‘All Good People Here’ is about a 25-year-old cold case, a nostalgic journalist, and a facade made of secrets that hangs over the small town of Wakarusa like a fog that never lifts. The entire read is peppered with twists, turns, and small town drama, so if you’d like to get on board the ride, hop in, I’m headed to Wakarusa.

Sale

All Good People Here: A Novel

• Author – Ashley Flowers
• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller fiction, mystery thriller, crime, suspense, adult contemporary, adult fiction
• Content warnings – Domestic abuse (off-page), sexual assault of a minor, death of a child, relative with dementia, suicide (off-page), miscarriage, murder, kidnapping, drug abuse
• Type – Standalone
• No. of pages – 312
• First publication – August, 2022
• Goodreads rating – 3.85
• Spice meter – No spice

$9.42

Buy on Amazon

When Margot Davies was six years old, her next-door neighbor and friend January Jacobs was murdered and the case was never solved. Twenty five years later, Margot is a journalist, still obsessed with the cold case. 

When she comes back to her childhood home in Wakarusa, Indiana, to care for her uncle as he struggles with dementia, the unthinkable happens. A young girl just about the same age as January was when she died, is kidnapped and a cryptic message appears on the walls of January’s old home. To Margot’s dismay, no one connects Natalie’s disappearance with the 25 year-old murder, so she sets out to find the truth once and for all. 

But is the town hiding a truth more sinister than she expected? Can she come to terms with every truth she uncovers, even as everything she knows turns out to be built on a lie? Let’s find out.

‘All Good People Here’ follows two different timelines and two narrators. Krissy Jacobs, January’s mother, narrates the story of her daughter’s murder in 1994, and in 2019, Margot connects the past tragedy to the present when Natalie Clark is kidnapped and then killed. The two timelines and narrators (whom I wasn’t entirely sure I could trust) threw me into a loop chapter after chapter giving one answer to the price of five more questions. 

The story starts with Krissy making a horrifying discovery one morning in 1994. Her daughter has disappeared and a threatening message is written in blood red paint on her living room wall: “F*ck your family…that bitch is gone…this is what you get.” 

I got to the next chapter hoping for some answers, or at least some progression on the case, but the story made a time jump to 2019, introducing Margot and setting up her narrative. She’s moved back to Wakarusa to care for her uncle Luke, guilt ridden for not coming back sooner and apprehensive at stirring old memories she tried so hard to bury.

I wasn’t thrilled at not immediately seeing how January’s murder case developed, but that’s what made me read the book so fast – wanting to find out what exactly happened in between alternating chapters from the two narrators. 

So in 2019, we see Margot thrown right back into the past when the news breaks, sending the whole town buzzing about Natalie Clark’s kidnapping. The silver lining is that her editor at the newspaper wants to cover the kidnapping and Margot is already in hot water because her work has been lagging the past few months with her worrying about her uncle, so this is her one chance to do a good job.

She, however, botches it. She becomes obsessed with proving there’s a connection between the two crimes that she doesn’t do a good job reporting the kidnapping. This is where I started to doubt Margot’s credibility, because if she’s not doing due diligence for her work, how can I trust her to solve a decades old cold case? I couldn’t help wondering if her hunch was correct or if it was her obsession with January’s murder that made her see things in a suspicious light.

She’s even pushed into dead ends because in this small town, the truth has a way of becoming a story, morphing with sensational details and opinions that become facts over the years. I was becoming super skeptical of not just Margot but all of Wakarusa, and Luke confirmed my suspicions:

“…this town crucified the Jacobs family all those years ago and they may not exactly like the way that looks now. So people will talk, sure, but you won’t be able to believe a word they say,” – Luke, Chapter 4

Just as he says, answers are hard to come by in the present day Wakarusa, but on Krissy’s timeline, we see things unraveling really fast. With the authorities and media flooding Jacobs’ place after January’s body is discovered in a ditch, Krissy takes us back to the summer of 1987 when she casually dated Billy Jacobs – the summer where everything changed for her. 

“Just before she opened her mouth and said yes, Krissy made a silent promise. If Billy hadn’t understood that what she’d come here tonight for was money for an abortion, she wouldn’t tell him. Nor would she tell him the other thing. The cost of this marriage, she knew, would be keeping those secrets. She just hoped it would be worth it.” – Krissy, Chapter 9

We already know what happened to her and by my judgment, it isn’t worth it. We are told she’s taken her own life after a few years of being labeled a ‘bad mom’ for letting January get hurt. It hasn’t helped her case that Jace, January’s twin brother, had taken a turn for the worse after his sister’s death. He had become moody, cruel, and prone to temper tantrums, all of which leads to the whole town – and even his mom – suspecting that he had a hand in January’s murder. 

So with one child murdered and one possibly complicit in the murder, Krissy’s life is hardly what she wanted it to be. She might have been a flawed character, but I couldn’t help sympathizing with her loss and pain and her attempts to protect those she loves. She’s the narrator I rooted for, simply because she was trying to do right by her family all along.

The narrator I didn’t exactly care for is Margot. Her side of the story did pick up eventually and the investigative aspect of it was interesting to read, I’ll give her that. But she kept letting me down because she dropped the ball so many times when it came to caring for Luke (especially because she kept reminding us of how heartbroken she was over Luke’s diagnosis). It was also unrealistic how she kept ignoring the threatening notes she had been getting, warning her to stay away from the mystery she was investigating. 

The one time I was truly invested in her was when her uncle, in a haze of dementia, pointed a gun at her. 

“The only trouble was she had no idea if he was aiming a gun at her head now because he didn’t recognize her or because he did…He’s kept his secrets from her for over two decades. She had no idea how far he’d go now in order to protect them.” – Margot, Chapter 28

Ashley Flowers throws a few surprises at us, and one of them belongs to Uncle Luke. I’d spoil it if I say more, but I was as taken aback as Margot was because I didn’t expect him to be involved in the secrets that the small town of Wakarusa kept hidden for so long.

Overall, I loved those twisty turns in the book and the suspense built up by the dual timelines because they made the mystery all the more baffling and engaging. And when the final reveal happened, I have to say my hairs stood on their ends because it was that creepy.

All that said, my feeling of being let down by the book persisted. I couldn’t sympathize with Margot as a character nor as a narrator, the investigation seemed unrealistically easy at times, and some parts that should have been explored weren’t fleshed out at all – like Natalie’s kidnapping. Worst of all though, I felt like the ending left me really unfulfilled. I get that it’s a norm in the genre to leave us hanging sometimes, but for some reason, I couldn’t get on board with Margot’s fate in the end. 

But that’s not at all to say this book isn’t worth reading. The suspense hooked me enough to keep reading that I finished the book in one night, and I loved how dynamic the cast of characters were. Plus, Ashley Flowers portrayed the small town drama so well that I wished I could see Wakarusa and its ‘good people’ on screen. So if you are looking for an investigative suspense thriller centered around a small town, I can promise that ‘All Good People Here’ fits the bill perfectly.

Fans of true crime podcasts should definitely have a go at ‘All Good People Here’ because it’s written by the host of ‘Crime Junkie’ podcast. The investigative aspect of the book really shines through, so I’d say this book deserves a chance. 

I also think readers who like a good whodunnit with crime and family drama on the side would enjoy this book thanks to the dynamic characters and the intimate, small town feel of Wakarusa.

If you want to add a few similar books to your TBR after ‘All Good People Here’, I have a couple of recommendations.

‘The Golden Couple’ is a great pick for those of you looking for an intimate suspense thriller. This novel is about a seemingly perfect couple, how their lives fall apart, and how an unorthodox therapist gets into the middle of it all. Check out my review of ‘The Golden Couple’ here!

If you want to dive into an atmospheric thriller, ‘The Guest List’ might do the trick. It’s about a wedding party that turns deadly as one of the guests turns up dead, and it’s a book that will keep you guessing until the very end.

If you’re in the mood for more crime and suspense thrillers, you can check out my list of best James Patterson books and the list of Harlan Coben thrillers.

‘All Good People Here’ by Ashley Flowers is a small town crime thriller that comes with a lot of secrets and baggage in tow. The bulk of the small town drama might be heavy, but it doesn’t take away from the suspense because we are led to read the same story from two different narrators, and the way they fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle is intense and captivating.

So if you’re up for a read about facades that people put up, secrets they bury, and the truth that eventually comes out sooner or later, All Good People Here should be where you’re at.

The post Book Review: All Good People Here By Ashley Flowers appeared first on Bookishnerd.

My first read of Verity by Colleen Hoover left me so dumbstruck I actually had to read it a second time to write this review. The second read didn’t make it any easier though; the book is full of unspeakable acts, lies, and convincing prose that I’m still not sure what to believe. But one thing is certain: this bone-chilling book is not for the faint of heart. 

So if you think you’re ready for it, let’s dive right into ‘Verity.’

Sale

Verity

• Author – Colleen Hoover
• Genre/Sub-genre – Thriller, mystery, fiction, mystery thriller, suspense, contemporary, adult, dark, psychological thriller
• Content warnings – Child abuse, murder, murder of a child, attempted home abortion, adultery, fatal pedestrian accident (descriptive, on-page), attempted murder, manipulation
• Type – Standalone
• No. of pages – 366
• Goodreads rating – 4.34
• Spice meter – 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently)

$6.99

Buy on Amazon

Verity contains dark and mature themes like murder, manipulation, and child abuse, so this book isn’t appropriate at all for anyone sensitive to these topics. Make sure to read the content warnings before you pick up the book, because even though you could handle serious themes, Colleen Hoover gets graphic and descriptive with her writing, and it can be difficult to get through some scenes.  

And I know a lot of teens love CoHo books, but this is one book of hers that I don’t recommend to young readers.

Lowen Ashleigh, the ghostwriter hired to complete the prolific author Verity Crawford’s work, discovers a horrifying truth – an autobiographical manuscript written by Verity, detailing her innermost thoughts and how she dealt with (and caused) the tragedies that befell the Crawford family. Now bedridden, Verity seems harmless and lost to the world, but Lowen can’t shake off the awareness that Verity is very much conscious and is hiding something more.

Lowen’s growing attraction to the grieving husband, Jeremy Crawford, prompts her to make irreversible choices until another truth comes to light. But now the question remains: which truth is the lie?

Verity opens with a blood-spattered ‘meet-cute’; Lowen is witness to a brutal car accident and Jeremy lends her a shirt to replace her own bloodied one. Only when they part ways but head into the same building do they realize they are scheduled for the same meeting. 

Jeremy is here to find a writer to continue his wife’s work as she’s incapacitated after a car wreck. Lowen is struggling to make ends meet, so despite her initial hesitance at taking over for a bestselling author, she signs the contract and drives herself to the Crawford home in Vermont. 

Even before she arrives though, we are set up for suspense. Much to Lowen’s suspicion, she finds next to nothing about Verity’s accident online. Then she tries getting into the author’s head with one of her works and realizes two things; one, the villain’s perspective the book is written in is impressively realistic and two, she will never be able to measure up to this author. So when Lowen finally arrives at the Crawford home, she is anxious and intimidated – so are we.    

The house doesn’t help. Colleen Hoover sets the scene with sharp attention to detail, capturing the endless estate, the eerie stillness of the lake that spans the massive house, and the gloomy hills beyond. Chills ran down my spine when Lowen said: 

“My mother used to say that houses have a soul, and if that is true, the soul of Verity Crawford’s house is as dark as they come.” – Lowen, Chapter 4

I couldn’t help thinking it’s a premonition, and true enough, Lowen discovers Verity’s manuscript soon after and we discover it’s not just the soul of the house that’s dark.   

The infamous manuscript captures Verity’s perspective of her life, her connection to Jeremy, her motivations for her children – and it’s horrifying to the level of disgust. But then again, we were warned this would happen: 

“What you read will taste so bad at times, you’ll want to spit it out, but you’ll swallow these words and they will become part of you, part of your gut, and you will hurt because of them.” – Verity, Author Note on her manuscript

Told in alternating chapters, Lowen’s account of the present and Verity’s account of the events leading up to the present paint a dark, uncomfortable picture of their intermingled narratives. But the discomfort a reader may feel is second to the intrigue that Hoover’s skillful writing evokes. 

Verity shows us her obsessive love for Jeremy, and she’s explicit about their sexual relationship and how she used her sexuality to manipulate him. Lowen, in response, sympathizes with Jeremy’s obliviousness to Verity’s vileness and for having to care for such a partner, leading to growing feelings between Lowen and Jeremy. 

It’s as twisted as twisted can be – more so because Verity’s presence is no longer confined to the past. To Lowen’s horror, Verity seems to be very much aware and not so immobilized.  Verity’s eyes follow Lowen at times, Verity’s son waves at his mother who was standing at the window, and Lowen’s startled by Verity’s appearance at the top of the stairs when she and Jeremy are having sex. 

The drastic turns in the manuscript get darker at every chapter Lowen (and we) read; Verity attempting to smother her daughter was so evil and heartless to read that I almost DNFed the book. But my bone-deep need to get to the end of the book kept me going so I read through every dark twist and every evil turn, only to be blindsided by the absolutely unhinged ending. Let me ask you, Ms. Hoover, who gave you the right to end this dizzying, mind-numbing story with another mystery? 

The book ends with a letter, written by present-day Verity, making us question everything, I mean everything, we read about so far. The letter makes us doubt the manuscript, Jeremy’s integrity, and even the death of a child, and we readers do NOT get the resolution we are after. Instead, we are left with disbelief and then awe at how masterfully Hoover has crafted a story so engrossing and impactful that it leaves readers dumbfounded and arguing in online forums over one question: “Which truth was she manipulating?” 

Before I end up turning it over and over to figure out which truth is the actual truth, I’d like to point out that I loved this book. True, I disliked almost every character in the book, hated some of their decisions even more, and the atrocities in the book were too dark and too intense to call it a pleasant read. Even with all that, I can never deny that this a masterclass in writing a confounding psychological thriller, because as dark and intense as the book is, it’s also wildly gripping and addictive from the moment it starts until the very end. 

I couldn’t get on board with a couple of things though. The depiction of sex, especially from Verity’s POV, was crude and manipulative and although it helped characterize the sexual power play, it eventually came to a point where it was too frequent and I couldn’t figure out the value it was adding to the narrative. The other thing is more a sentimental opinion than a criticism – I wish I didn’t have to read about a mother plotting and murdering her own child. It’s fiction, I know, but it was difficult seeing explicit details of that on page. 

So that personal peeve aside, I liked the thrilling, mind-bending ride this book took me on. Honestly, it made me wish Colleen Hoover wrote more thrillers because she clearly has the writing chops to create tough-to-love characters in an atmospheric novel of horrific proportions.

If you want to see for yourself how she took the darkest evils a human can commit and wrote them all into a riveting psychological thriller, pick up ‘Verity’ today. It will leave you screaming internally and pulling your hair out – perfect criteria for a read during the spooky season.

Fans of dark thrillers, psychological thrillers, and gothic horror would find Verity right up their alley because the book has elements coming from each genre to create a bestselling masterpiece. 

If you’re a CoHo fan familiar with her romance books, you really shouldn’t miss out on this book because it will show you a different side of her writing with this book.

