Best Crime Books April 2025

American Dirt

Lydia Quixano Pérez’s comfortable life in Acapulco is shattered when her journalist husband exposes a powerful drug cartel. Forced to flee with her young son, Luca, they embark on a harrowing journey north to the US border. Cummins’ gripping narrative plunges readers into the desperate world of migrants, exploring themes of survival, motherhood, and the human cost of immigration. With vivid prose and heart-pounding tension, this novel offers a poignant glimpse into a reality often overlooked, leaving readers both moved and enlightened.

The Institute

In a small town, children with special abilities vanish without a trace. Luke Ellis, a gifted 12-year-old, becomes the latest victim, whisked away to a sinister facility known as the Institute. There, he meets other kids with extraordinary powers, all subjected to brutal experiments. As Luke uncovers the Institute’s dark secrets, he realizes escape is their only hope. King’s chilling tale explores the resilience of youth against unimaginable horrors, leaving readers breathless until the very last page.

The Hate U Give

Starr Carter straddles two worlds: her poor, mostly black neighborhood and her wealthy, mostly white prep school. This delicate balance shatters when she witnesses her childhood friend’s fatal shooting by a police officer. Caught between loyalty to her community and the allure of her other life, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what’s right. Thomas’s powerful debut novel tackles racism, police brutality, and the weight of silence with unflinching honesty and raw emotion. It’s a story that will stay with you long after the last page.

Six of Crows

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

The Labyrinth of the Spirits

Zafón’s masterful finale to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series is a haunting tale of love, loss, and redemption. Set in Barcelona’s shadowy underworld, it follows Alicia Gris, a tormented investigator, as she unravels a decades-old conspiracy. With lyrical prose and intricate plotting, Zafón weaves a spellbinding narrative that kept me up late into the night. The atmospheric descriptions of post-war Spain transported me, while the characters’ raw emotions left me deeply moved. A fitting end to an unforgettable literary journey.

The Prisoner of Heaven

Zafón’s mesmerizing tale weaves a tapestry of intrigue and mystery in post-war Barcelona. As bookseller Daniel Sempere unravels the secrets of a forgotten prisoner, he’s drawn into a labyrinth of dark memories and forbidden love. With lyrical prose and haunting characters, Zafón crafts a story that lingers long after the final page. I found myself lost in the shadowy streets of Barcelona, feeling the weight of history and the power of words. A truly unforgettable journey through time and the human heart.

The Shadow of the Wind

In the labyrinthine streets of post-war Barcelona, young Daniel stumbles upon a mysterious book that changes his life forever. Captivated by its haunting story, he embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind its enigmatic author. As Daniel delves deeper, he unravels a web of secrets, forbidden love, and dark family histories. Zafón’s masterful prose weaves a spellbinding tale of passion, betrayal, and the power of literature, leaving readers breathless and yearning for more.

The Secret History

Nestled in the verdant hills of Vermont, Hampden College harbors dark secrets beneath its ivy-covered walls. Richard Papen, a California transplant, finds himself drawn into an enigmatic circle of classics students led by the charismatic Professor Julian Morrow. As Richard delves deeper into their world of ancient rituals and forbidden knowledge, he uncovers a chilling truth that will forever alter his perception of friendship, morality, and the human capacity for evil. Tartt’s haunting prose weaves a spellbinding tale of obsession, betrayal, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

The Outsider

In a small town, a beloved Little League coach is arrested for a horrific crime. Eyewitnesses and DNA evidence point to his guilt, but he has an ironclad alibi. Detective Ralph Anderson, grappling with personal demons, is drawn into a perplexing case that defies logic. As the investigation deepens, unsettling questions arise, blurring the line between reality and the supernatural. King masterfully weaves a chilling tale that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Kya Clark, known as the “Marsh Girl,” grows up isolated in the coastal wetlands of North Carolina. Abandoned by her family, she finds solace in nature and friendship with two local boys. As she blossoms into a young woman, Kya becomes entangled in a murder mystery that threatens to shatter her hard-won peace. Delia Owens weaves a haunting tale of resilience, love, and the untamed beauty of the marshlands, inviting readers to explore the delicate balance between human connection and the wild world that shaped Kya’s extraordinary life.