The Best Crime Fiction Books of 2020
The Best Crime Fiction Books of 2020
Books Few books are as satisfying as a crime novel that can really sink your teeth into. Here's our edition of the best crime books of 2020, the hottest crime novels coming in 2021, and the most poignant crime novels of all time.
There's nothing better than a gripping crime fiction to make you turn the pages late into the night. Whether you're looking for a soft detective story or fun crime series, historical crime fiction or true crime books based on real life events, we have the case for you. Our pick of the best crime books of 2020 and the most exciting crime books to look forward to in 2021 is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. We also take a look at the must-see crime fiction novels of all time, which crime fiction fans should definitely not miss.
If you're looking for even more poignant books, don't miss our edition of books, the best thrillers of 2020.
The Best Crime Books of 2020
The Sicilian Method by Andrea Camilleri
When a body is found, it is discovered to be Carmelo Catalanotti, a theater director with a formidable reputation. He is known for the acting method he developed for his actors: digging into their complexes to unleash their talent, a traumatic experience for everyone. Could this death be related to another body recently discovered? Inspector Montalbano thinks so, and he thinks the answer may lie in the theater. . . Andrea Camilleri's Italian crime fiction series is a must for mystery fans.
See Also: Best Suspense Thriller Novels: Thrillers
Hidden in Plain Sight
by Jeffrey Archer
This detective novel is the second in Jeffrey Archer's William Warwick series. When Detective Sergeant William Warwick is transferred to the drug squad, his first case is an investigation into the infamous drug lord, the Viper. As William and the team get closer to taking down the Viper, William is confronted by an enemy from his past. Can William bring both men to justice?
The System
by Ryan Gattis
This intelligent, pacy crime novel is a journey through the American criminal justice system - from the moment before the crime was committed to the aftershocks of the courtroom ruling. When a drug dealer is shot in LA in the early 1990s, two local gang members are arrested. One is innocent and the other guilty, but the gang says they should both take the charge. Now that two of the gang are off the street, the newest member Little is given the serious job of finding out if this was a failure.
The Darkest Evening
by Ann Cleeves
Vera returns in the ninth crime novel in Ann Cleeves' detective fiction series. When she encounters a car that has been towed off the road during a terrible snowstorm during a terrible snowstorm, Vera is shocked to find that the driver's seat is empty but a toddler is trapped in the back seat. Vera takes the child to the first house she comes to, a stately home where her own father grew up. Inside, a Christmas party is in full swing, but outside a woman - possibly the child's mother - is dead. . .
The Secret Life of Mr Roos
by Håkan Nesser
This is the thrilling third crime novel in Håkan Nesser's Inspector Barbarotti crime series. When fifty-nine-year-old Valdemar Roos wins the lottery, he sees the opportunity to escape the job he hates and the family he doesn't get along with. Without telling anyone, he quits his job and starts spending his days in the cabin he buys in the Swedish countryside. He couldn't be happier until recovering drug addict Anna - on the run from an abusive ex and looking for shelter - shows up. But her ex is not far behind. . . When a woman reports her husband missing, Inspector Barbarotti doesn't pay attention. Until a corpse turns up at the man's recently purchased cabin. . .
Find Them Dead
by Peter James
Award-winning crime fiction writer Peter James is back with an exciting new Roy Grace book. A Brighton mobster is on trial for conspiracy to commit murder, and on the first day of the trial, a person in the gallery follows the judges with keen interest. The gangster's henchmen must influence two of the judges if he is found not guilty - but which two? When Roy Grace is called to investigate a murder related to the trial, he realizes how powerful the accused really is. Peter James's Roy Grace crime series is a must for any crime fiction fan.
The Mobster's Lament
by Ray Celestin
Ray Celestin is back with the third installment of his neo-noir City Blues Quartet crime series. The year is 1947 and private eye Ida Davis is called to New York to investigate the murders of four people. But it soon becomes clear that there is a greater conspiracy behind these deaths and Ida will head straight to the dark heart of New York City. Described as both 'a vividly written crime thriller' and a 'dynamic portrait of a bustling city full of corruption', The Mobster's Lament is one of the best crime novels of 2020 and shouldn't be missed.