If you loved ‘Verity’ and want to read similar books, I have a couple of recs for you. 

The Silent Patient is one such book – I was completely caught off guard by its plot twist. The novel follows a psychotherapist who’s trying to get through to a patient who stopped talking after she was accused of murdering her husband. 

All Good People Here, about a journalist trying to connect a murder that happened 25 years ago to a kidnapping that happens in the present, is similar to Verity in that it’s gripping and completely addictive. Check out my review of All Good People Here!

‘Verity’ is a book you can read in one sitting because Colleen Hoover makes the twists so dark and thrilling that you have to know what’s coming next, so despite the gray characters and grayer actions they take, you can only keep going. But finishing the book doesn’t necessarily give you answers. I’m left with my head buzzing even after the second read, so tell me, are you team letter, team manuscript, or do you think Jeremy masterminded everything?

The post Book Review: Verity By Colleen Hoover appeared first on Bookishnerd.

There are so many books in the series that it can be difficult to choose which ones you want to buy first – especially if you’re on a budget and don’t want to go broke buying them all at once!

That’s why I created this list for you: The 13 (not an ominous number at all) best Goosebumps books by R. L. Stine.

Please enjoy these top picks from one who loves the Goosebumps series just as much as you do!

First off, here is the quick list:

1. Welcome to Dead House

Welcome to Dead House (Classic Goosebumps #13)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 128 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$3.99

Buy on Amazon

The first book in the classic Goosebumps series is a part of this list for a reason. It’s Goosebumps gold.

Not only is it super fun to read, but it’s also the first Goosebumps book that Mr. Stine ever wrote.

In this book, a family moves into a house that is haunted by ghosts and other creatures of the night!

It’s up to them to take care of it while keeping their sanity in check. It really makes for an interesting story because you can’t help but be on edge during every moment reading about what will happen next.

2. Say Cheese And Die!

Say Cheese and Die! (Classic Goosebumps #8)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 162 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

Say Cheese And Die! is about a boy who finds a camera that shows the horrible things that will happen to you in the future.

He and his friends use it to their advantage – but soon realize they may have bitten off more than they can chew!

I love this book because it has a little bit of everything – mystery, horror and humor.

It’s definitely one that you should read if you haven’t already!

3. Welcome to Camp Nightmare

Welcome to Camp Nightmare (Classic Goosebumps #14)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 163 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

Welcome to Camp Nightmare is about a boy who goes to summer camp and learns that it might not be as safe as he thought.

He soon discovers the dangers of monsters lurking in the woods – including some right at his new home! As people are vanishing, eventually the boy finds himself all on his own, and you don’t know how he’s going to get out of it.

I honestly love this book because I think many people can relate to having a fear of going somewhere new for the first time.

It also brings out the idea of monsters being hidden in plain sight – which is awesome to read about. The twist at the end is a little hokey, but the journey to get there is worth it.

It’s definitely a great book for summer time reading!

4. The Horror at Camp Jellyjam

The Horror at Camp Jellyjam (Classic Goosebumps #9)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 147 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$3.99

Buy on Amazon

The Horror at Camp Jellyjam involves two kids who get separated from their parents and end up at Camp Jellyjam, but things are not all what they seem.

The story follows the two kids as they uncover what is going on in this strange camp, and why the adults are acting very weird.

It’s one of the better examples of R. L. Stine’s writing mastery, which gives it a very appropriate place on this list.

I like this story because it has some good character development, and the ending is very interesting.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes Goosebumps or horror books in general, as well as those that like a bit of mystery with their scare factor.

5. Piano Lessons Can Be Murder

Sale

Piano Lessons Can Be Murder (Goosebumps #13)

• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 124 Pages - 08/01/1995 (Publication Date) - Apple (Publisher)

$2.26

Buy on Amazon

Did your mom ever make you practice piano, and you would think any excuse to get out of them. How about a haunted piano?

That’s the premise of this book, where a boy finds a haunted piano in the attic. And as he starts taking lessons from the mysterious Mr. Shreek, he finds out that not all is as it seems.

This one was fun because it is an interesting twist on the haunted house trope.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes scary pianos, or just wants something fun and quick to read.

6. Deep Trouble

Deep Trouble (Classic Goosebumps #2)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 125 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

If you’re like me, you still haven’t recovered from seeing Jaws in theaters. If that’s the case, you might have a hard time with this particular story.

The story involves our heroes searching for a real-life mermaid, but that search leads them into danger as they face evil mermaids, hungry sharks, and a group of rogue bandits.

You’ll like this book if you like action, excitement and more than a hint of danger.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves sharks or mermaids, as well as those looking for some good old fashioned adventure.

7. Monster Blood

Monster Blood (Classic Goosebumps #3)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 147 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

Monster Blood is one of the most successful sub franchises in Goosebumps history.

Stine would later go on to write three sequels (the best of which is Monster Blood II) and a follow-up to Goosebumps: Horrorland that tied into it, but the first book is still the one you want to read. It’s about a boy who is stuck with his aunt for a few weeks and discovers a can full of greenish goo labeled monster blood.

The goo eventually takes over and becomes the blob, an entity that consumes everything in its path.

This book is great because of the classic R. L. Stine humor, as well as great suspenseful scenes, scary situations, and gooey monsters.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves monster stories in Stine’s work.

8. Night of the Living Dummy

Night of the Living Dummy (Classic Goosebumps #1)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 133 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

Easily the most popular antagonist in the Goosebumps series is a living ventriloquist dummy known as Slappy.

Slappy was first introduced in the Night of the Living Dummy. Funny enough, Slappy is only a supporting player in this book, and the real threat is his ventriloquist dummy brother named Mr. Wood.

It’s a chilling story, and one that I would highly recommend for those with a strong constitution. Faint of heart, do not get into this whole Slappy business. It can be terrifying at times.

But if you’re into that sort of thing (which I am not), then I would definitely recommend this.

9. The Haunted Mask

The Haunted Mask (Classic Goosebumps #4)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 126 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

Probably the book that I remember the most, or at least the one I saw on shelves the most, is The Haunted Mask. This was the first book to be set on Halloween, which may be surprising to some.

Have you ever been scared of changing into someone else, perhaps someone dark? That’s what happens in this story to a girl named Carly Beth who, in an attempt to pull a prank, puts on a spooky mask. But that mask ends up changing her, making her angry and violent.

Personally, I have a hard time with mutations stories. There’s just something about them that I really don’t like. But these books are supposed to be scary right? So I guess in that sense, it does its job well.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good Halloween scare.

10. One Day at Horrorland

One Day at HorrorLand (Classic Goosebumps #5)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 123 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

One Day at Horrorland spawned a large franchise centered around this scary theme park. It’s about a family that takes a wrong turn and ends up at this spooky amusement park, and when their car mysteriously explodes, they are stranded and have no way of leaving.

They then have to survive rides that have a mind of their own, creepy employees, and locked gates as they try to find a way to leave the amusement park.

This book is great because it’s a fun read that has some spookier elements.

I would recommend this to those who love amusement parks and scary rides, as well as readers looking for something lighthearted with just a hint of danger.

11. Beware the Snowman

Beware, The Snowman (Goosebumps #51)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 107 Pages - 09/25/2018 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Inc. (Publisher)

$3.99

Buy on Amazon

This is another one where I saw the cover all over libraries. That image of the creepy snowman with arms raised in a menacing pose, is a sight to see. It’s about a young girl and her aunt who moved to a tiny village at the edge of the Arctic Circle.

Not only is the girl relatively alone, but there are some weird things about this village. At night there are strange howling noises, and there is a snowman in front of every house.

If you’re into spooky winter tales, then I would recommend this. It’s a good read for those who crave something chilling as the cold settles in.

12. Ghost Beach

Ghost Beach (Classic Goosebumps #15)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 162 Pages - 08/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

Ghost Beach is more of your typical haunted story. It involves a pair of siblings staying at the beach, who discover an unexpected haunting, and a ghost who comes out to prey on innocent victims during a full moon.

It’s not the most original of Stine’s work, but it is definitely something you should check out if you like ghosts, graveyards, haunted houses, or beaches. We all like one of those things, right?

13. It Came From Beneath the Sink

It Came from Beneath the Sink! (Goosebumps Book 30)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Stine, R. L. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 114 Pages - 01/06/2015 (Publication Date) - Scholastic Paperbacks (Publisher)

$5.99

Buy on Amazon

This is a book that probably resonated with a lot of children. Whenever you hear that garbage disposal in the sink, you may have thought it was a monster.

Well in this book, there is a monster under the sink, further feeding that active imagination of every kid.

I had a particularly hard time with this one, because now it’s all I can think about when I open up the drawers beneath my sink. So that’s nice…

But if you’re into those sort of stories, I would definitely recommend this.

And that will do it for my list of recommendations, but let’s talk about one more very important question…

Is Goosebumps Still Good in the 2020s?

I wouldn’t say they are ‘good’ per se, but I think it’s important to remember the impact these books have had. They gave us some fun stories, and were a big part of our childhoods. And before Harry Potter came along, this was the series that got most kids reading.

So if you see them on the shelf or in an antique store or something, go ahead and pick one up…or two. You may remember the nostalgia of how much you used to love them. Or you might find that your own kids love them just as much.

Or you might give them nightmares, who knows?

But overall, if you’re a fan of horror, or a young reader, and you want something more like Stephen King for kids, then the Goosebumps series is still one of the best out there.

The post Why the Goosebumps Books Belong at the Top of Your Bookshelf appeared first on Bookishnerd.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that we’re choosing Stephen King as our first author. He is one of the most prolific authors of our time–if not all time. He is known as one of the true masters of the Horror genre and for good reason. But he’s also extremely versatile with other works including dramas, non-fiction, supernatural, fantasy, and more. And so many of those writings have been converted into award-winning TV series or movies.

After selling over 350 million copies worldwide–as of writing this–and more to come, Stephen King has become a household name and worthy to kick off the inaugural article of this series.

Alright folks…here’s where I gotta do my thing and give you this disclaimer. I will be using affiliate links within this article. But trust me, the links do not change my opinion on these books whatsoever–maybe you can in the comments though. They just help keep my teapots full of good brew so I can keep bringing you the content you deserve.

Mind you, this list is entirely subjective. But these are some serious page turners that I love to re-read over and over. Now with that out of the way, curl up into your favorite reading chair and here are the nine best Stephen King books ranked:

The 9 Best Stephen King Books Ranked from Best to Worst

1. The Shining
2. It
3. Misery
4. The Stand
5. The Dark Tower Series
6. The Green Mile
7. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
8. Salem’s Lot
9. Carrie

The Shining (1977)

Ok. So if there’s ever a top contender for this spot, it has to be The Shining. This book gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it. Mind you, this was one of King’s earliest works in his decades long career. And it’s still terrifying people to this day. Let’s break this down for those of you unaware.

Plot Summary and Extra Info

Jack Torrence is a writer–just like us– who’s got a serious case of writer’s block. Not to mention an alcoholic trying to get his life back on track. In order to break the dry spell and mend relations with his family, he takes a job as winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel and moves out with his family. The hotel is this sprawling manor of a building out in the Colorado Rockies isolated from pretty much everything. As far horror stories go…this is being setup to be a doozy.

Unbeknownst to Jack and his wife, his son Danny possesses special telepathic gifts known as “the shining”. This allows him to look in to the hotel’s past. And let’s just say… there’s nothing nice to see. The hotel is like stupid haunted. And trying to take over Danny. Thankfully for Danny, he’s too powerful a psychic to be influenced by the evil there. But as for Jack, the struggles with writer’s block, alcoholism, and isolationism makes him vulnerable to possession. And the Overlook Hotel gets him.

And what happens next is a veritable hell storm of evil. Just thinking about it now sends chills down my spine. And here’s the thing…. In true Stephen King fashion, this book was actually based off of real events in his life. The book is inspired by King’s own personal battle with alcoholism and the feeling of being isolated while doing so. And the hotel… Don’t think that doesn’t have an inspiration too. King based The Overlook off a hotel that his wife–Tabitha–and he had stayed at back in 1974. The Stanley Hotel. Which apparently has taken on some ghostly visitors after the writing of this novel.

Buy on Amazon

It (1986)

What do you get when you mix killer clown demons and a ragtag group of kids? Enough nightmare fuel to affect entire generations. After the release of It, coulrophobia (or fear of clowns) saw a visible increase and then even more so when the movie adaptation was released. So, what’s It all about?

Plot Summary and Extra Info

The story takes place in Derry, Maine (a hotspot for King’s writing) on a rainy 1957 day. Little Georgie Denbrough is out sailing his paper boat when it heads down a storm drain. Being the inquisitive little fellow he is, Georgie follows the boat and is greeted by Pennywise the Clown from storm drain opening. (Everything floats down there ensues. We all know the scene.) Either way, eventually Georgie’s body ends up back in the arms of his grieving family. Then… fast forward one year. Georgie’s older brother (builder of the aforementioned paper boat and blessed with a stutter) Bill forms an alliance with other socially rejected kids and aptly name themselves The Losers.

But the story doesn’t end there. Throughout that summer, Pennywise appears to each of the Losers terrifying and tormenting them. It’s later revealed that Pennywise is actually a shape-shifting ancient alien creature that hibernates for 27 years only coming out to feed. The group bands together and eventually defeats the monster. Now, this would be the part where everyone rejoices and goes home right? Not according to Mr. King. You see this is only the first part of the story. The second half begins 27 years later and the Losers returning to face the demon once more.

When the book was first released, it received many mixed reviews. Some likened the real horror to that of adolesence and growing older. Many were revolted by overt sexuality that was portrayed by the children in the book. And some didn’t care too much for it because it was too stinkin’ long. But after it was edited and turned into a motion picture… it was universally accepted that It and Pennywise were truly evil and fun entertainment. Here’s a fun fact. Tim Curry (he’s a freaking genius BTW and the actor who played Pennywise) is petrified of clowns. Let’s just say costume and makeup weren’t super fun for him.

Buy on Amazon

Misery (1987)

This was another book that really got to me. Not because of any ghosts or ancient aliens. But because something like this could actually happen in real life. The villain of Misery is as human as you, me, or Mark Zuckerberg. Ah, who are we kidding? He’s as reptilian as they come.

Plot Summary and Extra Info

Yet again, Stephen King has introduced another troubled writer as the protagonist to his story. Paul Sheldon is a celebrated author of a series of Victorian Era romance novels based on a sultry young woman named Misery Chastain. But… Paul’s ready to move on. And in his last and final installment of the series, Paul kills off Misery. But that doesn’t mean a writer’s life is over. Paul had already completed his first manuscript for his new crime novel. But while driving through remote Colorado, he finds himself in a terrible snowstorm and totals his car.

Thankfully, former nurse Annie Wilkes lived nearby and was able to arrive to the rescue. She takes him back to her home where he can properly care for him. Or so you think… Anywho, upon learning Paul’s identity, she quickly reveals herself to be Paul’s number one fan of the Misery series. And this is where things get weird. Annie now refuses to take Paul to the hospital because she insists on treating Paul’s mangled body herself. However, when Annie learns of Misery’s death in the book, things take a turn for the demented. She abandons Paul at her home without food, water, or medicine for two days. And when she returns she’s able to take advantage of a weakened Paul. Mutilating and cackling the whole way.

