Best Crime fiction Books December 2024

A Nearly Normal Family

Stella Sandell, a seemingly ordinary teenager, stands accused of murder. Her parents, a pastor and a defense attorney, grapple with the unthinkable as their perfect family unravels. As the trial unfolds, long-buried secrets emerge, challenging everything they thought they knew about each other. This gripping psychological thriller explores the lengths parents will go to protect their child, and the devastating consequences of lies and betrayal. With each twist, Edvardsson masterfully blurs the lines between right and wrong, leaving readers questioning their own moral compass.

I Found You

In a sleepy seaside town, Alice finds a man on the beach with no memory of who he is or how he got there. Intrigued and compassionate, she takes him in, nicknaming him ‘Frank’. Meanwhile, in London, Lily’s new husband fails to come home from work. As Alice digs into Frank’s past and Lily searches for her missing spouse, their stories intertwine in unexpected ways. Jewell masterfully weaves a tale of mystery, love, and redemption that kept me guessing until the very end.

Watching You

Melville Heights is a picturesque Victorian suburb, the kind of place where neighbors know each other and children play in the streets. But beneath this idyllic facade, dark secrets lurk. As newcomer Joey Mullen struggles to fit in, she becomes infatuated with her neighbor, Tom Fitzwilliam. Little does she know, she’s not the only one watching him. With each passing day, the lines between obsession and reality blur, leading to a shocking revelation that will shatter the community’s peaceful veneer. Jewell masterfully weaves a tale of suspense that’ll keep you guessing until the very end.

The Family Upstairs

Secrets lurk behind the polished facade of a London mansion, where three bodies lay rotting for years. As Libby Jones inherits the house on her 25th birthday, she uncovers a chilling past of cult-like manipulation and family betrayal. Jewell masterfully weaves together multiple timelines, revealing the dark truth piece by tantalizing piece. I couldn’t put it down, staying up way too late, completely engrossed in the twisted tale. A haunting exploration of family bonds and the lengths people will go to protect their own.

Then She Was Gone

Ellie Mack vanished without a trace at fifteen, leaving her family shattered. A decade later, her mother Laurel still grapples with the loss. When she meets charming Floyd and his precocious daughter Poppy, Laurel is struck by the girl’s resemblance to Ellie. As she’s drawn into their world, long-buried secrets resurface, forcing Laurel to confront the past she thought she’d left behind. Jewell’s gripping narrative weaves mystery and heartbreak, keeping readers on edge until the final, shocking revelation.

Playing Nice

Pete and Maddie’s world shatters when they learn their toddler isn’t biologically theirs. A hospital mix-up switched babies, leaving them raising another couple’s child. As they grapple with this earth-shattering revelation, they form an uneasy alliance with the other family. But beneath the surface, dark secrets and manipulations threaten to unravel everything. Delaney masterfully explores the complexities of parenthood, identity, and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love. A gripping, emotional rollercoaster that’ll keep you up all night.

Before She Knew Him

Henrietta’s new neighbors seemed perfect—until she glimpsed something chilling through their window. Obsessed with true crime, she can’t shake the feeling that Matthew is hiding a dark secret. As she digs deeper, the line between curiosity and danger blurs. Swanson masterfully weaves a tale of suburban suspicion and psychological intrigue, keeping readers on edge with each twist. A gripping exploration of how well we truly know those around us, and the lengths some will go to protect their secrets.

The Last Thing He Told Me

Hannah’s world shatters when her husband Owen disappears, leaving behind a cryptic note: “Protect her.” Determined to uncover the truth, Hannah embarks on a perilous journey with her reluctant stepdaughter Bailey. As they dig deeper, they unravel a web of lies and secrets that challenge everything Hannah thought she knew about Owen. With each revelation, the stakes grow higher, and Hannah must confront the possibility that the man she loved may not be who he claimed to be. A gripping tale of love, loyalty, and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we care about.

When We Were Orphans

Ishiguro’s haunting tale follows Christopher Banks, a renowned detective in 1930s London, as he unravels the mystery of his parents’ disappearance in Shanghai decades earlier. Blending memory and imagination, Banks’ quest becomes a poignant exploration of identity, loss, and the elusive nature of truth. With lyrical prose and subtle emotional depth, Ishiguro crafts a mesmerizing journey through a world on the brink of war, where the lines between past and present blur in unexpected ways.

Child of God

Lester Ballard, a violent outcast in 1960s Appalachia, descends into madness and depravity. McCarthy’s haunting prose paints a stark portrait of human nature’s darkest corners. Through Ballard’s twisted journey, we confront uncomfortable truths about isolation and moral decay. This isn’t an easy read, but it’s one that lingers, challenging our notions of humanity. I found myself both repulsed and captivated, unable to look away from McCarthy’s unflinching exploration of a broken soul.