The Last Trial
by Scott Turow
Kindle County's most respected lawyer in court, Sandy Stern, has been persuaded to defend his longtime friend Kiril Pafko, despite being eighty-five years old and in precarious health. The former Nobel laureate has been charged with fraud, insider trading and murder in a federal racketeering charge. While Stern questions everything he thought he knew about his friend, he finds his duty to defend his client and his faith in the judicial system before a terrible final test. This masterful legal thriller unfolds with tension that turns pages.
One Good Deed
by David Baldacci
Murder, secrets, revenge and a touch of romance are combined in this noir-inspired crime thriller with a twist that is sure to keep you haunted to the last page. Aloysius Archer wants to start a new, peaceful life in Ponca City after serving a prison sentence for a crime he did not commit. But he takes on more than he bargained for when he starts working as a debt collection agency for local business magnate Hank Pittleman and gets involved with some of the city's most dangerous residents.
Date with Danger
by Julia Chapman
The Dales Detective Agency faces the greatest challenge after a fatal accident at Bruncliffe's cattle auction. Detective duo Samson O'Brien and Delilah Metcalfe are called in to conduct a simple health and safety investigation, but things take a dark turn when they uncover evidence of murder. If you like cozy crime books set in spectacular scenery then you will love this intriguing murder mystery.
The Long Call
by Ann Cleeves
From the author of the Vera and Shetland series comes The Long Call, the first novel in Ann Cleeves new crime fiction series Two Rivers. Detective Matthew Venn has returned to North Devon, where he grew up, and eventually turned his back on a strict evangelical community, losing his family. He has returned, not only because he mourns the death of his father, but also because he takes on his first business in the Two Rivers area. A man has been found stabbed to death on the beach, and Venn's investigation will take him straight to the heart of the community he left behind.
An Almost Normal Family
by MT Edvardsson
A stunning legal thriller, told from three different points of view - father, mother and daughter - that asks the question, "What would you do if your child were charged with murder?" A Nearly Normal Family is the crime novel that got everyone talking.
The Safety Net
by Andrea Camilleri
Vigàta is buzzing in the twenty-fifth novel in the Inspector Montalbano series. A new Swedish television series set in the 1950s is being filmed in the city and the director has asked locals to look for photos and videos taken during that decade. When Ernesto Sabatello finds a film made by his father, always the same shot of a country house on the same day between 1958 and 1963, Montalbano is intrigued and begins to investigate. . . Inspector Montalbano's novels are crime fiction at its most captivating.
Time for the Dead
by Lin Anderson
In the sixth poignant book in Lin Anderson's Rhona MacLeod crime series, Rhona returns to the Isle of Skye, where she stumbles upon what appears to be a crime scene, but without a victim. When a body is found at the bottom of the cliffs two days later, Rhona begins to look for a link between these events and a group of missing army medics on leave from Afghanistan.
Witness
by Mandasue Heller Bezorgde
Holly Evans is in constant motion with her mother. When they move into an illegal sublet in Manchester, Holly feels settled for the first time in her life, but why is she forbidden to leave or even open the door when her mother isn't there?
This gritty crime novel paints a dark picture of Manchester's underworld and will hold you to the last page.
Babes in the Wood
by Graham Bartlett
On October 10, 1986, the bodies of two young girls were found in a park in Brighton. The girls were nine-year-old Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway who had gone to play the day before and had not returned home. Evidence grew against a local man, Russell Bishop, but after a shocking trial, he walked free.
Three years later, Graham Bartlett was working for Brighton CID when a seven-year-old was kidnapped and left to die. She survived and contacts were made with Russell Bishop. Will the police lock him up this time? With unique access to the agents involved in the investigation, former senior detective Graham Bartlett and best-selling author Peter James tell the fascinating story of a thirty-two year struggle for justice in this true crime novel.
