Thriller books are a staple in the literary world, and they continue to be some of the most popular choices among readers. Whether you’re looking for a heart-pumping psychological thriller or a suspenseful mystery, there’s a book on this list for you. Here are 15 Most Anticipated Thriller Books of 2023, from classic titles to contemporary hits, this list has something for everyone. So grab your reading glasses and get ready to dive into some of the best thriller books out there.
15 Most Anticipated Thriller Books of 2023
Age of Vice (January)
At 3 a.m. in New Delhi, a speeding Mercedes kills five people when it jumps the curb. The car belongs to a wealthy man, but when the dust settles, only a servant is present, unable to explain the events leading up to the crime or predict the drama that is about to unfold. Age of Vice follows the lives of three individuals, Ajay the servant, Sunny the wealthy heir, and Neda the journalist, as they become entangled in the corrupt and violent world of the wealthy Wadia family in contemporary India. The novel is a combination of a crime thriller and family saga, with themes of loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence, and revenge, and takes readers from rural Uttar Pradesh to the city of New Delhi. It is a captivating story of gangsters, forbidden romance, and the effects of corruption.
It’s One of Us (February)
Olivia Bender is an interior designer who longs to be a mother, but fertility treatments and IVF have been unsuccessful. When the police inform her and her husband, Park, that DNA evidence links Park’s son to a murder investigation, Olivia is relieved, knowing that they don’t have any children. However, Park admits to donating sperm to a clinic in the past, and he doesn’t know how many children he may have fathered. As the murder investigation progresses, more secrets are revealed, and Olivia must confront the possibility that the man she married is the father of a killer. However, she also has secrets of her own.
The Angel Maker ( February)
Katie Shaw grew up in a privileged household in the English countryside, but her life was forever changed by a violent stranger. As an adult, she struggles with guilt over her younger brother Chris’s fate and tries to protect her own child. When Chris goes missing and needs her help, Katie must confront the real dangers in her life. Detective Laurence Page is investigating the murder of a professor and finds connections to two old cases: the attack on Chris Shaw and the crimes of a serial killer rumored to be see the future.
At Sea (march)
Cara meets Brendan while she is spending time on Martha’s Vineyard after her mother’s death and is captivated by his charm and his claim that he can breathe underwater. They have a summer romance that becomes serious when Cara becomes pregnant and they have a son, Micah. However, Brendan has mood swings and frequently disappears, leaving Cara to deal with his dangerous secrets. Eventually, Brendan and Micah disappear, leaving Cara alone and heartbroken. Five years later, Cara is married to someone else and trying to move on when a fisherman reports seeing a man and child in the water. Cara becomes hopeful that her child may still be alive and sets out to learn the truth about Brendan and find her son.
A Death at the Party (march)
Nadine Walsh is hosting a summer garden party at her home, but she finds herself standing over a dead body in her basement while her guests are upstairs enjoying the party. The story rewinds to earlier that morning, when Nadine is preparing for the party to celebrate her mother’s birthday. Nadine’s husband and children are of little help, and her mother knows that the party is also a commemoration of another anniversary. Nadine tries to focus on the party, but she is overwhelmed with secrets, memories, and concerns about her guests.
The Soulmate (April)
Gabe and Pippa live in a cottage on a cliff, but their dream home is located in a town with a high number of suicides. Gabe frequently saves people from jumping off the cliff, but when Pippa discovers that Gabe knew one of the victims, she begins to suspect that the victim may not have jumped willingly. Pippa starts to question whether Gabe, the love of her life, could have lied to her and their perfect marriage begins to unravel as secrets are revealed.
The Only Survivors (April)
Nine survivors of a school van accident, who all harbor secrets and guilt, meet at a cabin called the Shallows, also known as the “Ghost House,” to celebrate their survival and make a pact not to discuss the tragic event that changed their lives. A decade later, they are down to seven members due to one killed himself and another overdosing. They continue to meet at the Shallow every year because it is a place of safety and retreat, but someone is watching them and playing mind games. Cassidy finds a cell phone at the sea and receives a message about the obituary of Ian, who was part of the group. The message leads Cassidy to suspect that Ian’s death may not have been an accident and that one of the survivors may be targeting the rest of the group.
