Thrillers Everyone is Dying to Read Before the Year Ends
Escapism has been a major theme in reading these days amidst the pandemic, but thrillers will never lose their spot on the hit list. There are many options to choose from, considering all of the sub-genres that fall under fictional thrillers such as mystery, crime, and even some newer ones that are catching on like romance thrillers and fantasy thrillers. I do love a good genre mashup, dark humor being one of my favorites. Think Good Girls, Ozark, and Dead to Me. So, what’s popular this fall/winter season? Which authors are getting the most hype? I’ve got five you can choose from to accompany your slice of pumpkin pie over the holidays.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
This one has been blowing up everywhere for the past few months, and it’s definitely at the top of my list. Main character, Lowen, is an up and coming writer (struggling like the rest of us, am I right?) when she gets the opportunity to be a ghost writer of sorts for best selling author, Verity Crawford. The situation seems a bit mysterious because Verity’s husband hires Lowen after his wife is “injured.” Let’s just say Lowen finds some things she shouldn’t when reviewing notes in the family home. This one is marketed as a romantic thriller, and from what I’ve heard, it doesn’t disappoint. Find out more about the book and the author here and don’t forget to grab your copy here or at your local independent bookstore.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
At the start of the summer I got my hands on a free advance copy of this book when the publisher dropped tons of them around Little Free Libraries around the US. After visiting three different Little Free Libraries, I found my own copy. At the start of the pandemic, I listened to Michaelides’ first novel, The Silent Patient. I was completely enthralled, not to mention the audio was done exceptionally well, British accent and all. The Maidens combines Greek Mythology with group therapy and murder -- an interesting mix to say the least. The title actually indicates a secret society at Cambridge University in the novel, and when two members turn up dead, Mariana Andros becomes invested in finding the killer due to one of the victims being her best friend’s niece. Throw in a powerful, popular male professor and you’ve got a tragedy. Buy your copy and find out more here.
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Told mostly through unread letters that a wife writes to her husband on each anniversary, this novel takes place in the Scotland countryside during a blizzard. The setting reminds me of The Guest List by Lucy Foley that everyone raved about last year that takes place on an island off the coast of Ireland. The couple go to a remote chapel that has been renovated into a home for a getaway to revamp the passion in their marriage, but they don’t exactly find the passion they were looking for. This is actually the last book I read, and even though it wasn’t the most amazing thriller I’ve read, so many of my friends have loved it. I have to admit that the two jaw-dropping revelations a little over halfway through certainly enhanced my review on Goodreads. Careful, this one might make you second guess the people closest to you. Buy it here through a Book of the Month membership -- they feature debut authors and seasoned ones alike.
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
Lisa Jewell is one of the queens of contemporary women’s thrillers with nineteen different novels. Her books can always be found on the top reading lists. This one takes place at an idyllic English country estate where a couple goes missing after a party. Later, someone moves into a cottage near the property and finds a note in the woods that raises some chilling questions. With the track record that Jewel has, this one is getting quite the reviews and has even made it as a nominee in the Goodreads best thrillers of 2021, but she wasn’t always a thriller writer. In my research, I found that Jewell found herself in “chick lit” for a while until she found her “darker side.” You can check out the interview with her here on how she made the change. You can buy your own copy here.
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Liane Moriarty is the popular drama/thriller writer that has had many of her books turned into tv shows like Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. This is her latest book, released in September, and is already #2 this week on Amazon’s book chart. This is a story of the perfect family gone wrong. Moriarty is great at secrets and lies, so I’m guessing she isn’t going to start disappointing us now. If you’ve read any of her books before, you’ll know that she commits to a slow burn with mystery and suspense. Her books are more realistic than maybe your average thriller, so keep that in mind while reading. Moriarty’s books are ideal for those dipping their toes into thrillers or those who are already lovers of mystery. Grab your copy here and watch this video of Moriarty introducing the novel.
Looking to write your own thriller? Reading books in the genre you want to write is one of the best ways to gain tips and tricks. Figure out what works and what doesn’t while also enjoying a chilling story with twists and turns. Although, you might need a second piece of pie.