This book was received exceptionally well and received the first Bram Stoker Award for Novel in 1987. And was nominated for the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. Not only that…but King got another one of his many, many screen adaptations in which Kathy Bates took home the Oscar for Best Actress.

Buy on Amazon

The Stand (1978)

This book is by and far one of the best Stephen King books. And you can easily find this post-apocalyptic thriller topping other lists of this nature. The Stand is based on the premise that a genetically engineered influenza super-bug has been accidentally released and kills off 99% of the world population. Gnarly.

Plot Summary and Extra Info

Now this book is huge. It’s literally the longest book King ever wrote. He designed this to be an epic adventure akin to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings but post-apocalyptic. The actual text is divided into three main parts. In the first part, King develops the backstory as to how this virus was created an subsequently released. Next, two major rival groups have formed. One who follow the spiritual guidance of a “Mother Abigail” and those who follow a one Randall Flagg, a terrible being possessing supernatural powers. And while Mother Abigail’s group wants to peacefully resettle, Flagg has other plans. The book’s epic conclusion is actually called The Stand. And it’s come down to that inevitable final confrontation between the two.

If you’re thinking that this sounds like it would be awesome on the silver screen (or elsewhere), you’re not alone. As a matter of fact, The Stand has been in and out of Hollywood circles for decades. However, not too much has come from it. A single miniseries was made in the early 90s, but… it just didn’t do it justice. Movie talks have been floating around along with finished screenplays, but due to production rights issues, nothing ever took off. But there is good news. CBS has acquired the rights free and clear with a new miniseries arriving in late 2020.

Other than just film and TV issues, the book itself had problems when King first took it to publishers. Not due to content though, but because of length and publishing costs. This forced King to have to cut about 400 pages (150000 words) from the book. He has since then released a limited edition full and unabridged version. Oh! And here’s a neat factoid. Metallica actually named their iconic album “Ride the Lightning” based off a quote inside the book. Rock on, Mr. King. Rock on.

Buy on Amazon

The Dark Tower Series (1982-2012)

The Dark Tower series is an 8-book collection that is often considered to be the glue to Stephen King’s multiverse. It follows Roland Deschain, the last of a group known simply as the gunslingers and of his family line Arthur Eld–that being Roland’s world’s equivalent to King Arthur. Roland is searching for The Dark Tower, a tower which is the nexus for many different worlds and universes.

As mentioned before, The Dark Tower serves as a focal point for the Stephen King multiverse. The series has direct multiverse ties to the following Stephen King books:

• It
• The Stand
• ‘Salem’s Lot
• Insomnia
• Hearts in Atlantis
• The Eyes of the Dragon
• The Shining
• Cell

So if you’re looking for a Stephen King reading list, this series provides the basis for many others including some on this list.

Buy on Amazon

The Green Mile (1996)

The Green Mile is the first on this list that isn’t exactly a horror or dystopian novel. This book was originally put together as a small series of 6 short books to tell the incredible story of John Coffey. This book is a first person narrative which differs from most of King’s previous work.

Plot Summary and Extra Info

The story takes place during two different time periods. In 1996, Paul Edgecombe is spending his remaining days in the Georgia Pines nursing home and is writing down the events that happened while he was a death row bring guard back in 1932. At that time, Paul was assigned to the Cold Mountain Penitentary. He was the block supervisor for the death row inmates there. The block was nicknamed “the green mile” due to the sickly colored linoleum that covered the floor. Things on the mile were pretty much standard operations until the arrival of John Coffey.

John Coffey was a giant of a man. Standing 6′ 8″, he was lumbering hulk of a black man convicted of raping and murdering two small white girls. And while the initial shock of this new inmate intimidated the Mile’s guard staff, they found John to be the most mild-mannered and polite of all individuals. Over the course of the book, Paul realizes that there is more to John than meets the eye–that he’s got a gift of extraordinary power. One that does hurt, but heals. The novel covers the full stint of Coffey’s death row stay from sadistic prison guards to other maniacal inmates.

Honestly, I have no clue how to put into words how emotional I got after reading this novel. It’s such a roller coaster that has you rooting for murderous criminals and ugly sobbing after their executions. This book was made into a film adaptation starring Tom Hanks and the late Michael Clarke Duncan. And it still remains one of my absolute favorites to this day.

Buy on Amazon

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000)

You knew this would be on here. There’s no way I’m going to let this escape my list of best Stephen King books. There’s not a single writer I know that hasn’t read (or owned) this book. It’s an autobiographical nonfiction take from King where he uniquely addresses several stages of his life and how that affected him and his writing.

He also goes through writing mechanics, word choice, and other essential skills that any writer would need. But he does it in such a way that’s fun and entertaining. It’s just as gripping as any of his other works on this list. On Writing is an absolute must-read. And you can take that to the bank.

Buy on Amazon

‘Salem’s Lot (1975)

Back before the Twilight series, vampires were actually scary. And King’s Barlow (the baddie) is no exception. The inspiration for this novel came when King was teaching a high school fantasy and sci-fi class at Hampden Academy. The curriculum had Dracula on it causing him to wonder… What would happen if Dracula came back in 20th Century America?

Plot Summary and Extra Info

‘Salem’s Lot was King’s second published novel. And if he had built this list himself back in the 80s, this would be reigning supreme. In an interview, he claimed that this book was his absolute favorite he had written. The plot focuses on yet another writer, one who returns to his boyhood home to find that its residents are slowly turning into vampires.

Ben Mears had been away from Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine for 25 years before he decided to return. He came back to write a new book about the old Marsten house. It was a place that had traumatized him as a child. Previously owned by a Depression-era hitman, the house now belonged to an Austrian immigrant named Kurt Barlow–an antiques dealer. But soon after Ben’s arrival, sinister things start to happen strting with the disappearance of a young boy and death of the boy’s brother. However, instead of true death…that brother actually became the town’s first vampire. The rampant spread of vampirism ravished the small town with the root cause stemming from the Marsten house.

This book is an absolute classic when it comes to vampires. Nominated in 1987 for the Locus Award for All-time Best Fantasy Novel, ‘Salem’s Lot fully embodies what it means to be a fantasy horror. It was also here in this book where King started to create his overreaching extended Multiverse seen throughout his novels. This book is very closely tied in with his Dark Tower series.

Buy on Amazon

Carrie (1974)

And this is the one. The OG of the best Stephen King books. His first published novel. For you Stephen King enthusiasts, Carrie wasn’t actually his first novel written. It was his fourth, yet his first published. And it never would have happened without his wonderful wife Tabitha. You see, Carrie was originally supposed to be just a short story for Cavalier Magazine. But after three pages, King couldn’t see himself being able to write the story from the female perspective and tossed it in the trash. Thankfully, Tabitha fished the pages out, told him she would help with the female perspective, turned the book into a novel, and kickstarted the Stephen King brand we know today. Mrs. King… Thank you.

Plot Summary and Extra Info

This is the quintessential coming of age story… if you’re into murderous rampage, supernatural powers, and humiliation.

Carrie White wasn’t just your typical teenage girl. Raised by her mother Margaret–a deeply disturbed and evil woman in her own right–Carrie exhibited very peculiar behavior leading to incessant bullying. One day after gym class, Carrie blossoms into womanhood and receives her first menstruation. Due to her strange upbringing, Carrie has no clue what’s happening and starts to panic. Noticed by her fellow students, she promptly ridiculed with sanitary napkins and tampons thrown at her. And while the gym coach tries her best to explain what’s happening, it doesn’t do much good.

While menstruation is a perfectly normal process, what came along with it was not. Carrie started to develop psychokinetic powers–aka she could control thing with her mind. Meanwhile, the supportive gym coach then punishes Carrie’s tormentors with a week of detention and the consequence of missing prom if skipped. And of course… one of the girls defiantly marches right out the door sealing her fate for prom. Unable to attend prom, she devises a revenge plot against Carrie. And let’s just say… it doesn’t end well for anybody.

This story has been told so many times since its release in so many different medium. It’s been a film adaptation, slated for a miniseries release, and was even a musical hit on Broadway!

Buy on Amazon

Will these stay the Best Stephen King Books?

Here’s the thing… I love these books. I’ve read them all and will probably re-read all again. However, I can’t say beyond a shadow of a doubt that these books will remain my favorites. And that’s because King is still writing books! Good ones at that.

So yes…this list can be subject to change. But this is just one girl’s opinion. What are you favorite Stephen King books? Do you agree with my choices? If not, share your take down below. I’d love to hear from you.

Ready to leave the horror-filled worlds of Stephen King behind? Why not step into the intricate mysteries spun by Agatha Christie? Check out our top 10 Agatha Christie Books!

Cheers,

The post Best Stephen King Books: Prolific Authors Series appeared first on Bookishnerd.

Combine a dysfunctional marriage with wealthy suburban life, the need to keep a picture-perfect facade, and a very questionable therapist, and you get yourself a psychological thriller based on domestic bliss (misery, to be precise). The entire time I was reading it, I was second guessing who’s right or wrong, who’s the antagonist, and what made things turn sour, and if the problems are solvable at all. So if you’re ready for the twists and turns of a messy marriage and even messier attempts to salvage it, come say hello to the Bishops!

Sale

The Golden Couple: A Novel

• Author – Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen
• Genre/Sub-genre – Thriller, fiction, mystery, mystery thriller, suspense, adult, contemporary, psychological thriller, adult fiction
• Content warnings – Infidelity, euthanasia, cancer, death of a friend, death of a spouse, murder, attempted murder, gun violence, stalking
• Type – Standalone
• No. of pages – 329
• Goodreads rating – 3.99
• Spice meter – No spice

$12.65

Buy on Amazon

‘The Golden Couple’ Plot Summary

Underneath the picture-perfect relationship of Marissa and Matthew Bishop lies a troubled home curtained by a lack of intimacy and understanding. To make matters worse, Marissa has just been unfaithful. She, however, is desperate to repair things for the sake of their son and for the love she has for her husband – that’s where Avery Chambers comes in. 

Despite having lost her therapist license because of her unorthodox methods, clients still seek Avery’s experience and unique skills to help them in times of crisis. The Bishops meet Avery and after Marissa’s infidelity comes to light, the three set on a course to save the Bishops’ marriage. But the biggest secrets are yet to surface and as the web of betrayals, lies, and secrets grows bigger and more outrageous, even the unconventional therapist might not be able to keep up.

‘The Golden Couple’ Book Review

‘The Golden Couple’ opens with an excerpt from a magazine article about Avery Chambers, calling her “D.C.’s Maverick Therapist” for changing lives with her “unique brand of intensive short-term counseling” that “always starts with The Confession.” Intrigued, I quickly read the first chapter written from Avery’s POV to find out how this confession – of Marissa’s infidelity – comes about. With the truth out in the open as the Bishops meet Avery, some explosive emotions take the floor, piquing Avery’s interest (as well as mine). Her observations, suspicions, and the detective-like analysis of the Bishops’ demeanor instantly got me liking her character despite my unease about a therapist who lost her license. 

Avery’s character turned out to be one of the main reasons this book got such a high rating from me because I realized as I read along that she embodies ‘good chaos’ of a quiet rebel – the kind I like – so well. I loved that she’s capable; her first person POV gave me an intimate look into her mind and before long, I could practically see her mental checklist as she went about tracking the Bishops’ problems and weighing solutions left and right. 

The authors also did a great job explaining Avery’s motivations through her backstory. She’s a character with hardened edges, but towards the end of the book, it broke my heart when Avery described her personal grief:

“Grief isn’t linear. It isn’t logical. There’s no structure or civility to it; it grabs you when you least expect it and digs in its nails until you succumb.” – Avery Chambers, Chapter 44

I won’t say more here because I want you to feel the surprise of that revelation (which comes pretty early on in the story) but her unique insight into love and loss has an explanation, folks. 

Another reason why I liked this book so much was the ‘everyday-ness’ of our golden couple. At first I felt like the Bishops could be the generic wealthy couple with rich-people problems, but as the secrets started to become dangerous, I realized that you never truly know what goes on behind closed doors. I think the authors intentionally (and very cleverly) highlighted the Bishops’ ordinary problems against the dark shadows of something sinister, because twists were due in the story:

“You can never truly know what is inside another person’s heart or head.” – Marissa Bishops, Chapter 39

Hendricks and Pekkanen also show us what a person would feel about having to share the intimacies and intricacies of their relationship with a third party through Marissa’s character. She’s a woman desperately attempting to hold on to the facade of the ‘golden couple,’ even as her struggles become increasingly obvious to those around her. Her POV depicts the discomfort the Bishops go through in front of Avery and I really felt for her when she struggled with shame and self-consciousness of having to air her dirty laundry.  

In contrast to Marissa’s POV, Avery’s narration is self-assured with a touch of curiosity – at first. Starting out, we see Avery calm and collected when confronted with the Bishops’ problems, confident that her ten-session therapy method would work on the pair too – to either give their marriage a second chance or to part for the betterment of each other. But with each passing chapter, the secrets just kept getting more convoluted and Avery, the unconventional therapist who has never balked at her clients’ issues, finds herself unsettled and unsure of her ability to help the Bishops. These alternative POVs between Avery, the onlooker, and Marissa, the subject herself, gave me a great outlook on both sides of the coin, making me go through chagrined uncertainty in one chapter and second-hand embarrassment in the next.  

This depiction of the Bishops as ‘normal and perfect’ also meant that I got jumpscares when the story caught me off guard. The authors are a sneaky pair because they had me concerned and hooked on the Bishops’ obvious problems that I didn’t see the twists coming – the hallmark of any good domestic thriller. 

“One percent of the population is composed of psychopaths, and most of them aren’t the homicidal criminals we envision. We’ve all encountered them: people who seem charming and charismatic, but who lie without remorse and manipulate and deceive. And female psychopaths can be particularly adept at manipulation.” – Avery Chambers, Chapter 27

The question of who’s who made me want to swallow the book whole so I’d get my answers immediately because Hendricks and Pekkanen did a great job weaving the story, keeping me hooked on the danger and mystery and making me crave for answers. So yes, the plot was turning out to be sinister, but the intrigue of the mystery kept me going until I finished the book in one sitting.

One thing I didn’t like about the story was Marissa’s character – her vibes were irritating to say the least. At first I didn’t know what to feel about her but when I realized she’s mostly passive, waiting for things to happen to her, it made me feel like the authors did a lazy job with such an important narrator. I would’ve liked to see her as a smarter woman, more actively involved in the going-ons inside her own home.  

Despite my irritation with Marissa’s character though, reading about the Bishops made me feel like it could’ve genuinely just been every other couple I know, which made this story very relatable and extra creepy. So if you want a bone-chilling mystery set against a calm, wealthy background, all witnessed by an unconventional therapist, ‘The Golden Couple’ should go straight to your TBR. Heads up though, get ready to lose some sleep over lies, facades, and betrayals in the familiarity of a home.

