The Greatest Crime Books Since 2018

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 759 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Genres

Crime

The "Crime" category of books typically includes stories that revolve around criminal activities, investigations, and the pursuit of justice. These books may feature detectives, police officers, or other law enforcement officials as main characters, as well as criminals and their victims. Crime novels often involve suspenseful plot twists and turns, as well as complex character development. The genre can encompass a wide range of subgenres, including mystery, thriller, and true crime, and may explore themes such as morality, ethics, and the human condition. Overall, the "Crime" category offers readers a thrilling and engaging look into the darker side of human nature and the justice system.

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  1. 76. They Poisoned The World by Mariah Blake

    Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals

    They Poisoned the World investigates how “forever chemicals” (PFAS) came to contaminate drinking water across the United States. Starting with a 2014 discovery of toxic levels in Hoosick Falls, New York, Mariah Blake traces the chemicals’ history—from wartime research to decades of industry knowledge and internal testing linking PFAS to health problems—and examines how regulatory failures allowed widespread exposure. The book combines document-based investigative reporting with the story of local residents who fought to reveal the contamination and seek accountability.

    The 12927th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  2. 77. The Gossip Columnist's Daughter by Peter Orner

    Jed Rosenthal, a stalled writer and co-parent, becomes obsessed with the unsolved 1963 death of young Hollywood actress Karyn "Cookie" Kupcinet after discovering a sudden break in his family’s friendship with her parents. His investigation through archives, photos, and family stories—spanning seven decades—unravels family secrets and examines the ties and tensions that shape identity and loyalty, told with wry humor and human insight.

    The 12952nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  3. 78. The Dentist by Tim Sullivan

    A meticulous, neurodivergent detective in Bristol investigates the suspicious death of a local dentist, following threads through the victim’s fraught family life, tense professional partnerships, and patients with lingering grievances. Refusing to ignore anomalies, he methodically untangles a web of secrets and resentments, uncovering a motive rooted in betrayal and exposing a culprit hiding in plain sight.

    The 12983rd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  4. 79. Dead Money by Jakob Kerr

    Mackenzie Clyde, an unofficial problem-solver for a powerful Silicon Valley investor, must untangle the murder of a breakout startup CEO that leaves billions frozen in a will. A lawyer by trade, she leans on insider knowledge, bold tactics, and being underestimated to navigate a tangled web of suspects, corporate secrets, and competing interests. The book is a fast-paced, twisty mystery that probes the darker side of tech wealth and power.

    The 12999th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  5. 80. The Illegals by Shaun Walker

    Russia's Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West

    In 2010, ten Russian deep-cover agents were arrested in the United States — including married couples who had lived as ordinary Americans for decades and a man posing as a Uruguayan photographer. The book traces the history and methods of Russia’s clandestine "illegals" program, Directorate S, from its early 20th-century origins through the post‑Soviet era, showing how agents built and sustained long-term false identities without revealing plot details.

    The 13033rd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  6. 81. Fog And Fury by Rachel Howzell Hall

    After a decade on the LAPD, Sonny Rush relocates with her mother to the seaside town of Haven to work in her godfather’s private‑investigation office. A routine missing‑dog case quickly entangles her with old relationships, local tensions and the discovery of a teenager’s body, forcing Sonny to peel back the town’s idyllic façade and confront secrets that threaten her safety.

    The 13059th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  7. 82. Murder Takes A Vacation by Laura Lippman

    Muriel “Mrs. Blossom,” a middle‑aged widow who once assisted a private investigator, takes a French river cruise after an unexpected change in her circumstances. When a man she met on the trip turns up dead in Paris, she finds herself drawn into a compact mystery aboard the MS Solitaire involving a possible stolen artwork and a persistent, enigmatic companion. As she questions who to trust, Mrs. Blossom uses her quiet instincts and curiosity to peel back layers of deception without leaving the cruise.

    The 13065th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  8. 83. Buried Above Ground by Mike Ripley

    After decades of obscurity, mystery novelist Duncan Torrens draws sudden interest when a blogger and publishing figures start probing who controls the rights to his backlist. Told through five unreliable narrators—the Librarian, the Reader, the Publisher, the Editor and the Writer—the race to claim those rights uncovers secrets, rivalries and increasingly dangerous consequences. A darkly comic, twisty crime novel that plays with perspective without revealing the outcome.

    The 13072nd Greatest Book of All Time
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  9. 84. The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

    Curtis Wilson is a classical music prodigy who has risen from inner‑city Washington, D.C., to international acclaim. When his father gets entangled with a ruthless cartel, Curtis, his father Zippy, and Larissa enter witness protection and abandon his career. With law enforcement unable to stop the threat, the family must take matters into their own hands, forcing Curtis to choose between his music and protecting the people he loves.

