The 10 Best Thriller Books
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in March of 2018. Some books can be read a little at a time, but then there are others that force you to stay up all night because you can't stop wondering what's going to happen next. Rife with mystery and compelling characters, these thrillers are full of the kinds of action and suspense that'll leave you exhausted at work after you were unable to resist the temptation to read one more chapter. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. White Rose, Black Forest
2. The Ghostwriter
3. No Exit
Editor's Notes
January 28, 2020:
Thriller novels are versatile page-turners that channel the best of detective dramas, spy novels, and even romances. Because of the variety of perspectives and plot types out there, we cherry-picked some of the most interesting, unique, and rewarding volumes we could find.
If you like books about spy-games and intrigue, then Red Sparrow will not disappoint, while armchair time travelers and history lovers will appreciate Stephen King's "11/22/63", White Rose, Black Forest, and the newly-added The Shadow of the Wind. Shadow of the Wind is a true gothic novel, brimming with doomed characters, devastating tragedies, and a touch of mystical power.
For those who like to read about flawed protagonists, Silent Victim and The Ghostwriter each feature leads who have dark secrets and shocking revelations. And if you prefer the more traditional, action-packed thrill ride or cat and mouse game, then The Midnight Line and Beware The Past are worth picking up.
Today we said goodbye to Bone Music, which we replaced with Shadow of the Wind, a selection that showcases deft prose, a well-paced plot, and richly descriptive passages that make it more compelling. We also scrapped The Reunion in favor of the recently released No Exit, which is decidedly more tense and gripping. This novel is the type that has readers finishing it in one sitting despite being over 400 pages.
4. Brandi Reeds' "Trespassing"
5. The Shadow of the Wind
6. Stephen King's "11/22/63"
7. Red Sparrow
8. Beware The Past
9. Silent Victim
10. The Midnight Line
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.