What I Liked Most About ‘The Golden Couple’

I loved the suspenseful, unpredictable plot that depicted the dysfunctional aspects of a domestic relationship. It was a riveting read that unraveled the facade of perfection and brought out the ugliness of the ‘golden couple,’ not unlike some IRL couples who continue to be in dysfunctional relationships. 

Also, and I cannot stress this enough, I LOVED Avery’s character, mostly because she’s chaotic. She’s curious, reckless, smart, and plays the roles of both detective and therapist with her clients to get to the bottom of things. Although her character is not professionally acceptable, she’s the one that got me racing through the book as she uncovered one secret after the other. 

Who Should Read ‘The Golden Couple’

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, especially those centered around themes of domesticity, suburban life, and contemporary lifestyles, you would love ‘The Golden Couple’. 

If you’ve read The Wife Between Us by the same author duo, ‘The Golden Couple’ is a must-read.

Other Books Like ‘The Golden Couple’

If you loved ‘The Golden Couple’ and want to read similar books, here are some recs to check out! 

‘All Good People Here’ is about a journalist trying to connect a murder that happened 25 years ago to a kidnapping that happens in the present and like ‘The Golden Couple’, this book deals with familial issues and long-buried secrets. Check out my review of All Good People Here!

‘Gone Girl’ is another fantastic and very popular read about a chilling intimate relationship, depicting how manipulation and lies can have life or death consequences.

If you’re up for some suburban thrillers with a lot of twists, my list of best Harlan Coben books might have a few recommendations for you.

Final Thoughts

The Golden Couple is a domestic thriller centered around a couple whose relationship is built on an avalanche of lies that threatens to collapse when confronted with the unorthodox therapist Avery. It’s a fast-paced drama that’ll have you quickly turning the pages to get to the bottom of the matter while suspecting nearly every character of psychopathy.

If you’re on the hunt for a good domestic thriller that explores the dangerously gray areas of interpersonal relationships, don’t think twice about picking up ‘The Golden Couple’.

FAQs

The post Book Review: The Golden Couple appeared first on Bookishnerd.

Since his first published book, The Thomas Berryman Number (1976), won The Edgar Award for best novel of the year, Patterson has had a string of success stories (literally!). Today, he is among those who have written the most number of New York Times bestsellers in history. 

He’s most famous in the thriller and suspense realm, because he has a way of keeping you hooked from the first line, making sure you turn the pages to the very end with his fast-paced writing style. And I, like many other Patterson fans, got to know and love him through his crime and mystery novels. Then I read a bunch of other genres he’s written in and, just as I expected, he did right by those books too. 

So I’ve compiled a list of some of his best page-turners here for you, and since my heart always sings for the romance genre, I included two of his best romance novels as well. 

Sale

Along Came A Spider

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, crime, mystery thriller, thriller, suspense, detective, adult, murder mystery
• Content warnings – Burying alive, death, murder, kidnapping
• Type – Series
• No. of pages – 449
• First publication – February, 1993
• Goodreads rating – 4.13

$5.50

Buy on Amazon

Nobody ever truly forgets their first Patterson and for me, it was Along Came a Spider from the Alex Cross series. My favorite genre after romance is mystery thriller (probably because I binge read the Nancy Drew series as a kid) so when I came across the first book featuring Alex Cross, I didn’t think twice about reading it. I was delighted to find that it was a chilling read featuring a psychopath wreaking havoc in Washington D.C. 

Our psychopathic antagonist, Gary, is the kind that deserves a spot on Criminal Minds because he’s ruthless, manipulative, and treats all humans as his next victim. Patterson writes about him very skillfully, especially about Gary’s human side. I was left thinking about the motives behind the killer, what made him who he is, and his mental health. The story is about him committing his latest crime in the precinct of Alex Cross, the skilled homicide detective. 

Cross is brilliantly portrayed as a detective who started from the ghettos and rose up the ranks, working up to a massive career. In short, it’s so easy to root for this protagonist – I was completely invested in him winning both cases and at life. 

I loved the tension between Alex and Jezzie. Their forbidden romance gave us some great angst and longing scenes, but my one complaint is that Jezzie’s portrayal wasn’t as fleshed out as I would’ve liked it to be. I hate when FMCs are just there as a plot device with little to no character development of their own, and that’s what happened with Jezzie too.

That aside, the thriller/mystery element of this book was top-notch. I couldn’t rest without finding out the truth behind the mysterious killings and the plot twists just kept throwing me off my guard. 

Along Came a Spider has the best parts that make a great mystery thriller: a relatable detective, a frightening psychopath, and a fast-paced plot. This is your quick weeknight read for when you need something to pick up your mundane work days.

Sale

1st to Die: A Novel (Women's Murder Club, No 1)

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, crime, mystery thriller, suspense, murder mystery, detective, adult
• Content warning – Domestic abuse, sexual abuse
• Type – Series
• No. of pages – 424
• First publication – March, 2001
• Goodreads rating – 4.10

$6.99

Buy on Amazon

What is the best thing that could make a James Patterson mystery thriller better than it already is? A women’s murder club, tasked with solving brutal crimes. I literally squealed when I read the synopsis of book 1 of the Women’s Murder Club, 1st to Die, because it’s about four women teaming up to catch a killer in San Francisco. 

My favorite thing about this book is the individualities of these four women. Each one has a specific career in the field of forensics and criminal science, and each one has their own battles to win. We love strong FMCs over here, so I was engrossed in their stories from the beginning. It certainly helped that Patterson expertly painted the female dynamics, their sisterhood, and teamwork throughout the story. 

Now let’s get to the thriller aspect of it. I have one thing to say: what on earth was that plot? The plot had me holding my breath until the end of the story to let out a sigh of relief, only to scream at that last twist. I won’t say more here because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but Patterson really hit a home run with this mystery. 

This is one of my favorite Patterson mystery thrillers for two reasons: the nail-biting plot and the fabulous group of women who are intent on solving the mystery. Since reading this book, I’ve been a staunch fan of the Women’s Murder Club, and I’m sure you will be too. Pick it up for strong FMCs and a killer plot (yes, literally).

Sale

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

• Genre/Sub-genre – Romance, chick lit, contemporary, adult, mystery, drama, love, contemporary romance
• Content warning – Abandonment
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 289
• First publication – January, 2001
• Goodreads rating – 4.17

$8.07

Buy on Amazon

I first came across the movie version of Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas, but when I saw the reviews online, I decided to give the book a chance. I was left with tears in my eyes at the end of this book – a reaction I never thought I’d have to the work of a writer best known for mystery thrillers.

We start the story with Katie sitting in a bathtub in tears, after having read the diary that Suzanne had written for Nicholas, her son. She realizes that Suzanne’s husband is Matt, her lover who had suddenly left her, the night before she had received the diary. Patterson’s opening lines were enough to catch me off guard because it was clear that both Suzanne and Katie were so in love with Matt. 

After Katie’s initial shock of reading the diary, there was an almost eerie calmness in her that I got a bit confused. You wouldn’t have expected a woman who had just found out that her lover was married to be this calm about everything, right? Did her love run so deep that she wasn’t angry? What was in the diary that made her feel empathy for Matt, even after he had wronged her? 

In answering these questions, Patterson treats us to two beautiful love stories in this novel. The plot twists and the ending were slightly predictable but Patterson’s portrayal of characters was the true winner in this book because we get to see the surprising tenderness and understanding between all of them. Their vulnerabilities were so heart-wrenching that I was ugly crying my way through the entire book 😭. 

Ultimately, this is a story which shows us that love isn’t black or white and that it instead exists, in a multitude of colors, in the ordinary moments of everyday life. I loved reading this mature romance and I would 100% recommend it for those of you looking for a slow, emotional, romance.

Sale

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

• Genre/Sub-genre – Romance, chick lit, contemporary, adult, mystery, drama, contemporary romance, love
• Content warnings – Grief
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 263
• First publication – January, 1991
• Goodreads rating – 4.16

$9.00

Buy on Amazon

I swear, I didn’t pick this book up because of the namesake. It’s just that Patterson did such a great job with Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas, I decided to dive right into his other romance novel, Sam’s Letters to Jennifer. This was another haunting love story with themes of grief and loss, which left me at a loss for words once I was done with it. 

I love the second-chance love trope in this book where Jennifer, our FMC, returns to her hometown to care for her ill grandmother and ultimately ends up falling for Brendan. The way she falls in love with him is so heartwarming to see because Jennifer is giving herself a second chance at love, after going through the grief of losing her former partner. I found the depiction of her loss very painful to read about, but it was so beautifully written, capturing the mourning that follows the loss of a partner, and the conflicting feelings that come with finding love again. 

Patterson once again explores two love stories in this book. The second one is Jennifer’s grandmother, Sam’s, told through the letters that she has left for her granddaughter. I really enjoyed picking out the similarities between the stories of Jennifer and Sam, and I think this plot device really shows Patterson’s skills as a writer. Sam’s story is also a great (and pretty heartbreaking) insight into marriages from a different era. 

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer is a haunting, occasionally painful story of love and loss and I can confirm that James Patterson did wonders in the romance genre this time around as well. I’m recommending this with high praise, but be warned, you might need a weekend blocked out to sob your heart out as you read this book.

Sale

The Murder House

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, suspense, crime, mystery thriller, adult, murder mystery, detective
• Content warnings – Murder
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 451
• First publication – September, 2015
• Goodreads rating – 4.07

$11.40

Buy on Amazon

Haunted houses both terrify me and intrigue me, so when I found that James Patterson has a mystery thriller set around a creepy house, I knew I had to read it. This turned out to be one of the best stand-alones of Patterson’s I’ve read, mostly because I loved reading the chapters written from the point of view of the unknown killer. 

The book is told in a series of POVs, mainly between Detective Murphy and the unknown killer, who calls himself Holden. Reading his perspective gave me the shivers, but I loved that deep dive into the deranged thoughts of the criminal. 

Now, when they caught Noah Walker — the bad boy carpenter of the Hamptons for the murders — I immediately knew something smelled fishy. He didn’t really come across as a ‘deranged criminal.’ But (I’m ashamed to say) that was the only thing about this book that I was able to predict. I kind of pride myself on being able to figure out who the killer is before the end of the book, but Patterson almost always wins this game in his books. This was the same for The Murder House, and the twists had me jumpy right to the very end. 

The only issue I had with this story was the depiction of Detective Jenna Murphy’s character. She came off a bit annoying and careless as a detective, ready to point fingers at everybody instead of thinking things through first. 

However, if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced murder mystery, this is the perfect book for you. Check it out for its FMC who’s also a former NYC cop, the town bad boy who’s arrested for murder, and the POVs from the killer himself. And the cherry on top is the eerie, abandoned house where the story takes place.

The Postcard Killers

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, crime, suspense, mystery thriller, adult, murder mystery
• Content warnings – Death of a child
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 420
• First publication – August, 2010
• Goodreads rating – 3.82

$9.66

Buy on Amazon

Since murder mysteries are a surefire way of turning a boring weekend around, I picked up this novel during one slow weekend, and was completely blown away by the chilling murder spree depicted here. I had to call a fellow Patterson fan in the middle of reading this book just to calm myself down. 

I really loved that this book was set in Europe with the murders being in multiple locations, giving a sense of adventure to the whole mystery-solving aspect of the book. I also enjoyed that the detective pursuing the crimes, Kanon, was doing so for a very personal reason, bringing his determination front and center throughout the book. There’s nothing quite like a personal vendetta in a thriller novel to keep you captivated in the story. 

The book carried elements of erotica and historical art within the themes of murder and mystery. Adding that to the backdrop of adventure, the combo of themes made it a captivating read, especially as the crimes were linked to two killers who have a very interesting relationship to one another. 

I do wish though that the characters of the two killers were more fleshed out in this story. I was excited to find out what made them killers and how they connected, but my questions went unanswered and now I’m trying to manifest a sequel or spin-off featuring the killers.

So while I draft a letter to James Patterson asking for more of the Postcard Killers, go read this book! It’s an amazing stand-alone novel featuring a spree of gruesome killings, an adventure, and a detective with a personal vendetta.

Sale

Red Alert: An NYPD Red Mystery (NYPD Red, 5)

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, crime, suspense, mystery thriller, adult, murder mystery, detective
• Content warnings – Murder
• Type – Series
• No. of pages – 338
• First publication – March, 2018
• Goodreads rating – 4.13

$14.36

Buy on Amazon

The NYPD Red series is no stranger to the hardened Patterson fan. I pretty much binge-read the books as they were released because they feature one of my favorite tropes in murder mysteries, NYPD detectives. Patterson writes about an NYPD special unit named NYPD Red, featuring Detectives Zach and Kylie, and my favorite happens to be Red Alert.

I completely believe that the secret to a great detective story is one thing: the messiness. Hear me out, nobody wants a ‘clean’, easily predictable mystery where we can see the twists coming a mile away. But when there are multiple mysteries with little to no connection between them, that’s when things get a little messy and a whole lot interesting. 

Red Alert is the perfect example of such a book with the mysteries ranging from a bomb explosion at a fundraiser and a suspected murder of a high-profile New Yorker known for her kinky sexual explorations to a second bomb explosion. And I assure you, all these interconnected puzzles and the NYPD Red squad’s attempts to untangle everything will keep you hooked from the beginning. 

As usual, my favorite NYPD detective, Zach, was well characterized in this book. His witty banter with Kylie is hilarious while his longing for her is delightfully angsty. I loved seeing their personal relationship develop as a backstory, though I sometimes wanted to throw the book at the pair because they couldn’t see that they were good for each other. 

This remains my favorite NYPD Red book because of the insight it offers into the investigation of three gruesome crimes and the personal relationship between Zach and Kylie. I love the book for its pace, and I’m sure you’ll love it too – it’ll keep you occupied, twisting and turning the mystery in your head until you reach the very end.

Sale

Woman of God

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, religion, suspense, adult, Christian fiction, mystery thriller
• Content warnings – N/A
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 362
• First publication – September, 2016
• Goodreads rating – 3.84

$14.95

Buy on Amazon

Ever since I read the likes of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, I’ve been fascinated with books inspired by religious history and mythology. That’s how I stumbled across Patterson’s Woman of God, which left me reeling from the story about politics in the highest institution of religious power in the world, and about one’s personal relationship with religion. 

I love when FMCs disrupt things (especially patriarchal institutions) and I had a good laugh reading this book as Brigid, our FMC, pretty much wreaks havoc in Rome. She is called for an audience with His Holiness Pope Gregory XVII for starting a movement to modernize Roman Catholic views, and she does NOT hold back. 

What I enjoyed the most about this book was the soft portrayal of a woman’s evolving relationship with God and faith because it was fascinating how Brigid’s character arc took shape with her faith. Her character development itself was very fast paced (true to the classic Patterson style) and it kept me gripped throughout the novel. 

I’m used to Patterson’s harsh-edged crime thrillers, so it came as a surprise when this story broke my heart with the personal trials that Brigid went through. The portrayal of loss and grief was so acute that for a second I forgot I was reading a thriller writer. 

