Summary: In today's article, I have handpicked 20 of the best thriller books I think will blow your mind with their twists and suspense. Here are my top 3 favorites:
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
Thriller books are all about keeping you on the edge of your seat. With fast-paced plots, shocking twists, and high-stakes drama, they pull you into intense situations that make it hard to put the book down. Whether it’s a crime story, a psychological drama, or a spy adventure, these books grab your attention and keep you hooked, eager to see what happens next. If you’re looking for a way to escape reality, challenge your mind, and enjoy a wild ride of emotions, thrillers are the perfect choice.
TOP 20: Best Thriller Books
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
- The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
- The Crash by Freida McFadden
- You Killed Me First by John Marrs
- Love, Mom by Iliana Xander
- The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
- The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden
- The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
- The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
- Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton
- The Teacher by Freida McFadden
- The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
- The Inmate by Freida McFadden
- The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
- The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day
- The God of Malice by Rina Kent
- The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
- The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman
- The Housemaid's Wedding by Freida McFadden
1. The Silent Patient
- Author: Alex Michaelides
- About: A psychological thriller about Alicia Berenson, a woman who shoots her husband and then stops speaking. A psychotherapist becomes obsessed with unraveling her story.
- Style of writing: Tight, suspenseful, and focused on unraveling the mystery.
- Length: Approximately 90,000 words
- Year written: 2019
- Emotional impact: Leaves a strong, lasting impact with its shocking twist.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—easy to read but complex in structure.
- Why read it: It’s an unpredictable and clever thriller with a stunning twist.
2. The Housemaid
- Author: Freida McFadden
- About: A psychological thriller where a housemaid gets involved in the secrets and lies of the family she works for.
- Style of writing: Engaging, fast-paced, with lots of twists.
- Length: Approximately 80,000 words
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: Very impactful, keeping readers on edge throughout.
- Difficulty level: Easy—straightforward and quick to read.
- Why read it: A highly addictive, twist-filled domestic thriller.
3. The Butterfly Garden
- Author: Dot Hutchison
- About: A dark and chilling tale of a girl held captive by a serial killer in his garden of butterflies, where he keeps his victims.
- Style of writing: Haunting and atmospheric, with detailed character development.
- Length: Approximately 95,000 words
- Year written: 2016
- Emotional impact: Strong—leaves readers disturbed and reflecting on the themes long after finishing.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—dark themes, not too complex.
- Why read it: If you enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with a unique premise.
4. The Crash
- Author: Freida McFadden
- About: A tense thriller about a car crash that changes the lives of everyone involved, unraveling secrets and lies.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful, straightforward, and character-driven.
- Length: Approximately 70,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: Strong—keeps you emotionally invested throughout.
- Difficulty level: Easy—quick to read, with accessible language.
- Why read it: It’s a gripping, fast-paced read with plenty of twists.
5. You Killed Me First
- Author: John Marrs
- About: A psychological thriller where the protagonists become entangled in a dangerous situation after one woman kills her lover’s wife, setting off a deadly chain of events.
- Style of writing: Tense, with multiple POVs that keep the plot moving forward quickly.
- Length: Approximately 80,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: Leaves an unsettling feeling as it explores dark and twisted motives.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—characters and twists are complex.
- Why read it: A wild ride with twists that keep readers guessing.
6. Love, Mom
- Author: Iliana Xander
- About: A psychological thriller about a daughter searching for the truth behind her mother’s death, uncovering dark family secrets.
- Style of writing: Engaging and emotional with psychological depth.
- Length: Approximately 75,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: Moderate—evokes feelings of loss and betrayal.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—easy to follow, but emotionally complex.
- Why read it: It combines mystery and emotional depth in a compelling way.
7. The Boyfriend
- Author: Freida McFadden
- About: A woman’s obsession with her perfect boyfriend turns dangerous as secrets from his past begin to emerge.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, with a twist-heavy plot.
- Length: Approximately 85,000 words
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: Leaves readers with a sense of unease and shock.
- Difficulty level: Easy—quick to read with accessible writing.
- Why read it: It’s a rollercoaster of suspense with a gripping plot.
8. The Housemaid's Secret
- Author: Freida McFadden
- About: A continuation of “The Housemaid,” where more secrets about the family’s past are uncovered, and the tension builds.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, suspenseful, and engaging.
- Length: Approximately 85,000 words
- Year written: 2022
- Emotional impact: High—keeps readers invested in the characters and their fates.
- Difficulty level: Easy—straightforward with thrilling plot twists.
- Why read it: A continuation of a gripping story with more surprises.
9. The God of the Woods
- Author: Liz Moore
- About: A haunting, atmospheric thriller exploring trauma, survival, and the human condition.
- Style of writing: Lyrical, introspective, and atmospheric.
- Length: Approximately 95,000 words
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: Strong—evokes deep emotions about human nature and survival.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—reflective, with complex themes.
- Why read it: If you enjoy a thriller that combines deep emotional depth with mystery.
