man's Lane

Carson, Scott

Standalone · Horror

Apr-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

May the Wolf Die

Heider, Elizabeth

Standalone · Police Procedural

Jul-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Once More from the Top

Layden, Emily

Standalone · Literary

Sep-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Puzzle Box

Trussoni, Danielle

Standalone · Thriller

Oct-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Rough Trade

Carrasco, Katrina

Standalone · Literary

Apr-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Sequel

Korelitz, Jean Hanff

Standalone · Thriller

Oct-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Silver Bone

Kurkov, Andrey

The Kyiv Mysteries Series · Book 1 · Historical Mystery

Mar-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Smoke Kings

Mayfield, Jahmal

Standalone · Thriller

Feb-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

We Solve Murders

Osman, Richard

We Solve Murders Series · Book 1 · Cozy Mystery

Sep-2024 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

2023

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller results for the 2023 award year.

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All the Sinners Bleed

Cosby, S.A.

Standalone · Thriller

Jun-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Bright Young Women

Knoll, Jessica

Standalone · Thriller

Oct-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Devil's Playground

Russell, Craig

Standalone · Contemporary Romance

Jun-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Eden Test

Sternbergh, Adam

Standalone · Thriller

May-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Everybody Knows

Harper, Jordan

Standalone · Mystery

Jan-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Excavations

Michell, Hannah

Standalone · Literary

Jul-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Flags on the Bayou

Burke, James Lee

Standalone · Historical

Jul-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

How Can I Help You

Sims, Laura

Standalone · Thriller

Jul-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

A Most Agreeable Murder

Seales, Julia

Beatrice Steele Series · Book 1 · Police Procedural

Jun-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Most Secret Memory of Men

Sarr, Mohamed Mbougar

Standalone · Literary

Oct-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Strange Sally Diamond

Nugent, Liz

Standalone · Thriller

Jul-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Tell Me What I Am

Mannion, Una

Standalone · Thriller

Aug-2023 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

2022

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller results for the 2022 award year.

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All That's Left Unsaid

Lien, Tracey

Standalone · General Fiction

Sep-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Anywhere You Run

Morris, Wanda M.

Standalone · Thriller

Nov-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Blackwater Falls

Khan, Ausma Zehanat

Detective Inaya Rahman Series · Book 1 · Police Procedural

Nov-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Blood Sugar

Rothchild, Sascha

Standalone · Thriller

Apr-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Dear Little Corpses

Upson, Nicola

A Josephine Tey Mystery Series · Book 10 · Historical Mystery

Aug-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Death and the Conjuror

Mead, Tom

Standalone · Mystery

Jul-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Double Exposure

Barry, Ava

Standalone · Police Procedural

Oct-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Her Perfect Twin

Bonner, Sarah

Standalone · Mystery

Jan-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Jackal

Adams, Erin E.

Standalone · General Fiction

Oct-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Kingdoms of Savannah

Green, George Dawes

Standalone · Mystery

Jul-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Targeted

Hunter, Stephen

Bob Lee Swagger Series · Book 12 · Thriller

Aug-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Wheel of Doll

Ames, Jonathan

Doll Series · Book 2 · General Fiction

Sep-2022 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

2021

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller results for the 2021 award year.

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The Anatomy of Desire

Dorn, L.R.

Standalone · Psychological Suspense

May-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Anomaly

Le Tellier, Herve

Standalone · Thriller

Nov-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Black Ice

Gerhardsen, Carin

Standalone · Thriller

Jul-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Bloodless Boy

Lloyd, Robert J.

Robert Hooke Series · Book 1 · Thriller

Aug-2014 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Five Decembers

Kestrel, James

Standalone · Mystery

Nov-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Midnight, Water City

McKinney, Chris

The Water City Trilogy Series · Book 1 · Police Procedural

Jan-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Photographer

Carter, Mary Dixie

Standalone · Thriller

May-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Plot

Korelitz, Jean Hanff

Standalone · Thriller

May-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Push

Audrain, Ashley

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Jan-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Steel Fear

Webb, Brandon

Finn Thrillers Series · Book 1 · Thriller

Jul-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

These Toxic Things

Hall, Rachel Howzell

Standalone · Police Procedural

Sep-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Who is Maud Dixon?

