It's probably the best time to read some thrillers! As an avid thriller reader myself, I curated more than 130 book recommendations corresponding to the main thriller books subgenres. I hope you'll find your next five-star read within this ultimate thriller reading list!
Psychological Thrillers
This subgenre focuses on the mental and emotional states of its characters. It's usually the main conflict. It can explore themes such as fears, obsessions, mental illnesses, and traumas inside an intimate setting.
- The Push by Ashley Audrain
- The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
- Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
- The Last Word by Taylor Adams
- A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
- Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
- None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
- First Lie Wins by Ashley
- Behind Closed Doors by B.A Paris
- The Woman in the Window by A.J Finn
- What Happened To Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
- In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
- Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson
- Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
- I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
- Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
- Til Death Do Us Part by Daniel Hurst
- Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
- First Born by Will Dean
- A Familiar Stranger by A.R. Torre
- Over Her Dead Body by Susan Walter
- The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding
- The One by Audrey J. Cole
- The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White
My pick: I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
I’ll always recommend this book. It might not be the most entertaining and action-packed of this list but it will blow your mind. I would add that going blind is probably the best way to enjoy it but I will provide a small synopsis:
An unnamed narrator embarks on a road trip with her boyfriend, Jake, to visit his isolated family farm, despite her growing certainty that she needs to end their relationship. As they arrive, the trip descends into a surreal nightmare.
Domestic Thrillers
It takes place in a familiar and relatable setting (marriage, neighborhood, group of friends, family, home) and focuses on the danger in this seemingly safe place.
- The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
- My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
- Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
- The Family Upstairs by Lise Jewell
- Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
- The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
- Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
- The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
- On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass
- All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham
- The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
My pick: On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass
In the exclusive neighborhood of Brighton Hills, grieving mother Paige enlists her friend Cora to investigate whether her son’s hit-and-run death was actually murder. Meanwhile, Cora seeks Paige's help to catch her husband, Finn, in the act of cheating, all while they unravel the secrets of their reclusive new neighbor, Georgia.
Young Adult Thrillers
- The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas
- Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
- Sadie by Courtney Summers
- Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
- They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman
- This Book Kills by Ravena Guron
- None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney
- I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
- The Project by Courtney Summers
- All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban
- The Counselors by Jessica Goodman
- Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
My pick: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
One of my all time favorite books!
At Niveus Private Academy, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adeyemi, the only black students find their secrets exposed by an anonymous source known as Aces. To save their futures, the two students must uncover their identity before it destroys them both.
Cozy Mystery Thrillers
This subgenre is characterized by its comforting and gentle tone as well as low stakes. It generally revolves around a specific trade or hobby of the main character (e.g., baking, knitting). The ideal read on a rainy day in front of a fireplace with your plaid and favorite drink!
- Death By Dumpling by Vivien Chien
- Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
- The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
- A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collette
- Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
- Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian
- Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice For Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
- The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao
- Natural Barn Killer by Amanda Flower
- Murder at the Cinnammon Falls by R.L. Killmore
- The Killer Question by Janice Hallett
-
A Very Bookish Murderer by Dee Macdonald
My pick: Natural Barn Killer by Amanda Flower
Thanksgiving in Cherry Glen was supposed to be perfect for Shiloh Bellamy until her pug, Huckleberry, uncovers human remains on her farm. Shiloh is determined to clear her late grandmother's name by uncovering the truth behind this decades-old cold case before the killer strikes again.
Horror Thrillers
- Lone Women by Victor Lavalle
- NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
- Mongrells by Stephen Graham Jones
- What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher
- The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim
- The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste
- A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
- Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes
- When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
- The Deep by Nick Cutter
- The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
- Come Closer by Sara Gran
My pick: Come Closer by Sara Gran
Amanda, a successful architect in a happy marriage, becomes erratic and gets strange impulses. As these strange events escalate, she will have to determine if she is suffering from a mental illness or is being possessed by a malevolent entity.
Whodunit Thrillers
A crime has been committed, and we follow a group of characters, all of whom all have a motive. One of them often acts as the detective, and the murderer is revealed at the end.