10. The Frozen River
- Author: Ariel Lawhon
- About: Set against the backdrop of a frozen river, this historical thriller weaves together the lives of multiple characters and a mysterious death.
- Style of writing: Multi-layered, weaving in multiple timelines and perspectives.
- Length: Approximately 100,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: Moderate—slow-burn tension with emotional depth.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—complex structure with historical elements.
- Why read it: A well-crafted historical thriller with emotional and suspenseful moments.
11. Haunting Adeline
- Author: H.D. Carlton
- About: A dark romance and psychological thriller where a woman is stalked by a mysterious figure.
- Style of writing: Dark, steamy, and intense.
- Length: Approximately 120,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: Strong—intense, emotional, and disturbing.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—steamy, with dark themes.
- Why read it: If you’re into dark thrillers with romantic and psychological elements.
12. The Teacher
- Author: Freida McFadden
- About: A psychological thriller about a teacher who becomes entangled in dangerous secrets, threatening her career and life.
- Style of writing: Engaging, suspense-filled, and fast-paced.
- Length: Approximately 85,000 words
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: High—emotional stakes and plenty of twists.
- Difficulty level: Easy—straightforward with a quick pace.
- Why read it: Another twist-heavy thriller from Freida McFadden that’s perfect for fans of psychological suspense.
13. The Briar Club
- Author: Kate Quinn
- About: A gripping historical thriller set around a secret society with deadly secrets.
- Style of writing: Atmospheric, immersive, and detailed.
- Length: Approximately 100,000 words
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: Moderate—dark, but with intrigue and historical depth.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—complex, with historical and suspenseful layers.
- Why read it: If you enjoy historical thrillers with a dark and mysterious twist.
14. The Inmate
- Author: Freida McFadden
- About: A woman becomes involved with a man in prison, and her life spirals out of control as secrets unravel.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced and suspenseful, with lots of twists.
- Length: Approximately 90,000 words
- Year written: 2022
- Emotional impact: Strong—lots of tension and shocking revelations.
- Difficulty level: Easy—accessible, with a thrilling pace.
- Why read it: If you enjoy stories with high tension and plot twists.
15. The Housemaid Is Watching
- Author: Freida McFadden
- About: The housemaid uncovers more dangerous secrets about the family she works for.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful, fast-paced.
- Length: Approximately 85,000 words
- Year written: 2022
- Emotional impact: High—keeps readers invested with unpredictable twists.
- Difficulty level: Easy—quick to read with a lot of suspense.
- Why read it: If you love domestic thrillers with shocking twists.
16. The Woman in the Cabin
- Author: Becca Day
- About: A woman is held captive in a cabin by a mysterious figure, and she must find a way to escape.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced, intense, and psychological.
- Length: Approximately 75,000 words
- Year written: 2020
- Emotional impact: Moderate—tense and suspenseful.
- Difficulty level: Easy—straightforward, with engaging twists.
- Why read it: If you like thrillers with high stakes and intense suspense.
17. The God of Malice
- Author: Rina Kent
- About: A dark, suspense-filled thriller with themes of power, revenge, and betrayal.
- Style of writing: Dark, gripping, and character-driven.
- Length: Approximately 90,000 words
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: High—intense and emotionally charged.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—dark themes and suspense.
- Why read it: If you enjoy dark thrillers with intense character development.
18. The Last House on Needless Street
- Author: Catriona Ward
- About: A psychological horror-thriller that explores the mind of a man living in isolation and the mysterious woman next door.
- Style of writing: Unpredictable, with layers of suspense and twisty narrative.
- Length: Approximately 80,000 words
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: Strong—disturbing, leaving a lasting sense of unease.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—complex, with twists and unreliable narration.
- Why read it: It’s an eerie, mind-bending thriller that plays with your perceptions.
19. The Gate of the Feral Gods
- Author: Matt Dinniman
- About: A suspenseful thriller blending fantasy elements with high-stakes adventure.
- Style of writing: Fast-paced and adventurous, with dark undertones.
- Length: Approximately 95,000 words
- Year written: 2021
- Emotional impact: Moderate—exciting, but with a darker atmosphere.
- Difficulty level: Moderate—action-driven but with dark elements.
- Why read it: If you love thrilling adventures with a dark twist.
20. The Housemaid's Wedding
- Author: Freida McFadden
- About: The final installment in the housemaid series, filled with more twists and revelations.
- Style of writing: Suspenseful, fast-paced, and engaging.
- Length: Approximately 90,000 words
- Year written: 2023
- Emotional impact: Strong—wraps up the series with plenty of suspense.
- Difficulty level: Easy—straightforward with plenty of plot twists.
- Why read it: If you’ve enjoyed the series, this is the perfect conclusion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you're after thrillers that will keep you hooked from start to finish, The Silent Patient, The Housemaid, and The Butterfly Garden are definitely worth picking up. Personally, I think each of these books offers something special—whether it's a mind-bending plot, shocking twists, or complex characters. They’re the kind of stories that stay with you long after you turn the last page. If you're looking for suspense, mystery, and a whole lot of excitement, I’d highly recommend giving these a try.
