100 books like In Defense of Innocence

By David Wickenden,

Here are 100 books that In Defense of Innocence fans have personally recommended if you like In Defense of Innocence. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Behind Closed Doors

AJ Wills Author Of The Warning

From my list on why readers love psychological and domestic thrillers.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been passionate about psychological thrillers since my mind was blown by Gillian Flynn’s 2012 seminal thriller, Gone Girl, and that twist that I never saw coming. I’ve since written six of my own psychological thrillers and I’ve become fascinated to understand why we’re so drawn to ordinary characters propelled into extraordinary worlds. A mash-up of the crime, thriller, and horror genres, psychological and domestic thrillers often feature husband and wife couples in ordinary neighbourhoods where children and adults go missing, serial killers lurk among us, and real evil lurks behind the front door of innocent-looking homes.

AJ's book list on why readers love psychological and domestic thrillers

AJ Wills Why did AJ love this book?

One of the most compelling aspects of the psychological or domestic thriller genre is the exploration of the horrors that go on inside the lives of ordinary people and this thriller is no exception.

It’s even called Behind Closed Doors! It’s a great title and perfectly captures the theme of the book – how a seemingly ordinary couple are caught up in a horrifyingly abusive relationship. It’s unsettling from the first chapter and only gets worse.

But like driving past a motorway pile-up, you can’t stop looking, desperately hoping there’s a happy ending in sight.

By B.A. Paris,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Behind Closed Doors as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING DEBUT PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER YOU CAN'T MISS!

The perfect marriage? Or the perfect lie?

“A hair-raising debut, both unsettling and addictive...A chilling thriller that will keep you reading long into the night.” ―Mary Kubica, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Good Girl

“This is one readers won’t be able to put down.” ―Booklist (starred review)

"A can’t-put-down psychological thriller.” ―Library Journal (starred review)

“This debut is guaranteed to haunt you...Warning: brace yourself.” ―Bustle (10 New Thrillers to Read This Summer)

“The sense of believably and terror that engulfs…


Book cover of The Bone Garden

Erica R. Stinson Author Of Shelter

From my list on mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a suspense and thriller author in my own right since 2015, I have also read very many books that are much like the ones that I write. I am most comfortable here and I, too, like to write books with these crazy, think-outside-the-box types of twists when it comes to plotting. Honing my craft, as I am in the middle of five different book projects right now for future release, I am hoping to make a name for myself and become as memorable to my readers as my favorite authors are to me.

Erica's book list on mystery, suspense, and thrillers

Erica R. Stinson Why did Erica love this book?

I am a longtime fan of Tess and her Rizzoli and Isles books, the firsts by her that I read some years ago. But I also really liked some of her standalone novels and The Bone Garden checked all my boxes for captivating, thriller, page-turning, edge-of-your-seat reading. To date, this remains of my very favorite books and I have re-read it a few times as a result.

By Tess Gerritsen,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Bone Garden as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Unknown bones, untold secrets, and unsolved crimes from the distant past cast ominous shadows on the present in the dazzling new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Present day: Julia Hamill has made a horrifying discovery on the grounds of her new home in rural Massachusetts: a skull buried in the rocky soil–human, female, and, according to the trained eye of Boston medical examiner Maura Isles, scarred with the unmistakable marks of murder. But whoever this nameless woman was, and whatever befell her, is knowledge lost to another time.

Boston, 1830: In order to pay for his…


Book cover of The Other Woman

Erica R. Stinson Author Of Shelter

From my list on mystery, suspense, and thrillers.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a suspense and thriller author in my own right since 2015, I have also read very many books that are much like the ones that I write. I am most comfortable here and I, too, like to write books with these crazy, think-outside-the-box types of twists when it comes to plotting. Honing my craft, as I am in the middle of five different book projects right now for future release, I am hoping to make a name for myself and become as memorable to my readers as my favorite authors are to me.

Erica's book list on mystery, suspense, and thrillers

Erica R. Stinson Why did Erica love this book?

This is one of my new favorite authors, of who I have read many more of her books recently. I like books like this that contain twists and turns and endings that you don’t see coming. Most of her books are in the domestic thriller or psychological suspense thriller categories. These are the type of books that I read(and write) most.

