Best New Thriller Books of 2024
I am so excited about all the amazing new thriller books of 2024. They are full of so many twists and turns I never saw coming. The best part? The twists and turns are part of well-thought-out plot lines rather than an attempt to fool the reader.
This feels so fulfilling as a reader who loves being surprised. I hate when I can immediately guess the end of a thriller.

I hope you love these picks as much as I did. Check back often because I will be updating this list as Jackie and I read more new thriller books.
The Best New Thriller Books of 2024
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Psychological Thriller of 2024
Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenster – Jump to section
The Best Beach Thriller of 2024
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware – Jump to Section
The Best Domestic Thriller of 2024
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak – Jump to section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
The Best New Psychological Thrillers of 2024

Plot
Evie Davis has been a lifestyle influencer since the age of 5 when a video of her and her dad dancing went viral. Her mom was the OG momager. Now, Evie is 18 and a multimillionaire with a YouTuber boyfriend and influencer Frenemies.
Her older sister Hazel seems to be the only one who cares about her well-being, even if they have not spoken in a month. When Evie disappears in the middle of a livestream, Hazel is horrified. Now, she has to work with her mom and the police to find out what happened to her sister.
Why Kirsten loves it
While Hazel dives into Evie’s recent life, she also contemplates the dark side of child influencers and the parents and brands that exploit them. This book will have you examining your scrolling habits through a new lens.
Why Jackie loves it
The format of the book is so unique, that I had a hard time putting it down. I often forgot that Evie and Hazel are not real people.
Find this book in: Faux Celebrity Book / Beach Reads 2024 / Best Thriller Books of 2024

First Lie Wins
Author: Ashley Elston
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: January 2024 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Evie Porter knows the rules for survival: the first lie wins. Her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, will first send her a name and then a location. She gets one piece of information at a time and is never sure what the end game is. She knows that she owes Mr. Smithe everything.
This time, her mark is Ryan Summer. But she is starting to feel like there might be something real with him. But, she cannot make any more mistakes. She is already on thin ice because of how she screwed up her last job. Soon, she is following twisted pathway and is not sure who to trust. Can she even trust herself?
Why Jackie loves it
This is unlike any thriller I have read. It is not a murder mystery thriller, but rather a fast-paced, secret-identity thriller where you will feel like you are one step behind the entire book. I listened to this on a road trip with my husband he loved it as much as I did. #gifted
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Beach Reads 2024 / Best New Thriller Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club

Plot
This is the first adult novel by Nicola Yoon and it did not disappoint. Jasmyn and King Williams move to the Black Utopia of Liberty community, hoping to find a safe place for their family. Jasmine is a public defender who knows too well what can happen to Black boys who encounter the police and King will always feel the loss of his brother who was killed by the police.
King settles in right away but Jasmyn has trouble connecting with the women in the community who seem more concerned with booking treatments at the Wellness Center than the world’s troubles. Jasmyn cannot find anyone to join a community chapter of Black Lives Matter. When Jasmyn discovers the truth about the community, she wonders if it will destroy her.
Trigger Warnings
Racism, Police Brutality
Why Jackie loves it
This book is a commentary about the world we live in and the dichotomy between those who care about social issues and those who prefer to believe things are not happening. This is a thought-provoking book that will leave you with questions at the end.
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Best Beach Reads 2024 / Best New Thrillers of 2024 / Best Thought-Provoking Books
Thrillers for the Beach

Plot
This is an isolation thriller from one of the best there is. Five couples participating in a game shoe are trapped together on an island when a storm comes in. They are cut off from everyone without phones but that is the least of their worries.
Without power, their food and water supply dwindles quickly, the radio has a very limited battery supply, people are sick and injured, and one of them may be a murderer/ serial killer
Why Jackie loves it
This is a page-turning thriller with unexpected twists and turns I did not see coming. This is a perfect beach read- it will keep you on your toes.
Find this book in: Fictional Books About Serial Killers / Best Beach Reads of 2024 / Books Set at a Hotel / Isolation Books / Best Thrillers 2024 / Epistolary Novels

Plot
Set on a secluded resort island in Thailand, the story is told by Cass, an ex-pat who is outrunning her former life, and Brooke, a travel influencer who isn’t quite what she seems.
When Cass discovers the body of a murdered resort guest while teaching her scuba diving class, their sleepy resort is thrown into chaos. Cass and her fellow ex-pats, known as The Permanents, will do anything to avoid media exposure, but as bodies pile up, Cass and Brooke begin to explore what dark secrets lie at the heart of the island.
Why Kirsten loves it
This novel was a thrill ride from the opening murder scene. I was left completely unprepared for the conclusion and the final chapter had me gasping out loud! I can’t imagine a more fun tropical thriller.
Find this book in: Hotel Novels / Full Cast Audiobooks / Best Beach Reads / Best New Thriller Books

