The 10 Best Suspense Books
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in March of 2018. There's no substitute for that creepy feeling you get from deft plotting and believable danger. These suspense books include the kinds of page-turners that'll make you check the locks three times before you go to bed, and then have you staying up all night deliciously terrified. Our selections are filled with surprise endings, twists and turns, and tantalizing mysteries. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. I Am Watching You
2. Bones Don't Lie
3. The Silent Patient
Editor's Notes
April 07, 2020:
Suspense books run the gamut from true literary masterpieces to escapist fantasies that demand suspension of disbelief. While compelling writing, tight pacing, good character development, and descriptive, evocative prose always ranks high on our priority list, our biggest concern when curating this selection was choosing addictive volumes that get your heart racing. Each has its method of doing so, but be aware that many books in this genre have dark, graphic, and/or disturbing content.
Much like a good true crime or spy novel, a mystery lies at the heart of most of our choices. The exception to the rule is Finding Rebecca, which instead uses the horrors of World War II and a pair of star-crossed lovers to get readers on the edge of their seats. Those who like a bit of detective work thrown in will enjoy The Fix and Bones Don't Lie, while Stillhouse Lake involves gripping family drama. Fans of flawed protagonists and unreliable narrators should consider The Girl Who Lived and the newly added The Silent Patient.
Today we said goodbye to The Life We Bury and The Woman in the Window to make room for the recently released and well-received The Silent Patient and the dark, well-paced Then She Was Gone. The Life We Bury remains an entertaining book, although there is some complaint among readers and critics that it combines too many tropes and improbable plot points, which can be distracting. And while The Woman in the Window is a compelling read, the plot is a bit old hat, while its replacement The Silent Patient is lauded for its fresh, unique take on the genre.
Special Honors
Rare and Antique Books True lovers of classics of the genre will appreciate the extensive collection of limited first editions offered by Rare and Antique Books. You'll find heavyweights like Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and John le Carre, among others. Many come with dust jackets and cloth boards intact and are in excellent condition. rareandantiquebooks.com
4. Stillhouse Lake
5. The Fix
6. Then She Was Gone
7. The Girl Who Lived
8. Finding Rebecca
9. The Silent Corner
10. No Exit
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.