Best Thriller Books of 2026
I have read so many great books this year that I knew it was time to make my list of the best thriller books of 2026. I wanted to have a list of all my favorite books in one place.
Together, Kirsten and I read approximately 300 books a year, give or take. The best books immediately stand out. The writing, storytelling, characters, and plot twists set these books apart. The 5-star reads become more than just the sum of their parts. If you are looking for the best mystery books of 2026, I have that list as well.
Since this year is not through, this list will change as Kirsten and I add books we love. We would also love to hear your recommendations for your favorite five-star thriller books of 2026 to add to our list. Feel free to reach out with suggestions.
*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.
Best Thriller Books of 2026
When I Kill You
Author: B. A. Paris
Year: 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Nell Masters can feel someone following her and watching her despite everything she did to get away from her past life as Elle Nugent.
Fourteen years earlier, Elle was the only witness when a student named Bryony climbed into a stranger’s car. When Bryony is found dead, Elle believes she can help find the killer. Her obsession takes her down a dangerous path.
The two timelines come together as Nell tries to discover who found her from the past that she tried so hard to run away from. She is desperately trying to keep her new life together and keep the secret from her new boyfriend, Alex.
Trigger Warnings
Murder, Knife Violence
Why Jackie loves it
With alternating POV, including the stalker, this thriller kept me on my toes the entire time. Thank you, #MacmillanAudio
Find this book in: Best Books with Stalkers
My Husband’s Wife
Author: Alice Feeney
Release Date: January 20, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Eden Fox was out for her nightly jog when she came home to Spyglass to find that the key to her house didn’t fit in the lock. When a woman who looks like her answers the door, her husband insists that the stranger is his wife. Eden watches as the woman attends her art gallery opening with her husband. With no keys, phone, or ID, she has not idea how to prove who she really is.
Six months earlier, Birdy inherited Spyglass from a long-lost grandmother. Inside, she finds a letter addressed to her grandmother with the name of a clinic that can predict anyone’s date of death.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide, cancer, coma
Why Jackie loves it
I was so excited to read this book because I love Alice Feeney. The beginning gripped me immediately, and I hoped that the rest of the book would continue to be just as good. It did not disappoint. I absolutely loved this thriller that is filled with so many twists, turns, and secrets. The book was not predictable and did not follow a pattern (that is often the case with authors who write many books in the same genre). I think this is one of the best books Feeney has written!
Find this book in: Alice Feeney Books in Order / Best Beach Reads 2026
Anatomy of an Alibi
Author: Ashley Elston
Year: 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: The #1Â New York Times best-selling author of First Lie Wins
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range:
Plot
Aubrey Price is haunted by the accident that changed her life forever, and she is convinced that Ben Bayliss knows something about it. She wants answers.
Camille Bayliss seems to have the perfect life. She is married to Ben and comes from a wealthy family. However, she wants out and the only way she is getting a divorce is if she finds out dirt on her husband. The two women hatch a plan to swap places for 12 hours. But when Ben turns up dead the next morning, only one of them has an alibi.
Trigger Warnings
Murder, car accident, death of a parent
Why Jackie loves it
This is a novel that is so well-crafted. I loved First Lie Wins, so I had high hopes for this one, and it did not disappoint. It did start a little bit slower, but I am so glad I kept reading because the ending makes this one so worthwhile. I will not forget it any time soon. Thank you, PRH Audio.
Find this book in:
The Water Lies
Author: Amy Myerson
Release Date: January 1, 2026
Genre: Thriller
More info: International bestselling author of The Book of Yesterdays
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Tessa is pregnant with her second child when her son starts frantically calling out to a woman he is calling Gigi. Tessa has never seen her before, and the woman does not seem to know her son. When that same woman is found dead the next day outside of Tessa’s Venice Beach home, Tessa does not think this is a coincidence.
