Lots of news action movie books debuted in 2024, and the best offerings in the genre managed to tell compelling stories and deliver surprising twists. Just as many of the best romance books of 2024 come from well-known authors in the genre, the biggest thrillers feature several recognizable names on the cover. From Freida McFadden to Riley Sager, these writers continue to write gripping stories that keep readers coming back to their work year after year.
Of course, the top thriller books of 2024 weren't just from renowned authors. This year saw some impressive debuts, including some that were among the strongest additions to the genre. Several newcomers launched promising careers with their 2024 releases, and several established writers also made impressive leaps into the category. From popcorn thrillers to literary mysteries, there was something for everyone. AND All the best thrillers had one thing in common: they impressed with their twists and turns..
10
The boyfriend
By Freida McFadden
2024 was a big year for Freida McFadden, as the best-selling thriller author published four new books, along with a few shorts. While The maid is watching continued the author's most popular series, and The teacher received many compliments, McFadden's best new release was The boyfriend. A romantic thriller that touches on themes of obsession, The boyfriend features a similar premise to other stories in the subgenre, along with familiar tropes. However, with McFadden at the helm, it's an easy narrative to get invested in - and the final twist is certainly not predictable.
The boyfriend serves as a reminder of why McFadden's work has become the standard for popcorn thrillersand even caught one Goodreads Choice Awards nomination for readers' favorite mystery and suspense. Your average is 4.03 Good reads The rating may not be the highest of McFadden's career, but it underscores the novel's performance. It effectively explores the dangers women face in the modern dating world. It's not necessarily groundbreaking in its approach, but it delivers the excitement and entertainment that McFadden's books so often promise, while also highlighting a real problem.
9
glass house
By Sarah Pekkanen
Sarah Pekkanen is no stranger to the thriller genre, but the author may have released her biggest novel in 2024. Glass House received a lot of praise this yearbecoming nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards in the mystery/suspense category and being among the best books of the year on Amazon. With a narrative centered on a young woman with traumatic mutism, the death of her nanny and a detective trying to put the pieces together, Glass House prepares to tell a careful and engaging story. It succeeds in that effort, proving to be a standout new thriller.
Pekkanen does a masterful job of keeping readers guessing, presenting many potential scenarios that could have led to the death Stella is investigating.
Combined with the well-paced narrative, Pekkanen's writing style throughout Glass House will definitely attract readers and keep them working on this story. Stella's investigation leads to dark places and Glass House balances this well with the lawyer's story. Pekkanen does a great job of keeping readers guessing by presenting many scenarios that could have led to the death that Stella is investigating. Worst Possible is disturbing and drives the story and tensions expertly. Unfortunately, this suspenseful book's off-the-rails ending may not work for everyone, but the journey is worth it.
8
Society of Lies
By Lauren Ling Brown
Society of Lies is Lauren Ling Brown's debut novel and proves she's an author to watch. Mixing emotions with dark academia, Society of Lies weaves a compelling story about two sisters with many secrets between them. The alternating timelines and multiple points of view make Maya's search for answers more gripping, while also making Naomi's fate more poignant. The emotional core of this story is one of its greatest strengths, though it also has complex characters, thoughtful social commentary, an atmospheric setting, and a big twist that's nothing to scoff at.
With so much going on, no wonder Society of Lies was nominated in the Best Reader's Suspense and Mystery category at the Goodreads Choice Awards. It does a great job of tricking readers, but ends up bringing everything together during its satisfying conclusion. Unfortunately, it takes time to get into the meat of this story, making the pacing feel a little awkward. What comes next is worth waiting for, so readers shouldn't give up on this 2024 release too soon.
7
Middle of the night
By Riley Sager
Middle of the night marks a change of pace for Riley Sager, and her decision to follow a male lead character works incredibly well. Middle of the night is one of Sager's best books released in recent yearsand easily lands among the best thrillers of 2024. The novel's small-town atmosphere and nostalgic summer vibes make for an engaging and exciting story. Meanwhile, the focus on friendship and male pain adds a powerful emotional layer that sells the central mystery.
Sager's latest does a good job of utilizing the supernatural without leaning too far in that direction, and offers a twist that's both moving and believable.
Sager's latest does a good job of utilizing the supernatural without leaning too far in that direction, and offers a twist that's both moving and believable. Your strengths win Middle of the night her nomination for the Goodreads Choice Awards, and they're a great argument for Sager to tell more stories like this. While Middle of the nightThe slower pace of may not work for all readers, but it suits the narrative well. The book may not be the most surprising of 2024's new thrillers, but it is among the year's best-written and most memorable additions to the genre.
6
The return of Ellie Black
By Emiko Jean
Emiko Jean's debut thriller, The return of Ellie Black, tells a story that will stay with readers long after they closed the book. A harrowing novel that raises important conversations about everything from abuse to family trauma, The return of Ellie Black is a must-read on the 2024 thriller lineup. Its premise revolves around the disappearance and reappearance of a girl named Ellie Black, intertwining this narrative with the tragic backstory of detective Chelsey Calhoun. Ellie's return is surprising and raises questions about where she's been – questions she's not answering.
