Best Thriller Books

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 / Novels About Artists / Best Thriller Books of 2026 / Best Thriller 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 / Best Thriller Books of 2026 / Antiheroine Novels / Best Thriller Books

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 / Best Thriller Books of 2026 / Best Thriller Books

Anatomy of an Alilbi

Author: Ashley Elston

Year: 2026

Genre: Thriller

More info: Bestselling author of First Lie Wins

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Camille Bayliss is married to Ben in what seems like a perfect life. But she wants a divorce, and she cannot get one unless she has a good reason. But he tracks her every move. Aubrey Price thinks that Ben knows something about a horrible night a decade ago. Both women are keeping secrets from each other when they decide to switch places for one night while Ben in out of town.

Aubrey will pretend to be Camille while Camille finds evidence to get her divorce. But when Ben is murdered, only one of them has an alibi.

Trigger Warnings

Car accident, death of a parent

Why Jackie loves it

This book is told in multiple timelines, but rather than making the story confusing, it adds to the plotline. We find out the full story in bits as we see the past, the weeks leading up to the murder, and after the murder. I listened to this on a car trip with my husband, and it made the drive fly by. #gifted PRH Audio

Find this book in: Domestic Thrillers Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Thriller Books

The Silent Patient

Author: Alex Michaelides

Year: 2019

Genre: Thriller

More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This popular thriller book was Michaelides’s debut novel and sold over 65 million copies for good reason. This psychological thriller sucked me in immediately – a woman murders her husband and then doesn’t say a word for 10 years.

Convinced he can help, a psychologist named Theo transfers to the facility where Alice is staying to try to get the real story behind the fateful night of the murder.

Soon, he will become obsessed with Alice and finding out the truth behind the murders.

Trigger Warnings

Suicide Attempt, mental illness

Why Kirsten likes it

This is my first Michaelides book and I can see why this is a bestseller. The story is fast moving and unpredictable and the plot sucked me in immediately.

Find this book in: Unreliable Narrator Books / Best Mystery Books of All Time / Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Thriller Books

Verity

Author: Colleen Hoover

Year: 2021

Genre: Thriller

More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Lowen Ashleigh is an aspiring writer who is suffering from writer’s block. When circumstances suddenly present themselves for Lowen to be a ghostwriter for her favorite author, Verity Crawford, she is excited by the prospect.

Verity is currently comatose after an accident and is living with her husband and son. Lowen moves into their Vermont house so she can work from Verity’s office to finish her last book. As Verity works on the project, she begins to feel a romantic connection to Jeremy Crawford. She also finds Verity’s autobiography which presents a picture of a very different person than the one people see.

Trigger Warnings

Child death, Child Abuse

Why Jackie loves it

This thriller is filled with twists and turns. You never know where the story is going and who to trust. I can’t believe this Colleen Hoover book is her only thriller!

Adaptation

October 2, 2026 is the slated release date for the movie starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. Michael Showalter is the director.

Find this book in: Thriller Novels About Writers / The Epic List of Colleen Hoover Books in Order / Best Thriller Books / Books with a Name in the Title

The Wife Between Us

Author: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Year: 2018

Genre: Thriller

More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Everything that you think you know in this book is just an assumption. You can assume that you are wrong. I cannot say much about this book because I do not want to spoil anything but, it is such a perfect domestic thriller.

Warning: do not start it if you don’t have time to finish it. Nellie is so excited about her upcoming wedding that is just days away. She cannot shake the feeling that someone is following her. At first glance, this is a thriller about a jealous ex-wife and the woman who is replacing her.

Why Kirsten loves it

This is a psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and question what you think you know! I love that the plot seemed clear and yet I could not shake the feeling I was missing something the entire time. I was definitely on the wrong track.

Why Jackie loves it

The plot seems pretty straightforward when you start reading the book but then there are hints that things are not exactly what they seem to be. I did not understand the full story until the end of this thrilling book and loved every minute.

