Top new crime books in December 2023
Last updated:
December 31, 2023
December 2023 featuring new releases by Ariel Lawhon, Darby Kane, Katherine Faulkner, Helen Cooper, P.J. Ochlan, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Brandon Sanderson, Tate James, Heather Long, Abbi Glines, Caz Frear, Laurann Dohner and many more.
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The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death...historical-fiction · mystery · fiction · audiobook · historical · season-winter · crime · suspense · murder · literary-fiction -
![The Engagement Party by Darby Kane]()
The Engagement Party by Darby Kane
And Then There Were None meets I Know What You Did Last Summer in #1 international bestseller Darby Kane’s latest gripping and twisty thriller set on a private island in Maine where secrets piled upon secrets and lies upon lies are all revealed in one fateful weekend.Emily Hunt went missing from her affluent liberal arts school on graduation weekend...mystery · fiction · suspense · contemporary · horror · murder · thriller · crime · psychological · book -
![The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner]()
The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner
A fresh and deftly paced thriller about murder, class, and motherhood in one of London’s toniest communities.When a young nanny dies under mysterious circumstances near new mom Tash’s home, she is certain that this could be the story to relaunch her journalism career.Meanwhile, she also needs to find a local playgroup for her son...fiction · suspense · contemporary · psychological · thriller · family · parenthood · murder · crime · book -
![The Couple in the Photo by Helen Cooper]()
The Couple in the Photo by Helen Cooper
From the author of The Downstairs Neighbor and The Other Guest comes a propulsive suspense novel that asks how far you would go to keep a friend's secret.Lucy and her husband, Adam, have been best friends with another couple, Cora and Scott for years. The four are practically family at this point--they vacation together, co-own a beach cottage, and their young children are inseparable...mystery · fiction · suspense · audiobook · crime · thriller · season-summer · psychological · contemporary · friendship -
![#CrimeTime by P.J. Ochlan, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Piper Goodeve, Peter Berkrot]()
#CrimeTime by P.J. Ochlan, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Piper Goodeve, Peter Berkrot
4 hours, 30 minutes The first audio original from Jeneva Rose, the author of blockbuster bestseller The Perfect Marriage, #CrimeTime is a full-cast mystery written with her husband, Drew Pyne, perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building and Finley Donovan Is Killing It.Going viral has never been so dangerous...north-america · usa · illinois · urban · audiobook · mystery · fiction · crime · contemporary · cozy -
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![Long Chills and Case Dough by Brandon Sanderson]()
Long Chills and Case Dough by Brandon Sanderson
Long Chills and Case Dough is a previously unpublished short story, written just before Brandon published his first book. It was released to celebrate the finale of the 2023 "Year of Sanderson," and is published exclusively by Dragonsteel as a "Sanderson Curiosity...sci-fi · mystery · fiction · crime · law-enforcement · noir · cyberpunk · dystopia · male-author · humor -
![I'll Be Home... by Tate James, Heather Long]()
I'll Be Home... by Tate James, Heather Long
They say you can never go back…‘Course, I never wanted to return. It took me years to age out. Once I made it, I took off and never turned around.Trust me, there were only three reasons I managed to survive there as long as I did and they abandoned me as soon as they were able. I’d like to say I didn’t blame them, but that would be a lie.I had zero desire to return... -
![Ashes by Abbi Glines]()
Ashes by Abbi Glines
She had been his sole obsession. He would have done anything to have her and he did. She had been a light in his darkness. She had made him want to be more, better, different.Nothing mattered more than her.Until she betrayed him and in a moment of revenge he slept with her stepsister. That one drunken mistake lost him his soul.Oakley Watson had learned at a young age to protect her heart...romance · contemporary · dark · new-adult · organized-crime · cheating · domestic-drama · betrayal · enemies-to-lovers · age-gap -
![Five Bad Deeds by Caz Frear]()
Five Bad Deeds by Caz Frear
A gripping tale of revenge, loyalty, and the secrets hidden between the walls of the most beautiful home in town. Ellen Walsh has done something very, very bad. If only she knew what it was...Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen Ellen is juggling nonstop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse...fiction · suspense · thriller · slow-burn · murder · serial-killers · crime · psychological · book · adult -