Andrews, Alexandra

Standalone · Thriller

Mar-2021 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

2020

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller results for the 2020 award year.

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And Now She's Gone

Hall, Rachel Howzell

Standalone · Thriller

Sep-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Black Sun Rising

Carr, Matthew

Standalone · Historical

Jun-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne

Hart, Elsa

Standalone · Historical Mystery

Aug-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Devil and the Dark Water

Turton, Stuart

Standalone · Historical Mystery

Oct-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Eight Perfect Murders

Swanson, Peter

Standalone · Thriller

Mar-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The End of October

Wright, Lawrence

Standalone · General Fiction

Apr-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Familiar Dark

Engel, Amy

Standalone · Thriller

Apr-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Forger's Daughter

Morrow, Bradford

Forgers Series · Book 2 · Thriller

Sep-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Golden Cage

Lackberg, Camilla

Faye's Revenge Series · Book 1 · Thriller

Jul-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Seven Lies

Kay, Elizabeth

Standalone · Thriller

Jun-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Wicked Sister

Dionne, Karen

Standalone · Thriller

Aug-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Winter Counts

Heska, David; Weiden, Wanbli

Standalone · Thriller

Aug-2020 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

2019

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller results for the 2019 award year.

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Alice's Island

Arevalo, Daniel Sanchez

Standalone · Thriller

Apr-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Bone Fire

Sykes, S.D.

Standalone · Historical

Sep-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Conviction

Mina, Denise

Anna and Fin Series · Book 1 · Mystery

Jun-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Game of Snipers

Hunter, Stephen

Bob Lee Swagger Series · Book 11 · Mystery

Aug-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Good Girl, Bad Girl

Robotham, Michael

Cyrus Haven Series · Book 1 · Thriller

Jul-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Lady in the Lake

Lippman, Laura

Standalone · Thriller

Jul-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Red Metal

Greaney, Mark; Rawlings, H. Ripley, IV

Standalone · Thriller

Jul-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Silent Patient

Michaelides, Alex

Standalone · Thriller

Feb-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

This Poison Will Remain

Vargas, Fred

A Commissaire Adamsberg Mystery Series · Book 9 · Police Procedural

Aug-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Your House Will Pay

Cha, Steph

Standalone · Thriller

Oct-2019 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

2018

Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller results for the 2018 award year.

View full 2018 awards

The 8 Mansion Murders

Abiko, Takemaru

Standalone · Mystery

May-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

American by Day

Miller, Derek B.

Standalone · Cozy Mystery

Apr-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

City of Ink

Hart, Elsa

A Li Du Novel Series · Book 3 · Historical Mystery

Aug-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Fox

Forsyth, Frederick

Standalone · Thriller

Oct-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Man Who Came Uptown

Pelecanos, George P.

Standalone · Private Investigator

Sep-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Nine Perfect Strangers

Moriarty, Liane

Standalone · Women's Fiction

Nov-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Our House

Candlish, Louise

Standalone · Thriller

Aug-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Red, White, Blue

Carpenter, Lea

Standalone · Action Adventure

Aug-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Resurrection Bay

Viskic, Emma

Caleb Zeli Series · Book 1 · Thriller

Sep-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

Savage Liberty

Pattison, Eliot

Bone Rattler / A Mystery of Colonial America Series · Book 6 · Thriller

May-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Widows of Malabar Hill

Massey, Sujata

A Perveen Mistry Novel Series · Book 1 · Police Procedural

Jan-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

The Word Is Murder

Horowitz, Anthony

Detective Daniel Hawthorne Series · Book 1 · Amateur Sleuth

Jun-2018 Publishers Weekly Best Books Mystery/Thriller

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