Long Bright River

Mickey is a beat cop in Philadelphia; her estranged sister Kacey is a drug addict and sex worker. Even though they haven’t spoken in 5 years, Mickey still cares about her sister and keeps tabs on Kacey. When sex workers start to turn up murdered -- and Kacey disappears -- Mickey makes it her personal mission to investigate, in violation of direct orders.

Against this plot, Moore also peppers in the backstory and history of the sisters -- what led to their estrangement, how Mickey ended up a single mother, and how different people from their lives could be involved in the events that are happening today. It’s intriguing, the characters are multi-layered, and the plot twists will keep you guessing. This is a smarter, more nuanced thriller than most.

Previous Best of 2020: #9 - American Dirt

Next Best of 2020: #7 - The House in the Cerulean Sea