The Innocent Dead
by Lin Anderson
When Mary McIntyre disappeared, it tore the local community apart. Decades later, when a child's remains are found in a peat bog, it looks like the mystery may finally be solved. Karen Marshall was devastated by her friend's disappearance, but did Karen play a part in what happened? Rhona MacLeod must use all her skills to determine what happened all those years ago. . . and who was really responsible.
The Knock
by Jessie Keane
Dora O'Brien's life started to go bad when she started mingling with the wrong company. Pregnant, homeless and under the control of the corrupt police officer Donny Maguire, Dora struggles with alcohol and drugs. Her daughter Angel grows up in the shadow of her mother's abusive relationship, but when things turn murderous, she must grow up quickly. Survival is all that matters, and sometimes it's the safest place to be on the wrong side of the law. . . This is crime fiction at its most gritty.
Tell Me Your Secret
by Dorothy Koomson
Ten years ago, Pieta survived a weekend with a serial killer. She never told anyone what happened, but now he's back - and staying alive could mean revealing her darkest secret. Fifteen years ago, Jody, a policewoman, made a mistake that led to the killer being released. When she discovers Pieta's story, she realizes she now has a way to capture him.
The Best Crime Of 2021
The Manor
by Jessie Keane
BooksThis poignant gangland crime book is a must-read for fans of Jessie Keane. Charlie Stone and Terry Barton grew up together, as close as brothers. And now, after taking over the mansion from the local crowd, they are living the good life. But when Charlie's adopted son Harlan begins to cause trouble, a feud that spirals out of control. Does Terry's daughter Belle have what it takes to take on Harlan Stone?
City of Vengeance
by DV Bishop
Florence, 1536. When a prominent Jewish moneylender is found dead, Cesare Aldo, a criminal court officer, is tasked with solving his murder. In the course of his investigation, Aldo discovers a plot to overthrow the unstable ruler of Florence, Alessandro de 'Medici. Aldo is caught in a frantic race against time to solve the murder and stop the conspiracy while keeping his own secrets safe. This historical crime thriller is an exciting debut by DV Bishop.
Daughters of Night
by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
This historical crime novel is Laura Shepherd-Robinson's second, following her award-winning debut Blood & Sugar. Set in London in 1782, it's the story of Caroline Corsham, who is determined to seek justice for a string of murders of first-class prostitutes - crimes the police are more than happy to ignore. As she delves deeper into the darkest, hidden corners of Georgian society, Caroline soon discovers that much more is at stake than her reputation. . .
The best crime books of all time
Memory
Man Baldacci David
Amos Decker returned eighteen months ago and returned home to find the bodies of his wife and daughter. He didn't think he could live, but when his former police partner tells him someone confessed to the murders, he knows he must seek justice for his family. When 13 teens are shot at the local school, it seems there is a link between the murders, and Amos must use his incredible memory - a remarkable result of a serious brain injury - to solve the case.
The Crow Trap
by Ann Cleeves
The Crow Trap is the first novel in Ann Cleeves' crime fiction series, after the unconventional Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope. When three women congregate in a remote cottage in the North Pennines, they each hide turbulent secrets. A body is found upon arrival at the cottage, but the circumstances of their death seem suspicious. When another death occurs, Vera Stanhope comes into the picture, and she may be the only one who can uncover the truth.
Raven Black
by Ann Cleeves
In Raven Black, The first novel in Ann Cleeves's Shetland crime fiction series, the strangled body of a teenage girl is discovered by a neighbor on a bitterly cold January morning. The community quickly suspects the loner Magnus Tait, and suspicion and fear soon engulf the small island. Led by Inspector Jimmy Perez, the police must track down the killer before striking again.
