Best Fiction Books December 2024

The Late Show

Renée Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood, beginning many investigations but finishing none, as each morning she turns everything over to the daytime units. It’s a frustrating job for a once up-and-coming detective, but it’s no accident. She’s been given this beat as punishment after filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor. But one night she catches two assignments she doesn’t want to part with: the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in a parking lot and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shooting. As she digs deeper into both cases, Ballard becomes determined to bring the criminals to justice, even if it means working cases by day while maintaining her shift by night.

Two Kinds of Truth

Harry Bosch, now a volunteer cold case detective, finds himself thrust into a dangerous investigation when a pharmacist is murdered. As he digs deeper, Bosch uncovers a sinister prescription drug ring and confronts ghosts from his past. With his half-brother Mickey Haller by his side, Bosch must navigate treacherous waters to unravel the truth. Connelly’s masterful storytelling keeps you on edge, blending gritty realism with heart-pounding suspense. I couldn’t put it down, staying up way too late to finish. A must-read for crime fiction fans.

Dark Sacred Night

Bosch and Ballard join forces in this gritty, atmospheric thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. As they delve into a cold case involving a runaway teen, the unlikely duo navigates the seedy underbelly of LA’s nightlife. Connelly’s masterful prose brings the city to life, while the complex characters and intricate plot had me turning pages well past midnight. A must-read for crime fiction fans.

The Night Fire

Harry Bosch can’t shake his past. Haunted by an unsolved case from his LAPD days, he teams up with Renée Ballard to crack it wide open. As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of corruption that reaches far beyond the streets of LA. With each revelation, the stakes grow higher, and the danger more palpable. Connelly’s masterful prose keeps you on edge, turning pages late into the night. It’s a gripping tale that reminds us why Bosch remains one of crime fiction’s most enduring heroes.

Her Last Day

Detective Jessie Cole’s life changed forever when her sister vanished without a trace. Now, years later, she’s haunted by the unsolved case and the ghosts of her past. When a new missing persons case lands on her desk, Jessie is drawn into a web of lies and deceit that threatens to unravel everything she thought she knew. As she races against time to find the truth, she discovers that sometimes the answers we seek are hiding in plain sight. With each twist and turn, Jessie must confront her own demons and face the possibility that her sister’s disappearance may be connected to something far more sinister than she ever imagined.

The Promise

In “The Promise,” Teresa Driscoll weaves a gripping tale of long-buried secrets and childhood bonds. Beth and Sally, inseparable as girls, made a pact that would change their lives forever. Decades later, Beth’s daughter unearths a chilling discovery, forcing Beth to confront her past. As the truth unravels, loyalties are tested and relationships strained. Driscoll’s masterful storytelling keeps readers on edge, exploring the power of promises and the weight of guilt. A haunting, emotionally charged thriller that will leave you questioning how well you really know those closest to you.

I Am Watching You

Ella can’t shake the haunting memory of two teenage girls she saw on a train, flirting with strange men. The next day, one of them goes missing. Wracked with guilt, Ella becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth. As she delves deeper, she realizes everyone has secrets – even her own family. With each revelation, the danger grows closer to home. Driscoll’s gripping thriller keeps you guessing until the very end, exploring the ripple effects of one fateful decision and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love.

The Swallows

Nestled in the hallowed halls of Stonebridge Academy, a prestigious New England prep school, dark secrets simmer beneath the surface. When Alexandra Witt joins the faculty, she unwittingly stumbles upon a toxic culture of misogyny and revenge. As she forms an unlikely alliance with a group of rebellious students, Alex finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. Lutz’s razor-sharp prose and biting wit expose the raw underbelly of privilege, power, and the devastating consequences of silence. A gripping tale that will leave you breathless and questioning everything you thought you knew about loyalty and justice.

The Girl with a Clock for a Heart

George Foss never thought he’d see her again, but on a late-night visit to his favorite Boston bar, there she was. Liana Dector, his college girlfriend, vanished twenty years ago. Now she’s back, with a desperate plea for help. George can’t resist her pull, despite knowing she’s trouble. As he’s drawn into her dangerous world of lies and murder, he realizes some people never change. This gripping thriller explores the power of first love and the consequences of betrayal, leaving readers breathless until the final twist.

The Better Sister

Chloe always admired her older sister Nicky, despite their tumultuous relationship. When Chloe married Nicky’s ex-husband Adam and became stepmother to Ethan, she thought she’d finally found happiness. But tragedy strikes when Adam is murdered, and Ethan becomes the prime suspect. Suddenly, the sisters must reunite to uncover the truth and protect Ethan. As they dig deeper, long-buried secrets surface, forcing Chloe to question everything she thought she knew about her perfect life and the people she loves most.