The Sun and the Star (May)
Nico di Angelo, the son of Hades, and Will Solace, the son of Apollo, are in a relationship and have been able to overcome any obstacle or foe together. However, Nico begins to be plagued by a voice calling out to him from Tartarus, the lowest part of the Underworld, and believes it is a reformed Titan named Bob who needs help. Nico sets out on a quest to save Bob, with Will joining him, but they must also consider the possibility that Nico may have to “leave something of equal value behind” according to a prophecy. They must also consider if Will, being made of light, can survive in the darkest part of the world.
Zero Days (June)
Hired by companies to break into buildings and hack security systems, Jack and her husband, Gabe, are the best penetration specialists in the business. But after a routine assignment goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead. To add to her horror, the police are closing in on their suspect—her.
Suddenly on the run and quickly running out of options, Jack must decide who she can trust as she circles closer to the real killer in this unputdownable and heart-pounding mystery from an author whose “propulsive prose keeps readers on the hook and refuses to let anyone off until all has been revealed” (Shelf Awareness).
Everyone Here is Lying (July)
William Wooler is a family man who has been having an affair, but the affair ends badly one afternoon at a motel. When he returns home to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter Avery unexpectedly there, he loses his temper. Later, Avery’s family declares her missing, and William’s neighbors become increasingly agitated as they try to find out who took Avery. The neighbors also have secrets of their own.
None of This is True (August)
Alix Summers, a popular podcaster, meets Josie Fair, a woman also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday, at a pub. A few days later, they meet again outside Alix’s children’s school, and Josie tells Alix that she is interested in featuring her in a series. Josie’s life appears strange and complicated, and Alix finds her unsettling but can’t resist making a podcast about her. As she gets to know Josie, Alix realizes that she has been hiding dark secrets and has become a part of Alix’s life. However, Josie suddenly disappears, leaving behind a terrifying legacy and putting Alix and her family’s lives in danger. Alix sets out to discover who Josie is and what she has done.
Mister Magic (August)
The surviving cast members of the children’s program Mister Magic reunite thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production to uncover the secrets of the show and its enigmatic host. With no surviving video, records, or evidence of who directed or produced the show, and no clues about the identity or nature of the beloved host, the former cast members, known as the Circle of Friends, have only their memories to rely on. They reunite at the remote desert filming compound where they filmed the show and begin to uncover the mysteries of the show and the magic man in the black cape, but they start to wonder if they are there by choice or if they have been lured into a trap.
Agent Gatz: A Great Gatsby Prequel (September)
Before he met Daisy and became known as Gatsby, a young Jay Gatsby worked as a foreign spy during the beginning of World War I. When a woman from his past, Ella Kaye, appears, Gatsby’s mission becomes complicated. They travel through war-torn Europe, trying to keep their secrets and stay alive while being caught in a web of lies.
How to Find a Missing Girl (September)
A year ago, Stella Blackthorn disappeared without a trace and her younger sister, Iris, tried to investigate but only managed to scare off the police’s lead and earn a warning that if she continues her investigation after turning eighteen, she will face serious consequences. A year later, Iris’s ex-girlfriend, Heather, goes missing after releasing the last episode of a true crime podcast about Stella’s disappearance. Determined to solve the case, Iris starts her own amateur sleuthing agency but must race against the clock before she turns eighteen and faces severe consequences. With a suspicious detective watching her and conflicting feelings for an old enemy, Iris must navigate the most dangerous case of her life.
Unhinged (December)
Cora is trying to discover the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Rose. Her parents request her to investigate the disappearance of a woman they are acquainted with. Cora’s former FBI partner informs her that Ogden is attempting to harm her, and subsequently appears at her parents’ residence. Cora dismisses him and starts her investigation, during which she discovers that local law enforcement is involved in some nefarious activity. The situation becomes intense and the story is filled with action. The ending is suspenseful and leaves the reader wondering how Cora will resolve the difficult situation she finds herself in.
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