Dead Simple
by Peter James
In Dead Simple, Peter James introduces us to Detective Superintendent Roy Grace as he handles his first big case. It appears that an innocent deer night prank has gone horribly wrong, with the groom gone and his friends dead. With three days to go until the wedding, the bride is understandably distraught. While investigating, Grace discovers a man who has a lot to gain if only the groom went missing. . . This is the first book in Peter James' bestselling Roy Grace crime fiction series.
The Shape of Water
by Andrea Camilleri
Andrea Camilleri's bestselling Sicilian crime series starring streetwise inspector Montalbano begins with The Shape of Water. When the body of a respected figure is discovered on the grounds of drug dealers and prostitutes, it comes as somewhat of a surprise when the sentence of death is a natural cause. But Inspector Montalbano is not ready to close the case, despite pressure from all sides.
Last Bus to Woodstock
by Colin Dexter
Last Bus to Woodstock is the first novel in Colin Dexter's gripping crime series Inspector Morse. Sylvia Kaye's death featured dramatically in the Thursday afternoon edition of the Oxford Mail. On Friday night, Inspector Morse had informed the nation that police were looking for a dangerous man - accused of willful murder, sexual assault and rape.
But as the obvious leads fade into dusk and darkness, Morse is becoming increasingly convinced that passion is key. . .
Long Road to Mercy
by David Baldacci
It's been thirty years since FBI agent Atlee Pine's twin sister, Mercy, was taken from the room they shared as young children. Notorious serial killer Daniel James Tor was caught and convicted of other murders, and while there is no evidence, Atlee believes she knows what happened to Mercy.
Now Atlee is called in to investigate a case in the Grand Canyon when a mule is found dead with strange carvings on its body and the rider is missing. She knows and understands murderers better than any other profiler at the FBI, but it soon becomes clear that in this investigation she will have to put her skills to the ultimate test.
My Sister, the Serial Killer
by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Korede has always been a good big sister, helping her little brother or sister clean up her mess. Unfortunately, Ayoola's messes are often deadly. In fact, she has sent her last three boyfriends in 'self-defense'. Family comes first, until Ayoola starts dating the doctor at the practice where Korede works. . .
The Trap
by Melanie Raabe
Twelve years ago, Linda's little sister was murdered. Linda saw the killer, but he was never caught. And now she's seen him again - on TV. He's a famous reporter and Linda is sure no one will believe her, so she sets a trap. She is writing a book about a woman who is murdered and whose murderer is never caught. And once it is published, she agrees to give an interview to just one reporter. . .
The Axeman's Jazz
by Ray Celestin
A serial killer stalks New Orleans in 1919 and sets an ultimatum: play jazz or risk becoming the next victim.
While the terrifying city lives up to its demands, three individuals are determined to unmask the killer's identity. The Axeman's Jazz contains gruesome murders, a mystery and is based on true events. This is the first book in Ray Celestin's The City Blues Quartet.
The Dead Girls
by Jorge Ibargüengoitia
Opening with a crime of passion after years of love affair soured, The Dead Girls soon plunges into an investigation into something even darker: Serafina Baladro and her sister run a successful small-town brothel business, so successful that they begin to expand. But when things start to falter, life in the brothel becomes ugly and the girls slowly disappear. . .
Based on real events, the story of serial killer brothel owners Delfina and María de Jésus González, whose crimes were discovered in 1964, The Dead Girls is a delightfully satirical black comedy - a powerful mix of sex and chaos. Written in the laconic tones of a police report, it cleverly reveals the hopeless pedantry of a broken justice system and the dark world of prostitution.
The Moonstone
by Wilkie Collins
Widely regarded as the first full length detective novel in English literature, The Moonstone remains one of the most popular in the genre.
The action revolves around Lady Verinder who inherits an Indian diamond from her ignorance on her eighteenth birthday. . . although it may not be the generous gift it seems. Acquired by bloody and sinister means, legend says the diamond's guards will stop at nothing to get it back, and when the diamond is stolen, a complex tale of dark mystery and suspense unravel.
A classic by all definitions, The Moonstone was one of the very first detective stories ever written.
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