    The 13076th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  10. 85. Shadow Cell by Andrew Bustamante, Jihi Bustamante

    Shadow Cell is a firsthand memoir by married CIA officers Andrew and Jihi Bustamante about being deployed after a mole compromised the agency’s source network in a rival country codenamed 'Falcon.' Considered expendable because they lacked local experience, the couple build a covert cell, recruit sources, and use unconventional tradecraft to uncover the insider threat. The book recounts their covert operations, the techniques they used in the field, and the personal risks of life in intelligence, without revealing key outcomes.

    The 13087th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  11. 86. American Scare by Robert W. Fieseler

    American Scare by Robert W. Fieseler examines how a mid-20th-century Florida legislative investigation, the Johns Committee, targeted Black and queer citizens. Using newly available primary documents and focusing on cases such as Art Copleston’s coercive interrogation, the book details how the committee—led by politician Charley Johns—used legal and extra-legal means to intimidate NAACP members, professors, and students, and shows the personal and community harms that resulted while drawing connections to present-day issues.

    The 13092nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  12. 87. The Right Of The People by Osita Nwanevu

    A sharp, historically grounded critique of American policing that traces how beliefs about safety, property and race shaped the police’s expansion and distorted their role, arguing that contemporary reforms often entrench harm by treating symptoms rather than causes. Weaving legal and social history with reporting, the book shows how slavery-era patrols, labor control, and twentieth-century professionalization remade public order, and how police increasingly became the default responders to homelessness, mental illness and domestic crises. From this foundation it challenges familiar reformist fixes and advances a practical, justice-oriented case for shrinking police functions, redirecting resources to community institutions and reimagining public safety around prevention, care and democratic accountability.

    The 13108th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  13. 88. The Next One Is For You by Ali Watkins

    In 1975, as violence escalates in Northern Ireland, a threatening letter and bullet arrive in Philadelphia, linking the city’s Irish community to the conflict. The book chronicles a small group of U.S.-based Irish nationalists known as the Philadelphia Five who secretly smuggled weapons to the IRA, and follows the investigative and personal consequences that followed—without revealing outcomes or twists.

    The 13117th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Bookshop.org
  14. 89. The Bureau by Eoin McNamee

    Lorraine is drawn to Paddy Farrell, a charismatic operator who moves through the dangerous, destabilized world along the border — a place of roadblocks, hijackings and illicit cash. A backstreet bureau launders money for a ragged, unscrupulous crew and corrupt officials blur the lines between law and crime. As Lorraine becomes entangled with Paddy and his associates, she discovers how quickly ordinary choices can pull someone into violence and moral compromise.

    The 13143rd Greatest Book of All Time
  15. 90. The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

    The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper

    "The Five" is a historical non-fiction book that delves into the lives of the five women who were infamously murdered by Jack the Ripper in the East End of London in 1888. The work challenges the long-standing myth that the victims were all prostitutes, instead painting a vivid picture of the harsh realities faced by women in Victorian England. Through meticulous research, the book reconstructs their personal histories, exploring their backgrounds, the societal conditions that contributed to their unfortunate fates, and the misogyny that has overshadowed their stories. The narrative serves as both a poignant tribute to these women and a critical examination of the historical narratives that have marginalized them.

    The 14006th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  16. 91. Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

    In a city where magic is harnessed through intricate sigils and the industrial revolution meets sorcery, a talented thief with a unique ability is drawn into a heist that uncovers a nefarious plot threatening the very essence of reality. As she navigates a world of powerful merchant houses, technological marvels, and ancient artifacts, she must ally with unlikely partners to confront a force that could shatter the delicate balance of power and spell doom for her city and its inhabitants. With the lines between her personal quest for freedom and the greater good blurring, the thief's actions will determine the fate of magic and mankind alike.

    The 14232nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  17. 92. All The Devils Are Here by Louise Penny

    Set against the enchanting backdrop of Paris, this gripping mystery follows Chief Inspector Armand Gamache as he delves into a web of secrets and lies after a shocking attempt on his godfather's life. As Gamache navigates the city's labyrinthine streets and uncovers hidden truths, he must confront his own past and the dark forces that threaten to unravel his family. With themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption, the narrative weaves a compelling tale of suspense and emotional depth, revealing the complexities of human nature and the enduring bonds of love and loyalty.

