The most recommended new thrillers books

Who picked these books? Meet our 162 experts.

162 authors created a book list connected to new thrillers, and here are their favorite new thrillers books.
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Book cover of A Man of Lies

Ellen Pall Author Of Must Read Well

From Ellen's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Writer Reader Bluegrass jammer Best friends with my dog

Ellen's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Ellen Pall Why did Ellen love this book?

Usually I’m not much for novels set in the criminal underworld, so I opened A Man of Lies with some skepticism.

Then I read the first paragraph: “So here’s the short version of things: I did something stupid, some people got hurt, and I’m about to try something far worse.” Who could stop reading after that? Not me. I zipped through the book, happy to live in the company of this tough, worldly, bluntly frank narrator pursuing a goal motivated, we soon learn, by love.

I also wondered about the background of the author. Nothing in the jacket flap biography suggests a con man with a gun. So how does he know all this stuff without having lived it? Who is this guy?


By Ben Crane,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

When his lover is killed by their mob boss, a hardened criminal insider decides to pursue one last elaborate heist in an effort to rid himself of his underground lifestyle for good.

Barrett Rye has always been told he can be only one thing in life: an enforcer. He's a seven-foot wall of muscle and the most effective collector in the largest criminal enterprise in the Midwest. After he realizes he wants more out of life than hurting people, he and his mob accountant boyfriend, Mickey, decide to steal enough money from their boss to disappear and start over. But…


Book cover of When We Were Silent

Sarah Seltzer Author Of The Singer Sisters

From Sarah's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Sarah's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Sarah Seltzer Why did Sarah love this book?

By Fiona McPhillips,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked When We Were Silent as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Discover the dark boarding school psychological thriller, an exploration of power, corruption and retribution, perfect for fans of Girl A, My Dark Vanessa and Anatomy of a Scandal.

'Excruciating suspense' Stephen King
'One of the most compelling books I've ever read...compulsive, tender and chilling' Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates
'A powerful, unforgettable read' Andrea Mara, bestselling author of No One Saw A Thing
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"I'm not here for prestige. I'm here for revenge."

Lou Manson is an outsider when she joins the final-year class at Highfield Manor, Dublin's most exclusive private school.

Beyond the granite pillars and the…


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Book cover of Edge of the Known World

Edge of the Known World by Sheri T. Joseph,

Edge of the Known World is a near-future love and adventure story about a brilliant young refugee caught in era when genetic screening tests like 23AndMe make it impossible to hide a secret identity. The novel is distributed by Simon & Schuster. It is a USA Today Bestseller and 2024…

Book cover of A House with Good Bones

R. E. Stearns Author Of Under a New and Brilliant Sky

From R. E.'s 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

R. E.'s 3 favorite reads in 2024

R. E. Stearns Why did R. E. love this book?

I've never read a horror story like this one! First, our protagonist and viewpoint character is a unique delight, from her close and turbulent relationship with her family to her (well researched, as far as I can tell!) extensive insect knowledge, and even more features you just don't see in the average haunted house protagonist.

And then there are all the extremely strange story events! I enjoyed being surprised at every turn, even in such an otherwise commonplace location as a reasonably sized house in the American suburbs. There's something in this story to scare everyone, even if it's the entirely natural possibility that a parent might be getting seriously ill. But don't worry, there are extremely strange supernatural spooks involved too! I highly recommend it for fans of supernatural horror and complicated family relationships.

By T. Kingfisher,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked A House with Good Bones as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A Barnes & Noble Best Horror Book of 2023

A haunting Southern Gothic from an award-winning master of suspense, A House With Good Bones explores the dark, twisted roots lurking just beneath the veneer of a perfect home and family.

"Mom seems off."

Her brother's words echo in Sam Montgomery's ear as she turns onto the quiet North Carolina street where their mother lives alone.

She brushes the thought away as she climbs the front steps. Sam's excited for this rare extended visit, and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine, watching murder mystery…


Book cover of The Gatekeeper

Andrew Welsh-Huggins Author Of Sick to Death

From Andrew's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader Runner Skeptical Curious

Andrew's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Andrew Welsh-Huggins Why did Andrew love this book?

Bryne has created a brilliant new lone wolf protagonist with the epic name of Desmond Aloysius Limerick ("Dez" to his friends), a freelance operative with a tossed salad UK background (is he Irish? Scottish? English?) and mad, MacGyver-like skills that speak to a mysterious military background. He's also funny, observant, and fiercely loyal. Really enjoyed being in his world.

By James Byrne,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

James Byrne's The Gatekeeper introduces Dez Limerick in the most anticipated thriller in years.

