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'Truly disturbing, utterly gripping and brilliant' ... 'brilliant premise, expert execution'

Bestseller Lisa Jewell, whose new book, Don't Let Him In (Cornerstone) is out now, says: "The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (HarperCollins) is a chilling and unforgettable psychodrama told through the voices of a long-divorced, middle-aged couple forced to come together to navigate the trial of the man who invaded their home decades earlier and committed unthinkable atrocities. There is a surprising amount of dry humour in both characters' voices, which offsets the horrific nature of the crimes. I also adored Helena Echlin's Clever Little Thing (Headline). I'm a big fan of creepy kids in thrillers and Charlotte's young daughter Stella is a brilliantly unsettling literary creation. Truly disturbing, utterly gripping and brilliant throughout on the challenges of motherhood.

Anna Mazzola, whose Notes on a Drowning (Orion) under the pen name Anna Sharpe, is out in paperback in January, says: "It's so tough to choose just two, but here are my twinkling Christmas highlights. Firstly, A Story is a Deal by Will Storr (Piatkus) which investigates how we can harness the power of our storytelling brains. Like everything Storr writes, this is fascinating and insightful. Secondly, 59 Seconds by Holly Seddon (Orion). If you knew you had fifty-nine minutes until everything and everyone you love would be lost forever, what would you do with that time? Brilliant premise, expert execution."

Claire Mackintosh, whose new book, It's Not What You Think (HarperFiction), is published in March, says: "The Last Weekend by Hannah Begbie (HarperCollins) follows three best friends and their families on a weekend break that quickly turns sour. Keenly observed and heartbreakingly relatable, this is a perfect novel for book club discussions. Holly Seddon's 59 Minutes (Orion) is my book of the year, with another thought-provoking question at its heart: if a nuclear missile was due to hit the UK in under an hour, what would you do? An emotional thriller with a twist that knocked me sideways."

Broadcaster Steph McGovern, whose debut thriller Deadline (Macmillan), was published earlier this year, says: "A Neighbour's Guide to Murder (HQ) by Louise Candlish is a cracker. I'd describe it as Only Murders In The Building meets Miss Marple in the most juicy and twisty way. Darkly funny, this thriller takes you into the heart of a residential setup with a sinister side. Oooh you're in for a treat if you haven't read it. The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd Robinson (Mantle) is a book I could not put down. It follows the life of a Georgian confectioner whose world is thrown into chaos by deadly deception. With a fabulous businesswoman at the helm, I loved being taken into an era so deliciously described that at times I wanted to lick the pages. Like Bridgerton with a dodgy side."

'Privilege, poverty, hubris and a spectacular fall from grace' ... 'taut, elegant prose'

Emma Curtis, whose latest book is The Psychiatrist (Atlantic), says: "The colossal frustrations of Campbell Flynn are so acutely observed by Andrew O'Hagan it's painful. Caledonian Road (Faber) explores privilege, poverty, hubris and a spectacular fall from grace. Astonishing! Prima Facie by Suzie Miller (Cornerstone) is the story of a young barrister who defends victims of sexual assault and becomes one herself. Intense and emotionally intelligent, this gripped me from page one.

Lilja Sigurðardóttir, whose final mystery in the An Arora Investigation series, Black as Death (Orenda), is out now, says: "The Shadow of the Northern Lights by Satu Rämö (Zaffre) delivers a perfect Christmas read - an isolated Westfjords community, a body discovered in a fish-farming pond, and a fresh, cross-cultural perspective from a Finnish-Icelandic writer. Scars of Silence by Johana Gustawsson (Orenda) brings us back to Lidingö in a powerful tale of vengeance. Gustawsson's French-Swedish background enriches her taut, elegant prose as she peels back the community's secrets with surgical precision. Dark, gripping, and beautifully written."

'A devastating portrayal of love destroyed and enduring' ... 'gripping you by the throat'

Claire McGowan, whose new book, The Other Couple (Thomas & Mercer) is due in February, says: "Like many crime writers I was deeply moved and unsettled by Abigail Dean's third novel, The Death of Us (HarperCollins), a devastating portrayal of love destroyed and enduring through the brutal actions of a killer. I also read a lot of non-fiction and was riveted by Elizabeth Gilbert's unflinching memoir, All the Way To The River (Bloomsbury). This account of the death of her best friend and partner, and her own battle with love addiction, hit hard."

Property porn thriller queen Louise Candlish, whose latest book is A Neighbours Guide To Murder (HQ), says: Jennifer Weiner's music family mystery The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits (HarperCollins) had me enthralled from the first page. It's written with such verve and command and more than fills that Daisy Jones and the Six hole we've been staring into. I also loved Our Beautiful Mess by Adele Parks (HarperCollins), which lulls you into a false sense of security with its festive domestic detail before gripping you by the throat with a seriously menacing thriller plot."

'Rich with emotion - longing, love, grief, regret and confusion' ... 'a harrowing tale of endurance'

C L Taylor, whose latest thriller is It's Always The Husband (Avon), says: "Deadly secrets, 90s nostalgia, dating sites and psychopath tests, The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards (Penguin) lured me in, kept me hostage, and delivered a real stinger of a twist. Clever, thrilling and page-turning, my favourite crime novel of the year. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (John Murray) was my book of the year. I was captivated all the way through. It's so rich with emotion - longing, love, grief, regret and confusion. There's a mystery at the heart of the story and growing tension as it unfolds. Superb.

Eve Smith, whose speculative thriller, The Cure (Orenda) is out now, says: "The dysfunctional DI Ryan Wilkins in Simon Mason's A Voice in the Night (Riverrun) is both comic and tragic, set off brilliantly by posh partner-in-crimes, Ray. However, it's the keenly observed human frailties and poignant descriptions that stay with you. White Road by Harry Whitehead (Claret Press) is a harrowing tale of endurance about an ex-navy rescue swimmer who is stranded in the Arctic. A compelling eco-thriller with big themes and an unforgiving icescape that's a character in itself."