By N.L. Hinkens,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Other Woman as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Not all secrets are what they seem.

When Bridget spots an elegantly dressed woman leaving her husband’s office late one night, she fears the worst. Her marriage is already strained but things are about to take an even more shocking turn when her family is suddenly torn apart by a horrific crime they all become entangled in.

Her trust is shattered, her husband is on the run, and her son is hiding a dark secret. Bridget’s life has become a dangerous lie and the clock is ticking as the police close in on a killer. But who can she trust…


Book cover of Magpie

Roz Nay Author Of The Offing

From my list on sneaky thrills and twists.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a backpacker at heart, a high school English teacher, and a bestselling author with an eye on what’s really happening under the surface and what people are really thinking. My mum taught me early to "watch the quiet ones," and I’ve always been fascinated by the way people can promote a very public self while maintaining something totally different on the inside. Perhaps that’s why I love a good twist! I also think that in the current climate of extremely savvy thriller readers, it’s impressive to wrongfoot readers and stay true to the clues hidden in the pages.

Roz's book list on sneaky thrills and twists

Roz Nay Why did Roz love this book?

Magpie is tense, clever, and so beautifully written that I thought I was following a certain point of view, only to be whiplashed into the reveal of someone completely different.

With a story that centres around motherhood and pregnancy, the dread is a slow, subtle, terrible creep, and I loved how the characters unraveled.

By Elizabeth Day,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Magpie as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

For fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish comes a twisty psychological suspense about motherhood, obsession, and just how far some will go for the perfect family. “Great, plain and simple” (Stanley Tucci).

Marisa and Jake are a perfect couple. And Kate, their new lodger, is the perfect roommate—and not just because her rent payments will give them the income they need to start trying for the baby of their dreams.

Except—no one is truly perfect. Sure, Kate doesn’t seem to care much about personal boundaries and can occasionally seem overly-familiar with Jake. But Marisa doesn’t let it concern her, knowing…


Book cover of Vigilante

Why am I passionate about this?

I wanted to write an action crime book, and it turned into a vigilante book. With military skills (West Pointer/Infantry & Aviation Officer) and lots of cop friends, I was able to draw on real experiences. I also read about 80 novels a year and write crime thriller novels. I’ve won more than a few awards and keep studying my craft. It makes me feel young. I love stories with action that make you think and are a little different and unique. I want to make a reader cry and laugh, which is what I look for in a good novel. So, when I write about vigilantes, I try to keep it real. 

Mike's book list on vigilante novels that are unique, thought-provoking, action-filled, and you won't forget

Mike Slavin Why did Mike love this book?

I love the action. The main character’s first kill was more of an impulse and was very brutal and messy. Then he planned and learned as he went.

What made this story most different for me is the slow evolution the main character took to being a vigilante. It was fun being in Canada for the story and watching the characters evolve.

I loved the big twist that saves the vigilante. I enjoyed the multiple storylines that all converged. A very engaging psychological thriller. It kept me guessing until the end.

By Claude Bouchard,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Vigilante as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Doesn't everyone fantasize a bit about vigilante justice? Haven't you ever read or heard of some despicable act of violence and secretly wished you could have the opportunity to make the predator pay? Welcome to the VIGILANTE Series, a growing collection of suspense best sellers best described as thrillers and mysteries which will have you cheering for the assassin as justice is delivered in a clandestine fashion. But remember, this is fiction so it's not a crime. Available in kindle and print books.Book 1 of the VIGILANTE Series#1 KINDLE BEST SELLER in VIGILANTE JUSTICE!". . . hits you like a…


Book cover of In the Heart of the Fire

Carol Potenza Author Of Signs: A De-Extinct Zoo Mystery

From my list on where science gets twisted into stories that thrill.

Why am I passionate about this?

One of the reasons I started writing is because I wanted to create stories where I got to learn. I’m a scientist by trade—a molecular biologist and genetic engineer. All those years of concentrated schooling into a very narrow niche left little time to explore other corners of education—history, archeology, anthropology, art… Creating and writing stories allows me to build thrilling fiction using my scientific background and weaving in whatever feeds my soul and unlocks my imagination. I have never had so much fun and felt so fulfilled, and I highly recommend it.