I do have to say though that this book has some critical undertones of religion, especially about Roman Catholicism. If that’s not your cup of tea, I totally get it; but if you do decide to give it a chance, I recommend going into it with an open mind because it’s a fascinating fresh perspective on topics that have been hashed out for centuries. If you’re looking for a read that veers from conventional thriller and suspense novels, Woman of God might fit the bill.

Sale

The Murder of King Tut

• Genre/Sub-genre – Nonfiction, history, mystery, Egypt, historical, true crime, thriller, biography, mystery thriller
• Content warnings – Murder
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 332
• First publication – January, 2009
• Goodreads rating – 3.37

$15.91

Buy on Amazon

I was digging around for some reading on ancient Egypt when I came across Patterson’s The Murder of King Tut. I was immediately obsessed because I’ve been invested in Tutankhamun like everyone was, for the same reason: the mystery surrounding King Tut’s death. This book was a thorough, intriguing collection of information and narratives that really opened my eyes to the scale of the mystery surrounding the Boy King.

I loved the cross-mixing of forms explored in this book. It starts with personal introductions by Patterson while the story is written in almost a report-style, making it an interesting take on true crime and historical writing. These liberties that Patterson has taken play a pivotal role in bringing to life the case of a murder mystery that has gone cold centuries ago. 

I also loved that writing this story meant that Patterson himself got to play detective, a role dedicated to his MCs in most of his other novels. He takes us on his journey of combing through history and Howard Carter’s findings to give us this compelling read. It’s not one of his fast-paced mystery thrillers, but it made me admire his skill as a writer all the more. 

In short, this book is such a fun and fascinating deep dive into a niche of history. If you’re a history buff, you would definitely love this book. If you’re not a history buff, you would still love this book because the mystery/suspense element is as appealing and fulfilling as any other James Patterson. Happy exploring, folks!

Sale

Filthy Rich: The Shocking True Story of Jeffrey Epstein – The Billionaire’s Sex Scandal (James Patterson True Crime, 2)

• Genre/Sub-genre – Nonfiction, true crime, biography, crime, politics, history, mystery, biography memoir, adult
• Content warnings – Sexual abuse, child abuse
• Type – Series
• No. of pages – 637
• First publication – October, 2016
• Goodreads rating – 3.38

$9.57

Buy on Amazon

When Jeffrey Epstein died in his jail cell in 2019, I, like literally everybody else on the internet, searched high and low for all details of his vile actions. That’s how I came across this book that Patterson had written three years prior to Epstein’s death, detailing the shocking nature of Epstein’s conduct.

Nothing has ever really prepared me for the horrors of true crime. I know that these stories are part and parcel of the society we live in, but I can never seem to wrap my head around how these atrocities are real and all possible. However, Patterson’s writing on the Epstein case was so direct and to the point that I had to come to terms with the existence of evil and those who commit it. 

It was difficult to stop reading about the horror show (akin to how we cannot look away from a car accident) because Patterson’s recreation of interviews and conversations with victims were extremely informative and captivating. 

I also really admired that Patterson critically examined the justice system in this book, showing us just how lightly they handled Epstein’s crimes when they were first brought to light. This, coupled with Patterson’s criticisms of the rich and powerful, made for a compelling and bone-chilling read. 

I finished the book thinking, “What a damning portrayal of today’s society” so I want to warn you – this book is difficult to stomach because the story is about some gruesome crimes towards children. With that warning in place, I really do urge you to read this story for a very dark but much needed insight into the world’s capacity for unspeakable acts against humanity.

The Injustice

• Genre/Sub-genre – Young adult, mystery, contemporary, realistic fiction, high school, mystery thriller, teen, thriller
• Content warnings – N/A
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 305
• First publication – October, 2017
• Goodreads rating – 3.51

$9.99

Buy on Amazon

I haven’t read a lot of Young Adult mysteries because I haven’t come across well-recommended ones, but since The Injustice is a James Patterson product, I decided to give it a go. I was so thrilled to find that this was a Pretty Little Liars meet The Breakfast Club kind of a book because I loved both of them as a teen. 

Right from the start, I enjoyed the friendships between the group of students expelled from their high school for various reasons. They are so different from each other that they wouldn’t have been friends in another lifetime, but in the book, their common experience brings them together. Then they have to learn to put up with each other to find out who used Theo’s social media account to upload a compromising video of Parker, in order to clear their names. 

Our MMC, Theo, had excellent character development. He’s no perfect teenager by any means, and Patterson expertly captures the conflicting nature of young adulthood. Theo grew to be resilient and learned to fight back, and I was so moved by the way he handled the challenges that life threw at him. 

Similar to Theo’s, the storylines of two of the other three MCs were also great. I loved reading about Jude’s struggles with his sexuality and Parker’s personal story, but I was not a fan of Sasha’s storyline because the twist at the end about her home life came off a bit unnecessary. There was absolutely no need to give her that character arc, and then just leave us hanging there with no explanation or resolution. 

However, if you’re looking for an easy-read YA mystery, this is the book for you. It has some beautiful explorations of friendship and an interesting plot, so it’ll quickly fill up your slow weekends!

Sale

Humans, Bow Down

• Genre/Sub-genre – Science fiction, dystopia, young adult, thriller, post apocalyptic, fantasy, mystery, adult
• Content warnings – N/A
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 416
• First publication – February, 2017
• Goodreads rating – 3.07

$9.48

Buy on Amazon

From Divergent to The Hunger Games, I love reading post-apocalyptic dystopian novels which show the alternative worlds that humans can create, and the fight to ensure that they are just and fair. That’s why I decided to give Humans, Bow Down a go, and I was completely taken by it. 

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was Six’s character development. In a post-apocalyptic world where humans are enslaved to robots, she unknowingly holds the secret to a device that could change everything because she’s the granddaughter of the inventor of the first original robot. We get to see how she tries to do right by humankind while dealing with the trauma of being kicked out of her family and the hu-bot war that nearly wiped down humanity; I was impressed by the high stakes and the challenges they presented, especially in a YA book. 

I also really loved the symbolism in this book because Patterson used symbols to draw parallels between the dystopian world of the novel and the world we live in today – like the modern-day class structure, for example. It’s a bit of a jarring outlook on reality but I like it when authors force me to see the world in a different light. That’s what reading’s all about, right?

The novel was really rushed though. I think a great dystopian novel is one that properly fleshes out the world, the plot, and the characters so we can connect with the story. In Humans, Bow Down, there’s no space for this to happen because Patterson’s classic short chapters aren’t structured for comprehensive worldbuilding. 

However, it’s still a fresh take on a common dystopian trope of robots ruling the world with its symbolism, the FMC, and the reflections it left me with. So if you’re looking for a fast-paced YA dystopian novel with a strong FMC, this is the book for you.

And that’s my list of the best James Pattersons! Whether you’re new to reading or a seasoned bookaholic, Patterson has something for everyone from true crime to mystery thrillers to romances. Pick up your next Patterson read to dive into worlds of crime, shrouded by mystery and thrill.

Patterson’s Alex Cross series is his most popular one, and its first book, Along Came a Spider, is definitely a must read. Many Patterson fans were indoctrinated into the fanbase through this book and it remains a winner, even today. 

The NYPD Red series is another one of his most famous works, and the biggest James Patterson fans will tell you that the fifth installment in this series – Red Alert – should not be missed. 

From his recent works, Filthy Rich follows the shocking true crime tale of Jeffrey Epstein. The depiction of America’s richest communities and the scandal that rocked their foundation is a must read.

If you enjoyed my list of James Patterson books, especially ones from the true crime/mystery thriller genres, then my list of Harlan Coben books might feature your next mystery read!

The post 12 Best James Patterson Books to Suit Every Mood appeared first on Bookishnerd.

Horror is one of the best genres to read (even though it’s only a fraction of what I do read), and there are so many talented horror authors out there. But who are the best?

It can be hard to find a list that includes all of your favorite authors, but I’ve attempted just that – here’s my best horror authors list! This article will include some well-known names like H. P. Lovecraft and Stephen King, but also lesser known independent writers like Michaelbrent Collings.

We hope this inspires you to pick up a copy or two!

I’ve listed these in no particular order (but getting the heavy hitters out of the way first), along with a few of their best books if you want to try them out.

1. Stephen King

if you know anything about horror, then you know who Stephen King is.

King has written dozens of best selling novels, including some that have been turned into movies like “Salem’s Lot” and “The Shining”. Some of his best known books are The Stand, Pet Sematary, IT, Carrie, and The Shining.

King has received the National Medal of Arts, as well as countless best selling titles and awards from The World Fantasy Awards to Bram Stoker’s Dracula Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2011. He is without a doubt one of the best horror authors out there today – if not THE best!

I like King because of his ability to draw you into the story and scare the living daylights out of you at times. He doesn’t rely on gore or buckets of blood, but rather a more subtle kind of horror that creeps up on his readers instead. I’ve read some Stephen King books in my time (my favorites being IT and The Stand), so if you’re looking for suggestions this Halloween season, pick one of these best selling novels!

Some of his best books include:

• The Stand
• Pet Sematary
• IT
• Carrie
• The Shining

2. H. P. Lovecraft

H. P Lovecraft is best known for his short stories, with many of them written in collaboration with other authors (who often received the credit).

Lovecraft wrote mostly horror and fantasy fiction, and is best known for practically inventing the genre of cosmic horror. His best known stories include “The Call of Cthulhu”, “At The Mountains of Madness”, and many more.

While there are definitely some issues with Lovecraft’s racist background, I think we can all agree that the horror works that he produced were pure genius. And you can’t deny the impact it’s having now.

Curiously, many modern usages of Lovecraft’s mythos attempt to turn the racist aspect on its head, to really highlight the problems that we have in our society. One great example of this is the book and accompanying TV show, Lovecraft Country.

Some of his best short stories include:

• Dagon
• The Call of Cthulhu
• The Rat in the Walls
• The Mountains of Madness

I recommend picking up an anthology if you want to read his work.

3. Edgar Allan Poe

We’ve all probably heard of Edgar Allan Poe, the gothic horror writer of the 19th century.

Poe is best known for “The Raven” and his short stories, which are widely considered to be some of the best in American literature.

While Poe is best known for his short stories, he also wrote a number of poems that are often considered to be some of the best in American literature.

Poe’s work has influenced countless other writers and poets, including many prominent ones like H. P. Lovecraft and Stephen King above..

His influence can still be felt today through neo-romanticism and even Gothic metal music!

Some of my favorite works by Edgar Allan Poe include:

Some of his best work includes:

• The Black Cat
• The Masque of the Red Death
• The Tell-Tale Heart
• The Pit and the Pendulum

As with Lovecraft, I recommend you pick up an anthology of Poe’s.

4. Bram Stoker

Bram Stoker is best known for his 1897 novel Dracula, one of the best selling and most influential horror novels ever written.

Stoker’s work has been adapted into countless movies, TV shows and even video games!

You can’t deny that vampires are everywhere in pop culture now (owing nothing to Twilight), with many people citing this book as their inspiration. It was also heavily inspired by folk legends from Eastern Europe. And if you know anything about these stories then it becomes clear just how much influence they’ve had on other media like Buffy The Vampire Slayer or Supernatural…

For my Bram Stoker recommendation, I primarily recommend Dracula.

5. Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz is best known for his work in the suspense, thriller and horror genres. But all of his genres, even his thriller books, have strong elements of horror in them.

Over the years, he’s had a ton of success, and is one of the more prolific writers out there, with over 105 novels published! Sixteen of those ended up on the bestseller list

Some of his best books include:

• Devoted
• Night Chills
• Whispers
• The Mask

6. Michaelbrent Collings

In the self-publishing realm, Michaelbrent Collings is best known for his horror novels. He’s an award-winning writer, and one of the most successful indie horror writers in the world.

One of the impressive things about Michaelbrent Collings is the fact that he is the only author who has ever been a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award, a Dragon Award, and a RONE Award all together.

Some of his best books include:

• Malignant
• The Forest
• Rising Fears
• Scavenger Hunt

7. Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson is another classic horror writer, and a kick-a** woman to boot! You’re probably most familiar with her novel, The Haunting of Hill House which was made into a uber-popular series on Netflix.

She was one of several authors who wrote notable short stories in The New Yorker during the 1950s and early 1960s, some of which are now considered classics!

Some of my favorite Shirley Jackson books include:

• We Have Always Lived In A Castle
• The Lottery and Other Short Stories
• Hangsaman
• The Haunting of Hill House

8. Richard Matheson

Richard Matheson is best known as the author of I Am Legend (which was adapted into a film starring Will Smith) and Hell House.

His work has been turned into countless movies over the years, including The Shrinking Man which became two films, called The Incredible Shrinking Man in 1957 and The Incredible Shrinking Woman in 1981!

He’s best known for his novels and short stories that synergize sci-fi and horror elements flawlessly together to create thought-provoking narratives.

Some of my favorite Richard Matheson books include:

• Hell House
• I Am Legend

9. Neil Gaiman

While he’s known for far more than Horror, Neil Gaiman is best known for his dark fantasy novels like American Gods, Coraline and The Graveyard Book.

Gaiman’s best works are usually classified as dark fantasy rather than horror… But all of them have enough elements in common with the genre that they’re worth mentioning here! The Graveyard Book is particularly good as a spooky book for kids that won’t have them scared out of their britches.

Some of my favorite Neil Gaiman books include:

• American Gods
• Coraline
• The Graveyard Book

10. Anne Rice

Anne Rice is best known for her series of Vampire Chronicles books, and while I’m not a huge fan of that genre myself (I don’t think there’s anything inherently scary about vampires), it doesn’t change the fact that she’s one of the best horror authors ever.

She also wrote some other very good books like The Wolf Gift and The Mayfair Witches trilogy, Interview with the Vampire, and Queen of the Damned, the latter two of which went on to be adapted into huge feature films.

Some of my favorite Anne Rice books include:

• Interview with the Vampire
• The Witching Hour
• The Tale Of The Body Thief
• The Vampire Chronicles

11. Jonathan Maberry

Jonathan Maberry is best known for his work in the thriller, science fiction and horror genres, with work in comic books and magazines as well.

He’s published tons of books over the years, but keeps churning them out at a ridiculously fast pace – he has over 100 titles to his name! Additionally, he has mentioned on social media that he can write over 5,000 words in a day, which is insane!

Some of Jonathan Maberry best books include:

• The Dragon Factory
• Rot & Ruin
• Ghost Road Blues
• Patient Zero

12. Samanta Schweblin

Samanta Schweblin is best known for her novel, Fever Dream. While I haven’t read it yet myself, the reviews are fantastic and say that she’s one of the best horror authors writing today.

Samanta is originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She moved to Germany in 2007 and has lived there ever since with her husband and son. All of her work was originally written in Spanish but have been translated into many languages, including English!

Some of the best Samanta Schweblin books include:

• Fever Dream
• Little Eyes
• Mouthful of Birds

13. Mary Shelley

Few people deserve as much credit for practically creating the horror genre (not to mention the science fiction genre) as Mary Shelley. Mary is kind of a personal heroine for me.

She was best known for her novel Frankenstein. She was born and died in London, but spent much of her adult life in Italy. She died at the age of 53 in 1851 of what is suspected to be a brain tumor.

When it comes to Shelley, the main book everyone must read is Frankenstein.