Find this book in: Unreliable Narrator Books / Best Thriller Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books / The 20 Best Books of 2018 / The Best Audiobooks of All Time

The Family Upstairs

Author: Lisa Jewell

Year: 2019

Genre: Thriller

More info: November 2019 GMA Book Club Pick
New York Times Bestselling Author

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This book starts with Libby’s 25th birthday when she inherits a multi-million dollar home. She knows that she was adopted at 10 months old but, she doesn’t know the truth about what happened to her family. She is shocked to find that the story that she was told is not what happened to her family.

25+ years ago Henry, his sister, and his parents are living a very privileged life. When he is 12 years old, things change when David moves into the house with his wife and kids with no plans to leave. He is charismatic and alluring to everyone except Henry. The story moves between past and present until the two stories come together and you finally understand what happened in the house all those years ago. 

Trigger Warnings

Child Abuse, Confinement

Why Jackie loves it

I love Lisa Jewell. As I read her books I find each one creepier than the last. I listened to this one and loved that it was a full cast audiobook. It brought the story to life.

Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books in Order and Ranked / Books About Cults / The Best Domestic Thriller Books / Good Morning America Book Club List / Best Thriller Books / GMA Book Club List 2019

Girl on the Train

Author: Paula Hawkins

Year: 2015

Genre: Thriller

More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
Movie Starring Emily Blunt

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Rachel takes the same train every day and peers out the window, watching people. She watched two people in particular as they led what appeared to be a perfect life until one day she saw something terrible while watching them. 

She reports it to the police, but can they trust a dysfunctional alcoholic? This is a domestic thriller story that will have you questioning who is telling the truth from the beginning until the end. Unreliable narrators like Rachel make the best page-turners! You’ll never know what to believe!

Trigger Warnings

Alcoholism

Why Kirsten loves it

This is a thriller that is unexpected and original. The unreliable narrator is one of my favorite thriller tropes, and Hawkins did it to perfection in this book.

Why Jackie loves it

I loved to hate Rachel. She is the perfect unreliable narrator, and I never guessed what would happen next.

Find this book in: Books with Stalkers / Domestic Thrillers / Unreliable Narrators / Psychological Thriller Books / British Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Paula Hawkins Books in Order and Ranked / Amnesia Books / Best Thriller Books

The Last Mrs. Parrish

Author: Liv Constantine

Year: 2017

Genre: Thriller

More info: December 2017 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

I found this stalker book to be enjoyable if only because of the plotting of Amber Patterson. I adored being in the head of the villain.

Why Kirsten likes it

I read this popular thriller book because it was a Reese Witherspoon pick AND because I heard wonderful things about it. I had read another thriller in January so I completely predicted what was going to happen in this book. As with all thrillers, especially domestic thrillers, when the element of surprise is missing, it’s not as good a read. Still, if you are looking for a very readable psychological thriller book, this is a great pick.

Adaptation

Filming has wrapped. Jennifer Lopez, Isabel May, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau star in the Netflix movie with Robert Zemeckis directing.

Find this book in: Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Domestic Thriller Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2017 / Books Becoming Movies / The Best Long Books / Antiheroine Novels / Best Thriller Books

Big Little Lies

Author: Liane Moriarty

Year: 2014

Genre: Thriller Mystery

More info: Emmy and Golden Globe Winning Series

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This book is Liane Moriarty at her finest. It’s all about a group of mothers in a community who share some big lies. Their friendships take center stage, but there is a fair amount of family drama as well in this domestic noir. This is one of the most popular thriller books around.

This novel was recently turned into a show on HBO starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and more. This book has a little bit of everything from ex-husbands and scandals. Sometimes little lies are so much more.

Trigger Warnings

Domestic Abuse

Why Kirsten likes it

Drama, scandal, and murder are in perfect combination in this thriller. There is a reason it is so popular and the adaptation of the show was done really well!

Why Jackie likes it

This is my favorite Liane Moriarty book. It is full of twists and turns but does not feel too ridiculous or long. It was just the right amount of scandal to keep me turning the pages.

Find this book in: Books About Motherhood / Domestic Thriller Books / Best Mystery Books /Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Thriller Books

The Push

Author: Ashley Audrain

Year: 2021

Genre: Thriller

More info: January 2021 GMA Book Club Pick

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This is a domestic noir that will scare the pants off most mothers. It’s compulsively readable.

Blythe Conner comes from a long line of bad mothers, but she’s determined not to be one. When she has Violet, she struggles to connect with her.

