10 best crime and thriller novels of 2020 that you won’t be able to put down

From Agatha Christie to Val McDermid, crime fiction is the most popular literary genre of all. There’s nothing better than a gripping crime novel or a tense psychological thriller to keep you turning the pages to discover “whodunit”.

Not surprisingly, the genre soared in popularity during lockdown. Research has shown that as well as an increase in the overall number of crime novels and thrillers in the bestseller charts, a growing number of 18 to 44-year-olds have become hooked on the genre over the past four months.

July is an important month for crime fiction. The winner of the 2020 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year prize will be announced in a virtual awards ceremony on July 23.

The six shortlisted books, which were all published in paperback between May 2018 and April 2019, are My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, Worst Case Scenario by Helen Fitzgerald, The Lost Man by Jane Harper, Joe Country by Mick Herron, The Chain by Adrian McKinty and Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee.

If you’re looking for a brilliant crime novel that has been published in hardback or paperback this year you’ll be spoiled for choice. Our selection below is based on originality, readability and the books’ ability to keep us on the edge of our seats.

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