![Trent: Rogues United 1 by Laurann Dohner]()
Trent: Rogues United 1 by Laurann Dohner
Trent had to flee his birth pack as a teenager to avoid being executed for killing someone in self-defense. It wasn’t fair and left him all alone, fighting to survive. Over the years, he found other shifters who were unjustly left on their own. Together, they built a pack, making Trent their alpha.They are Rogues United. Trent’s doing his best to make all the right decisions...romance · paranormal · vampires · shapeshifters · fantasy · supernatural · kidnapping · fated-mates · dark · crime -
![Single Girl Rules #HoHoHo by Ivy Smoak]()
Single Girl Rules #HoHoHo by Ivy Smoak
Christmas is my favorite time of year. The snow, the lights, the cookies. The warm nights curled up with a book by the fire. I love it all. But most of all, I love picking out the perfect presents for the people I care about.So I’ve prepared an amazing Christmas Eve surprise for my bestie.But the night takes a wild turn when I spot Santa on the roof. I didn’t realize Santa was so hot...romance · audiobook · reverse-harem · war · magic · organized-crime · humor · comedy · holidays · fiction -
![The Snow Angel by Anki Edvinsson]()
The Snow Angel by Anki Edvinsson
A teenage suicide. A murdered pharmacist. A missing girl. Is the obvious connection the right one?When a boy leaps to his death from a bridge in the northern town of Umeå, Sweden, police discover drugs scattered in the snow near his body. The town has seen a dramatic increase in narcotic use among its youth, but nobody knows where the pills are coming from...crime · mystery · fiction · law-enforcement · audiobook · police-procedural · murder · whodunit · suspense · thriller -
![State of Bliss by Marie Force]()
State of Bliss by Marie Force
When you have their jobs, there’s no such thing as a peaceful vacation…Sam and Nick are ready to get out of DC—and the White House—for a much-needed vacation to celebrate their second anniversary. Due to ongoing political pressures, they decide to scuttle their plans for a return to Bora Bora to stay closer to home at their favorite oceanfront house at Dewey Beach in Delaware...romance · suspense · contemporary · mystery · audiobook · fiction · crime · law-enforcement · police-procedural · steamy -
![Hans by S.J. Tilly]()
Hans by S.J. Tilly
Vengeance is rarely clean...dark · organized-crime · fiction · action-adventure · romance · contemporary · book · adult · obsession · grumpy-sunshine -
![Craving Danger by Michelle Heard]()
Craving Danger by Michelle Heard
At the office, Samantha is mouthy AF and hellbent on testing my patience. So you can imagine my surprise when my new personal assistant walks into my club with a very specific fantasy. When the man Samantha’s paired with doesn’t stick to the rules, I step in to take his place...romance · dark · contemporary · crime · abuse · drama · fiction · organized-crime · age-gap · enemies-to-lovers -
![The Perfect Fit by Sadie Kincaid]()
The Perfect Fit by Sadie Kincaid
A stand-alone, MMFM why choose romance from the author of the bestselling New York Ruthless series...romance · reverse-harem · mlm · dark · lgbtq · polyamory · contemporary · organized-crime · billionaire · age-gap -
![A Ryan Recollection by Sadie Kincaid]()
A Ryan Recollection by Sadie Kincaid
The complete collection of New York Ruthless Shorts and Novellas set after the end of Ryan Renewed. Featuring Jessie Ryan and her hotter than hell Irish Mafia husbands...romance · reverse-harem · dark · organized-crime · steamy · alpha-mc · female-author · fiction · polyamory · crime -
![Sick Wicked Love by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne]()
Sick Wicked Love by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne
*Now a complete series*The stars of my university’s hockey team always have each other’s backs. Like family. Now, they have mine, too.My sister’s death nearly broke me, and the monster who hurt her nearly killed me when I got too close to the truth. But I’m alive… thanks to the ones I used to call my enemies.Vince, Ash, Tate, and Micah... -
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![Rooster: Satan's Fury MC- SG by L. Wilder]()
Rooster: Satan's Fury MC- SG by L. Wilder
When you know, you know....Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Seller L. Wilder brings you a new addition to the Satan’s Fury MC-SG series. We met by chance.It was just a random hook-up.No strings attached.That was supposed to be the end of it.Only it wasn’t.I couldn’t explain it.There was something about her that I just couldn’t shake...romance · family · biker · suspense · steamy · second-chances · humor · friendship · drama · revenge -
