It’s the last day of 2025—that time of year when everyone and their brother is sharing their “best of the year” lists. So here’s mine. 😬
My Top Five Books of 2025 (In No Particular Order)
Every year, a handful of books rise above the noise—stories that linger long after the final page, that remind me why I fell in love with thrillers and crime fiction in the first place. In 2025, these five novels did exactly that. They span psychological suspense, crime fiction, and socially grounded mysteries, but all share one thing in common: they’re impossible to forget.
Here are my Top Five Books of 2025, listed in no particular order.
The Girl From Devil’s Lake by J.A. Jance
From its opening pages, The Girl From Devil’s Lake grabs hold and refuses to let go. Readers consistently praise how the novel hooks them immediately and sustains tension all the way through its final chapters—and it’s easy to see why.
Built around a chilling nationwide serial killer investigation, the story delivers a complex, fast-moving plot packed with surprises. Jance’s trademark strengths are on full display here: confident pacing, vivid characterization, and a narrative structure that feels both expansive and controlled. The 54-chapter design keeps the story moving at a brisk clip, making it dangerously easy to say “just one more chapter.”
What stood out most to me was how balanced the novel felt. It’s suspenseful without being exhausting, intricate without being confusing, and emotionally grounded despite its high-stakes premise. For longtime fans and new readers alike, this is a reminder of why J.A. Jance remains such a reliable force in crime fiction.
J.A. Jance Author Interview
Broken Fields by Marcie R. Rendon
Set in 1970s rural Minnesota, Broken Fields is a deeply atmospheric mystery anchored by one of the most compelling protagonists in contemporary crime fiction: Cash Blackbear.
Cash, a young Ojibwe woman working seasonal farm jobs before leaving for college, stumbles upon a murder scene that quickly spirals into something far darker. A dead man lies on a kitchen floor, a terrified four-year-old girl hides silently nearby, and the child’s parents are nowhere to be found. Cash’s determination to protect the girl—especially from a foster care system she knows all too well—drives the emotional core of the story.
Rendon weaves social tension, cultural identity, and moral urgency into a tightly plotted mystery. The suspense escalates naturally as more secrets surface, including the discovery of a second body buried on the property. Although Broken Fields is the fourth book in the Cash Blackbear Mysteries, it works beautifully as a standalone.
This is thoughtful, grounded crime fiction that carries real weight. It’s as much about justice and belonging as it is about solving a crime.
Marcie Rendon Author Interview
Uninvited by Emily Shiner
Uninvited was my introduction to Emily Shiner, and it immediately put her on my must-read list. This is a sharp, revenge-driven psychological thriller that thrives on tension, deception, and deeply flawed characters.
The setup is deceptively simple: Aimee and her fiancé Dale retreat to a luxury Florida resort to repair their relationship after his affair—only to discover that the woman he cheated with, Hannah, has arrived at the same resort with her own boyfriend. From there, everything unravels.
Told through alternating POVs and shifting timelines, the novel keeps readers constantly reassessing what they think they know. Shiner excels at showing how the same event can look radically different depending on who’s telling the story. Themes of betrayal, manipulation, trauma, and obsession pulse beneath every chapter, making trust feel like a dangerous gamble.
What impressed me most was the high-stakes emotional tension. Every interaction felt loaded. Every secret had teeth. If you enjoy fast-paced psychological thrillers with morally gray characters and escalating twists, Uninvited absolutely delivers.
Emily Shiner Author Interview
Forget You Saw Her by Noelle West Ihli
Inspired by true events, Forget You Saw Her strikes a powerful balance between emotional impact and relentless suspense. Readers often describe it as a one-sitting read—and that tracks with my experience.
The writing is sharp and controlled, the suspense expertly calibrated, and the character work especially strong. Sabina, in particular, stands out as a fierce and memorable protagonist. The story doesn’t shy away from darker emotional territory, which may hit differently depending on the reader, but that honesty is also what gives the novel its punch.
This is the kind of thriller that doesn’t rely on gimmicks. Instead, it builds dread through character, circumstance, and a growing sense that something terrible is inevitable. Smart, intense, and haunting.
Noelle W. Ihli Author Interview
Mr. Whisper by Andrew Mayne
With Mr. Whisper, Andrew Mayne delivers one of the most ambitious and entertaining thrillers of the year by bringing together his major lead characters into a single, high-stakes narrative. Scientific genius Theo Cray, underwater investigator Sloan McPherson, FBI agent Jessica Blackwood, and former spy Brad Trasker unite as an Avengers-style team known as The Specialists to hunt a killer who appears to use mind control to manipulate—and ultimately murder—his victims.
The premise alone is irresistible, but Mayne backs it up with sharp writing, propulsive pacing, and characters who feel distinct yet complementary. Readers consistently praise how well the ensemble works together, each bringing a unique skill set to the investigation. The result is a story that feels both expansive and tightly controlled.
What truly sets Mr. Whisper apart is its exploration of mind control, government experimentation, and the uneasy space between science and the supernatural. Mayne strikes an impressive balance, grounding the story in skepticism and logic while allowing just enough ambiguity to keep readers questioning what’s truly possible. It’s thought-provoking without slowing the momentum, and unsettling without tipping into implausibility.
This is a smart, twisty thriller that rewards longtime fans while remaining accessible to newcomers. If you enjoy high-concept crime fiction that blends science, conspiracy, and relentless suspense, Mr. Whisper is a standout.
Andrew Mayne Auhtor Interview
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Every year, I make it a point to read at least one classic thriller—a reminder of where the genre came from and why it continues to endure. In 2025, my favorite classic read was The Talented Mr. Ripley, originally published on November 30, 1955.
I’d already seen—and loved—the film adaptation starring Matt Damon, but I had never actually read the novel that inspired it. I wasn’t particularly taken with the recent Netflix series Ripley, but that only made me more curious to experience the source material for myself. I’m glad I finally did.
Highsmith’s novel is masterful in its restraint and psychological precision. The tension doesn’t rely on spectacle or constant twists but instead builds steadily through character—specifically through Tom Ripley, one of the most chilling and fascinating sociopaths in thriller fiction. His inner world is rendered with unsettling clarity, pulling the reader into his justifications, fears, and desires even as his actions grow darker.
What struck me most was how modern the book still feels. The pacing is deliberate but never slow, the suspense relentless in a quiet, creeping way. Highsmith’s ability to make the reader complicit—rooting for Ripley despite knowing exactly what he is—remains astonishing decades later. The novel carries its tension all the way to the final page, proving that true psychological suspense never goes out of style.
Creepy, elegant, and deeply unsettling, The Talented Mr. Ripley was an easy standout and a reminder of why Patricia Highsmith remains a towering figure in the genre.
Final Thoughts
These five books represent what I loved most about reading in 2025: bold storytelling, strong characters, and narratives that respect the reader’s intelligence while still delivering unforgettable suspense. Whether you prefer psychological mind games, socially grounded mysteries, or classic crime fiction, this list has something worth sinking into.