The reader is left wondering if Blythe is a mother who sees the worst in her child or if there is actually something off with Violet; something that even her husband can’t see. There is a reason this domestic thriller was chosen by GMA, it is a crazy good read and will have you on the edge of your seat.

Trigger Warnings

Child death, mental illness

Why Kirsten loves it

This was a crazy domestic thriller that was a compulsive read. I could not put it down. I was never sure if Blythe had become like the bad mothers before her or if Violet was mentally ill. The constant questioning had me turning the pages.

Find this book in: Books About Mothers and Motherhood / Psychological Thriller Books / Domestic Noir Books / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Best Books of 2021 / Best Thriller Books

Listen for the Lie

Author: Amy Tintera

Year: 2024

Genre: Thriller

More info: March 2024 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

2024 is the year of the thriller, and this one doesn’t disappoint! Lucy is returning to her hometown for the first time since she was accused, but never charged, with murdering her best friend, Savvy, 5 years ago.

She has no memories of the night Savvy died, but she needs answers for herself. So she decides to team up with true crime podcaster, Ben Owens, to discover the truth – even if she’s implicated in the process.

Ben is real-time podcasting the whole investigation, and his interviews are interspersed between chapters, revealing new insights each time.

Trigger Warnings

Domestic Abuse, murder

Why Jackie loves it

This is one mystery/thriller that is even better in audiobook format! The background noises and interviews bring the podcast to life. #gifted by Macmillan Audio

Why Kirsten loves it

I felt like I was in the story, investigating it myself. I can’t emphasize enough that this one is best consumed by listening. As Jackie noted, the audiobook adds elements not available in print. I will say I couldn’t figure out the ending on this one and was completely surprised by who committed the murder!

Find this book in: Best Audiobooks / Best Beach Reads 2024 / New Mystery Books of 2024 /Epistolary Novels / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Best Books of 2024 / Amnesia Books / GMA Book Club List 2024 / Antiheroine Novels / Books About Podcasts

Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Year: 2012

Genre: Thriller

More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
One of Time’s 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This is a psychological thriller book that almost everyone had heard of when it became a hit movie. It is the perfect example of what happens when a marriage goes terribly wrong. You will be questioning this book from the first page to the last.

On her fifth wedding anniversary, Amy Dunne mysteriously disappears. At the top of the suspect list is her husband Nick who seems perfect to the outside world. But, Nick and Amy are not who they appear to be.

There are so many twists and turns in this book that is the epitome of a domestic thriller and, if you love unreliable narrator books, this one is right up your alley. You may end up hating the characters, but this is one of the most popular thriller books ever written.

Why Kirsten loves it

This is such a great psychological thriller. I never knew what was going to happen and it kept me turning the pages to see how this thriller would end.

Why Jackie loves it

This is another book where I loved to hate both Nick and Amy. They are both despicable which adds to the fun of this book

Find this book in: Domestic Thriller Books / Best Mystery Books / Unreliable Narrator / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Thriller Books / Antiheroine Novels

Rebecca

Author: Daphne Du Maurier

Year: 1938

Genre: Thriller

More info: National Book Award Winner, 1938
Anthony Award Winner, 2000

Age Range: 14+

Plot

The OG psychological thriller book, Rebecca is a book set in Cornwall that will leave you checking behind you when you walk down a dark hallway. 

The new Mrs. de Winter is haunted by her husband’s first wife, Rebecca.  The deceit will have you second-guessing everything you read while you yell at the pages. It is a chilling novel about a naive second wife discovering the truth behind the wife who came before her.

The Netflix book adaptation stars Lily James and it reignited this popular thriller book’s success. If you have not read this book, it is a perfect book for fall.

Why Kirsten loves it

One of the most acclaimed psychological thriller authors, Daphne Du Maurier is at her best in this chilling psychological thriller. Everything about this gothic thriller will make you feel a little bit uncomfortable. I love Du Maurier and I have read this classic more than once.

Why Jackie loves it

I was at least 50 pages into this book when I called Kirsten and asked if I would ever learn the new Mrs. De Winter’s name. The fact that the main character remains nameless throughout the book adds to the thrill of the book. It is a classic that everyone should read at least once.

