If you want a book that will have you on the edge of your bed, then the thriller genre is for you. With so many amazing books, you’ll never run out of books to read. But choosing the right ones isn’t always easy. That is why made this list of the 20 must read thriller books of all time!  

There are many classics as well as modern thrillers that you should read. 20 books is not enough to cover this genre but we hope this is just the start of your journey. There are always many new thrillers that we can’t stop thinking about. You can see the full list below!    

The 20 Must Read Thriller Books of All Time

Must Read Thrillers  

Stephen King may be one of the best authors to pick up a pen in the mystery and thriller genre. He knows how to pique reader’s interest and never stops with the pace picking up after every chapter. The Shining is a classic but to be honest, you can’t go wrong with any of his novels.  

The Day of the Jackal

A bunch of spy novels made the list because they were just that good. The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth is a brilliant novel that is a page turner! Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy speaks for itself as it has effortlessly become a mainstream phenomenon.

The Silence of the Lambs

Is there a better thriller novel than Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris? When you are reading the novel, it doesn’t feel like there is. What makes this novel interesting is that it isn’t even the first novel in the Hannibal series. But it is definitely the best book partly because it centers around Hannibal.   

Shutter Island book cover
Shutter Island book review

The Silent Patient

This is a novel with on one of the best plot twists that I have ever read. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is about a woman who doesn’t talk after murdering her husband. Psychotherapist Theo Faber transfers to the Grove to help Alicia Berenson talk again and find out what actually happened on the day of the murder. This novel is in many best thriller of all time lists and only after reading it will you understand why!

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. Few authors have intrigued me as much as Highsmith has with her shady characters and her questions about morality.

Shutter Island

One of my favorite all time novels that made this list is Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. If you like reading novels where you can’t trust the protagonist, then this is for you. The movie is also great and I recommend watching it after reading the novel so the plot twist is spoiled. The acting is amazing and one that you will watch often like I do!

Conclusion

That wraps up this list of the 20 must read thriller books of all time. How many books on the list have you read? What thrillers should we add to our next list? Let us know in the comments below!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 

Discover more from Books of Brilliance

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.