Plot
This is such a great thriller that will keep you on your toes. Amanda and Wendy meet for drinks after attending a support group for grieving parents. They devise the perfect plan to get revenge on the men who ruined their lives. They will each kill the person the other wants dead.
Meanwhile, Ruth has suffered a trauma of her own and is trying, unsuccessfully to get her life together. What starts off as a slower-paced story, sets the stage for a fast-paced, unexpected thriller.
Why Jackie loves it
As the stories of the women come together, the brilliant plot development becomes evident and I could not put it down. I listened to this one on a road trip and it made the time fly by #gifted
Find this book in: Beach Reads 2024 / Best New Thrillers 2024 / Serial Killer Thriller Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books
The Best New Domestic Thrillers

The Last One at the Wedding
Author: Jason Rekulak
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Are you looking for an epic mystery-thriller that will keep you invested until the last page? Jason Rekulak’s newest novel DELIVERED.
Frank has not spoken to his daughter, Maggie, in three years and is shocked when she calls to invite him to her wedding. When he arrives at the private estate where the wedding will take place with his sister and her foster child, Frank discovers Maggie is marrying billionaire heir, Aiden Gardner.
The family is not friendly, Maggie has no time for him, and Frank gets suspicious when he realizes that Aiden is suspected of having something to do with a missing woman. When a fellow wedding guest winds up dead, Frank goes on the hunt to figure out what secrets are being kept from him in a bid to save his daughter.
Why Kirsten loves it
Frank is an everyman way over his head with the antics of the 1%. While he strives to help his daughter in a bid to repair their relationship, he is met with a myriad of scenarios he can’t wrap his head around as he is thwarted at every turn. His outsider looking in perspective was an exceptional narrative tool and as he uncovered each secret, I was every bit as shocked as he was. At the 70% mark my mind literally looked like this – 🤯. I DEVOURED it and you will too.
Find this book in: Wedding Novels / Best New Thrillers of 2024/ Best Psychological Thriller Books / Giftable Books / Best Books of 2024

The Heiress
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: Indie Next Pick, National Bestseller
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This dual timeline story is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains at a sprawling, secluded mountain estate. The present-day story features the heir’s return with his wife to the town and the dysfunctional, toxic family he left behind to put his late mother’s affairs in order and repair the house.
Interspersed throughout the story are letters written by his mother, Ruby. Widowed 4 times over, she was known as Mrs. Kill-More by the end of her life. Within the pages of the letters, she reveals the courtship, marriage, and deaths of each of her husbands, as well as multiple family secrets. It’s glamorous and dark all at the same time.
Why Kirsten loves it
Hawkins weaves a masterful story with twisted, flawed characters that I couldn’t put down. The secrets kept unfurling until the very last page. This is my favorite book of hers yet!
Find this book in: Best New Thrillers 2024 / Domestic Thrillers

The Night of the Storm
Author: Nishita Parekh
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: National Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I finished this multi-genre book in one day. I simply couldn’t stop listening (the narrator is tops!). It was a fast-paced ride the entire time. From the hurricane to the family secrets to the death, it was a shock and surprise around every corner.
Jai is forced to head to her sister’s family home with her son due to Hurricane Harvey. As she hunkers down with her sister Seema, her brother-in-law, his mother, and his brother and sister-in-law, family secrets come out in the most dangerous ways.
From potential affairs to the shocking reason Jai is divorcing her husband, it was a never-ending thrill ride. Add in the tensions between the sisters, Jai’s relationship struggles with her preteen son, and the brother’s drama and you’ve got one hell of a story.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love that the author was inspired to write a thriller that starred an Indian family like hers and that her family and their experience during Hurricane Harvey inspired this story. #Gifted by PRH Audio
Find this book in: Hurricane Novels / Locked Room Mystery / Family Drama / Best New Thrillers of 2024
Helpful Tips
Are you new to historical fiction and trying to find a great book? Are you a historical fiction lover who is looking for a new book? Here are some recommendations for choosing a book:
- Pick a book that has a setting you love
- Read another book by a favorite author
- Look through the books on this list for the best of the year. Any one of these picks is a great choice
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thriller book of 2024?
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is one of the best thriller books of 2024. For a beach read, check out One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware.
What new thriller books do you recommend?
The best thriller books of 2024 are on my list. Jackie and I read hundreds of books a year. We have narrowed down the 50+ thriller books we read this year to only our favorites.
Related Content
Epilogue
Those are Jackie and my picks for the best thrillers of the year. I’m so curious what your favorites of the year are. Please let us know your favorites below!

Ultimate List of Thrillers
Love Thrillers? This list is curated and carefully divided by sub-genre. These will definitely keep you on your toes.