Carol's book list on where science gets twisted into stories that thrill

Carol Potenza Why did Carol love this book?

A great book’s superpower is a story that sticks with the reader for a long time, as the Nameless collection did with me.

Dean Koontz is a master of creating deep anguish in his characters that propel their actions. Mix this emotion with science involving the brain and selective memory and you get the main character, Nameless, who doesn’t know who he is or remember his history.

Why? He willingly participates in targeted assassinations to eradicate evil from this world. Why? The quest for answers keeps the pages turning, allowing tantalizing glimpses of Nameless’s past life. When the answers are finally bared by a devastating revelation in the final story, we understand why Nameless chose his fate—because sometimes wish we could do the same.

By Dean Koontz,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked In the Heart of the Fire as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A bloodthirsty sheriff is terrorizing a small Texas town where justice has been buried with his victims. Until Nameless arrives—a vigilante whose past is a mystery and whose future is written in blood.

Anyone who crosses Sheriff Russell Soakes is dead, missing, or warned. One of them is a single mother trying to protect her children but bracing herself for the worst. Nameless fears the outcome. He’s seen it in his visions. Now it’s time to teach the depraved Soakes a lesson in fear. But in turning predators into prey, will Nameless unearth a few secrets of his own?

From…


Book cover of Romeo's Rules

Why am I passionate about this?

I wanted to write an action crime book, and it turned into a vigilante book. With military skills (West Pointer/Infantry & Aviation Officer) and lots of cop friends, I was able to draw on real experiences. I also read about 80 novels a year and write crime thriller novels. I’ve won more than a few awards and keep studying my craft. It makes me feel young. I love stories with action that make you think and are a little different and unique. I want to make a reader cry and laugh, which is what I look for in a good novel. So, when I write about vigilantes, I try to keep it real. 

Mike's book list on vigilante novels that are unique, thought-provoking, action-filled, and you won't forget

Mike Slavin Why did Mike love this book?

Something different, a vigilante that is a mixed martial arts fighter and a philosopher. I love this guy.

Romeo is trying to relax and stay out of trouble in LA when he gets sucked into trying to help a woman find her two kidnapped children. Of course, it gets complicated.

I like that he’s a little bit of a smart ass, as I am, too, in trying to make people laugh. I like philosophy stuff and a nice vigilante. Romeo is sharing his philosophical thoughts with Latin quotes mixed into lots of action. A man with violent skills who thinks deeply about his world. It made me stop and think a few times.

It’s the first in a series of seven books. You won’t be sorry.

By James Scott Bell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Romeo's Rules as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

If you want to stay alive, you better know the rules . . .

Natalia Mayne said, “What's the first rule?”

“Fear nothing,” I said.

“You have any more?”

“Do unto them before they do unto you.”

“Really?”

”And you don’t owe the truth to people who lie."

“I’ve never met anybody like you.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

Mike Romeo is an ex-cage fighter living off the grid in L.A. Running from a dark guilt that dogs him, he's finally found a place where he can rest and even heal.

Then a church blows up. And with it all of…


Book cover of Dr. Vigilante

Why am I passionate about this?

I wanted to write an action crime book, and it turned into a vigilante book. With military skills (West Pointer/Infantry & Aviation Officer) and lots of cop friends, I was able to draw on real experiences. I also read about 80 novels a year and write crime thriller novels. I’ve won more than a few awards and keep studying my craft. It makes me feel young. I love stories with action that make you think and are a little different and unique. I want to make a reader cry and laugh, which is what I look for in a good novel. So, when I write about vigilantes, I try to keep it real. 

Mike's book list on vigilante novels that are unique, thought-provoking, action-filled, and you won't forget

Mike Slavin Why did Mike love this book?

A vigilante, who happens to be a medical doctor, takes justice on the people who put others in the emergency room.

The story is great, with all the medical details. Only a real doctor could know, and the author is a real doctor. The story has a strong sense of justice, and it is a message for us all to be aware of.