    The 14324th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  18. 93. The Beauty Defense by Laura James

    Femmes Fatales on Trial

    In a gripping exploration of the intersection between beauty and justice, the narrative delves into the life of a woman who uses her striking appearance as both a shield and a weapon in a high-stakes legal battle. As the courtroom drama unfolds, the protagonist navigates a world where perception often outweighs truth, challenging societal norms and the biases that come with them. The story intricately weaves themes of identity, power, and the often-unseen influence of physical allure, leaving readers questioning the true cost of beauty in a world obsessed with appearances.

    The 14484th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  19. 94. The Unusual Suspect by Ben Machell

    The Remarkable True Story of a Modern-Day Robin Hood

    In this gripping true story, a young British man, once a promising student, finds himself entangled in a life of crime, becoming an unlikely bank robber. Driven by desperation and a desire to escape the monotony of his life, he embarks on a series of heists that captivate the nation. As the narrative unfolds, the reader is taken on a journey through the complexities of his motivations, the impact of his actions on those around him, and the relentless pursuit by law enforcement. This tale of ambition, downfall, and redemption offers a profound exploration of the human psyche and the thin line between ordinary and extraordinary circumstances.

    The 14542nd Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  20. 95. Fuzz by Mary Roach

    When Nature Breaks the Law

    The book explores the intriguing and often humorous intersection of wildlife and human environments, delving into the challenges and complexities that arise when animals encroach on human spaces. Through a series of engaging anecdotes and scientific insights, it examines how different species—from bears to birds—interact with urban settings and the innovative, sometimes bizarre methods humans employ to manage these encounters. The narrative blends science, history, and Roach's signature wit to illuminate the delicate balance between coexistence and conflict in the shared spaces of our world.

    The 14589th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  21. 96. The Babysitter by Liza Rodman, Jennifer Jordan

    My Summers with a Serial Killer

    Set against the backdrop of Cape Cod in the 1960s and 1970s, this chilling true crime narrative intertwines the innocent memories of a young girl with the sinister reality of a notorious serial killer. As a child, she was often left in the care of a seemingly kind and trustworthy babysitter, who unbeknownst to her, led a double life as a cold-blooded murderer. The story delves into the haunting realization of the duality of human nature, exploring themes of innocence lost, the complexity of memory, and the unsettling truth lurking beneath the surface of familiar faces.

    The 14589th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  22. 97. Couple Found Slain by Mikita Brottman

    After a Family Murder

    In this gripping true crime narrative, the story unfolds around the tragic events surrounding the murder of a couple and the subsequent institutionalization of their son, Brian Bechtold. The book delves into the complexities of mental illness, the justice system, and the haunting realities of life in a psychiatric facility. Through meticulous research and compassionate storytelling, the narrative explores Brian's journey from the crime scene to his life within the confines of a mental institution, raising profound questions about culpability, sanity, and the human capacity for redemption.

    The 14589th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  23. 98. Last Call by Elon Green

    A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York

    Set against the backdrop of New York City in the 1990s, this gripping true crime narrative delves into the chilling case of a serial killer targeting gay men. The story intricately weaves together the lives of the victims, the relentless pursuit by law enforcement, and the societal challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community during that era. Through meticulous research and compassionate storytelling, the book not only seeks justice for the victims but also sheds light on the broader issues of prejudice and the fight for equality.

    The 14589th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  24. 99. Confident Women by Tori Telfer

    Swindlers, Grifters, and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion

    This captivating exploration delves into the lives of notorious female con artists throughout history, unraveling their audacious schemes and the charisma that enabled them to deceive countless victims. Through a series of riveting stories, the book examines the psychological and societal factors that allowed these women to thrive in a male-dominated world, highlighting their cunning, adaptability, and the often blurred lines between confidence and deception. With a blend of true crime and cultural analysis, it offers a thought-provoking look at the complexities of identity and the art of the con.

    The 14589th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon
  25. 100. The Good Girls by Sonia Faleiro

    An Ordinary Killing

    Set in a small village in India, this gripping narrative delves into the mysterious deaths of two teenage girls found hanging from a mango tree. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, the book explores the complex web of societal norms, gender dynamics, and the quest for justice in a patriarchal society. As the investigation unfolds, it reveals the deep-seated prejudices and systemic failures that overshadow the truth, challenging the reader to question the narratives that are often accepted without scrutiny.

    The 14589th Greatest Book of All Time
    Purchase from Amazon

Reading Statistics

Click the button below to see how many of these books you've read!

Download

If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

Download

To download this list as a CSV file, please log in to your account. Once logged in, you'll be able to download the data for use in spreadsheet applications.

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