14 Best Thriller Fiction Novels of 2025 Reviewed
Love suspense? These 14 thriller fiction novels will keep you up all night, guessing who did it and why. Perfect for beginners!
Ready to get your heart racing? We’ve put together a list of the 14 best thriller fiction novels that’ll keep you guessing from page one to the last. When picking books for this list, we looked for stories with jaw-dropping twists, unforgettable characters, and plots that made us forget to eat dinner (sorry, pizza night). Whether you’re new to thriller fiction novels or a long time fan, this list is loaded with books perfect for your next binge-read. Grab your blanket and flashlight—trust us, you’ll need both!
On this list:
14 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
We picked this classic because it mixes deep mystery with thrilling chase scenes and a hacker with more attitude than our friend Bob after three Red Bulls. Plus, you get old secrets, dark crime, and a reporter who can’t mind his own bussiness.
13 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
This one’s twisty enough to give you neck pain. Every chapter adds a new lie or secret. It’s sharp, cunning, and makes you wonder if you even know your own partner.
12 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Crazy plot, super quick to read, and we stayed up way past bedtime. A woman shoots her husband and never speaks again. Therapists aren’t paid enough for this stuff.
11 The Reversal by Michael Connelly
We love it because it throws lawyers, ex-cops, and murderers into the same pot and turns up the heat until things boil over. Fast and smart, just the way we like our soup.
10 The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
This one has more twists than a pretzel. Stuck in her house, this woman spies on her neighbors and sees something she shouldn’t. We couldn’t look away, either.
9 Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
Imagine waking up every day and forgetting everything. Sounds like a Monday, but for the main character it’s a full-blown thriller. Keeps you guessing until the end.
8 Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
We picked this because it made us question what’s real and what’s in our heads. Plus, creepy as a haunted house. You might want a nightlight after.
7 The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
We picked The Club Dumas because it’s a clever thriller fiction novel that mixes rare books, secret codes, and a touch of the occult. If you liked the puzzle-solving and secret societies in The Da Vinci Code, but want something fresh (and less Tom Hanks-y), this is a great choice. Plus, it has book dealers instead of symbologists—so you feel fancy while reading!
6 I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll
Missing persons, secrets, and regular people caught in the crosshairs. Feels like reading a news report of your worst nightmare—luckily, no nightmares were had after, just a little lost sleep.
5 The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
If you start thinking you know what’s happening, think again. The plot flips more than a pancake at Sunday breakfast. We loved the wild surprises, but the story could have ended a bit tighter.
4 The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Even old school can be thrilling. Holmes and Watson face a spooky dog and family secrets. We picked this for new readers who want a classic taste of thriller fiction novels.
3 Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
The classic tale of ‘perfect couple, not-so-perfect life.’ Keeps you guessing what’s going on behind the curtains. We read it with the doors locked, just in case.
2 The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Every commuter should read this. Suspicious people, blurry memories, and secrets everywhere. We loved how you never quite know who to trust—even our own memory felt dodgy after.
1 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This is our top pick for thriller fiction novels, and here’s why: It’s rare to find a book that makes us gasp out loud—then do it again 20 pages later. The writing is crisp and pulls you in fast, and the story about a woman’s silence after a shocking crime never gets boring. We played detective with friends, and not one of us guessed the ending. Some might say it’s hyped up, but the twists are so well planted that we never felt cheated. Sure, a real psychologist might roll their eyes at some details, but if you want a book that actually keeps you up at night, this is the one. Out of all the thriller fiction novels, this one gave us the biggest ‘wait, what?!’ moments. You’ll finish it fast, and probably tell your friends to read it too.