14. Peter Straub

Peter Straub is best known for his novel, Ghost Story. He’s had a long and successful career as one of the best horror authors around.

In addition to that book, he also co-authored two additional novels with Stephen King: The Talisman and Black House which take place in the same universe as each other! I haven’t read those yet either but they’re on my list…

Straub was born in Milwaukee, WI, where he lived until college when he moved across country to attend Reed College in Portland OR. His books have been translated into over 25 languages since first being published back in 1974.

Some of Peter Straub best works include:

• Ghost Story (Shadowland series)
• Lost Boy Lost Girl
• Koko
• Mr. X
• In the Night Room

15. Clive Barker

Clive Barker is best known for his short story collections and novels like Books of Blood and Hellraiser. His books have been translated into 30 languages worldwide!

Not only is Barker a novelist, but he is also a filmmaker, a playright, and an artist. The guy can apparently do it all.

Chances are, you’ve at least heard of Hellraiser, which is a book about a puzzle box that opens a gateway to another dimension where sadistic demons gather human souls for torture. It was made into a movie by…you guessed it, Clive Barker, it’s original author.

Some of Clive Barkers best works include:

• Hellraiser
• The Hellbound Heart
• Books of Blood

16. Mylo Carbia

Mylo Carbia is a relative newcomer to the Horror scene, but she’s got the writing chopes to prove her worth. She was originally a script doctor and screenwriter, who made the transition to horror writing.

She has been described as “The Queen Of Horror” by some people online which sounds interesting enough all on its own.

She would eventually outsell even Stephen King on some of her debut books, and her book “Violets Are Red” was praised as the best story of 2019 by PopHorror.com.

In short, she’s worth a read.

Her two bestselling books are:

• The Raping of Ava DeSantis
• Violets Are Red

The Bottom Line

So there you have it, the best horror authors in the business. This information is based on my own personal opinion and tastes, as well as a ton of research, but I think that these are some great books for people to check out who want a good scare!

I hope you found this list of the top 16 best horror authors of all time to be informative and helpful. If not, let me know which author is your favorite, or if there are any that have been left off my list. Comment below with your feedback!

The post 16 Best Horror Authors: A Look at the Stories We Fear appeared first on Bookishnerd.

Dame Agatha Christie is the absolute queen of cozy mysteries! As a matter of fact, she’s sold more books than anyone on the planet at 4 BILLION COPIES! And that number isn’t slowing down either. She was just that good. She was the very first recipient of the Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Award, and in 2015–many years after her death–she was voted the best crime writer of all time by the Crime Writer’s Association. And her book The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was voted the best crime novel of all time.

Needless to say, she was awesome.

Now I’d like to take this opportunity to break down some her top novels in this list of the Best Agatha Christie books!

1. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
2. Murder on the Orient Express
3. The A.B.C. Murders
4. The Mousetrap
5. Curtain
6. A Murder is Announced
7. Sleeping Murder
8. Death on the Nile
9. Five Little Pigs
10. Crooked House

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition (Hercule Poirot series Book 4)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 256 Pages - 03/17/2009 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$14.99

Buy on Amazon

This book features her most famous detective, Hercule Poirot. And it’s the third book of his series. It starts with the good detective retired near the countryside to perfect vegetable marrows nearby where his friend Roger Ackroyd lives. But shortly after, Roger is murdered forcing Hercule out of retirement and on the case. This novel is effectively literary crime perfection. There’s so many twists and revelations throughout the book to keep you having a white-knuckled grip the entire way through. If you’re looking to start with Agatha Christie, I’m afraid to recommend this first because there’s really nothing better. It’s a shining example of what a novel–detective or otherwise–should be.

Sale

Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries)

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 304 Pages - 10/31/2017 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$8.22

Buy on Amazon

Perhaps one of Christie’s most famous works, this novel is full of everything a good murder mystery needs. Murder, unexpected plot twists, and luxury trains. I mean, what’s not to love? This book has Hercule Poirot traveling back to London aboard the luxury locomotive, the Orient Express. When suddenly a man finds Hercule and tries to hire the detective as a personal bodyguard. Poirot not wanting to be bothered refused the man’s offer. Well…shortly after being refused by the detective, the man is murdered aboard the train. And now it’s up to Hercule Poirot to establish which of the first class passengers is the killer. This novel is among the most famous partly due to the 2017 Kenneth Branagh film based on the novel. It had a star-studded cast including Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfieffer, Daisy Ridley, and Dame Judi Dench.

The A. B. C. Murders: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 272 Pages - 02/01/2011 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$18.95

Buy on Amazon

In this Hercule Poirot novel, the detective must hunt down a serial killer with a very strange MO. The killer’s hunting down people in alphabetical order. For example, Mrs. Ascher in Andover is followed by Betty Barnard in Bexhill and then Sir Carmichael Clarke in Churston. And the killer just doesn’t stop there. They leave a string of daunting clues to taunt Poirot. This is a wonderful game of cat and mouse leading up to one of the best endings in any detective novel.

Sale

The Mousetrap

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 108 Pages - 01/28/2014 (Publication Date) - Concord Theatricals (Publisher)

$15.16

Buy on Amazon

This is actually the first of our best Agatha Christie books that doesn’t involve the famous Hercule Poirot. Although Christie is best known for her adventures with the detective, she’s released many other books, novellas, stories, and plays that are standalone or follow another detective (more on that later). The Mousetrap is actually one of Christie’s plays–and the world’s longest running play. The premise of the play is that a group of strangers is snowed-in a boarding house. They come from all walks of life including a newlywed couple, retired army major, spinster, and architect. And one of them is a murderer.

Sale

Curtain: Poirot's Last Case: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition (Hercule Poirot Mysteries, 37)

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 240 Pages - 10/25/2011 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$12.74

Buy on Amazon

Curtain is the 35th mystery novel to include Hercule Poirot, and sadly the last book to involve him as well. In this story, Poirot is against the clock to catch a 5-time killer before they strike again. This is easily one of Christie’s most gripping novels. Perhaps because it’s Poirot’s last appearance, the book is even more intense than most (if not all) the detective’s other stories. Curtain is a book that’ll have you finding yourself starting the entire Poirot saga again, so I recommend you read this as close to the end of your Christie journey as possible.

Sale

A Murder Is Announced: A Miss Marple Mystery (Miss Marple Mysteries, 5)

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 320 Pages - 04/12/2011 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$2.26

Buy on Amazon

Out of all of Dame Agatha Christie’s stories, this one might just have the most bizarre setup. It starts by what seems to be a practical joke in the local paper. A murder is announced with the time, date, and place. The public just writes it off as a practical joke that is until the announcement is made true. And it’s up to the inquisitive Miss Marple to solve the case. Although this isn’t the first book Christie wrote on Miss Marple, it is the first on our list of best Agatha Christie books. Miss Marple is another of Christie’s series detectives. Unlike Poirot, Miss Marple often takes almost a secondary role in her own books. But it just works. It’s another showcase to the genius of Agatha Christie.

Sale

Sleeping Murder: Miss Marple's Last Case (Miss Marple Mysteries, 12)

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 256 Pages - 04/12/2011 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$11.89

Buy on Amazon

Sleeping Murder is the last book of the Miss Marple series, and quite possibly the creepiest of all of Christie’s novels. It’s part whodunnit, part-ghost story, and 100% excellent. The plot revolves around Gwenda–a woman whose move into her new house has dredged up sins from the past. And it’s up to Miss Marple to not only exorcise the ghosts, but to solve a seemingly perfect crime that happened years before.

Sale

Death on the Nile: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition (Hercule Poirot Mysteries, 17)

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 352 Pages - 02/01/2011 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$1.76

Buy on Amazon

This is another of Agatha Christie’s more famous stories. After the book made the story popular, this was even further amplified by the 1978 movie. And this story will soon be back in the spotlight again with another Kenneth Branagh film. (Honestly, Ken…I see this Christie trend you’ve got going on. And I love it!) The story revolves around the murder of the stunningly beautiful Linette Ridgeway while on a luxury cruise along the River Nile. And now it’s up to the infamous Hercule Poirot to solve the case!

Sale

Five Little Pigs: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition (Hercule Poirot Mysteries, 23)

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 288 Pages - 02/01/2011 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$5.90

Buy on Amazon

Five Little Pigs is a very unique take on the old nursery rhyme of the same title. Except it’s done in pure Agatha Christie style. In the story, the beautiful young woman is accused of poisoning her husband; however, like the nursery rhyme implies, there are 5 other little piggies who could have done it. This is one the most straight forward murder mysteries written by Agatha Christie. And to be honest, that’s what makes it so much fun to read. There’s not too much brain power required. (Sometimes, we just want a simple whodunnit.)

Sale

Crooked House

• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 256 Pages - 02/01/2011 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$12.39

Buy on Amazon

The last entry on our list of best Agatha Christie books is another standalone mystery. Neither Poirot nor Miss Marple make an appearance here. But they don’t need to as the book is “killer” on its own. The plot involves the story of one big happy–the Leonides. Everything seems to be just perfect with them–that is until the patriarch of the family is murdered via barbiturate injection. Now it’s up to the family to find out who had the most to gain from the death and who the most likely murderer is.

These books alone can stand testament to the sheer literary genius of Dame Agatha Christie. She has a gift for writing mysteries like no other before or after her. Her influence has spread throughout almost every single modern thriller/mystery writer, and no-doubtedly will serve as inspiration for many more generations to come.

And these are just my list of best Agatha Christie books. But with dozens more to choose from, I can’t say that with absolute certainty that these will be your favorites. If you find that one of yours is not on this list, please let me know in the comments below what’s missing and why!

Cheers!

The post 10 Best Agatha Christie Books to Cozy Up With appeared first on Bookishnerd.

I remember reading my first Harlan Coben, The Stranger and being creeped out from the first page on because it was that realistic. The book was a mindblowing read for me, and a few chapters in, I realized I’d just found my new favorite crime author. 

Having written around 35 thrillers, Coben has won the Edgar Award, a Shamus Award, and an Anthony Award, making him the first author to receive all three. Simply said, this man is an incredible master of crime and thriller writing, and his award-winning, highly sought-after books are solid proof of the fact.  

It was challenging to create this list as I’ve read and loved most of his novels, but I’ve narrowed down 12 of the best Harlan Coben books here for you.

Sale

Tell No One: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, mystery thriller, crime, suspense, adult, contemporary
• Content warnings – Death, violence, grief
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 370
• First publication – June, 2001
• Goodreads rating – 4.08

$15.99

Buy on Amazon

Coben is well known for writing romance suspense thrillers that stirs the plot with matters of the heart as well as the mind. I was introduced to this genre with the hype around Coben’s Six Years, and after reading that one, I decided to jump straight into one of his older romance suspense novels – Tell No One – which became not only my favorite novel from the genre, but also my favorite Harlan Coben read. 

Is there anything more haunting than getting cryptic messages? Yes, absolutely—cryptic messages from your wife whom you saw being abducted (and later declared murdered) in front of you eight years ago. This is the premise of the book, opening with the scene where Dr. Beck and his wife met as children for the first time, and I knew I was in for a banger. 

IMHO, what makes up a great mystery novel is the author’s ability to hide clues in plain sight. That’s what Coben does here, not just for the reader, but also for Dr. Beck with the suspicious messages he starts getting. For someone who’s still haunted by his wife’s abduction, these messages are breadcrumbs leading him on a journey with dangerous hope that his wife is still alive.

The real cincher in this story was the love between Dr. Beck and his wife. Tell No One is ultimately a love story about two people who met when they were children and were inseparable until one of them was cruelly taken away. 

That’s why romance suspense novels are so great – they move you in unexpected ways as the mystery keeps you at the edge of the seat. You’ll be crossing your fingers wishing these two people can be together and there will certainly be a tear or two as they face terrible twists that they don’t see coming. This book will have you guessing till the very end, so when I say it’s 100% for those who are hooked on suspense and thriller, I really mean it.

Sale

Fool Me Once: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, mystery thriller, crime, suspense, adult, contemporary
• Content warning – Murder, war, death
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 387
• First publication – March, 2016
• Goodreads rating – 3.95

$8.65

Buy on Amazon

I first heard of Fool Me Once because of the hype around the Netflix adaptation, and when I realized it’s a Harlan Coben, I decided to dive right in. This novel continues our trope of spouses who mysteriously come back from the dead but it’s not at all similar to Tell No One. This was a completely unique but equally bone-chilling read about a murdered husband making it one of my favorite Coben reads. 

I really enjoyed reading about Maya, the protagonist, because she’s a flawed but extremely bold mother and widow. Not only is she intent on finding answers to the mysteries that surround her, she’s also focused on working out her past trauma caused by her time in the military. I was gripped as she went about unraveling the mysteries of her recently-murdered husband and her previously-murdered sister. 

Now, I did spend a lot of time jumping to conclusions throughout the book (like any other seasoned reader of mystery thrillers) but Coben fooled me multiple times by hiding that final twist till the very end. I honestly did not see that coming, and when it did, I put down the book and took a moment because it was too intense to find the connections between the two murders and what it means for Maya. 

If you’re looking for a fast-paced mystery thriller with some family drama, Fool Me Once is the book for you. It kept my heart racing the entire time I was reading it because of the shocking twists and the equally shocking character arc of Maya. Take my word for iit and read the book – you’ll come across shocking surprises at every turn.

Sale

The Woods

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, crime, mystery thriller, suspense, adult, murder mystery, contemporary
• Content warning – Murder, death, grief
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 404
• First publication – January, 2007
• Goodreads rating – 4.05

$6.72

Buy on Amazon

The Woods is one of the highest rated Harlan Coben’s on Goodreads so I decided to give it a shot but I was not ready for the stomach-turning rollercoaster ride it took me on. It was doubly unsettling (in all the good ways of a suspense thriller) because of its history returns trope.  

This book played with my mind to no end – it’s a perfect combination of suspense and action, brought out through the character of Paul, the protagonist. On the cover, Paul is the perfect widowed father, successfully raising a child and winning cases in court in his career as a prosecutor. But in true Coben style, secrets from his past begin to rise to the surface, making us suspect Paul – and literally every other character we meet in the story. 

The Woods also had a creepy vibe to it because of the letters that were being delivered to Lucy, Paul’s ex-girlfriend who was with Paul the night the four teenagers disappeared 20 years ago. Think Pretty Little Liars and the letters from A; that’s the creepy, ‘look-over-your-shoulder’ feeling I had throughout the entire read. 

Coben has once again written the perfect suspense thriller in this book featuring one of his most popular tropes: history returns. Pick it up for an intriguing protagonist, an eerie story, and the ‘being watched’ feel you get when you read thrillers.

Sale

The Stranger

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, mystery thriller, suspense, crime, adult, contemporary
• Content warnings – Murder, gun violence, death
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 386
• First publication – March, 2015
• Goodreads rating – 3.89

$9.00

Buy on Amazon

I’m super excited for this review because it’s about my first Harlan Coben and one of my favorite mystery thrillers of all time! One of my friends, knowing my penchant for reading crime/mystery thrillers, recommended The Stranger to me – and inadvertently converted me to a Harlan Coben fan overnight. 