Suspense, mysterious and sharp, The return of Ellie Black It combines its main mystery, social commentary and suspenseful twists well. It's a disturbing story at times, but it's worth telling because it doesn't shy away from the difficult conversations surrounding victims, survivors, and those who commit harm. It's no surprise that Stephen King praised this 2024 release, nor is it shocking that it received a Goodreads Choice Awards nomination for the year. He also has an impressive 4.02 Good reads score, with reviewers confirming how powerful and fascinating it is.
5
We Solve Murders
By Richard Osman
Richard Osman is best known for his Thursday Murder Club series, but the author started a new series in 2024 with We Solve Murders. The book proved just as charming and fun as Osman's previous works, featuring two lovable new protagonists and an enigmatic story that will keep readers guessing. The central mystery takes place on a larger scale than Osman's previous ones, but is intelligently constructed. The author gives many hints that lead to its resolution - and also some red herrings.
We Solve Murders recaptures everything that makes Osman Thursday Murder Club a success, but it also manages to stand on its own.
We Solve Murders recaptures everything that makes Osman Thursday Murder Club a success, but it also manages to stand on its own. The book is a promising start to her new series, and its 4.15 average rating on Goodreads and Goodreads Choice Awards nominations are proof of that. The number of characters and things going on can sometimes seem a little overwhelming, but We Solve Murders is still in the top five thrillers of 2024. There are some new releases that surpass it in terms of intensity, however.
4
Listen to the lie
By Amy Tintera
Listen to the lie is Amy Tintera's first adult thriller and it doesn't disappoint. Centered on a character who doesn't remember the night her best friend was killed – but seems incredibly suspicious of being responsible – Listen to the lie It has a premise that is enough to hook readers on its own. Lucy tries to start over in the wake of the tragedy, but a true crime podcast investigating the incident takes her back to her hometown. She commits herself to uncovering the truth about her friend's death, taking readers on this winding journey alongside her.
Despite its dark setting, Listen to the lie uses comedy and sarcasm to tell his story. This helps it stand out, making it easier to digest, even if readers aren't so sure about Lucy's character. Combined with solid pacing and some surprising turns, this makes Listen to the lie almost impossible to put down. It is without a doubt one of the best suspense books of 2024, with its 4.10 Good reads rating and Goodreads Choice Awards nominations backing this up. However, there are some stronger books, either because they cover deeper themes or are even more surprising from beginning to end.
3
The colors of the dark
By Chris Whitaker
Mixing the genres of suspense and mystery and historical fiction, The colors of the dark is one of the most unique additions to the genre in 2024. Chris Whitaker's latest is ambitious, telling a story that unfolds over more than 20 years. The colors of the dark weaves together narratives about missing girls and murders, including impressive character work and romance as well. It's amazing how seamlessly Whitaker's story comes together, and the impressive writing style gives The colors of the dark a literary feeling.
With its impressive 4.35 average rating on Goodreads, It's safe to say that The colors of the dark resonated with readers in 2024. Its mystery/thriller nomination at the Goodreads Choice Awards speaks to this fact, making it an obvious choice for the year's top three thrillers. However, while Whitaker's latest book is moving and intelligent, it doesn't feel like a thriller in the traditional sense. Even with a mystery at its core, it's a slow, carefully crafted read rather than a fast-paced, action-packed read. This means it won't be for all thriller fans, but it's worth checking out.
2
The God of the Forest
By Liz Moore
Another historical thriller with a literary touch, The God of the Forest tells a dramatic story with beautiful prose and an emphasis on the book's characters. It is similar to The colors of the dark in that regard, and it doesn't feel like a standard thriller either. The God of the Forest' The central mystery centers on the disappearance of a girl at a summer camp, which occurs 14 years after her brother disappeared from the same place. The story alternates between the past and the present and manages to uncover some serious issues in its search for the truth.
The God of the Forest It's atmospheric and packs an emotional punch, and it deserves to win the Goodreads Choice Awards in the Readers' Favorite Mystery and Suspense category. With a 4.18 Good reads rating, it will be remembered as one of the strongest additions to the genre in 2024. It runs a little longer than it needs to, and its slower narrative may not appeal to all thriller readers. But there is no denying the success of the book. It's almost the biggest achievement of the year in the thriller and mystery genre, although there's one more traditional thriller that packs a bigger punch.
1
The first lie wins
By Ashley Elston
Although two of the three best thriller books of 2024 are slower and more serious, the best genre book of the year takes readers on a wild and fun ride — more commonly associated with modern thrillers. Ashley Elston The first lie wins It's an adrenaline-filled adventureand its jaw-dropping twists begin in the first chapter. It's impossible to explain why the premise works so well without spoiling the book's opening, but suffice it to say that The first lie wins will hook readers immediately and keep them questioning what's going on throughout its run.
The first lie wins It's everything a thriller book should be, and its non-stop action and suspense puts it at the top of the genre's 2024 lineup.
Unsurprisingly, The first lie wins It was also nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in the mystery/suspense category and came in second place. It's 4.02 Good reads The rating reflects many glowing reviews, which emphasize how entertaining Elston's 2024 novel is. The first lie wins it's all one action movie the book was meant to be, and its non-stop action and suspense put it at the top of the genre's 2024 lineup.