“Nothing like lying in your grave with a bullet hole through your head to make you think about your life.”
For as long as fiction writing has been a thing, readers have been obsessed with stories focused on the darker aspects of what humans are capable of. In a world where the laws of a society are so entrenched in how we behave every day, it’s only natural tales of people living outside these norms that are going to fascinate us. From quirky mysteries, thrilling whodunnits to brutal thrillers, check out the 8 best crime books from 2022 here at What We Reading!
The Bullet That Missed – Richard Osman
An instant New York Times bestseller, The Bullet That Missed is the third entry in The Thursday Murder Group series by Richard Osman.
With the escapades of the previous entries behind them, the group return home and are looking forward to a long-overdue slice of normality. However, with a local news legend on the hunt for a headline, it isn’t long before they find themselves chasing two murders set ten years apart. Featuring TV stars, money launderers and ex-KGB colonels, The Bullet That Missed is a witty and suspenseful ride that proves why Osman has become one of the best authors in the thriller genre.
Killers Of A Certain Age – Deanna Raybourn
Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have belonged to the clandestine Museum group for over forty years. Now at the age of sixty, they have found themselves becoming increasingly scrutinised for their age and tried-and-tested methods in the digital age.
Bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn creates a thrilling tale in Killers of a Certain Age of these four professional assassins travelling on an all-expenses-paid holiday to mark their retirement before realising one of their own has put a mark on their lives. Only by working together and using all of their experiences in the field will these four women be able to stay on the right side of life and death.
A Heart Full Of Headstones – Ian Rankin
Coming from the #1 international bestseller, A Heart Full of Headstones marks the twenty-fourth entry in the Inspector Rebus series by Ian Rankin.
Having been accused of taking the law into his own hands, John Rebus finds himself on trial staring at the prospect of being put behind bars. In what will turn out to be the most explosive case of her career, placing Rebus at the mercy of both the criminal underworld and his police brethren, Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is tasked with uncovering the fate of a missing cop in a case that may spell the end for her colleague’s freedom once and for all.
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone – Benjamin Stevenson
Benjamin Stevenson’s 2022 mystery-thriller is a real throwback to the classic whodunnits of old. With one of the most attention-grabbing titles in the literary world, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is a story of a snowed-in family reunion, a grizzly murder on the cards and ample suspects to cast a suspicious eye over.
The book is masterfully layered with complex cogs whirring away and coupled with Stevenson’s trademark wit and humour being directed primarily at the reader. This quirky story of Ernest Cunningham and his family is not to be missed by any fans of the crime genre.
The Paris Apartment – Lucy Foley
One of the leading lights of the thriller world, Lucy Foley’s The Paris Apartment closed the year as one of the most enthralling crime books from 2022.
The story follows Jess, a woman who is invited to stay in a luxurious Parisian apartment with her half-brother, Ben. When she turns up and Ben is missing, however, a gripping web of secrets, lies and shocking revelations begins to unravel in front of her. With every resident of this complex hiding their stories behind Ben’s disappearance, Foley’s combination of captivating storytelling and clever use of suspense is at its very best here.
Check out our book review of The Paris Apartment!
The Locked Room – Elly Griffiths
Elly Griffiths whisks readers back to the wonderful opening days of the COVID-19 pandemic in her 2022 crime book, The Locked Room. The fourteenth entry in her acclaimed Ruth Galloway series, the novel follows the titular character as she battles isolation and loneliness at the beginning of the outbreak, only to be thrust into the heat of an intense murder-suicide investigation on the back of several chilling archaeological discoveries.
Combining mystery elements with a cosy vibe that only comes about when an author is finally comfortable with their series, The Locked Room sees the Galloway gang back at their very best.
More Than You’ll Ever Know – Katie Gutierrez
Katie Guterrez’s Best Mystery & Thriller (2022) nominated More Than You’ll Ever Know is a tale of two women and one impossible scenario that results in a devastating manner. Cassie Bowman was fascinated with the tale of Lore Rivera, a suave and successful banker with an equally successful husband.
However, after a chance encounter with Andres Russo begins an affair with him. The affair ends with her husband discovering the truth, shooting and killing Andres and beginning a stretch of thirty years inside prison. In the present-day, Cassie and Lore share the tale, whilst finding their growing relationship helps to unearth the true grim secrets both of them are hiding about their past.
The Violin Conspiracy – Brendan Slocumb
Ray McMillian is attached to his violin. And he is hellbent on making it as a professional player, regardless of what his mother has to say or what constraints his racist society might attempt to shackle him with. And when he discovers his great-grandfather’s fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, his stock begins to soar.
But, Brendan Slocumb’s The Violin Conspiracy is also one of the most thrilling crime books from 2022, detailing how, on the eve of the international Tchaikovsky Competition, his instrument is stolen and Ray is forced into a cat-and-mouse chase to reclaim it. A gripping debut novel from Slocumb, The Violin Conspiracy is an eye-opening experience into the sometimes-sinister world of classical music.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
