Good Thrillers For Non-Thriller People
Thrillers for non-thriller people.
I’ve never considered myself a ‘thriller’ person, but lately I’ve been finding comfort in stories that firmly fall into that genre. I’ve written a tonne about not pigeon-holing myself when it comes to genres, so consider me a thriller novice whose got a list for non-thriller people.
Naturally, I’ve read Gone Girl but I prefer Dark Places and Sharp Objects, and started in on Lisa Jewells’ insane oeuvre (None Of This Is True; good, unhinged, page turn-y) and dabbled in Sarah Pearse’s detective-led world, The Sanitorium (ok, but not great; willing to give book two a go).
There’s a lot about thriller tropes (cult-y vibes, unreliable narrators, etc.) I find comforting and generally prefer mine with a side of hauntings and/or the occult but also have a real soft spot for revenge-seeking human who is righting some historical (traumatic) wrong-doing. So, apologies if you’re a diehard and this list is trite.
Find me on Instagram at @lilithruby, and writing about career-ish stuff on The Foreword.
Earlier
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
I read three of Foley’s books back-to-back and I’ll stand by this: The Paris Apartment is by far her best (I didn’t feel like I knew exactly where the story was heading and was genuinely surprised in parts); The Guest List came in as my second favourite mostly because it’s a good revenge plot; The Hunting Party firmly in last place, as I felt like I could see everything that happening from a mile away and I so wanted to be wrong.
Haven’t read her latest, The Midnight Feast, but I intend to see where it falls on my personal Foley scale.
Now
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
A bunch of writers find themselves isolated and entangled with their writing hero—what could go wrong? Good pacing (though it did feel slow-ish in the middle), interesting characters, and a concept writers/readers will enjoy. The tropes are all trope-ing: demonic manor house, unsolved arson, unhinged maid, snow storm. A solid thriller for thriller seekers.
Later
The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis
I’ve seen a lot of reviews that have piqued my interest. Sounds witchy and unnerving, two things I want from my books. (And an amazing cover.)
Enjoy!
Find me on Instagram at @lilithruby, and writing about career-ish stuff on The Foreword.
I love a good thriller! It’s truly my go-to! These days I am enjoying the genre-bending plots. My favorite or last year was The Change by Kirsten Miller, Broken Light by Joanne Harris and The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley. I also enjoy more hardcore like Jo Nesbo and Agatha Christie is always fun and cosy especially for the fall
I read suspense from time to time. Problem is a good thriller will keep me up all night. One of my favorite authors is John D. MacDonald, who wrote the novel upon which the movie “Cape Fear” is based. (Filmed twice.) A lot of his books came out in paperback before being reprinted in hardcover. I have a number of his first editions, printed in paperback by Gold Medal Books from the late 1940s onwards.