![Save Her from Me by Jolie Vines]()
Save Her from Me by Jolie Vines
He’s her bodyguard and her brother’s best friend. She’s a virgin with a spicy wish list. ArielSomeone’s out to get me, forcing my car off the road and me into hiding. When my brother recruits his Scottish best friend to protect me, though the brooding bodyguard drives me nuts, I can’t refuse his help. Or hide my crush... -
![Flashpoint by Stacy Lynn Miller, Brian Christopher Shea]()
Flashpoint by Stacy Lynn Miller, Brian Christopher Shea
The stage is set for an explosive showdown.The stakes have never been higher...action-adventure · hard-boiled · fiction · crime · law-enforcement · police-procedural · thriller · mystery · book · adult -
![When She Loves by Gabrielle Sands]()
When She Loves by Gabrielle Sands
The most brutal don in the city has a weakness: me.I never wanted the life my parents tried to force on me, so I vowed I’d never marry a mobster.Yet here I am, walking down the aisle toward mobster of the century, all to save my sister.Rafaele Messero. Cold, ruthless, and irritatingly handsome.Not that I’ve noticed.After all, this marriage is the end of all my hopes and dreams...romance · dark · contemporary · marriage · abuse · suspense · crime · organized-crime · arranged-marriage · enemies-to-lovers -
![The Weekend Retreat by Tara Laskowski]()
The Weekend Retreat by Tara Laskowski
Three couples. Three days. A family getaway to die for.Every year, the illustrious Van Ness siblings—heirs to a copper fortune—gather at their luxury winery estate for a joint birthday celebration. It's a tradition they've followed nearly all their lives, and now they are back with their significant others for a much-needed weekend of rest and relaxation, away from the public spotlight...fiction · suspense · audiobook · drama · contemporary · thriller · family · psychological · female-mc · literary-fiction -
![Deep Fried Death by Maddie Day]()
Deep Fried Death by Maddie Day
The latest installment in Maddie Day’s deliciously popular Country Store cozy mysteries is sure to appeal to fans of Jenn McKinlay, Ellery Adams, Leslies Meier, and Joanne Fluke.Many residents of South Lick, Indiana, claim the Outhouse Race, in which competitors push old-timey outhouse replicas on wheels at the annual Abe Martin Festival on Memorial Day, is the best thing since indoor plumbing... -
![The Japanese Assassin by Jack Arbor]()
The Japanese Assassin by Jack Arbor
In the heart of a dense jungle, a young woman awakens—wounded and alone.She remembers nothing—not how she got there, not her past, not even her own name. When she’s attacked, she’s forced to fight for her life, and is surprised to find she possesses the skills to survive. She emerges from the jungle to find herself the prey in a deadly game...assassins · pulp · conspiracies · thriller · espionage · assassinations · vigilante · justice · political-intrigue · crime -
![Death in the Dark Woods by Annelise Ryan]()
Death in the Dark Woods by Annelise Ryan
A potential Bigfoot sighting is linked to a vicious murder, but skeptical cryptozoologist Morgan Carter is on the case in this new Monster Hunter Mystery by USA Today bestselling author Annelise Ryan.Business has been booming since Morgan Carter solved the case of the monster living in Lake Michigan... -
![Terror by LeAnn Ashers]()
Terror by LeAnn Ashers
MeghanI spent my whole life in foster care, moving from house to house, never feeling like I belonged.One day, I threw caution to the wind, left New York City, and drove across the country. I slept in my car and at gross, pay-by-the-hour motels. There were times I thought I was just one moment away from getting kidnapped.Until my car broke down in a small town in Texas...romance · contemporary · steamy · organized-crime · friends-to-lovers · scoundrel · alpha-mc · stalking · suspense · humor -
![The Fearless One by Lori Foster]()
The Fearless One by Lori Foster
“Count on Lori Foster for sexy, edgy romance.” —Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling authorHe had it all planned…until she showed up. Jedidiah Stephens came to the Colorado Rockies for one to uncover the truth behind the fire that killed her family. She’s been chasing down clues, and everything has led her to an isolated campground...romance · suspense · contemporary · mystery · family · fiction · audiobook · small-town · killer · humor -
![A Valentino Reunion by Kylie Kent]()
A Valentino Reunion by Kylie Kent
When life throws you a grenade, you take cover, wait for detonation, and evaluate the ensuant damage. In this life, the one we live, those grenades never stop coming. But no matter the destruction in our midst, there is one thing that will never crack or shatter. And that’s our loyalty, love, and faith. To each other. To the family...romance · organized-crime · contemporary · new-adult · drama · billionaire · crime · fiction · book · adult -
