Next Read ClubThe Best Thriller Books to Read Next
A thriller has one job: make "just one more chapter" a lie you tell yourself past midnight. These do that job well, whether the tension comes from a killer, an unreliable narrator, or a secret that's about to come apart.
Across the 7 thriller picks here, most are long books with a fast, hard-to-put-down feel — mostly easy to get into, and leaning mysterious and thought-provoking. Use the length, pace and difficulty on each book's page to pick the one that fits your week.
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
The twist that made an entire generation stop trusting narrators.
Medium · Can't put it down pace · Easy to follow
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Stieg Larsson
Lisbeth Salander is one of the most memorable characters in modern thrillers.
Long · Can't put it down pace · Easy to follow
The Silent Patient
Alex Michaelides
One of the cleanest final-page twists in recent thriller writing.
Medium · Can't put it down pace · Beginner-friendly
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown
The definition of a book you cannot put down, chapter after chapter.
Long · Can't put it down pace · Beginner-friendly
The Secret History
Donna Tartt
The book that basically invented dark academia as a vibe.
Long · Can't put it down pace · Moderate
Sharp Objects
Gillian Flynn
Flynn's darkest and most unsettling book, which is saying something.
Medium · Fast pace · Easy to follow
In the Woods
Tana French
A mystery that cares more about psychology than tidy answers.
Long · Fast pace · Easy to follow
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