A highly trained team of mercenaries launches a well-planned, coordinated attack on a well-guarded military contractor - but they didn't count on one thing, the right man being in the wrong place at the right time.

Desmond Aloysius Limerick (“Dez” to all) is a retired mercenary, and enthusiastic amateur musician, currently in Southern California, enjoying the sun and sitting in on the occasional gig, when the hotel he's residing at falls under attack. A skilled team attempts to kidnap the Chief legal counsel of Triton Expeditors,…


Book cover of Mosaic

Kev Harrison Author Of Below

From Kev's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Storyteller Traveller Horror addict Reader

Kev's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Kev Harrison Why did Kev love this book?

I’ve been a fan of Catherine McCarthy’s work for a few years now, but this was a high for me.

The voice of the main character seems almost instantly familiar. The mystery elements which unfold as you learn more about the strange goings on at the church, and the way the ending of the story is crafted are masterful.

Cults, cosmic horror, a fascinating artist protagonist with an intriguing back story. The prose in itself is just sumptuous, written in stunning detail and yet never relenting in terms of pace. I loved every page of this book. 

By Catherine McCarthy,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

SOMETHING WICKED WAITS.


When Robin Griffiths embarks upon the restoration of a stained-glass window in a thirteenth-century church, little does she comprehend the stakes involved. The more slivers of glass she pieces together, the more she realizes things are not what they appear to be in the seemingly cozy hamlet of Bilbury. Piece by piece, sliver by sliver, the window is revealed in all its glory. But will she survive with her sanity intact, or will reawakening the image in the window prove to be her undoing?


Book cover of The Ferryman

Monica Chase Author Of Broken Code: The Genesis of Rebellion

From my list on Sci-fi thrillers that unravel humanity’s secrets.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been fascinated by the razor-thin line between innovation and disaster—where progress often conceals a darker potential. As a Gen-Xer who grew up questioning authority, speculative fiction became my outlet for exploring these precarious themes. Now, as an author, I channel that curiosity into stories that push the boundaries of ethical ambition, forcing us to confront the unsettling truths behind our technological dreams. This list reflects my deep love for sci-fi thrillers that don’t just entertain but challenge us to examine the hidden costs of our relentless pursuit of progress.

Monica's book list on Sci-fi thrillers that unravel humanity’s secrets

Monica Chase Why did Monica love this book?

This book didn’t just fascinate me; it shattered my understanding of utopia. Cronin’s Prospera seemed idyllic, but as I read, a gnawing unease grew. Like the protagonist, Proctor, I found myself grappling with the realization that perfection might come at a devastating cost.

The unraveling of Prospera’s facade forced me to reflect on the illusions we cling to in our own society. Cronin’s exploration of memory, loss, and the price of paradise stuck with me, making me ponder the lies we tell ourselves.

By Justin Cronin,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Ferryman as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Next to impossible to put down . . . exciting, mysterious, and totally satisfying.”—STEPHEN KING
 
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Passage comes a riveting standalone novel about a group of survivors on a hidden island utopia—where the truth isn't what it seems.

Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera’s lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological…


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Book cover of A House on Liberty Street

A House on Liberty Street by Neil Turner,

Meet Tony Valenti. His high-flying corporate law career just cratered. His society marriage blew up in a bitter divorce. He's returned to the Chicago suburbs to lick his wounds and regroup in the haven of the Valenti family home. But time to heal isn't in the cards.

Tony's elderly father…

Book cover of The Mill House Murders

Tom Mead Author Of The Murder Wheel: A Locked-Room Mystery

From Tom's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Crime fiction fan Mystery fan Golden age mystery fan Locked-room mystery fan

Tom's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Tom Mead Why did Tom love this book?

The Japanese mystery scene is packed with incredibly imaginative and original puzzlers, and Yukito Ayatsuji is one of the best in the business.

Astonishingly, this is only his second book to appear in English (after the equally amazing The Decagon House Murders), and it’s a tour-de-force of a country house mystery featuring gruesome murders, masked men, and a masterfully handled dual timeline. 

By Yukito Ayatsuji, Ho-Ling Wong (translator),

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

A twisty and ingenious classic Japanese murder mystery from the author of The Decagon House Murders

Every year, a small group of acquaintances pay a visit to the remote, castle-like Mill House, home to the reclusive Fujinuma Kiichi, son of a famous artist, who has lived his life behind a rubber mask ever since a disfiguring car accident. This year, however, the visit is disrupted by gruesome murder, a baffling disappearance and the theft of a priceless painting.