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
- The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
- Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
- The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
- One by One by Ruth Ware
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
- The Guest List by Lucy Foley
- The Maid by Nita Prose
- Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
My pick: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
At a family reunion held at a mountain resort, Ernest Cunningham must navigate a series of murders among his relatives, all of whom share the dark secret of having killed someone.
Supernatural & Paranormal Thrillers
- Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
- End of Watch by Stephen King
- The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
- Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
- The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
- Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
- The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
- Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor
My pick: The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
After discovering a portal to a terrifying parallel dimension hidden inside her uncle’s museum of curiosities, a young divorcée must find a way to escape the "willow world" before its predatory entities follow her home.
Romantic Suspense
Is this what we call romance suspense or is it romantic suspense? Either way, here are some thrillers with romance book recommendations:
- The Obsession by Nora Roberts
- Six Years by Harlan Coben
- Lethal by Sandra Brown
- A Cold Dark Place by Toni Anderson
- Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
- Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre
- Verity by Colleen Hoover
- All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
My pick: Every Last Secret by A.R. Torre
Cat Winthorpe has worked hard for her gorgeous home and successful husband, William, but when her new neighbor arrives, Neena Ryder, she develops a dangerous obsession with taking everything she has.
Technological Thrillers
The plot revolves around an advanced technology, from military hardware, AI, hacking to biotechnology with high stakes.
- The Passengers by John Marrs
- Recursion by Blake Crouch
- FOE by Iain Reid
- The Future Is Yours by Dan Frey
- The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier
- The Mountain In The Sea by Ray Nayler
- Going Zero by Anthony McCarten
- The Last Murder At The End Of The World by Stuart Turton
- The Marriage Act by John Marrs
My pick: Foe by Iain Reid
Henrietta’s husband has been selected to travel far away from their farm. But she won’t be left alone: someone is coming to take his husband’s place.
Historical Thrillers
- The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
- The Book of Gold Leaves by Mirza Waheed
- Stasi Child by David Young
- The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason
- The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
- The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
- Three Hours In Paris by Cara Black
- The Secret Life of Sunflowers
My pick: The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
In 1850s London, aspiring artist Iris Whittle begins posing for Pre-Raphaelite painter Louis Frost in exchange for painting lessons, unaware that she is being closely watched. Meanwhile, Silas Reed, a collector of curiosities who encountered her by chance, descends into a dangerous obsession with her.
Political Thrillers
This subgenre takes place in a political setting with a conflict or conspiracy involved. It generally includes a non-political figure, such as a journalist or spy, who must investigate and reveal the truth.
- The Year Of The Locust by Terry Hayes
- Deep State by Chris Hauty
- While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
- Damascus Station by David McCloskey
- Red Widow by Alma Katsu
- The Handler by M.P. Woodward
- The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
- The Ruling Class by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
My pick: The Ruling Class by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
When Tess Kendrick is sent to live with her older sister, Ivy Kendrick, in Washington D.C., she discovers that Ivy is a powerful "fixer" who solves scandals for the elite. Tess soon finds herself following in her sister's footsteps as a fixer at the exclusive Hardwicke School, only for their worlds to collide when a conspiracy threatens them both.
Legal Thrillers
Just like political thrillers, legal thrillers have high stakes. They focus on the legal system, often revolving around an investigation, courtroom proceedings, and the impact of the case. It showcases the protagonist's struggle for justice or truth within a system that may be flawed or corrupt.
- Gray Mountain by John Grisham
- The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
- The Last Trial by Scott Turow
- The Holdout by Graham Moore
- The Law Of Innocence by Michael Connelly
- False Witness by Karin Slaughter
- Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh
- With Prejudice by Robin Peguero
My pick: False Witness by Karin Slaughter
Leigh Collier, a defense attorney is forced to defend a wealthy man accused of rape who knows the dark secret she and her sister, Callie, have been keeping for over twenty years. To protect her family, Leigh must reunite with Callie and confront the violent events they thought they had left behind.
Have you already read books from this list? You've got more to recommend? Don't hesitate to leave a comment below!
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