Every year thousands of our readers vote for their favorite books of the year in the She Reads Awards. Find out more about the books that were nominated and see which book was voted the Best Mystery / Thriller of 2022.
The winner of the Best Mystery / Thriller of 2022 is . . .
The Maid by Nita Prose
When Molly Gray takes a job at a fancy hotel, she feels it’s a great fit for her. As someone who struggles with social cues and often misunderstands others, she enjoys the quiet routine of cleaning and organizing each room after a guest’s stay. But when a wealthy man named Charles Black is found dead in his bed, Molly’s peculiar behavior lands her at the top of the suspect list. Now Molly must find out the truth of what happened to Mr. Black before it’s too late.
The nominees for Best Mystery / Thriller of 2022 are:
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
When she was just twelve years old, Chloe Davis’s world was shattered after her father confessed to the murders of six teenage girls who went missing in their small town. Twenty years later, Chloe is now a psychologist about to get married when local teenage girls begin to go missing again. Was her father really guilty or is there a second killer out there who has been dormant this whole time?
Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala
Lila Macapagal is not thrilled to hear that her cousin Ronnie has returned after ghosting the family fifteen years ago. Tita Rosie is ecstatic, but Lila knows that wherever Ronnie goes, trouble is not far behind. His recent purchase of a local winery is not enough to convince her that he’s a changed man. But when secrets are revealed and Ronnie is suspected of murder, Lila knows that she must prove his innocence, refusing to believe that a member of her own family could commit such a terrible crime. Or could he?
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
Daisy Darker’s entire family reunites after years of avoiding each other. Its Nana’s 80th birthday party at her gothic, decaying home on a tiny island, accessible only during low tide. Everyone’s back together for the last time, cut off from the world for eight hours. As the clock strikes midnight, Nana is found dead. An hour later, another family member follows. Apparently, the Darkers are trapped with a murderer amongst them and will be forced to confront their darkest secrets in order to make it through the night.
Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
Struggling author Finlay Donovan hasn’t seen a dead body in a while and is trying to finish her next novel. However, the fact that someone is trying to put a hit on her ex-husband still haunts Finlay, and she sets out to make sure Steven stays alive. But things get complicated when her best friend and live-in nanny starts hiding things from her, and the handsome detective Nick tries to find his way back into her life. Now Finlay must figure out how to finish her book and prevent the murder of her ex-husband.
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
Convicted serial killer Ansel Packer is 12 hours away from execution. As the time of his end draws nearer, the story of Ansel’s life unfolds through the eyes and perspectives of three women—his mother, his sister-in-law, and the detective that captured him—providing a captivating portrayal of the way violence impacts the lives of women.
The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
When a ten-year-old cold case draws the attention of the Thursday Murder Club, trouble is not far behind. Elizabeth is visited by a new enemy and given two options: Kill or be killed. And suddenly the cold case is no longer cold. Elizabeth struggles with her choices and her conscience while Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim follow clues that may help them solve the mystery and save Elizabeth before it’s too late.
The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead
When she was in college, Shay Evans and her friend Laurel met a charming man who exposed them to a dangerous cult. By senior year, Shay and Laurel were the only ones lucky enough to escape. But eight years later, when Shay hears of Laurel’s death, she starts to question whether her past was buried deep enough. With the help of her favorite true-crime podcast host, Shay returns to upstate New York looking for answers. Following traces that Laurel left behind, Shay is immersed into a dark world of wealth and privilege that prompts her to examine her own complicity. How far is she willing to go – and what is she willing to give up – in her search for justice?
The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark
Meg goes by different names and, depending on the town, will mold herself into whatever character is most advantageous to gaining your trust. She’s a con artist, and will take everything from you if she can. When Kat Roberts runs into Meg after ten years of waiting for her to return, she’s determined to expose her. But as the two women become closer, Kat discovers that Meg is more than a con artist, and may have some redeemable qualities after all. But this leaves her with more questions about Meg’s past than answers.
Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
In early nineties’ Ontario, Ruby Reyes was convicted of murdering her boyfriend. Twenty-five years later, Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom and named the prime suspect in her celebrity husband’s murder. When Reyes is released from prison and learns about Jimmy Peralta’s death, she threatens to destroy the life Paris so carefully built. After all, Reyes knows Paris better than anyone. The two women share a history that will leave readers guessing until the very last page and questioning how much is really being hidden in the dark.
We Lie Here by Rachel Howzell Hall
When TV writer Yara Gibson returns to her hometown of Palmdale, California to host her parents’ anniversary party, she doesn’t expect to receive a life-changing text. Felicia Campbell, who claims to be a childhood friend of Yara’s mother, insists that they talk “before it’s too late.” The next day, Felicia’s body is found in Lake Palmdale and Yara is left with the key to a remote lakeside cabin. In the basement, she discovers documents related to an unsolved tragedy that took place in 1988. Now she must work to uncover the truth of what happened at that cabin, even if it means questioning everything she thought she knew about her family.
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
One night in late October, a mother waits up for her seventeen-year-old son, who is out past curfew. As she watches from the window, she witnesses her funny, happy teenage boy kill a man in cold blood. She doesn’t know who he is and she doesn’t know why, but now her son is in custody and she sinks into despair. Until she wakes up the next morning and the horrific day begins all over. When she wakes again, she jumps one more day back in time. With every morning, she travels further into the past, and she’s forced to ask herself whether she’s being punished for the crime her son committed, or whether this is her chance to stop it from ever happening.
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