We have all read that awards are useless and lists are despicable because, after all, books (and movies, plays, etc.) are not supposed to compete with one another like so many Olympic javelin throwers.

Okay. Now that that’s out of the way, admit you’re like me and can’t resist checking out the lists of the 100 best restaurants in New York, the 10 worstdressed women in America, the 50 most beautiful people in the world, and the 12 sure-fire ways to make your lover scream in ecstasy.

After a year’s worth of voracious reading, it’s a pleasure to list the 10 best mysteries of the year — it being understood that “best” merely means these are the books that most moved, shocked or impressed me, made me laugh or struggle to hold back tears, forced me to turn another page or two, and continue to resonate with me now.

1. “HOLLYWOOD STATION” (Little Brown, 352 pages, $24.99) by Joseph Wambaugh reminds readers that, after more than a decade with no new fiction by the creator of the modern police novel, no one has surpassed Mr. Wambaugh as a stylish storyteller. It’s hard to know whether the cops or the crooks are more flamboyant and interesting. A series of seemingly unconnected anecdotes and events involving a huge cast harmoniously coalesce into a stunning, unexpected but impeccably realistic climax.

2. “ECHO PARK” (Little, Brown, 416 pages, $26.99) by Michael Connelly continues his uninterrupted streak of winning efforts in what may be the best Harry Bosch story yet. It appears to be his fate as a sensitive soul encased in a tough cop’s body, Harry suffers through this case when he realizes that he and his partner might have missed a clue more than 10 years earlier that could have caught a serial killer who went on to commit nine more heinous murders.

3. “WILD FIRE” (Warner, 519 pages, $26.99) by Nelson DeMille is another jewel in his crown of successes. This new novel, like several previous ones, is a rare treat in the world of thriller writing in that it adds humor to the suspense and excitement. Fair warning: If you are truly offended by a politically incorrect character and his incendiary dialogue, this foray into a terrorist plot by an unlikely coterie may not be for you.

4. “NIGHTLIFE” (Random House, 373 pages, $24.95) by Thomas Perry is the perfect illustration of this Edgar winner’s unmatched ability to create suspense. When a female police officer recognizes that a beautiful serial killer gets away with her crimes because the men she encounters simply can’t believe she would do anything wrong, she sets out to capture the psychopath herself. This nail-biter is more terrifying than having your high school sweetheart tell you she’s pregnant.

5. “THE NIGHT GARDENER” (Little, Brown, 371 pages, $24.95) by George Pelecanos is the most powerful and original novel yet by one of today’s most distinguished writers. A murder in Washington, D.C., echoes a series of murders that abruptly stopped 20 years previously, drawing out of retirement two cops who had worked the case. The sensitivity with which Mr. Pelecanos portrays his characters give them a permanent home in the memory.

6. “THE TWO-MINUTE RULE” (Simon & Schuster, 336 pages, $24.95) by Robert Crais seemed like a disappointment when I saw that it wasn’t about Elvis Cole, but it turned out to be a stone-cold white-knuckle suspense trip. The bank robber’s truism is: Get in, get the money, get out — in less than two minutes or you’re toast. Max Holman had a successful career following the rule until he couldn’t help but stop his flight to give CPR to someone who found an armed robbery a little too exciting. Holman got 10 years for his trouble. When he got out, he learned that his son, a cop, was murdered and he tries to solve it — against Olympian odds. As this book races to its white-hot conclusion, beware. You might need CPR, too.

7. “DAMNATION STREET” (Harcourt, 320 pages, $24.00) by Andrew Klavan is the third and final installment in the smart, hard-boiled series about Jim Bishop, a nihilistic private eye whose assignment is to find and protect a lovely prostitute being pursued by a psycho, known as the Shadowman, who nearly killed her once and now wants to finish the job. Seamlessly shifting from violent to funny to charming, the two-time Edgar-winning author has produced one of the most justly praised books of the year.

8. “FOUR KINDS OF RAIN” (St. Martin’s, 277 pages, $22.95) by Robert Ward marks the return of another inventive professional who has been too long absent from the shelves while turning his attention to writing for “Miami Vice” and other TV shows. This original novel is about an old-fashioned left-winger who is achingly proud of his self-sacrifices over the years, but, in order to get the girl he wants, decides to steal a priceless artifact. His greed and ego come to full crescendo as he commits crimes of greater and greater intensity, resulting in the 1812 Overture of violence.

9. “SLIPPING INTO DARKNESS” (Little, Brown, 386 pages, $24.95) by Peter Blauner is the most nuanced book yet by this vastly under-appreciated author. A man goes to prison for brutally murdering a much-loved pretty young doctor and is released on a technicality. When a similar murder is committed, the police discover a perfect DNA match — not to the alleged killer, but to the first victim.

10. “BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2006” (Houghton Mifflin, 358 pages, $28.00 cloth; $14.00 paper) edited by Scott Turow. The 21 most distinguished stories culled from 1,500 tales of mystery, crime, and suspense of 2005, including such stars as Elmore Leonard, James Lee Burke, Andrew Klavan, Walter Mosley, Joyce Carol Oates, and Jeffery Deaver, as well as newly discovered serious talent.I’m the series editor, so maybe this will seem like favoritism. Sorry. I really love the book, so cut me some slack.

Mr. Penzler is the proprietor of the Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan and the series editor of the annual “Best American Mystery Stories.” He can be reached at ottopenzler@mysteriousbookshop.com.