Find this book in: Best Mystery Novels / Best Thriller Books / Unreliable Narrator Books / Best Classic Books / British Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books / The Best Queen Camilla Book Club Books / Books with a Name in the Title

The Woman in the Window: A Novel

Author: A.J. Finn

Year: 2018

Genre: Thriller

More info: New York Time Bestseller

Age Range:16+

Plot

If you love old movies, you will adore this book. It is a spin on Hitchcock’s Rear Window and features an agoraphobic narrator who is often unreliable.

Anna Fox lives alone in her house. She is agoraphobic and cannot leave, so she sits at her window and watches everyone in the neighborhood. 

When she sees something across the street, she is sure there has been a crime but, what is real and what is imagined? Amy Adams stars in the Netflix adaptation of this book.

Why Kirsten loves it

I love the nod to Hitchcock. It puts a new spin on a classic!

Why Jackie loves it

I love the fact that I was never sure what was real and what was made up. This is a book with an unreliable narrator that I really liked/

Find this book in: Unreliable Narrator Books / Psychological Thriller Books / Best Thriller Books / Amnesia Books

Luckiest Girl Alive

Author: Jessica Knoll

Year: 2015

Genre: Thriller

More info: A Film Starring Mila Kunis

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range:16+

Plot

It takes place in a suburban suburb of Philly and explores the vicious habits of the old money elite. Ani FaNelli attended The Bradley School, a prestigious high school where she endured humiliation. She is determined to leave her past and the secrets that haunt her behind. Now, she seems to have it all and is determined to keep it that way.

There are so many big reveals in this book but beware – there is a trigger-inducing rape scene in the story that is difficult to read.

Trigger Warnings

Rape

Why Kirsten loves it

I could not put this story down when I first read it. The author drew from her own experience when writing it so proceed with caution if rape is trigger for you.

Find this book in: The Best Netflix Book Adaptations / Mystery and Thriller Novels About Writers / Best Thriller Books

The Guest List

Author: Lucy Foley

Year: 2020

Genre: Mystery

More info: New York Times Bestseller, June 2020 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

I’ve just read THE thriller of Summer 2020 and it’s soooooo good.⁣ A murder at a wedding. On an isolated island. In the middle of a power outage.⁣ Yaaaaaaaaas. ⁣This is an unputdownable psychological thriller book and a vacation I would NOT want to be on. The murder sets the scene and then we get the story in flashbacks without knowing who is murdered until the end. ⁣

Why Kirsten loves it

I’ve become very picky about thrillers recently and this one is hands down my favorite of the year so far.⁣ It also made our Best of 2020 list!

Adaptation Information

This story is soon to be a TV series on Hulu. Liz Tigelaar is set to write and produce the show.

Find this book in: Locked Room Mysteries / Books Like People We Meet on Vacation / Best British Mystery Books / Best Beach Reads / British Books /Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Thriller Books/ Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Books Set on an Island

The Woman in Cabin 10

Author: Ruth Ware

Year: 2016

Genre: Mystery Thriller

More info: New York Times Bestseller

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Shortly after being burglarized, a travel journalist boards a small luxury cruise liner to cover its inaugural voyage. When she thinks she sees a passenger thrown overboard – but everyone is still accounted for – she has to decide if what she saw was real or only in her head.

Why Kirsten loves it

This book wasn’t as creepy as some of Ware’s others, but it still kept me on the edge of my seat. You just might want to wait until you are off a boat to read this one! If you love thriller novels, this book is a must-read.

Adaptation Information

Netflix is adapted this book into a movie starring Kiera Knightley. Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham, Art Malik, Gitte Witt, and David Ajala were in the cast as well.

Find this book in: Sailing Novels / Psychological Thriller Books / Unreliable Narrator Books / Mystery and Thriller Novels About Writers / Best Thriller Books

Something in the Water

Author: Catherine Steadman

Year: 2018

Genre: Thriller

More info: June 2018 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range:

Plot

This thriller was a slow build with an explosive finish. When two newlyweds find something in the water on their honeymoon, it alters the course of their lives and marriage.

Why Kirsten loves it

I loved how the heroine changes throughout the book. It felt very realistic based on the circumstances. The story itself was fast-paced from beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down.