![A Funny Thing Happened... by Josh Lanyon]()
A Funny Thing Happened... by Josh Lanyon
Amidst the twinkling lights and snow-kissed streets of a quaint, picture-perfect town in the High Sierra, a bookstore owner and former homicide detective are reminded that the greatest mysteries are the ones that lead us to love... -
![Midnight Purgatory by Nicole Fox]()
Midnight Purgatory by Nicole Fox
My gorgeous neighbor just found my box of "personal toys."And my mission to steal them back...Ended in his bed.It was supposed to be a my best friend raunchy toys for her bridal shower and embarrass her in front of her family.But when my package is wrongly delivered to my gorgeous, mysterious neighbor,I’m the one who ends up mortified...romance · suspense · humor · organized-crime · kidnapping · billionaire · forced-proximity · contemporary · crime · dark -
![Midnight Sanctuary by Nicole Fox]()
Midnight Sanctuary by Nicole Fox
One unexpected mistake.Two unexpected babies.Three lives changed forever.Uri Bugrov caught me trespassing, and suddenly, my life is out of control.I’m pregnant with his baby—correction, his babIES.I’m also a prisoner of his enemies.Uri comes to save me, because of course he does.But my rescue comes with collateral damage.Because now, Polly is missing...romance · contemporary · dark · steamy · crime · suspense · organized-crime · billionaire · kidnapping · enemies-to-lovers -
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![The Vacation House by Jane Shemilt]()
The Vacation House by Jane Shemilt
Two women. Two secrets. One terrible night.PAXOS, GREECE She vacation house is a luxurious getaway for a wealthy English family, windows open to sun and the sea, a sparkling swimming pool, and a verdant garden...fiction · suspense · contemporary · season-summer · thriller · medical · psychological · murder · crime · book -
![Girl, Forlorn by Blake Pierce]()
Girl, Forlorn by Blake Pierce
FBI Agent Ella Dark has studied serial killers from the time she could read, devastated by the murder of her own father, and has gained an encyclopedic knowledge of murderers... -
![Not This Way by Blake Pierce]()
Not This Way by Blake Pierce
Texas Ranger (and part Native American) Rachel Blackwood, fierce and resilient, must cross the harsh Texas landscape, tracking the most notorious serial killers...mystery · crime · fiction · suspense · indigenous-mc · audiobook · thriller · urban-fantasy · paranormal · serial-killers -
![Sticks and Stones by S. Massery, S.J. Sylvis]()
Sticks and Stones by S. Massery, S.J. Sylvis
Sticks and stones may break our bones… Hockey is my life. After Wren Davis puts my dreams of the NHL in jeopardy, I vow to make her life hell if she ever comes near me again. But she’s my best friend’s foster sister, and even though they don’t live together anymore, their bond is still tight, which makes avoiding each other extra difficult...romance · sports · university · dark · suspense · contemporary · new-adult · young-adult · enemies-to-lovers · forced-proximity -
![Savage King by Sienna Cross]()
Savage King by Sienna Cross
When everyone already thinks you're a monster, it's easy to let that monster free... Born to inherit the Kings' empire, my birthright was stolen by my ruthless younger brother upon Papà’s death. Tired of lurking in his shadow, the upcoming war offers the perfect opportunity for me to seize back my throne...romance · dark · suspense · family · organized-crime · grumpy-sunshine · cheerful-mc · grumpy-mc · steamy · stalking -
![Tough Soul by Blake Black]()
Tough Soul by Blake Black
He almost killed me this time.Almost.All the struggles have made me tough, but I will come back stronger.Opening up did not go as planned, and my feelings are all over the place. I finally found someone to rely on, someone who is made for me.So why can’t I stop thinking about his two best friends?Despite all the warnings, my search for the truth continues...romance · mlm · reverse-harem · suspense · new-adult · contemporary · steamy · friends-to-lovers · mystery · friendship -
![Malone's Pride by Laylah Roberts]()
Malone's Pride by Laylah Roberts
Crazy, charismatic Raid Malone didn’t think he was ready to settle down. But now that most of his brothers have found their women, he thinks it might be time to claim his.And he knows just who he is going to claim.Sweet, submissive Hannah.If he could just get her to stop running from him . . .Hannah has had a crush on Raid Malone for a long time, but he’s way out of her league...romance · contemporary · abuse · reverse-harem · organized-crime · fiction · mental-illness · family · humor · action-adventure