If you like seeing bad guys, who beat up women, children, and LGBT, get what’s coming to them, this is the place. There is a strong romance story too. Shining a light on the injustice done to women, children, and the LGBT community makes this more than just a story. 

By Alberto Hazan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dr. Vigilante as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Doctor by day. Vigilante by night. Robert lives a double life in New York City. He spends his days treating patients at the St. Jude’s Hospital ER and his nights going after the psychopaths who wrong them: the child molesters, wife beaters, and rapists. But when the fiery, beautiful new social worker discovers his secret identity and their love affair takes off, Robert is forced to face some hard questions: Do the ends justify the means? After years of hunting down psychopaths, is Robert turning into one himself? An action thriller with strong, distinct characters, filled with suspense and surprise,…


Book cover of Vendetta

Why am I passionate about this?

I wanted to write an action crime book, and it turned into a vigilante book. With military skills (West Pointer/Infantry & Aviation Officer) and lots of cop friends, I was able to draw on real experiences. I also read about 80 novels a year and write crime thriller novels. I’ve won more than a few awards and keep studying my craft. It makes me feel young. I love stories with action that make you think and are a little different and unique. I want to make a reader cry and laugh, which is what I look for in a good novel. So, when I write about vigilantes, I try to keep it real. 

Mike's book list on vigilante novels that are unique, thought-provoking, action-filled, and you won't forget

Mike Slavin Why did Mike love this book?

The lead is a kick-ass, take no poop Italian/American young woman, Gia. She’s so Italian I could smell the garlic. A no-nonsense woman. Great character development.

There were many scenes centered around a church, great descriptions and use of the location. I’ll always remember this, just one of those scenes. The dive bar and what happens to the owner was an interesting added dimension. I could smell the “dive” in the bar. Might have been in one of these in my younger years.

I enjoyed learning about the City of the Dead in SF and a few very good twists. I loved Gia. I felt like I was in San Francisco, and I enjoyed a short trip to Italy. Read all 15 in the series.

By Kristi Belcamino,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Vendetta as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Gia Santella stands out as an indomitable new heroine in this action-packed thriller series from USA Today bestselling author Kristi Belcamino.

Exotic cars. Glittering nightclubs. Steamy interludes with beautiful strangers.

Gia Santella is all about the fast life. Ever since her parents died in a tragic accident, she’s been burning through her inheritance, chasing desperate highs in the hopes of forgetting her past.

But when an unexpected letter arrives, the past finally catches up to her.

Because her parents’ death was no accident…and now their killer is coming for her.

Armed with nothing but her own instincts, Gia must go…


Book cover of Heartless Hunter

K.M. Krenik Author Of Danger Lies Within

From my list on thrillers with slow burn love and fantastic worlds.

Why am I passionate about this?

I get a fuzzy, euphoric feeling when I see a room full of books I can smell and touch. Thrillers, mysteries, epic fantasies, classics, romance… Ah, to find narratives with strong characters, amazing worlds, and thick plots that I can get lost in! A little spice is always nice, but please don’t violate me with explicit obscenities. My soul is not meant for these modern times. I’m especially impressed when writers have the ability to paint sensual scenes in a subtle, crafty way that leaves the details to a reader’s imagination. My happy place is reading in a treehouse library that overlooks my forest. One day I’ll go there.

K.M.'s book list on thrillers with slow burn love and fantastic worlds

K.M. Krenik Why did K.M. love this book?

I immediately found myself lost in this enemies-to-lovers adventure. The bewitching storyline and mystery kept me engaged from the start. I couldn’t put the book down. The writer, Kristen Ciccarrelli, was new to me when I began this series, and she made a beautiful impression by capturing my interest from page one.

Crimson Moth was the first in the Heartless Hunter series, and I look forward to reading the next one!

By Kristen Ciccarelli,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Heartless Hunter as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 14, 15, 16, and 17.

What is this book about?

Enemies-to-lovers doesn't get more high stakes than a witch and a witch hunter falling in love in bestselling author Kristen Ciccarelli's latest romantic fantasy.

On the night Rune's life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in vigilantes, child abuse, and suicide?

Vigilantes 26 books
Child Abuse 61 books
Suicide 197 books