Best Thriller Books
Topic List67 books curated67 recommendations totalThriller books, including titles recommended by Barack Obama, Ev Williams and James Clear. Most recommended here: The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Da Vinci Code.
Where to start: Thriller Books recommended most often
Recommended books, ranked by how many of the 47 people behind this list recommended each one.
- 1The Girl on the Train9 recommendations · recommended by Barack Obama, Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama
- 2Gone Girl8 recommendations · recommended by Michelle Obama, George R. R. Martin and Anderson Cooper
- 3The Secret History5 recommendations · recommended by Jess Brammar, Kelly Ellis and Anne Thériault
- 4The Da Vinci Code5 recommendations · recommended by Shah Rukh Khan, Ev Williams and Rukh Khan
- 5The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo4 recommendations · recommended by Jordan Hughes, Imani Gandy and James Clear

Recommended by Barack Obama, Meghan Markle, Michelle Obama and 4 others
An exclusive gift edition of the thriller of the year. A hardback, replete with a beguiling new design, foil packaging, top and tail binding, a placeholder ribbon and sprayed red edges.You Dont Know Her. But She Knows You.

Recommended by Michelle Obama, George R. R. Martin, Anderson Cooper and 3 others
Marriage can be a real killer.One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong.

Recommended by Jess Brammar, Kelly Ellis, Anne Thériault and 1 other
Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries.

Robert Langdon, Book 2
Recommended by Shah Rukh Khan, Ev Williams, Rukh Khan and 1 other
On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.

Millennium, Book 1
Recommended by Jordan Hughes, Imani Gandy and James Clear

One of The New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year A Best Book of 2019: Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, NPR, Kirkus, AV Club National Book Award FinalistFinalist One of The New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year A Best Book of 2019: Entertainment Weekly, The…

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again . . .The novel begins in Monte Carlo, where our heroine is swept off her feet by the dashing widower Maxim de Winter and his sudden proposal of marriage. Orphaned and working as a lady's maid, she can barely believe her luck.

Brisk, twist-heavy thriller that hinges on a single relentless premise: a mysterious man must find a missing teen before the fallout spreads through a small town. it reads as propulsive and cinematic, with short chapters and frequent reveals that keep pages turning. Main value is plot momentum and mounting suspense; main limitation is thin secondary characters and occasional coincidence-driven leaps that ask you to suspend disbelief. If you want atmosphere or deep psychological insight, you'll feel shortchanged.

What if your sense of duty required you to betray the man you love One woman struggles to choose between her honor and her heart in this enthralling espionage drama that deftly hops between New York and West Africa.It's 1986, the heart of the Cold War, and Marie Mitchell is an…

Starts like a social parlor game that hardens into a sealed-island murder puzzle: ten strangers, an accusing recorded message, and a steady body count keep momentum tight. Main value is the hair-splitting plotting and the intellectual pleasure of spotting and checking clues against the solution. Main limitation is thinly sketched characters and a schematic moral tone, so emotional depth is secondary to clever mechanics—readers who want soulful characterization will find the cast functional rather than lived-in.

Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the offseason caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he'll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing.

Two sisters travel the same streets, though their lives couldn't be more different. Then, one of them goes missing.In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two onceinseparable sisters find themselves at odds.

THENShe was fifteen, her mother's golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.

Jack Reacher plans to follow the autumn sun on an epic road trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn't get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been the town where his father was born.
Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, an ordinary young couple, settle into a New York City apartment, unaware that the elderly neighbors and their bizarre group of friends have taken a disturbing interest in them.
Show 52 more books with a single recommendation

After: Jess is alone. Her cabin has burned to the ground. She knows if she doesn't act fast, the cold will kill her before she has time to worry about food. But she is still alivefor now.Before: Jess hadn't seen her survivalist, offthegrid dad in over a decade.
Ripley, Book 1
Since his debut in 1955, Tom Ripley has evolved into the ultimate bad boy sociopath, influencing countless novelists and filmmakers. In this first novel, we are introduced to suave, handsome Tom Ripley: a young striver, newly arrived in the heady world of Manhattan in the 1950s.

One of them has it all. One of them wants it all. But they can't both win. Stella and Violet are best friends, and from the moment they met in college, they knew their roles. Beautiful, privileged, and reckless Stella lives in the spotlight.

A Virago Modern Classic(Hardback) 2016 Edition
Recommended by Frank Chimero
The psychologists would call it folie a deux ...'Bruno slammed his palms together. "Hey! Cheeses, what an idea! I kill your wife and you kill my father! We meet on a train, see, and nobody knows we know each other! Perfect alibis!

