10 Best Mystery and Thriller Novels For a Suspenseful Read

Are you a fan of mystery and thriller novels? Then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll be discussing the 10 best mystery and thriller novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat. From classic whodunits to modern psychological thrillers, these books are sure to provide a suspenseful read. Whether you’re a seasoned mystery reader or new to the genre, these novels will keep you guessing until the very end. So, without further ado, let’s dive into our list of the top 10 best mystery and thriller novels!

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

It would be impossible to compile a list of the best suspense novels without including Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl”. The story follows the unraveling marriage of Nick and Amy, as Amy goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary and Nick becomes the primary suspect in her disappearance. What begins as a typical domestic thriller quickly evolves into a mesmerizing exploration of love, deception, and the manipulation of media. The exceptional writing and unexpected plot twists make this novel a true standout in the genre. If you haven’t read it yet, make sure to pick up a copy and experience it for yourself. And even if you have read it before, it’s worth revisiting.

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

“Before I Go to Sleep” is a psychological thriller novel written by S. J. Watson, first published in 2011. The novel tells the story of a woman named Christine Lucas who has anterograde amnesia, which means she wakes up every day not remembering anything from her past. Christine is unable to form new memories and wakes up every morning not knowing who she is, where she is, or who the man is sleeping next to her. The novel follows Christine’s journey to recover her memory and the truth about her past. It was a commercial and critical success, it became an international bestseller and was translated into 38 languages. The novel was adapted into a feature film directed by Rowan Joffe in 2014, featuring Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Mark Strong.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

It is a mystery novel written by Agatha Christie which was first published in 1939 under the title “Ten Little Indians”. The novel is considered one of Christie’s most famous and successful works, and is one of the best-selling crime novels of all time. The story takes place on an isolated island, where ten strangers are invited to spend the weekend. Once they arrive, they find that their host is absent, and that they are all being accused of murder. As the weekend progresses, the guests start to die one by one, in accordance with the lyrics of an old nursery rhyme, “Ten Little Indians”. The novel was adapted into several films, stage plays, and television dramas. However, the title of the novel was changed in the US to avoid racial connotations.

A Simple Favor: A Novel by Darcey Bell

Darcey Bell’s Novel tells the story of a young widow named Stephanie, who befriends a mysterious and stylish single mother named Emily. The two women form an unlikely friendship, but when Emily goes missing and is reported missing, Stephanie takes it upon herself to investigate. As she delves deeper into Emily’s past, Stephanie uncovers secrets and lies that lead to a shocking and unexpected conclusion. The novel is told from both Stephanie and Emily’s perspectives, which keeps the reader guessing and adds to the suspense. The novel was later adapted into a feature film in 2018 directed by Paul Feig, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.

Baby Teeth: A Novel by Zoje Stage

The novel tells the story of a mother-daughter relationship gone awry, as a young girl named Hanna manipulates her mother Suzette to get what she wants. Hanna is a precocious and intelligent child, who is also manipulative and cruel. She has a strained relationship with her mother, Suzette, who is struggling with her own mental health issues. Hanna begins to exert control over her mother, manipulating her into doing her bidding and isolating her from the rest of the world. The novel also became a New York Times bestseller and was translated into multiple languages.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

The Novel was published in 2003. It is a thriller that combines elements of code-breaking, cryptography, and conspiracy theories. The story follows symbologist Robert Langdon as he investigates a murder at the Louvre Museum in Paris and becomes embroiled in a secret society’s plot to protect a religious relic. The novel’s central plot is based on the Holy Grail and the idea of the “Divine Feminine” which is the belief that the Holy Grail is not the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper but Mary Magdalene, who is presented as the companion of Jesus and the embodiment of the sacred feminine. It was a huge commercial success, selling over 80 million copies worldwide and translated into over 44 languages. It also became a bestseller in many countries. The Novel was adapted into a film directed by Ron Howard in 2006 and starred Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

“Big Little Lies” is a novel written by Liane Moriarty, first published in 2014. The novel is a psychological thriller that tells the story of three mothers, Madeline, Celeste, and Jane, whose seemingly perfect lives begin to unravel to the point of murder. The story takes place in a small Australian beachside town, where all three women and their families are intertwined. The novel explores themes of domestic violence, friendship, and the pressure of perfection and is told through multiple perspectives, including the perspectives of the three main characters, and the first-person perspective of an anonymous narrator. The novel delves into the secrets and lies that the characters keep from each other, and the events that lead to a tragic ending. It was also adapted into a successful HBO series in 2017, starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley.

Descent by Tim Johnston

Tim Johnston’s Descent was published in 2016. The novel is a thriller that tells the story of the abduction of a teenage girl named Caitlin, while she’s on a family vacation in the Rocky Mountains. The novel explores the emotional and psychological aftermath of the abduction of the family and the community, and how the characters deal with the trauma, guilt, and blame that follows. The novel was critically acclaimed and received positive reviews for its emotional depth and its portrayal of the aftermath of a tragedy. It was nominated for several awards, including the Edgar Award for Best Novel, and it was praised for its evocative and powerful writing. The novel was also praised for its exploration of the complex emotions that come with such a tragedy, and for its ability to convey the weight of the loss and the impact it has on the community.

The Dinner by Herman Koch

The novel is a psychological thriller that takes place over the course of a dinner between two brothers and their wives, as they discuss a heinous crime that their teenage sons have committed. The novel explores the moral and ethical dilemmas that the characters face as they try to decide what to do about the crime, and the lengths that they will go to protect their families. The novel is told from the perspective of the narrator, Paul Lohman, one of the brothers, and it delves into his thoughts and motivations as he navigates the dinner and the discussions about the crime. The novel explores themes of family, morality, and the power of secrets, and it keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

“The Girl on the Train” is a psychological thriller that tells the story of a divorced woman named Rachel, who takes the same commuter train every day and becomes obsessed with a couple she sees through the window of their home. One day, she witnesses something shocking and becomes embroiled in a mystery surrounding the disappearance of the couple’s nanny. The novel is told from three perspectives: Rachel’s, the nanny’s and the wife of the couple, Anna. The novel explores themes of obsession, addiction, and the blurred lines between reality and perception. It keeps the readers guessing as the plot twists and turns, revealing secrets and lies that the characters have been keeping from each other. It was also adapted into a film in 2016 directed by Tate Taylor, starring Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, and Haley Bennett.

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