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.
When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

What type of new thrillers book?

Loading...

Book cover of A Village Fete Murder

Vickie Carroll Author Of It's Only Murder

From my list on cozy mysteries about women at work.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a cozy-style mystery writer, I get to live in a world where I know that everything will work out as it should in the end. I look for this in the books that I read and recommend. Do they give the reader something interesting to ponder as they go along with the sleuth (amateur or “real detective)? My father was a police captain, and I grew up looking at things through the eyes of “the law”, I admit. Most people find comfort reading about a small town where nothing will go too wrong. The bad stuff and the bad people are kept at arm’s length, and all is well.

Vickie's book list on cozy mysteries about women at work

Vickie Carroll Why did Vickie love this book?

Written in the style of M.C. Beaton, this book is a perfect English murder mystery.

The idea of a village fete itself has always been alluring to me. I put myself in the story and I’m right at home in the village and celebration at Berrywick House. I blame my British DNA. As in any good cozy, the most irritating member of the community ends up dead, and no exception here.

The main character, Julia, is not only concerned with a murder—or two, but she’s also afraid their peaceful village will be forever ruined. Like all great amateur sleuths, she gets involved. Bird paints a picture of a perfect English village. Add a dog, her Labrador, Jake, and well, sign me up.

By Katie Gayle,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

Julia Bird can’t wait to attend the annual village party at the local stately home, with its tea tents, cake stalls, and… dead body in the maze?

The annual village celebration at Berrywick House is underway, complete with over-decorated cake stalls, fiercely contested flower competitions, and even a maze for the disappointed losers to hide in. Julia Bird, now a well-known – even notorious – member of the community, with her trusty Labrador Jake, has thrown herself headlong into the festivities. But her reputation for adding drama to any event stands up yet again when she discovers a dead body…


Book cover of Adrift

A.A. Chaudhuri Author Of The Final Party

From my list on whodunnit thriller set in idyllic locations.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love writing about the dark side of human nature, and the devastating secrets and resentments that can simmer beneath the surface between friends before reaching boiling point in the most dramatic and sinister way.  It’s a theme pivotal to my latest thriller, which sees friends reuniting in a beautiful yet isolated location for the seemingly perfect celebration, but where things go horribly wrong. I enjoy exploring this topic through multiple characters, all with their own dubious backstories that stir suspicion in readers’ minds and keeps them guessing, while the settings I use play a key role in enhancing that sense of unease and tension conducive to the classic whodunnit.

A.A.'s book list on whodunnit thriller set in idyllic locations

A.A. Chaudhuri Why did A.A. love this book?

The story focuses on six friends reuniting for a stag do on a private yacht in the Balearics, a setting I found both fascinating and original.

They are all looking forward to partying hard in the beautiful sunshine, but when one of the crew meets a grisly end in a shark cage, it seems that a terrible event in the group’s university days has come back to haunt them.

Being trapped together at sea really ramped up the tension and sense of isolation for me, while Hunter deftly drip-feeds clues into the narrative through flashbacks as well as present-day narrative, piquing the reader’s interest as further sinister events ensue and meaning they are never quite sure who the killer is.

By M A Hunter,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

A stag do, six old friends ... and a secret they'd all kill to protect.

-

When Pete and his friends set sail on a private yacht in the Balearics to celebrate Fergus' upcoming wedding, they're all looking forward to sun, sea and copious quantities of alcohol.

But there's a reason they are still entwined in each other's lives a decade after leaving university. A terrible event they've all been trying their hardest to forget.

They say you can't outrun the past ... And these six friends are about to find that out the hard way.

* *

'A nightmare…


Book cover of The Lagos Wife

Andre Soares Author Of The Sunflower Protocol

From Andre's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Storyteller Traveler Bookworm Student of life Activist

Andre's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Andre Soares Why did Andre love this book?

An exploration of Lagos' complex biodome from a British, Brooklyn-based author?

This is a dream come true for me, as a creative writer who spent years in Brooklyn and grew up in West African culture—one that I consider my strongest affiliation, even before my native Brazilian heritage.

It is the story of a London girl who settled in Lagos with her husband. Suddenly, she disappears.

When the investigation hits a dead end, her aunt flies to Nigeria in search of answers.

It’s a complex whodunnit that swerves across timelines as it explores the ins and outs of Lagos' powerful hold on eager souls.

Well-constructed, culturally relevant, and faithful. A must-read for anyone interested in Nigerian customs and sharp crime thrillers.

By Vanessa Walters,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

'I was hooked right through to the shocking end' BERNARDINE EVARISTO

'An excellent read' GUARDIAN

'Beautifully written, immersive, thought-provoking' MARIAN KEYES

'Obsessed' KERRY WASHINGTON

'A shimmering success' DIANA EVANS

THE PERFECT WIFE. THE PERFECT MURDER.

Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of Lagos and a glamorous group of friends. She left London and a troubled family past behind to become part of a community of expat wives.

But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation…


Book cover of The Mother

Nick Quantrill Author Of Sound of the Sinners

From Nick's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Crime writer Football North of England Psychological thriller Espionage

Nick's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Nick Quantrill Why did Nick love this book?

Sometimes books are given to me to prepare for events and take me outside of my reading zone.

Tim’s work is very much in the psychological drama sub-genre, one I dip a toe into from time to time. However, starting this one, its addictive nature meant it robbed me of sleep, as I simply wanted to read one more chapter before turning the light off. Add in political conspiracy and a murder mystery, and I was hooked.

Tim’s greatest gift is to ask the reader, “what would you do?” if pushed into an extraordinary situation beyond your control. It’s a question I asked myself constantly as I raced through this book.

By T.M. Logan,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

THE NEW, UTTERLY UNPUTDOWNABLE THRILLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE HOLIDAY AND THE CATCH.

You wake up, your husband is dead and YOU are the prime suspect. Your children have been taken away, your life sent into freefall - and yet you can barely remember anything about the night you lost everything.

Ten years later you are released from prison. What do you do? Do you accept your fate, your conviction and leave your children to be raised by someone else?

Or do you stop at nothing to find out the truth about what really happened that night - and…


Book cover of The Beach Party

Philippa East Author Of A Guilty Secret

From Philippa's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Author Psychologist Cat Lover Scottish Reading Obsessive

Philippa's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Philippa East Why did Philippa love this book?

The Beach Party is a brilliant ‘destination thriller’ set in the exotic world of Mallorca – plus it has a brilliant retro feel with the ‘past’ narrative set in 1989.

I adore books about friendship dynamics and explosive secrets, so this was right up my street! Nikki Smith’s books are always great page turners, but also beautifully written, with sophisticated charaterisation and plotting – which is exactly the kind of psychological thriller I’m after.

By Nikki Smith,

Why should I read it?

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

What is this book about?

'Bound to be the hit thriller of the summer!' T. M. Logan, The Holiday

-----

Six friends.
The holiday of their dreams.
One night that changed it all . . .

1989: The tunes are loud and the clothes are louder when a group of friends arrives in Mallorca for a post-graduation holiday of decadence and debauchery at a luxury villa.

A beach party marks the pinnacle of their fun, until it isn't fun any longer. Because amidst the wild partying - sand flying from dancing feet and revellers leaping from yachts - an accident happens. Suddenly, the night of…


Book cover of A Village Fete Murder
Book cover of In the Blink of an Eye
Book cover of Adrift

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,847

readers submitted
so far, will you?