There are many elements in The Stranger that make it a fantastic mystery thriller, but the main reason for me is the realistic nature of the mystery. Everybody harbors secrets; some are more harmful than others, and when a stranger turns up out of nowhere threatening to expose them, that is pretty scary. Coben perfectly captures how the characters were convinced their secrets were theirs to keep for life, only to be shocked and terrified to realize that a complete stranger knew them. 

The other side of this is the person who gets to know about the secret that their loved one has been harboring for years when the Stranger whispers it to them in random public places. The betrayal they feel is so well portrayed through the character of Adam Price, our protagonist, who learns a dark secret about his wife. 

There are two mysteries in this storyline that Adam tries to get to the bottom of: the one regarding his wife’s secret and the identity of the Stranger. These two storylines made this a fast-paced page turner, and I was just itching to know the motives behind the Stranger’s actions.

Right until the very end, Coben had me guessing, and I especially felt like an idiot for missing a clue that was literally in front of me the entire time. But that’s the thing about a good mystery thriller – clues hide in plain sight, cornered into paragraphs and tucked into the ends of sentences. This is a book I’ve reread and enjoyed just as much a second time, and is a must-have addition on any mystery thriller fan’s TBR.

Sale

Six Years

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, mystery thriller, suspense, crime, adult, romance
• Content warnings – Death, gun violence, torture
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 351
• First publication – March, 2013
• Goodreads rating – 3.84

$9.99

Buy on Amazon

Six Years received so much hype when it was first published in 2013 and book reviewers went absolutely crazy for it. Once I read the book, I realized the hype was so well deserved because the mystery in Six Years completely blew my mind. 

This is a high-concept thriller that kicked off with an eerie, subdued feeling because the MMC, Jake, cannot seem to find anyone who remembers him being with Natalie, his ex-girlfriend and the love of his life. To make matters worse, Jake realizes that Natalie never married her ex, Todd, like she claimed when she left him six years ago. Coben perfectly captures Jake’s frustration, fear, and ultimately his love for Natalie as he tries to find the actual truth behind her disappearance. We get invested in the twists and turns of the mystery alongside Jake because he is an intelligent character to follow, and you can’t help but feel for him. 

As the story picks up pace, we see just how quickly a normal life (in this case, Jake’s) unravels rapidly as he gets entangled in question after question. Coben’s mystery thrillers are extra creepy for me because I always find myself thinking, “This can happen to me,” because of how realistically they are written. I think that’s what makes this story all the more nerve-wracking to read. 

What’s even more chilling than the mystery of a disappeared ex-girlfriend is Jake’s realization that the love that defined his life so thoroughly was built on a lie. This, coupled with his recognition of his own complicity in setting the events off, made it a really moving read.

If you’re looking for a moving romance suspense thriller, this is the book for you. Fast-paced and easy to read, it’s the perfect combination of mystery and heartfelt longing to keep you turning the pages in one sitting.

Sale

Don't Let Go: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, mystery thriller, suspense, crime, adult, detective
• Content warnings – Torture, murder
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 351
• First publication – September, 2017
• Goodreads rating – 4.05

$9.00

Buy on Amazon

I discovered Don’t Let Go during a Harlan Coben reading sprint and it remains one of my favorite Cobens because of the trope. It’s a suburban mystery with secrets hiding in the mundane of the everyday and it happens to be my favorite thriller trope after history returns. 

Detective Nap was an intriguing protagonist from the start, especially because of the inner dialogue he carries with his twin brother, who mysteriously died 15 years ago. Coben’s writing device of conversing with the dead both unsettled me and kept me hooked into the story and invested in Nap right from the start. When I found out he’s not only dealing with the death of his brother, but also with the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend on the same night, my detective mind immediately kicked into full gear.

Not that my detective hat was of any use – the mysteries were dark and unpredictable, keeping me guessing (and dying internally) at the suspense. At ridiculous odds with the suspense was Coben’s dry humor that came through in the narrative, making this read impossibly hilarious. The touch of humor coupled with backstories of romance and suburban life made the whole story very realistic, and it came as no surprise to me when I learnt that the story was actually based on events that happened in Coben’s hometown. 

Coben pulled out all the stops in this thriller, including the decades-long unsolved mystery, the detective cop with deep-seated personal trauma, and a suburban conspiracy theory. I couldn’t stop reading until the end and if you’re the type to cozy up to a suburban thriller, you should definitely give it a go.

Sale

Caught

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, crime, mystery thriller, suspense, adult, murder mystery
• Content warnings – Adult/minor relationship, alcoholism, child death
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 338
• First publication – February, 2010
• Goodreads rating – 4.00

$9.99

Buy on Amazon

Harlan Coben’s Caught got my attention because many reviewers had mentioned that it had a true crime vibe to it (and I love true crime!), so I picked up the book one day. Few pages in, I realized the reviewers were true to their word because even though this was fiction, it read like an actual true crime novel. 

I think one of the reasons this novel comes off as true crime is because of the investigative aspect of the story. The book even starts with a sting operation by Wendy the journalist, and her crew to catch a pedophilic criminal. 

We see Dan, a social worker known to be a friend for teenagers, walking into a trap Wendy set. However, Wendy is thrown off her game when she realizes that some ends do not tie together in the case of Dan, even as proof shows that he was close with Haley, the 17-year-old girl who disappeared without a trace. 

In a novel full of unprecedented twists, Wendy’s steadfast determination to be on the side of the truth is admirable. But the truth is elusive in this book, giving us the eerie feels found in most Coben novels. I still get shivers down my spine when I think of this quote from the book: “I remember one time I heard this English professor asking the class what the world’s scariest noise is. Is it a man crying out in pain? A woman’s scream of terror? A gunshot? A baby crying? And the professor shakes his head and says, ‘No, the scariest noise is, you’re all alone in your dark house, you know you’re all alone, you know that there is no chance anyone else is home or within miles—and then, suddenly, from upstairs, you hear the toilet flush.’”

Coben explores themes of forgiveness through Wendy’s character as she struggles to forgive the alcoholic driver who killed her husband while also seeking forgiveness for her mistakes. Wendy’s character was well developed that way, but my only issue is that Haley’s story wasn’t as fleshed out as it should have been. A girl disappearing at such a young age in such an unprecedented way is scary and I honestly think there was more room for that plotline to develop. 

But the perfect combination of terrifying twists and predictable portrayals of everyday life often found in true crime novels made this such a good mystery thriller. If you’re in the mood for some shivers down your back, I’m sure this book will serve the purpose.

Sale

Run Away

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, mystery thriller, crime, suspense, adult, contemporary
• Content warnings – Sexual assault, substance abuse, murder, cults
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 384
• First publication – April, 2019
• Goodreads rating – 4.05

$9.34

Buy on Amazon

I love thrillers based on cults even though they creep the hell out of me, and that’s why I decided to go ahead with Run Away. Trust me when I tell you, I could barely handle the mind blowing mystery this turned out to be. 

Simon’s daughter, Paige has been dragged down a cycle of drug abuse under the influence of Aaron, a guy she met online. In a desperate attempt to get Paige out of this fix, Simon tries to talk sense to her while she’s begging for money. He gets through to her – almost – until Aaron turns up and whisks her away. A few months later, Aaron is found murdered and Paige has disappeared. 

The mystery delves deep into the connection that Aaron has to Simon’s family, Ingrid (Simon’s wife) and her involvement in secrets, and the cult named ‘The Truth’, that is now going around killing any men who may harm its new leadership. It’s a mind-boggling web of mystery and crime that I enjoyed unraveling right to the very end. 

Adding to this twisted storyline were the moving familial relationships in this story, especially that of Simon and his daughter. Simon’s heartbreaking quest to ensure his daughter is safe from harm, his guilt that his actions may have led her to make bad choices, and his helplessness in the face of the uncontrollable are all realistically portrayed, reminiscent of the struggles that parents go through when raising troubled children.  

This book was a little difficult for me to follow though. Its multiple storylines were somewhat complicated and they were also packed with secrets of their own, so I had a lot to take in. I even lost focus for a bit and had to resort to a coffee before I sat back again with the book. 

All in all though, this was a fantastic thriller depicting a creepy cult and moving family relationships. It can be a bit overwhelming with a lot of twists and turns to process, but I recommend not missing out on this if you like novels with cultish mysteries and family secrets.

Sale

Gone for Good: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, mystery thriller, crime, suspense, adult, murder mystery
• Content warnings – Murder, death, gun violence
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 434
• First publication – January, 2002
• Goodreads rating – 4.11

$13.14

Buy on Amazon

When I picked up this Harlan Coben and read the synopsis, my immediate thought was, “Hey, this mystery sounds a little too easy.” But I’m so glad I decided to trust Coben (and not my instincts) and give it a chance, because it was anything but easy. 

Coben combines two of my favorite tropes in mystery thrillers – history returns and family secrets – to give us a captivating novel filled with multiple storylines. Will is convinced that his brother, Ken, didn’t kill his ex-girlfriend eleven years ago, but if that was the case, why did Ken run? Will thinks he’ll never be able to find the answers to his questions until his mother, on her deathbed, whispers that Ken is alive. This time around, Will is determined to find the truth. 

I ended up rooting for Will because of how much he loves his brother. It was so heartwarming to see his conviction that his brother is not a killer and his determination to find him. Like most of Coben’s work featuring familial relationships, this one too had me shedding a few tears. 

The mystery itself was stomach-turning and kept me gripped because Coben delivered revelations in each fast-paced chapter until that one final twist. But one thing I didn’t like was how Coben tried to use some characters as mere plot points. He doesn’t usually do that, so I was a bit surprised when some characters weren’t given an arc.  

Even if some character got the secondary treatment, this is still a fast-paced, moving mystery thriller about a boy’s love for his brother and the secrets that often blanket suburban life. Read it up for a quick weekend pickup with some suspenseful revelations!

Sale

Missing You

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, crime, suspense, mystery thriller, adult, detective
• Content warnings – Death of a parent, murder, grief
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 399
• First publication – March, 2014
• Goodreads rating – 3.99

$7.99

Buy on Amazon

Ever since I watched Tinder Swindler on Netflix, I’ve been obsessed with crimes that involve dating sites because I’m convinced anyone I pass by on the street could be a victim thanks to too many dating sites and too many ways to fool people. So when I heard Coben has also used this trope in Missing You, I knew I had to read it. 

Boy, what a mystery – I pretty much swallowed this book whole, spending an entire night gobbling it up just to get to the bottom of the mystery. I think most of the credit here goes to Detective Kat, the protagonist of the story, and a damn cool FMC at that! She’s all hard edges and hard work as she’s a super skilled detective determined to put logic and fact before her – even in the face of overwhelming emotion. 

When she discovers Jim (her ex who mysteriously disappeared from her life 18 years ago) on a dating site, she is hopeful at first. But when she reaches out to him, something about her conversation with him unsettles her. 

When a teenager comes to her with the mystery of his missing mother wires just begin to connect in her brain 🤯. The boy’s mom had gone on vacation with her new boyfriend whom she had met on a dating site and the guy is eerily similar to someone she knows. 

That’s not all though. There are two more mysteries that Coben explores in this novel: the one about Kat’s murdered father and the mystery where people are being kidnapped and tortured in Pennsylvania. All these mysteries and action combined together kept me gasping one minute and holding my breath the next – Coben’s a great storyteller but he’s clearly not good for my stress levels. 

The book was a little slow-paced at the beginning and I felt like we could’ve done away with some of those filler chapters because they just kept me distracted from the real story. But after the first three chapters, the pace picked up and I was up all night reading the book.

If you’re on the hunt for a detective thriller exploring a modern dating site mystery story, then this is the book for you. Once you get through the first few filler chapters, the suspense of multiple (sometimes gruesome) mysteries and a strong female protagonist will keep you turning the pages.

Deal breaker

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, crime, mystery thriller, suspense, sports, adult, detective
• Content warnings – Rape, death, sexual assault
• Type – Series
• No. of pages – 339
• First publication – May, 1995
• Goodreads rating – 3.97

$7.24

Buy on Amazon

Like many other hardened Coben fans, Myron Bolitar is one of my favorite Coben characters because of his hotheaded yet tender hearted nature and his unfortunate ability to somehow get himself tangled in a mystery like no other. When I first started reading Coben mysteries, his fans convinced me to try the Myron Bolitar series – which is how I ended up reading (and loving) Deal Breaker, book 1 of the series. 

Deal Breaker is one of Coben’s oldest novels, and it shows because of its unofficial, non-uniformed detective trope (in this case, ex-Fed turned normal guy Myron) that was super popular in the 90’s. 

Myron, our MC, used to work for the FBI but is now handling the country’s number 1 football team. When his prospective star player Christian’s ex-girlfriend (whom everyone thought was dead) reappears and fingers start pointing, Myron is forced to embark on a mission to clear the player’s name. 

There are many elements in this story which make it a quintessential mystery read, and the biggest one is the cast (of suspects?). This includes Myron’s best friend, Windsor, who’s willing to do Myron’s dirty work, Jessica whom Myron has a crush on, and Myron’s loyal secretary Experanza, who’s unhappy that Jessica is back in Myron’s life. 

While most of these characters made the book an enjoyable read, Myron is my favorite because he’s likable, funny, and endearing with his timely quips and the twisty mystery he followed. Don’t be fooled by the humor in Myron’s character though – a lot of high-stakes action goes down too, making it an action-packed read. My only issue was the ending because it felt far-fetched and implausible, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the ride.If you’re looking for a blast into the past with a clichéd detective story featuring eccentric characters and a fast-paced, action-filled plot, this is the book for you.

Sale

Stay Close

• Genre/Sub-genre – Mystery, thriller, mystery thriller, crime, suspense, adult, murder mystery
• Content warnings – Murder, death, violence, blood
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 387
• First publication – March, 2012
• Goodreads rating – 3.90

$7.95

Buy on Amazon

This novel is responsible for two sleepless nights and me questioning everything I know to be true. I started Stay Close because a friend recommended the Netflix series, but I wanted to give the book a try first and discovered it’s a thrilling suspense novel. 

There are three mysteries in this story and we get to explore them through three characters: Megan, Ray, and Jack. Megan is a suburban housewife with an interesting past, Ray is a talented documentary photographer resigned to be a paparazzo for rich kids, and Jack is a detective who can’t let go of the disappearance of a father because the family is still waiting for him to turn up. When the past catches up with all three of them at the same time, they’re forced to be unlikely allies to protect their present and their futures. 

Although I loved the individual storylines of these characters and the flavor they each brought to the mystery, I wanted more from the mystery. I feel like Coben could’ve done more with these characters instead of making it slightly generic like he did in this story, allowing me to predict some of the twists. 

HOWEVER, I was not at all ready for that final twist at the end. Coben did it again by completely throwing me off balance and making me question everything I had read! That twist was so good it made up for the predictable nature in the first half of the book. 

If you’re looking for a great history returns trope explored through some interesting characters with a final unpredictable twist, this is the mystery thriller for you. Keep reading till the end and I promise you’ll end up gasping for air.

