Of all the mystery books reviewed by us at Mysterious Reviews this year, only 7 received our highest grade of 5 stars. (Our partner, The Betz Review, had only 3 books reach the same level, though to be fair she rated far more books as 4 stars than we did.) In our annual recap of the best mystery books that we read this year, we'll not only list the top mysteries but also let you know why these few books stood out from all the rest.Any of these books would make terrific holiday gifts for the mystery reader.
Listed in alphabetical order by author's last name ...
Mark Arsenault: Gravewriter
A clever plot and a terrific lead character will win us over every time. There was something original and refreshingly honest in Billy Povich, the frustrated obituary writer in Gravewriter, that was very appealing. We were drawn into the story and the ending surprised us. Read our full review at Mysterious Reviews or buy the book from Amazon.com.
Giles Blunt: By the Time You Read This
One of the best police procedurals we've read in years is Giles Blunt's 4th mystery in the John Cardinal and Lise Delorme series, By the Time You Read This. In many ways a heart-breaking story, it is so well written with such a compelling plot that at times you'll find yourself holding your breath. Simply wonderful. Read our full review at Mysterious Reviews or buy the book from Amazon.com.
Robert Crais: The Watchman
In The Watchman, Robert Crais promotes the sidekick of his regular series character Elvis Cole into a starring role. The first in what will hopefully be a series featuring Joe Pike is masterful. It's all about character here. The plot is simple allowing the thrill of the case to draw the reader in. Of all the excellent Crais novels, this is one of the best. Read our full review at Mysterious Reviews or buy the book from Amazon.com.
Ashna Graves: Death Pans Out
It may be hard to believe that a mystery featuring (for the most part) one character can be so compelling. Yet Ashna Graves has achieved that and far more in Death Pans Out, her first mystery. It's not clear whether this is a series or not, but Neva Leopold is such an interesting character that it's impossible not to imagine her returning in a subsequent book. Read our full review at Mysterious Reviews or buy the book from Amazon.com.
William Lashner: A Killer's Kiss
Many mysteries are enjoyable, but some are just fun to read. A Killer's Kiss by William Lashner is one of the latter. It's a joy to watch attorney Victor Carl work the system and his clients. From the terrific opening chapter to the unexpectedly clever conclusion, this is one exciting ride. Read our full review at Mysterious Reviews or buy the book from Amazon.com.
James Macomber: A Grave Breach
A Grave Breach by James Macomber was the one of the few books that we couldn't put down and kept us reading late into the night. A riveting and first-rate thriller that at times seems at odds with itself yet in the end all comes together so very well. Read our full review at Mysterious Reviews or buy the book from Amazon.com.
Eliot Pattison: Prayer of the Dragon
One of the most recent books we read this year, Prayer of the Dragon by Eliot Pattison captivated us. Atmospheric, literate, and compelling. You don't just read this book, you participate in the journey. If we had to pick a single "best" mystery of 2007, it would be this one. Read our full review at Mysterious Reviews or buy the book from Amazon.com.
For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.
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