The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Secrets Typed in Blood

Kris Bock Why did I love this book?

The Pentecost and Parker Mystery series has great characters, a strong voice, and an interesting era.

The setup – a famous detective who needs help with the physical side of the job, paired with a young and active assistant – is reminiscent of the Nero Wolfe mysteries, only this time both detective and assistant are female. Little details bring the time period (1940s Manhattan) to life.

A complicated mystery makes this book another strong entry. This is book 3, so readers may want to start with book 1, but this title may be my favorite.

By Stephen Spotswood,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Secrets Typed in Blood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR • In the newest entry into the Nero Award-winning Pentecost & Parker Mystery series, Lillian and Will are hot on the trail of a serial killer whose murders are stranger than fiction.

The Pentecost & Parker series "takes gritty 40s noir, shakes it up, gives it a charming twist, and serves it up with unforgettable style" (Deanna Raybourn, author of the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries). From the author of Fortune Favors the Dead and Murder Under Her Skin.

New York City, 1947: For years, Holly Quick has made a good living…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Devil's Chew Toy

Kris Bock Why did I love this book?

Devil's Chew Toy is a fast-paced mystery with lots of action and laughs. The humor came from the characters, who are definitely quirky, but they almost always remained realistic and they are people I’d love to know.

The book had a lot of warmth and respect for its characters; it appreciated their weirdness rather than making them the butt of a joke. Finally, the mystery was tricky with plenty of twists. Highly recommended for a fun read that combines mystery with humor reminiscent of a screwball comedy.

By Rob Osler,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Devil's Chew Toy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A POPSUGAR BEST MYSTERY OF 2022
A BOOKRIOT BEST MYSTERY OF 2022

Perfect for fans of T.J. Klune, Becky Abertalli, and David Levithan, this hilarious, big-hearted LGBTQ+ mystery follows an unlucky in love—and life—gay relationship blogger who teams up with a take-charge lesbian and a fiesty bull terrier to find a missing go-go boy and bring down an international crime ring.

Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes sporting one hell of a shiner, with the police knocking at his door. It seems that his new crush, dancer Camilo Rodriguez, has gone missing and they suspect foul play. What…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking

Kris Bock Why did I love this book?

The Family Skeleton Mysteries series starts with a fun premise – the thirtysomething heroine has a skeleton as her best friend.

Something about the voice of this series simply works for me. It's cozy without being too cutesy. The characters feel real. Even Sid, the living skeleton, feels like a real person. The books might work almost as well if he was human, but the fact that he can’t let people see him adds some fun and complications. Start at the beginning of the series and keep reading!

It's worth it for the clever mysteries and wonderful characters. This final book in the series adds some warm holiday feelings as a bonus.

By Leigh Perry,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Mirth and murder blend beautifully in Perry’s sixth whodunit featuring Sid, a skeleton who can move around, talk, and search the internet for clues. . . . Cozy fans who enjoy their mysteries leavened with humor will find their funny bones tickled." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

Sid is back with a murder that’s sure to send a chill down your spine in Leigh Perry’s festive new mystery.

Dr. Georgia Thackery is back at home with her parents after finding a new adjunct position at Bostock College. Everyone is excited for their first family Christmas with nothing to hide. Why? Because…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Something Shady at Sunshine Haven

By Kris Bock,

Book cover of Something Shady at Sunshine Haven

What is my book about?

Injured in a bombing, war correspondent Kate Tessler returns to her hometown in Arizona to recover. An old friend asks her to investigate suspicious deaths at a nursing home – where Kate’s mother is in an Alzheimer’s unit.

If Kate can’t uncover the truth, her mother could be next on the killer’s list.