The Best Crime Fiction Books Of The 2020s

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From the best books of the 2020s for millennials to the best domestic thriller books of the 2020s, we thought we'd covered enough books from the 2020s. But we quickly realized we were missing one of the most addictive categories of all: crime fiction. Perhaps one of the most gripping literary genres, crime fiction is in a league of its own. According to Beemgee, "[crime fiction] makes up somewhere between 25 and 40 percent of all fiction book sales." Pretty impressive, but it's no secret that people love diving into nail-biting plots, jaw-dropping twists, and high-stakes investigations all from the comfort of their bed.

While most people wouldn't commit the crimes they're reading about, it's only human for us to wonder what goes through the mind of a criminal. Crime fiction allows us to explore that. It's a genre that helps readers get familiar with the private, darker sides of human nature, explore complicated motives, and dwell on the meaning of justice. And as readers, we live in an era full of talented authors who are gracing readers with some of the most chilling and clever crime fiction stories we've seen. With all of the gifted, chilling storytelling out there, we just know there's a perfect crime fiction book waiting for you.

Mary Kubica's books have become a go-to pick for many readers seeking a suspenseful, twisty read. She has published multiple bestselling suspense titles, and her books have been translated into multiple languages and sold more than five million copies globally. Her 2021 novel, "Local Woman Missing," became another bestseller, and we knew it deserved to be on this list. This book is crime fiction at its finest, inviting readers to dive into a missing-person mystery with many shocking twists.

When asked in an interview with Book Brag about where the idea for the story of "Local Woman Missing" came from, Kubica explained the inspiration sprouted from wondering about what happens to missing people after they are found. She questioned "... when they go back to the home they used to live in and they're kind of reintegrated into society ... what is it like for them?" In this book, Kubica does an excellent job telling the story of a girl who mysteriously reappears after going missing, and how it affects not just her, but those around her.

Eleven years after disappearing with her mother, Delilah reappears, shocking the community. Now everyone's questioning what happened all those years ago. As a new investigation is launched, dark secrets begin to surface about the other women who disappeared around the same time as Delilah. Kubica weaves together a multi-perspective story with shifting timelines in this chilling crime thriller, full of lies and betrayals.

"My Dark Vanessa" by Kate Elizabeth Russell is a uniquely haunting take on crime fiction, delving into the emotionally complex aftermath of a devastating crime against a minor. On her official blog, Russell gave a note about her novel, which took two decades to write. She explained the story was drawn from her very own experiences in adolescence. In writing the novel, Russell shared, "My greatest wish is that 'My Dark Vanessa' will spark conversation about the complexity of coercion, trauma, and victimhood, because while these stories can feel all too familiar, victims are not a monolith and there is no universal experience of sexual violence."

At just fifteen, Vanessa Wye begins a relationship with Jacob Strane, centering around a glaring problem: he's her high school English teacher, and the relationship is secretive, coercive, and deeply manipulative. Years later, when another former student of Strane accuses him of sexual abuse, Vanessa has no choice but to face the painful reality of what actually happened to her. The story shifts back and forth between Vanessa's teenage years and her adult perspective, helping Russell reveal the lasting psychological impact of Strane's abuse on Vanessa. Will Vanessa be able to face her past and break free, or try and protect the man who groomed her?

We introduced this Obama-approved read as one of the best psychological thriller books from the 2020s, and knew this chilling thriller set in the Adirondacks in the '70s had to be on this list as well. Liz Moore is so good at working her magic and giving readers a surprising story that's also believable. But exactly how does she do it? She allows the story to unfold naturally as she writes. "The God of the Woods" is the perfect example of a well-written crime fiction that goes deep beyond the surface as it balances a classic missing persons case with deep emotional layers and literary fortitude.

In the summer of 1975, a teenage girl goes missing, but she's not just any teenage girl. She's Barbara Van Laar, and her wealthy family owns the camp from which she disappeared. The disturbing nature of her disappearance is deepened by the fact that her older brother vanished at the same camp 14 years prior. The whole town is shaken up, and an investigation ensues. Naturally, the deeper it goes, the more secrets of the Van Laar family and those employed by them begin to surface. Told through a multi-person perspective, this story will keep you guessing from the very start.

Nita Prose's "The Maid" earned the pick of 2022 Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller of the Goodreads Choice Awards, and rightfully so. Prose concocts a classic whodunit with an unforgettable heroine, heartfelt emotional depth, and quirky storytelling.

In an interview with The Book Report Network, Prose described her book as "[a] murder mystery ... but it's a whodunit that can only be solved through a connection to the human heart." Through her cozy and quirky storytelling, the author stitches together an unthinkable combination: murder mystery and heartfelt human connection.

Ever since her grandmother's passing, socially awkward Molly Gran spends most of her days throwing herself into her work as a maid for the Regency Grand Hotel. Her cleaning routine keeps her sane and at peace, but her ordinary life is thrown into utter chaos when she discovers the wealthy Charles Black dead in his suite. The worst part? She's the prime suspect, due to her own peculiar way of doing things. Unsure of how to prove her innocence, Molly's at a loss until the most unexpected people rally around her to help her find the real killer. Will Molly and her friends be able to prove her innocence?

Another one of the 2020s' best psychological thrillers made this list, and it's none other than "None of This is True" by Lisa Jewell. This book took home the Crime & Thriller Book of the Year award of the 2024 British Book Awards, as it earned praise as a riveting psychological thriller for all of its dark twists and impactful characters. Unlike her usual complicated storylines told through various narratives, Jewell explained to LB the Lover of Books that the turnaround time for this story was quicker because it "was just simple. This was a two-header between two female characters."

Popular podcaster, Alix Summers, meets her birthday twin, Josie Fair, at a pub on the night of her 45th birthday. The encounter feels coincidental until Josie reappears again, hoping to become the subject of Alix's next series. Alix starts to find Josie a bit unsettling, but is intrigued by Josie's claim of big life changes coming her way. The two become more entangled in each other's lives, and Alix can't help but think Josie is hiding something from her — something big. One day, Josie vanishes, and she leaves something dangerous behind. The more Alix digs, the more danger she finds herself in. Will she be able to save herself, her family, and uncover the truth?

Crime fiction is a very broad category, so to curate this list, we focused on titles that focus on more than just the crime itself. We sought titles that dig deep and go beneath the surface, aiming to bring you stories that not only magnify the details of the act but also explore the aftermath of it, the psychological impact of those involved, and the complex social dynamics surrounding it. These titles go beyond the mystery and offer complex portrayals of the human psyche and suffering, the pursuit of justice, and the blurred moral compass that guides human behavior.

Once we'd gathered a shortlist of books that met our requirements, we began our usual vetting process. We looked into what many crime fiction aficionados thought of the titles on Reddit forums. Of course, we explored reviews from Goodreads and Amazon, and as always, aimed to select titles that received over a 4-star rating from at least 40% of reviewers. Whether it's about a quirky maid and her unusual friends who'll stop at nothing to prove her innocence, or the psychological impact grooming has on a woman years after the abuse, these titles show how crime fiction, deep down, is always bigger than just the whodunit.