There is no better way to relax after a long day with a thriller novel. You will forget all about your problems as you lose yourself in the novel. And with this list of the best thriller books to read in 2024, you will have a bunch of books to choose from!
The thriller genre is one of my favorite ones because it will have you on the edge of your seat. Many of them challenge you to guessing the killer or solving the mystery of the novel. And before you know it, you will have finished the novel and not know what time it is. Keep reading to see the full list below!
The Best Thriller Books to Read in 2024
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
- The Shining by Stephen King
- Misery by Stephen King
- Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry
- In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
- I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- The Godfather by Mario Puzo
- Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi
- Psycho by Robert Bloch
- Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation’s Most Elusive Serial Killer by Robert Graysmith
- The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder by Charles Graeber
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- Zone One by Colson Whitehead
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
- The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
- The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort
- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
- Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
- Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis
- Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
- Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker
- Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
- Black Klansman by Ron Stallworth
In Cold Blood
An influenctial novel on the list is In Cold Blood because it birthed the genre of true crimewith its success. Helter Skelter would not have existed if this book was never published. With that said, it needs to be mentioned that the book does add fictitious events to make the book feel more real. Capone was able to make a real-life murder into amazing book that raises important points.
The Godfather
Everyone knows about The Godfather movies and rightfully so. The first movie is considered one of if not the best movie of all time. And it is one of the few times that the movie is better than the books. But that shouldn’t take anything away from the book that was adapted into the movie. Mario Puzo’s novel is impossible to put down once you read it and a must read for anyone that loves a good crime novel.
Frankenstein
Frankenstein is a classic that is a must read no matter what your favorite genre is. It is a sci-fi novel that is also thought provoking. The novel is considered the first sci-fi novel and holds up well even centuries later. Few monsters become mainstream yet Frankenstein has, despite many people never reading the novel behind it.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
A classic thriller that I loved is The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. It is a fun novel that follows the descent into madness of Ripley and what he will do to keep his new life going. Highsmith is a unique character that explores the true nature of a person and what people are capable of. There hasn’t been another author like her and most likey ever won’t be.
Mexican Gothic
This is a novel that I have seen on many BookTok lists and finally got around to reading and I loved every second of it. Mexican Gothic is a horror novel about a haunted house with a fun new spin on the genre. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an amazing author and her writing style is unique and her attention to detail make her novels feel like a trip to another time period.
Conclusion
No matter what type of novel you like to read, this list has it. How many books on this list have you read or plan to read? What other thriller novels should have made this list? Let us know in the comments below!