Best Crime fiction Books December 2024

Every Last Lie

Clara’s world shatters when her husband Nick dies in a car crash, leaving her alone with their newborn son and four-year-old daughter. As she grapples with grief, Clara becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind Nick’s death. Haunted by her daughter’s cryptic comments and her own nagging suspicions, Clara delves into Nick’s past, unearthing secrets that threaten everything she thought she knew. A gripping tale of love, loss, and the lies we tell ourselves, “Every Last Lie” will keep you guessing until the very end.

An Anonymous Girl

Jessica Farris stumbles into a psychology study for easy money, but finds herself caught in a web of deceit and manipulation. As the mysterious Dr. Shields pushes her boundaries, Jess begins to question reality and her own morality. With each twisted turn, she’s drawn deeper into a dangerous game where trust is a luxury she can’t afford. This gripping psychological thriller will leave you breathless, questioning who’s really pulling the strings in this masterful dance of deception.

Believe Me

Claire Wright, a struggling British actress in New York, takes on a new role: entrapping married men for suspicious wives. It’s just acting, until she’s hired to seduce Patrick Fogler, a charming psychologist suspected of murdering his wife. As Claire delves deeper into Patrick’s world, the line between reality and performance blurs. With each twist, she questions who’s manipulating whom. A gripping psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the final curtain call.

Before I Go to Sleep

Christine wakes each morning with no memory, her mind wiped clean by a mysterious accident. Guided by a journal she keeps, she pieces together her life daily, uncovering unsettling truths about her husband and past. As fragments of memory return, Christine realizes she’s caught in a web of lies and must unravel the truth before it’s too late. This gripping psychological thriller explores identity, trust, and the fragility of memory, keeping readers on edge until the shocking finale.

All Is Not Forgotten

Haunting and provocative, “All Is Not Forgotten” delves into the aftermath of a brutal assault on a teenage girl in a small Connecticut town. As her parents opt for a controversial memory-erasing treatment, the family grapples with unforeseen consequences. Walker masterfully weaves a complex psychological thriller, exploring the fragility of memory and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love. With each page, readers are drawn deeper into a web of secrets, lies, and moral dilemmas that will leave them questioning the nature of truth and justice.

Emma in the Night

Emma’s disappearance three years ago left her family shattered. Now, she’s suddenly returned, but her sister Cass is still missing. As forensic psychologist Dr. Winter delves into Emma’s fractured memories, she uncovers a web of lies and manipulation. Emma’s account doesn’t add up, and her mother’s narcissism casts a long shadow. With each revelation, the truth becomes more elusive, and the stakes higher. This gripping psychological thriller keeps you guessing until the very end, exploring the complexities of family dynamics and the lengths we go to protect those we love.

Sharp Objects

Camille Preaker, a troubled journalist, returns to her hometown to cover a disturbing story. As she unravels the mystery of two missing girls, she’s forced to confront her own demons and toxic family dynamics. Flynn’s razor-sharp prose cuts deep, exposing the dark underbelly of small-town America. With its haunting atmosphere and complex characters, this psychological thriller will keep you on edge, questioning everything until the very last page.

Into the Water

Secrets lurk beneath the surface of a sleepy riverside town in Paula Hawkins’ gripping thriller, “Into the Water.” When a single mother turns up dead in the local river, her teenage daughter is left to unravel the mystery. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a web of lies and long-buried secrets that have haunted the community for generations. Hawkins’ masterful storytelling kept me up late, turning pages and second-guessing every character. A chilling, atmospheric read that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.

Bel Canto

In this lyrical masterpiece, Patchett weaves a spellbinding tale of music, love, and human connection. Set in an unnamed South American country, a lavish birthday party becomes the stage for an unexpected hostage crisis. As days turn to months, captors and captives form unlikely bonds, their shared humanity emerging through the universal language of opera. With exquisite prose and deep emotional insight, Patchett explores the transformative power of art and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Horns

Joe Hill’s “Horns” is a darkly captivating tale that blends horror and mystery with a touch of sardonic humor. Ig Perrish wakes up after a night of drunken misery to find he’s sprouted devil-like horns. These new appendages grant him the power to hear people’s deepest, darkest thoughts. As Ig grapples with his transformation, he sets out to uncover the truth behind his girlfriend’s brutal murder. Hill’s vivid prose and complex characters make this a gripping, emotionally charged read that’ll haunt you long after the final page.