The brilliant Kiyoshi Shimada arrives on the scene, but as he investigates the seemingly impossible events of that evening, death strikes again,…


Book cover of Seven Sisters

L.A. Larkin Author Of Next Girl Missing

From my list on suspense and mystery about women who fight back.

Why am I passionate about this?

My interest in gaslighting began when I watched the movie, Gaslight, starring Ingrid Bergman. Until then, I hadn’t understood how someone who appears charming and caring can use someone’s love to control, manipulate and undermine them, to such an extent that the victim doubts their own perception of reality. I started to read accounts of victims of gaslighting. I then realized that someone I knew was going through this. Fiction is a powerful means of creating awareness of issues and injustices, and I hope my new series character, Sally Fairburn, will inspire women to seize back their lives. 

L.A.'s book list on suspense and mystery about women who fight back

L.A. Larkin Why did L.A. love this book?

The premise of the crime-thriller is fascinating: an all-female therapy group meets to share their pain at the abuse and murder of their sisters by their partners/husbands.

The justice system failed to prosecute the killers and the women pursue their own form of justice. They hatch a plan to kill the men who murdered their sisters. The author masterfully establishes how the female victims of abuse find themselves trapped and isolated by their abuser and why they find it so hard to leave them, even when their life is in danger.

Will the sisters who want revenge get away with it?

By Katherine Kovacic,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Men get away with murder all the time. Now it's our turn ... A twisty, intriguing crime novel for fans of The Mother and The Family Doctor.

Naomi started grief counselling prepared to run for cover as soon as her therapist, Mia, pulled out a crystal or tried to align her chakras.

When Mia suggests that she join a support group, Naomi is sceptical: how could she begin to describe what it felt like to lose her sister, Jo? How could she possibly share her loss and rage to a room full of people? How could she express her helplessness…


Book cover of The Only One Left

Gerri Bauer Author Of At Home in Persimmon Hollow: Persimmon Hollow Legacy Series Book 1

From Gerri's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Sewing nerd Domestic history fan

Gerri's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Gerri Bauer Why did Gerri love this book?

The Only One Left has a lot of twists and turns that kept me reading. I had checked out several reader reviews before picking up the book, and I was on high alert to look for clues as the story unfolded. I only guessed a few — a very few — and enjoyed every page and the surprises along the way. This is Gothic Suspense at its best. And it also shows you don’t need to include explicit sex or graphic violence to spice up a book. A great story wins every time. This one is a page-turner.

By Riley Sager,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked The Only One Left as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE BRAND NEW HEART-POUNDING GOTHIC THRILLER FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Everyone believes that Lenora Hope is a mass murderer.

When the Hope family was massacred decades ago, she was the only one left after that tragic night.

Mute, paralysed and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora has never been able to tell her side of the story.

Until her new live-in caregiver Kit brings her a typewriter.

And with one working finger Lenora begins to type:

I want to tell you everything.

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Book cover of The Inhabitants

The Inhabitants by Beth Castrodale,

Artist Nilda Ricci could use a stroke of luck. She seems to get it when she inherits a shadowy Victorian, built by an architect whose houses were said to influence the mind—supposedly, in beneficial ways. At first, Nilda’s new home delivers, with the help of its longtime housekeeper. And Nilda…

Book cover of The Wonder State

Cayce Osborne Author Of I Know What You Did

From Cayce's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader Library advocate Lover of mysteries Wisconsinite

Cayce's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Cayce Osborne Why did Cayce love this book?

I love books with creepy houses, complicated friendships, grown-ups returning to their hometowns, dual timelines, and mysterious books that characters must decode.

The Wonder State has all these things. And not just one creepy house, but many! From the outside it might seem like your standard wayward-teens-get-into-trouble story, but it is so much more. It’s magical. It’s heartfelt. It’s clever. It’s atmospheric.

The houses in this book are more than homes. They are works of art, they are portals to the past, they are hideouts, they are solace, and they are terrible dangers, all at once.

By Sara Flannery Murphy,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

From the author of Girl One comes a spellbinding adventure about a strange power lurking in the Arkansas Ozarks, and the group of friends obsessed with finding it.

Five friends arrive back in Eternal Springs, the small town they all fled after high-school graduation. Each of them is drawn home by a cryptic, scrawled two-word letter: You promised.

It has been fifteen years since that life-changing summer, and they're anxious to find out why Brandi called them back, especially when they vowed never to return.

But Brandi is missing. She'd been acting erratically for months, in and out of rehab,…


Book cover of A Man of Lies
Book cover of When We Were Silent
Book cover of A House with Good Bones

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