Five Books editors

As a year for mystery books, 2023 was definitely eclectic, with historical mysteries, mysteries that could be filed as supernatural horror, and the Edgar award for best novel going to the story of a serial killer on death row. The year also saw the publication of Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter, which experiments with different formats to engage the reader.

2022 was a great year for books in the mystery genre, with some great plots and unforgettable characters, at least one of which (The Maid) has gone on to start a series. Settings included everything from snowy Scandinavia to World War II Hawaii.

While in 2022 the escapist impulse remains strong, there is more than solace to find in the pages of the best fantasy books. As Lloyd Alexander has said, “Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality – it’s a way of understanding it.” However you like your fantasy—epic or short, high or low, dark or comic, contemporary or historical—it’s a great time to be an avid reader in the realms of the imagination. Let’s hear it for unreality as a route to the real!

2021 was fantastic for fans of the mystery genre, with lots of different types of books to choose from. There were also a wide variety of different evocative settings, including Tasmania, Ghana, a ski resort, a retirement village, and the Nevada desert. The year also saw new books in popular mystery series, including the second instalment of The Thursday Murder Club.

What sets fantasy apart from other genres of fiction? Its untethering from reality. In a year like 2021, that will be a welcome feature for many readers out there. If you’re looking for the best fantasy books, 2021 is shaping up to be a vintage year in the genre. However you like your fantasy—epic or short, high or low, dark or comic, contemporary or historical—it’s a great time to be an avid reader in the realms of the imagination.

If you like mysteries, 2020 was an outstanding year, particularly in the domestic noir genre, with standouts like The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths and Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins. There were also excellent installments in existing series, whether featuring police or non-police detectives. 2020 also saw the publication of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, a publishing sensation that demonstrates the continuing demand for humorous, cozy mysteries.