Find this book in: Books set at the Beach / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2018 / Domestic Thrillers / Best 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 / Thrillers and Mysteries Set in Hotels / Best Thriller Books of 2026 / Novels About Africa / Books Set on an Island / Best Thriller Books

The Last Thing He Told Me

Author: Laura Dave

Year: 2021

Genre: Mystery

More info: May 2021 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

I raved about this book when I read it earlier this month! Well-chosen, Reese! The story of a stepmother and her daughter as they try to find the girl’s father after his abrupt departure. Owen Michaels gives his wife a note that says “protect her” before disappearing without a trace.

Hannah and Michael have been married for only a year and now Hannah must become everything to 16-year-old Bailey. As Hannah and Bailey search for Micheal, there are more questions than answers. Why was Michale’s boss arrested? Why is the FBI at their house?

Why Jackie loves it

This mystery has so much heart as you see Hannah bond with and try to protect her new stepdaughter, Bailey. I did not see the ending of this book coming, but absolutely adored it. This is one of the mystery books that will keep you turning the page.

Find this book in: Books About Mothers / Ultimate Mysteries / Best Beach Reads / Best Books of 2021 / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2021 / Beach Reads 2022 / Best Thriller Books

I Let You Go

Author: Clare Mackintosh 

Year: 2016

Genre: Thriller

More info: New York Times Bestseller

Age Range: 16+

Plot

The book begins with a mother’s worst nightmare. Her son slips out of her grip and into the street where he is struck and killed by a car. This happens almost immediately.  This was important to me so that it would not be too heart-wrenching. 

Now the search is on for the driver of the car. The police are trying to find the driver of the car and are willing to chase any lead to find answers in the horrendous hit-and-run.

Jenna moves to the Welsh coast to escape the loss of her child and her painful past.

Trigger Warnings

Death of a child

Why Jackie loves it

This domestic thriller grabbed me, shook me, and then gently put me down.  I was given a ride and wasn’t sure what hit me.  This book had a few things that I was not expecting and I loved it. Years after reading it, it is still one of my favorite thrillers I have ever read.

Find this book in: British Mystery Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Thriller Books

Into the Water

Author: Paula Hawkins

Year: 2017

Genre: Thriller

More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

This thriller is a fast-paced book that leaves you guessing until the very end.  Two women are dead and the question is whether it was murder or suicide.  The story is told from many points of view, which adds to the unpredictability but is a little confusing at first.

Trigger Warnings

Suicide, rape

Why Jackie loves it

I quickly adjusted and immersed myself in the novel. Into The Water by Paula Hawkins has character development, surprise, and suspense.  I read it in 2 days and was left asking what?!  Really?!….Wow!!!

Find this book in: Paula Hawkins Books in Order and Ranked / Best Thriller Books

Wrong Place Wrong Time

Author: Gillian McAllister

Year: 2022

Genre: Mystery Thriller

More info: August 2022 Reese’s Book Club Pick

Age Range: 15+

Plot

Jen is waiting for the 18-year-old son, Todd to return home the night before Halloween when she watches him come from the darkness and murder a total stranger by stabbing him. She does not know why her son would do this but her life is torn to pieces.

When she wakes up the next morning, she is shocked to discover that she has gone back to a day before the murder. Can she stop it from happening? First, she needs to find out why.

Now, each time Jen wakes up, she has gone further back in the past- days, weeks, and years before the murder ever happened.

Why Jackie loves it

This time travel mystery is one of the smartest and most captivating books I have ever read. It is an easy pick for a favorite book of the year.

Find this book in: Best Time Loop Books / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2022 / The Best Beach Reads of All Time / Best Thriller Books

The Last Time I Lied

Author: Riley Sager

Year: 2018

Genre: Thriller

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Emma is returning to her summer camp as a counselor after avoiding it since the tragedy of her bunkmates, Vivian, Natalie, and Allison’s disappearance. Trying to piece together what happened that fateful summer, she realizes she might be in danger.

Why Jackie loves it

I was so freaked out that I finished this thriller in 2 days, maybe because I visited my own overnight camp while reading it. I just needed to know how it ended! Other people have told me they were shocked at the twists and turns too.