Barb Geller is estranged from her daughter. Despite her daughter’s history with substance abuse, Barb refused to believe that her daughter’s death was an accident. Now the two mothers work together to find answers.
Trigger Warnings
Infertility, substance abuse
Why Jackie loves it
This is Meyerson’s first thriller, and it is a brilliant success. The plot is fast-paced and believable. There are just enough twists to keep me guessing. I did not predict the ending at all, and I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end.
Find this book in: Best Domestic Thriller Books
Safari Murder Party
Author: Rachel Moore
Year: May 22, 2026
Genre: Thriller
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Fletcher has been working for the CEO of Cartwright Media for three years. She finally gains the courage to ask for a spot at the annual company retreat, where promotions and bonuses are handed out like candy on Halloween. But when her boss is found dead, his will states that whoever can survive the week will inherit the company.
Now, she is stuck on a remote private island with power-hungry colleagues who will do anything to be the last person standing and wild animals with no barriers (think Jurassic Park, but safari style). Can Fletcher survive, and can she trust anyone on the Island?
Trigger Warnings
Gore
Why Jackie loves it
Despite the fact that there is some gore in this book, I found myself laughing out loud. Think a funny and grown-up version of Lord of the Flies. There is romance in this book which should not work, in theory, and yet, it 100% does. I loved this book from beginning to end. It is the perfect beach thriller.
Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2026
Plot
Six inmates at a pay-and-stay prison are checked in for the holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. These wealthy criminals are usually only at the L.A. facility on the weekends, but with the promise of double days, they are checked in for the holiday stay, despite having an awful correction officer who delights in manipulating them.
When the C.O. officer ends up dead after the first night, it’s up to the prisoners to figure out who among them is the murderer!
Why Kirsten loves it
This was a romp! It was funny but thrilling, and my heart was genuinely beating rapidly at the climax. I couldn’t figure out who the murderer was until the whole story was laid out. While suspenseful, it also left me with a happy feeling to learn about what the inmates would do next. This is the perfect light thriller for scaredy cats like me! #gifted by Brilliance
Find this book in: New Year’s Eve Books / Christmas Mystery Books
A Good Person
Author: Kirsten King
Year: 2026
Genre: Literary Thriller
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Lillian and Henry have been having a fling, which Lillian would like to become a relationship. She is determined to make Henry fall in love with her. But when he unexpectedly breaks up with her instead, she performs a hex on him to bring him back. When he is found dead, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder. She also discovers that he had a long-term girlfriend. Lillian is determined to take her place as the morning girlfriend, but the consequences might be more than she bargained for.
Why Kirsten loves it
I almost DNFed this one because Lillian’s internal monologue is so unhinged but I ended up giving it 5 stars! Being in Lillian’s mind was a trip and a half, and once I got into her voice, I couldn’t stop reading it. Watching her try to clear her name while doing one wild thing after the other was so entertaining, but it was King’s writing talent that kept me turning the pages. I didn’t see the ending coming at all – and when I turned the final page, I was sad my time with Lillian had come to a close. #gifted by Putnam
Find this book in: Unreliable Narrators
Expert Tip
Are you looking for the best new thriller books of 2026 but can’t choose what to read next? Here are some expert tips for choosing your next book:
- If you know what genre of book you are in the mood for, pick a book from that category
- Are you a “Kirsten” or a “Jackie”? Have a look at who read the book and what we loved about it. Kirsten and I often read different books, so you have a wide variety of books to choose from. Bonus if we both read the book!
- Read the description of what the book is about. Kirsten and I never include books that we have not read in our book lists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best new thriller books of 2026?
There have been so many great thriller books this year that Kirsten and I have had a hard time narrowing them down. The best thrillers of the year are:
1. A Good Person by Kirsten King
2. The Water Lies by Amy Meyerson
3. Safari Murder Party by Rachel Moore
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Epilogue
What is your favorite thriller book of 2026? If you have a book that you loved that is not on this list, please let me know so I can add it to my TBR.