It all started at a dinner party. . .A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighborsa twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. .

My Sister, the Serial Killer is a blackly comic novel about how blood is thicker and more difficult to get out of the carpet than water...When Korede's dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister, Ayoola, she knows what's expected of her: bleach, rubber…
When Myriam, a FrenchMoroccan lawyer, decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for the perfect nanny for their two young children.

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to…

Now a major motion picture starring Ewan McGregor! From master storyteller Stephen King, his unforgettable and terrifying sequel to The Shining_x0097_an instant #1 New York Times bestseller that is _x0093_[a] vivid frightscape_x0094_ (The New York Times).

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney for two decades. He is respected. Admired in the courtroom. Happy at home with the loves of his life: his wife, Laurie, and their teenage son, Jacob.Then Andy_x0092_s quiet suburb is stunned by a shocking crime: a young boy…
A Novel
"If you love a great page-turner-that-keeps-you-guessing-til-the-end book... this is a Must Read!" - Reese Witherspoon

A devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder. Fans of Paula Hawkins_x0092_ The Girl on the Train will love this modern reimagining of Patricia Highsmith_x0092_s classic Strangers on a Train from the author of…
The men on board HMS Terror have every expectation of triumph. As part of the 1845 Franklin Expedition, the first steampowered vessels ever to search for the legendary Northwest Passage, they are as scientifically supported an enterprise as has ever set forth.
When a beautiful aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City.
A Novel
Big Little Lies meets Presumed Innocent in this riveting novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia, in which a woman_x0092_s brutal murder reveals the perilous compromises some couples make_x0097_and the secrets they keep_x0097_in order to stay…
The blockbuster bestseller that kickstarted a new genrethe medical thrilleris now available in trade paperback for the first time.They called it "minor surgery," but Nancy Greenly, Sean Berman and a dozen othersall admitted to Boston Memorial Hospital for routine procedureswere…
He started the game. She_x0092_ll end it.FBI special agent Clarke Sinclair doesn_x0092_t give up easily. She_x0092_s spent years tracking serial killer Simon Cross, forced to follow his twisted clues and photographs across the country.

A Novel
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "The Bartholomew is an apartment building of terrifying secrets. You'll find startling twists and alarming surprises down every dark hallway. It's too late to lock the doorsthe horror is already inside. My favorite thriller of the year!" R.L.

A Novel
How far will you go to protect your family Will you keep their secrets Ignore their liesIn a small town in Virginia, a group of people know each other because they_x0092_re part of a special treatment center, a hyperbaric chamber that may cure a range of conditions from…

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteenyear marriage has finally gotten too interesting...Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs.
Computer expert Cat Velis is heading for a job to Algeria. Before she goes, a mysterious fortune teller warns her of danger, and an antique dealer asks her to search for pieces to a valuable chess set that has been missing for years...In the South of France in 1790 two convent…
A Novel
In this twisty tale from Moore (The Sherlockian), the Academy Awardwinning screenwriter of The Imitation Game, young juror Maya Seale is convinced that African American high school teacher Bobby Nock is innocent of killing the wealthy white female student with whom he appears to…
A Novel
A gripping thriller about a man’s quest for the daughter no one else believes is still alive, from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man and The Hiding Place . An ID Book Club Selection •  “C. J. Tudor is terrific.
The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Impostor
_x0093_Forget fiction. Pop this jawdropper in your beach bag._x0094_ _x0097_USA Today This shocking expose goes behind the headlines to uncover the true story of Clark Rockefeller, wealthy scion of a great American family, who kidnapped his own daughter and vanished.

In this _x0093_hypnotic, violent, unsparing_x0094_ (A.J. Banner, USA TODAY bestselling author) thriller from the author of the _x0093_haunting, twisting thrill ride_x0094_ (Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author) The River at Night, a young woman leaves behind…

YOUR NEXT READING OBSESSION The breathtaking new thriller from the author of the Richard and Judy bestseller NOW YOU SEE HER____________________________When a body is pulled out of an office fire, three women are first in line for questioning.
A Novel of Suspense
A Texas map marked with three red dots like drops of blood. A serial killer who claims to have dementia. A mysterious young woman who wants answers. What could go wrong"Fast and furious . . .
A Novel (Detective D. D. Warren)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner unites three of her most beloved charactersDetective D. D. Warren, Flora Dane, and Kimberly Quincyin a twisty new thriller, as they investigate a mysterious murder from the past . . .