Find this book in: Books Set at Camp / Lake Novels / Riley Sager Books in Order / Best Thriller Books

Best Offer Wins

Author: Marisa Kashino

Year: 2025

Genre: Thriller

More info: December 2025 Good Morning America Book Club Pick

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Margo and her husband have been living in a condo as they save up to buy their dream home in the ‘burbs. But 18 months and 11 offers later, Margo has become more and more desperate to find a house so she can have a baby and start the next chapter of her life.

When she gets a hot tip that a desirable home is coming onto the market soon, she tries to ingratiate herself with the homeowners. Determined not to let this house slip through her fingers, her antics become more and more unhinged, putting her job and her marriage in jeopardy. But Margo is playing to win, even if she has to break some laws to come out on top.

Trigger Warnings

Murder, Stalking

Why Kirsten loves it

Fans of the hit book adaptation, You, will rejoice because there is a new favorite anti-hero in town! I couldn’t get enough of Margo’s increasingly desperate antics to win her dream house – the story was just too delicious to put down! I also sampled it on audio, and the narrator does the BEST voice for this character. I was rooting for her to come out on top and you will be rooting for her too! #gifted by MacMillan Audio

Find this book in: GMA Book Club List 2025 / Books with Stalkers / Best Thriller Books of 2025 / Antiheroine Novels / Best Thriller Books

The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo

Author: Stieg Larsson

Year: 2005

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

More info: Millennium #1

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Lisbeth Salander is not technically a detective but she sure is a bada** investigator. She is able to use her unparalleled computer hacking skills to find information on anybody, anywhere.

Mikael Blomkvist is a journalist who has a libel conviction. He is hired to investigate a disappearance from 40 years ago and convinces Lisbeth to help him in his investigation. These two make the most unusual pairing in this list of detective books. If you have not read this book series, they are fantastic.

Why Jackie loves it

This is also one of the best movies based on books. It was done twice: an American version and the original version with subtitles. Both are fantastic. The premise is so unique, I loved it and had no idea what to expect from these unique characters.

Find this book in: Detective Books / Best Mystery Books / Serial Killer Books / Books With Neurodivergent Characters / Best Books in Translation / Best Thriller Books

The Death of Mrs. Westaway

Author: Ruth Ware

Year: 2018

Genre: Mystery Thriller

More info: New York Times Bestseller

Age Range: 16+

Plot

I was a fan of Ware’s hit novel Woman in Cabin 10. I thought it was a unique story and I was anxious to try another of her books. The premise is that a girl is mistaken for the relative of a recently deceased woman and she goes to the estate to try to capitalize on the error. Obviously, things are not what they seemed.

Why Kirsten loves it

Cornwall is the perfect setting for suspense in the style of Daphne Du Maurier. This book is dark and gothic and the perfect thriller for fall.

Find this book in: Books Set in Cornwall / Books with a Name in the Title / Best Thriller Books

The God of the Woods

Author: Liz Moore

Year: 2024

Genre: Literary Historical Mystery

More info: New York Times Bestseller
New York Times Notable Book of 2024
People Magazine’s #1 Book of the Year

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Early one morning in August 1975, a camp counselor discovers that Barbara Van Laar, the daughter of the camp owners, has gone missing. Fourteen years earlier, her brother also went missing, and he was never found.

As the story flashes between the investigation into Barbara’s disappearance and the events leading up to Bear’s, detectives, family members, campers, and staff members’ lives are unfolded in a way that makes the mystery one of many threads woven into a masterful tale.

Liz Moore captured my attention from the very beginning and kept me engaged throughout as each secret and discovery unfolded into further mysteries.

Trigger Warnings

Child Death, Domestic Abuse

Why Kirsten loves it

I’ve not read many literary mysteries, but I can say that I like this subgenre of literary fiction. The mystery of what happened to Barbara and Bear was a fascinating central point, but I was so invested in each character’s story that I sometimes forgot what crime was being solved. I can see this not being for everyone, though — there are lots of characters and subplots buried within. It’s no cozy mystery, but that’s exactly why I think it’s one of my favorites of the year.

