The books I read will rarely compete with titles on the “best books of the year” list. However, I can tell you my favorite books of the year, books that resonated with me in a variety of ways.
MY FAVORITE COZY MYSTERIES
- Birder, She Wrote by Donna Andrews
- Murder Off the Books by Tamara Berry
- Syrup to No Good by Catherine Bruns
- Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns
- Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
- Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day
- Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts
- Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust by Mindy Quigley
- Hidden Beneath by Barbara Ross
- Cheap Trills by Wendall Thomas
- A Crafty Collage of Crime by Lois Winston
* * * * * * * * * * * *
MY FAVORITE NON-COZY MYSTERIES
- An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo
- Hide by Tracy Clark
- Where the Guilty Hide by Annette Dashofy
- The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
- Time’s Undoing by Cheryl A. Head
- Home At Night by Paula Munier
- Payback In Death by J.D. Robb
- Dead and Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen
- Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
- Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Dru Ann is an award-winning mystery blogger at dru’s book musings who recently had her first short story “Ticket To Ride” that she co-wrote with Kristopher Zgorski published in the Happiness Is A Warm Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of the Beatles edited by Josh Pachter.
My list first appeared in “What Women Liked in 2023” with others readers
I love “best of” lists! Yours is a great one. Thrilled to see J.D. Robb on there. I loved that series, although I am not up to date with it. I do a best of list too: http://www.BearMountainBooks.com. Every cozy in the list this year is paranormal for me. I also have other genres though. Thanks for sharing your list. Also love Elly Griffiths. Definitely not cozy, but oh so good!
Oh Dru, I am absolutely thrilled to pieces to be on your list. It means so much! Thank you.
I’m beyond thrilled to be included on your list, Dru! Thank you so much!
Thank you, Dru Ann!
Thanks for sharing, Dru.
Congratulations to all of these authors for making your list of favorite reads!
Thanks, Dru! So glad you enjoyed A Crafty Collage of Crime so much! Happy holidays!
I have read some of your favorites. They were mine also. Happy holidays and New Year !
Thanks, Dru. I appreciate your updates and especially this email. There are 3 books I have ordered because of your reviews and the Amazon reviews were also very good. Happy Holidays!
Thanks for this … I have my reading for the New Year ready (though I have certainly already read some)!
Great choices, Dru Ann! Happy Holidays!
Thrilled to be included!
I am so honored to have made your list! Thank you!
Happy Holidays! “The Last Remains” was a highlight of my 2023 reading year as well, notably because it was the final installment in the Dr. Ruth Galloway series. I remember taking my time reading it, not rushing it. Also crying through the last 50 pages because I knew the series was ending.