The best thrillers of the year find historical series in top form, as well as newcomers to the genre leaving their chilling mark.

1. “All the Colors of Black” by Chris Whitaker

In 1975 Missouri, a cheeky one-eyed boy named Patch saves the daughter of a wealthy family from the clutches of a serial killer. The dark repercussions of this incident reverberate for decades as a man is wrongly convicted and Patch’s obsession with finding the real killer threatens to upend the lives of everyone around him.

2. “Exposition” by Ramona Emerson

Before becoming an author, Emerson spent 16 years documenting crime scenes for the Albuquerque, New Mexico, police department. She brings a sinister verisimilitude to this “Shutter” sequel about a Native American forensic photographer who has visions of the dead victims she records. His work is gruesome, especially when a serial killer with a god complex comes to town on a mission to punish sinners.

3. “Farewell, Amethystine” by Walter Mosley

The 16th installment in the Easy Rawlins series proves that Mosley is still at the top of his game nearly 35 years after “The Devil in a Blue Dress.” The new novel opens in the 1970s as Easy tackles what appears to be a simple case involving a missing husband. But obstacles abound, including lingering trauma from the detective’s time fighting in World War II and racist police officers who target him for crimes he didn’t commit.

4. “The First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston

Working for “Mr. Smith” is a dangerous business. Evie Porter’s current mission involves living under a false name and spying on her live-in boyfriend. But when she meets a woman with Evie’s unusual real name – the identity Evie hoped to one day reclaim – she begins to wonder if it’s time to learn more about the mysterious boss and menacing she has never met.

5. “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore

When 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar disappears from her New England summer camp in 1975, there is a disturbing feeling that history is repeating itself. Fourteen years earlier, his brother Bear had disappeared from the same woods. Could a serial killer on the run be to blame? Or are the twin mysteries linked by the wealthy and frightening Van Laar clan? A rotating cast of singular characters attempt to unravel the truth.

6. “Guide Me Home” by Attica Locke

The third novel in Locke’s Highway 59 series shows Black Texas Ranger Darren Mathews questioning his life’s work. Discouraged by blatant racism three years into Donald Trump’s first presidency, Darren resigns and devotes himself to a case involving the disappearance of a girl who was the only black member of his sorority. The unfolding story proves that Locke is one of the few authors capable of drawing attention to societal injustices without letting it hinder his momentum.

7. “Hunted” by Abir Mukherjee

After a terrorist attack in Los Angeles, a Londoner and an American discover that their children may have been involved in the network that carried out the crime. As a team, they travel across the United States trying to find their children, while an insubordinate FBI agent tries to stop the next attack. Mukherjee is best known for his Wyndham & Banerjee series of historical mysteries, but his first foray into thriller writing certainly shakes up the tropes of terrorism-related suspense novels.

8. “The Hunter” by Tana French

French gives new meaning to the term “slow thriller” with this sequel to “The Searcher,” which doesn’t produce a body until the last third of the novel. But, as any fan of the Dublin Murder Squad series can tell you, French still manages to keep readers in suspense with the atmospheric terror she seems to effortlessly evoke. “The Hunter” returns to a small town in Ireland, where retired American cop Cal Hooper continues to look after his young neighbor Trey. But the task becomes more difficult when Trey’s shady father shows up with a get-rich-quick scheme.

9. “Listen to the Lie” by Amy Tintera

Everyone in Lucy’s small Texas town thinks she killed her best friend, Savvy, and got away with it. After all, Lucy was found wandering after the crime, covered in Savvy’s blood. In truth, Lucy doesn’t remember anything, even five years later, after escaping the charges and moving to Los Angeles. But when a popular podcast host decides to revisit the murder, Lucy volunteers to help him uncover the truth, even if it means she’s the one responsible.

10. “The Winner” by Teddy Wayne

Wayne’s sixth novel and debut thriller draws inspiration from Patricia Highsmith with the story of Conor O’Toole, a law student born in Yonkers, New York, who moves to a wealthy enclave near Cape Cod. While teaching tennis during the summer, he catches the attention of divorced Catherine, who is not only interested in his backhand. But their dalliance threatens Conor’s budding relationship with Emily, who turns out to be Catherine’s daughter. How far will Conor go to keep his secrets? The cover-up might be worse than the crime.