Why Jackie loves it

I will admit that it took me a little longer than usual to get into this book. As Kirsten mentioned, there are a lot of characters and subplots so it took longer to get into the heart of the story. You need to persist with the slower beginning of the book. Once you are 75 pages in, you won’t be able to put it down. The plot development is so well done as the stories from the past and present come together.

Find this book in: Books about Camp / The Best Books of 2024 / Historical Thrillers / Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump / Popular Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Books Set in the 70s / Summary of Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall / Best Thriller Books

The Doll Factory

Author: Elizabeth Macneal

Year: 2019

Genre: Thriller

More info: #1 International bestseller and The New York Times Editor’s Choice

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This historical fiction novel about art is part mystery, part love story, and part thriller. MacNeal’s debut takes place in Victorian England during the time of the Great Exhibition.

Iris dreams of learning to paint like a true artist, while she toils away with her twin sister in a doll shop. Silas is a curiosity collector who can’t seem to get Iris out of his head after their chance meeting, and Albie is the rag-a-muffin street urchin I wanted to take home.

Why Kirsten loves it

Their stories weave together in a slow burn until the blood-pumping, heart-racing conclusion.

Find this book in: Best Books of 2019 / Best Books with Stalkers / Books Becoming Movies or TV Series in 2024 / Novels About Art / Historical Thrillers / Best Thriller Books

With a Vengeance

Author: Riley Sager

Year: 2025

Genre: Historical Thriller

More info: New York Times Bestseller

Age Range: 15+

Plot

In 1954, Anna Matheson boards a luxury train with six people responsible for her family’s death. She lured them all to the train, where they will be the only passengers. She plans to expose their crimes and see them arrested by the FBI when the train arrives in Chicago the next day.

But when one of them is murdered, it derails Anna’s plans. She wants to see them pay for their crimes, not die. Now, Anna must find the killer and stop them before the train reaches its destination. Soon, the passengers are being picked off one by one, and she must risk her life to protect them.

Why Jackie loves it

This is Riley Sager at his best. I love this historical thriller. It was fast-paced and reminiscent of Agatha Christie. I thought the plot was smart and the main character was likable- I was rooting for her. This is one of my favorite Riley Sager books. I felt like it was different than his normal style and I loved it. #gifted

Find this book in: Historical Thrillers / Riley Sager Books in Order and Ranked / Books Set on a Train / Best Thriller Books of 2025 / Best Winter Books / Riley Sager Books in Order / Best Thriller Books

The Shining

Author: Steven King

Year: 2008

Genre: Thriller

More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
One of Time‘s 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Jack Torrence is a recovering alcoholic with anger issues. He accepts a job as a winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel in the hopes of writing his first novel.

He brings his wife and son with him in the hopes of reconnecting with them. Obviously, things go terribly wrong.

Trigger Warnings

Alcoholism, Child Abuse, Violence

Why Jackie loves it

Steven King has a way of finding just the right blend of reality to add to his books to make them truly terrifying. The Shining is no exception. I don’t think there is anyone who has read this haunted hotel book who can think of an isolated cabin as a relaxing retreat ever again.

This book is one of the scariest thriller horror novels I’ve ever read. It is a classic book that shows the descent into madness. It is truly terrifying and a must-read thriller.

Find this book in: Book Set in the 70s / Winter Books/ Thriller Novels About Writers / Thrillers and Mysteries Set in Hotels / Best Thriller Books

Red Sparrow

Author: Jason Matthews

Year: 2013

Genre: Thriller

More info: 2014 Edgar Award Winner
Red Sparrow Trilogy #1 of 3

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This is a slow build to a smart and entertaining story.  Jason Matthews is ex-CIA so to read a story from the perspective of someone who has been there was amazing!

This is not a start-to-finish action book but rather, slow, smart, and methodical. Dominika Egorova is drafted to become a “Sparrow”, a woman trained in the arts of espionage and seduction. She is hired to work against the CIA’s Nathaniel Nash but becomes a double agent as revenge against the Russian government who forced her to work as a sparrow.

Why Jackie loves it

I know why this book was made into a movie – It was made for the big screen. It is detailed, smart, and very well-written.

Find this book in: Books with Colors in the Title / Best Thriller Books