Cormoran Strike, Book 3
Cormoran Strike is back, with his assistant Robin Ellacott, in a mystery based around soldiers returning from war.When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman_x0092_s severed leg.Her boss, private detective…
A Novel
Four hundred and eighty seconds. That_x0092_s how long it took for someone to steal Marin Machado's fouryearold son.Marin had the perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company.
A Novel
A Best Book of the Year: Kirkus, Library Journal, New York Times Book ReviewA Book of the Month Club selection | An Indie Next Pick FROM THE CREATOR OF THE HIT TELEVISION SHOW THE KILLING , _x0093_a fullthrottle thriller in the tradition of classic Stieg Larsson_x0094_ (A.J.

Hannibal Lecter, Book 2
Hannibal Lecter. The ultimate villain of modern fiction. Read the fivemillioncopy bestseller that scared the world silent. The Silence of the Lambs. A young FBI trainee. An evil genius locked away for unspeakable crimes.

Alex Cross, Book 1
A missing little girl named Maggie Rose . . . a family of three brutally murdered in the projects of Washington, D.C. . . . the thrillkilling of a beautiful elementary school teacher . . .

A Novel
Mireille Duval Jameson is living a fairy tale. The strongwilled youngest daughter of one of Haiti_x0092_s richest sons, she has an adoring husband, a precocious infant son, by all appearances a perfect life.
Jack Ryan, Book 16
Decades ago, when he was a young CIA analyst, President Jack Ryan, Sr. was sent on what was supposed to be a simple support mission to investigate the death of an operative who had been looking into suspicious banking activities at a Swiss bank.
A Novel
What was it like Living in that house.Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twentyfive years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods.
Stillhouse Lake, Book 1
Gina Royal is the definition of average_x0097_a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband_x0092_s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor_x0097_the ultimate warrior…

A Novel (Will Trent)
New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter brings back Will Trent and Sara Linton in this superb and timely thriller full of devious twists, disturbing secrets, and shocking surprises you won_x0092_t see comingA mysterious kidnappingOn a hot summer night, a scientist from…
A Novel (Gabriel Allon)
From Daniel Silva, the #1 New York Times_x0096_bestselling author, comes a modern masterpiece of espionage, love, and betrayalShe was his bestkept secret _x0085_ In an isolated village in the mountains of Andalusia, a mysterious Frenchwoman begins work on a dangerous memoir.

A Novel
There are two sides to every story: yours and mine, ours and theirs, His & Hers. Which means someone is always lying.Anna Andrews finally has what she wants. Almost.
The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.
A Novel
WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker's troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille's first assignment from the secondrate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her…
Hailed as the first modern psychological thriller. The Collector is the internationally bestselling novel that captured John Fowles into the front rank of contemporary novelist.

A Novel
In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multigenerational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him…
Recommended Thriller Books by Barack Obama
Barack Obama recommends 3 books on this list. See all book recommendations by Barack Obama
Recommended Thriller Books by Stephen King
Stephen King recommends 3 books on this list. See all book recommendations by Stephen King
Recommended Thriller Books by George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin recommends 2 books on this list. See all book recommendations by George R. R. Martin
Thriller Books: common questions
- What are the most recommended thriller books?
- The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Secret History are the most recommended thriller books on BookMentions, ranked by how many people recommended them.
- Who recommends thriller books?
- Barack Obama, Stephen King, George R. R. Martin and Meghan Markle are among the people who recommend books on this list. Each name links to their full set of book recommendations.
- Which of these thriller books should I read first?
- The Girl on the Train is the most recommended here with 9 recommendations, which makes it the safest place to start.
Built from recommendation data, category signals, and source-backed book records. Use this list as a starting point; open any book to see proof, context, and Amazon options where available.
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About this list
This list aggregates books that appear in public recommendation sources, reader-interest signals, and category data. Books are ranked by their position from the source list; recommendation counts and ratings are shown where available. Open any book to see source-backed recommendation proof, editorial context, and Amazon options — the per-book detail page is where the trust signals live.
Recommended books by person: who recommends thriller books
Books recommended by the people below. Open a profile to see everything they recommend, with the source behind each pick.
- Barack ObamaBooks recommended by Barack: 3

- Stephen KingBooks recommended by Stephen: 3
- George R. R. MartinBooks recommended by George: 2
- Meghan MarkleBooks recommended by Meghan: 2
- Michelle ObamaBooks recommended by Michelle: 2
- Richard OsmanBooks recommended by Richard: 2
- Adnan VirkBooks recommended by Adnan: 1
- Anderson CooperBooks recommended by Anderson: 1

- Andrew KlavanBooks recommended by Andrew: 1
- Anne Helen PetersenBooks recommended by Anne: 1
- Anne ThériaultBooks recommended by Anne: 1
- Ben AffleckBooks recommended by Ben: 1