And with that, we have come to the end of our Harlan Coben list. If you also have a (un)healthy addiction with mystery/crime/suspense thrillers and you are always looking for that eerie thrill from a good mystery, then an action-packed, fast-paced Harlan Coben won’t fail you. I was excited to put this list together because he’s one of my favorite thriller authors, and I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I did!

This is a really tough one because I simply cannot pick only a few Harlan Coben books as must reads when all of his books are pretty near perfect, but let’s give it a try. 

To begin with, Tell No One is one of Coben’s best rated books, featuring a woman who has come back from the dead to leave cryptic messages. The thriller is full of mystery and plot twists, which made it impossible for me to put the book down once I started reading it. 

Coben is known to play with lengthy timelines, with the book digging up a mystery that may have been buried for decades. The Woods is one classic example of that technique with the story revolving around four teenagers who disappeared twenty years ago. This is a must read if you’re starting out with Coben’s books because it’ll give you a great insight into Coben’s writing mastery.

The Stranger is eerie, creepy, and just plain scary. It had me jumpy the entire time I was reading it, keeping me captivated till the end. It’s one of his most rated books on Goodreads and its TV adaptation is a popular Netflix TV show, so you really shouldn’t miss out on this story.

If you’ve enjoyed these mystery thrillers, then my list of the best James Patterson books will help you find some compelling, fast-paced true crime/mystery stories to keep you up at night.

The post 12 Best Harlan Coben Thrillers To Keep You Captivated appeared first on Bookishnerd.

No, just me? Okay then.

No but seriously, our society tends to have some kind of weird fascination with serial killers, both real and fictional. I don’t know what it is, because while I enjoy a good scary book from time to time, I don’t always enjoy reading about the real people that these horrors are based on.

But that being said, I know a lot of people are. So I did a little research and created this list of the best serial killer books out there. I have read some of them, especially the ones that are completely fictional, but I have tried to include a good mix of fiction and nonfiction here.

So if reading serial killer books is your thing, then keep on reading. Let’s start with this easy to follow list of everything, and then you can read on for my explanation on why I chose to include each book.

1. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

In Cold Blood (Vintage International)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Capote, Truman (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 368 Pages - 10/09/2001 (Publication Date) - Vintage (Publisher)

$7.99

Buy on Amazon

If you’re looking for a great true crime story, then this is the serial killer book for you.

This book by Truman Capote is a literary take on the quadruple murder of the Clutter family, when they were killed in their Kansas home in 1959.

The story gets really brutal, especially when you realize that this is a real story. And the author’s ability to craft in personal interviews really helps to bring this chilling tale to life.

2. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Larson, Erik (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 447 Pages - 02/10/2004 (Publication Date) - Vintage (Publisher)

$13.99

Buy on Amazon

This book is a novel based on a true story. It takes place in the 1893 World’s Fair, and it focuses on two characters in particular: Daniel Burnham and H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who would use the World’s Fair as a way of luring his victims to their deaths.

While this book is written as a novel, a ton of research went into it. Erik Larson really tries to help you feel what it would’ve been like in Chicago in 1893. Add to that the fact that Erik Larson is a accomplished writer, with many other books in addition to this one, so if serial killer books are your thing, then you will like this one.

3. The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi

The Monster of Florence

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Preston, Douglas (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 453 Pages - 06/10/2008 (Publication Date) - Grand Central Publishing (Publisher)

$11.99

Buy on Amazon

This book is absolutely fascinating. At first glance you might think it’s fiction, but it is actually not. It’s the documented story of what happened to the two authors of this book as they tried to investigate a serial killer in Florence, Italy.

It all started when Douglas Preston moved to Florence and found out that one of the murders had happened in his garden. Intrigued by the story, he worked with Mario Spezi, a local journalist, to try and uncover the true serial killer behind the “monster of Florence”.

But in a stunning reversal of fate, one that could easily be part of an actual fictional book, both Preston and Spezi were later suspected by the local police of having conducted the murders themselves.

This book documents everything that they went through, and the rights to the story have been picked up by Fox, so maybe we’ll see a movie of this sometime soon.

4. My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Backderf, Derf (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 224 Pages - 03/05/2012 (Publication Date) - Abrams ComicArts (Publisher)

$9.99

Buy on Amazon

The author of this book, Derf Backderf, happens to be the old high school friend of Jeffrey Dahmer, a notorious serial killer.

So what we get from this nonfiction book is a priceless and unusual look at the mind of a serial killer, as told by someone who called him a friend.

The story digs deep into Jeffrey’s teenage psyche, including struggles with alcoholism and sexuality, as well as problems in the home.

While no one can excuse any of the horrible things done by serial killers, sometimes it’s important to take a deeper look at what made them that way.

5. Chasing the Devil by Sheriff David Reichert

Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Reichert, David (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 320 Pages - 07/28/2004 (Publication Date) - Little, Brown and Company (Publisher)

$9.99

Buy on Amazon

Sheriff David Reichert gives us his first-hand account of his pursuit of the Green River Killer, a person whose body count climbed as high as 49 people, and for a time was the biggest unsolved case in the country.

David Reichert set out to solve the case, and pursued it for 21 years. After 10 years, the Sheriff found the man who did it, a truck painter by the name of Gary Ridgway, but it would take another 11 years before he could prove that Ridgway was guilty.

This is a fascinating true story of the relentless pursuit of a serial killer over decades, one that will easily keep you glued to your seat.

6. Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker

Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Douglas, John E. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 445 Pages - 11/26/1998 (Publication Date) - Scribner (Publisher)

$14.99

Buy on Amazon

You may recognize this one as the source of a Netflix original series, but this is a nonfiction story about John Douglas, one of the authors of this book.

John had a 25 year career working in the FBI in the Investigative Support Unit. Over time, he became a legendary figure, and basically invented what we now call criminal profiling. He would also, eventually serve as the model for the character of Jack Crawford in The Silence of the Lambs.

He worked on such cases like the Atlanta child murderer, the Green River killer, and many others. He has also studied and profiled many famous serial killers, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Ed Gein.

Chilling stuff, especially when you remember that this is real.

7. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• McNamara, Michelle (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 371 Pages - 02/26/2019 (Publication Date) - Harper Perennial (Publisher)

$15.99

Buy on Amazon

Michelle McNamara is a fascinating name when it comes to true crime stories. She had originally created a popular website called truecrimediary.com, and as part of her journalism she set out to try and find a violent psychopath known as “the Golden State Killer”.

The Golden State Killer was a man who had committed numerous acts of rape, murder, and burglary in the 1970s and 80s. His identity remained a mystery, but as Michelle dug into the research, she was able to dig up some evidence that would eventually lead to his identity.

Unfortunately, the author died in the middle of writing this book. While that might sound sinister, her death was ruled an accidental overdose, and not the result of her investigation or any kind of foul play.

Nevertheless, her research is what led to the case finally being cracked in 2018, when the identity of the Golden State Killer was finally revealed.

8. Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter Book 1)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Harris, Thomas (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 463 Pages - 12/24/2008 (Publication Date) - Berkley (Publisher)

$6.99

Buy on Amazon

If you like serial killers, then you have probably heard of Hannibal Lecter. Unlike many of the other books on our list, this book is completely fictional.

The story follows an FBI agent named Will Graham who is currently trying to capture a different serial killer named the Tooth Fairy. But in order to find the serial killer he has to understand them. And in order to understand him, he has to turn to the last place he wants to: the mind of Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

This is the classic book that first introduced us to the character of Hannibal Lecter, and it remains a classic in the genre to this day.

9. Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Bugliosi, Vincent (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 674 Pages - 12/17/2001 (Publication Date) - W. W. Norton & Company (Publisher)

$8.70

Buy on Amazon

Charles Manson is a name that comes up a lot when talking about serial killers. He was a charismatic cult leader who also is credited with the murder of several individuals.

This book is written from the perspective of Vincent Bugliosi, who was the prosecuting attorney at Charles Manson’s trial.

The book walks us through all of the evidence, and how the author built his case against the serial killer. It digs into the psychology of the man, what made him so charismatic and appealing to others, everything you need for a true crime classic.

10. Home Sweet Murder by James Patterson

Home Sweet Murder (ID True Crime Book 2)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Patterson, James (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 221 Pages - 01/02/2018 (Publication Date) - Little, Brown and Company (Publisher)

$9.99

Buy on Amazon

This book is actually a collection of two true-crime novels written by James Patterson.

The first story is about a 61-year-old couple who are enjoying a quiet dinner at home, until a man, claiming to be a SEC agent, knocks on their front door.

The second is about a detective who, after a double homicide in Omaha, Nebraska, promises that he will catch the killer no matter what. He makes a promise to the parents of a young boy, one of the two victims, that he will not stop until the murderers found.

These true crime thrillers were also adapted into a TV series called “Murder Is Forever”. So you should definitely check them out.

11. Zodiac by Robert Graysmith

Sale

Zodiac: The Shocking True Story of the Hunt for the Nation's Most Elusive Serial Killer

• Graysmith, Robert (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 400 Pages - 01/02/2007 (Publication Date) - Berkley (Publisher)

$7.52

Buy on Amazon

You may have heard of the movie by the same name, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr., but that movie was based on a book that in turn was based on a true story.

The book is written by Robert Graysmith, who was an investigative reporter at the time of the Zodiac killer. The Zodiac killer killed several victims, and boasted to the authorities that he would kill more. He claimed to have killed 37 people, and the real death toll may have been higher.

In this account, the author gives us an inside look at what was going on at the time, including the complete text of the letters that the Zodiac killer sent.

It’s a chilling account of these events of 1969.

12. My Dark Places by James Ellroy

My Dark Places: A True Crime Autobiography

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Ellroy, James (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 449 Pages - 09/22/2009 (Publication Date) - Vintage (Publisher)

$11.99

Buy on Amazon

This is a true crime novel written by James Ellroy, which is actually a murder mystery about his own mother.

His mother, Jean Ellroy, was murdered and dumped on the side of a road in a Los Angeles suburb. Her killer was never found. The author was 10 years old when his mother died, then spent the next few decades dealing with the ghost of his past, partly by writing crime fiction.

In 1994, the author decided to go back to Los Angeles and find out the truth of what happened. This book is part of his documentation.

This book is fantastic because of the personal nature of the story. Seriously, a crime novelist whose own mother was killed. It’s a fantastic look, from a different perspective, at the genre.

13. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

And Then There Were None

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Christie, Agatha (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 272 Pages - 03/17/2009 (Publication Date) - William Morrow Paperbacks (Publisher)

$4.99

Buy on Amazon

Okay, you can’t have a list of novels about anything related to the crime genre and not have something from Agatha Christie.

And Then There Were None is a fantastic whodunit novel, which is rated as one of Agatha Christie’s best.

The story is about 10 people, each of which have something to hide, who are invited by some mysterious host to a mansion, one isolated on an Indian island. But then in a stunning twist, the host fails to appear.

One by one, each of these guests begin to share the secrets of their past. And just like that, they start to die.

It’s a chilling fictional read, one that I definitely recommend for fans of the genre.

14. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

American Psycho (Vintage Contemporaries)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Ellis, Bret Easton (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 418 Pages - 05/28/2010 (Publication Date) - Vintage (Publisher)

$8.99

Buy on Amazon

American Psycho is a fictional novel by Bret Easton Ellis. It is set in the 1980s, was published in 1991, and a movie starring Christian Bale was released in 2000. So it’s a pretty popular story.

The story follows a man named Patrick Bateman, who is a Manhattan investment banker who also just happens to be a serial killer.

While the author did not originally intend this book to be as gruesome as it is, it has since become one of the most chilling and thrilling serial killer works of fiction. The author researched countless murders from the area, and the research shows.

This one is not for the faint of heart.

15. The Last Victim by Jason Moss and Jeffrey Kottler

Last Victim: A True-Life Journey into the Mind of the Serial Killer

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Moss, Jason (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 320 Pages - 04/15/2001 (Publication Date) - Grand Central Publishing (Publisher)

$0.99

Buy on Amazon

Last, but not least, we have The Last Victim by Jason Moss and counseling professor Jeffrey Kottler, which is a nonfiction book about the author’s own fascination and personal correspondence with several known serial killers.

Back in 1994, Jason Moss was a student at UNLV. As part of his honors thesis, he established a correspondence with several serial killers, including John Wayne Gacy, Richard Ramirez, Henry Lee Lucas, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Charles Manson.

Eventually, Moss managed to forge a strong relationship with John Wayne Gacy, considers himself to be the “last victim”, of that serial killer. Between the multiple phone calls, and two face-to-face meetings in prison just two months before the killer was executed, the combined effect would go on to psychologically traumatize Jason Moss, who suffered nightmares from the counter for some time.

Unfortunately, Jason Moss committed suicide in 2006, but his work lives on in this book, which is a fascinating look at the minds of serial killers.

Final Thoughts

I will admit, having just written all of that, I feel both terrified and intrigued. The life of serial killers is nothing to sneeze at, and yet there is something that draws us to them.

If you are curious, I recommend reading any of the books above. They are an excellent start if you want to learn more about our own serial killers, or simply read some incredible fiction, or true crime novels.

I promise you will not be disappointed.

The post The 15 Absolute Best Serial Killer Books: The Must Reads appeared first on Bookishnerd.

Based on the popularity of Gone Girl, I’ve compiled a list of 11 books that are similar to the novel. These reads will keep you guessing and have you looking over your shoulder for any sign of danger. If you’re interested in reading these books or want more book recommendations, please leave a comment below!

First, check out this condensed list for your convenience, and if you want my reasons for all of my recommendations, I recommend you check out everything below.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: A Lisbeth Salander Novel (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Lisbeth Salander / Millennium) Book 1)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Larsson, Stieg (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 658 Pages - 09/16/2008 (Publication Date) - Vintage Crime/Black Lizard (Publisher)

$6.99

Buy on Amazon

So I thought I’d start out with three books that have the word “girl” in them. Because that must mean that they have to be similar to Gone Girl, right?

The first of the three is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. The story involves an investigation into the did disappearance of a girl named Harriet Vanger. She had disappeared years ago, but her uncle never stop looking for and hires an investigator to look into her disappearance.

This is one that can be a little hard to get into, but when sure in, you can never stop reading.

I highly recommend it for fans of thrillers, suspense, and of course, Gone Girl.

The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins

The Girl on the Train: A Novel

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Hawkins, Paula (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 326 Pages - 01/13/2015 (Publication Date) - Riverhead Books (Publisher)

$8.99

Buy on Amazon

The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins is often the first book people think about when you’re trying to find books like Gone Girl. It’s one of the most popular thrillers today, it was even made into a film in 2016 starring Emily Blunt.

The story involves a girl named Rachel, who is a borderline alcoholic, which makes the narrative quite interesting because we don’t know if we can trust her.

The stories about her witnessing something she can never forget, and her curiosity turning into something more.

It’s definitely one of the more suspenseful books on this list, and the unreliable narrator will easily keep you on your toes.

The Good Girl, by Mary Kubica

Nothing As It Seems: A Mary Kubica Anthology

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Kubica, Mary (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 1052 Pages - 10/15/2018 (Publication Date) - MIRA (Publisher)

$14.99

Buy on Amazon

The Good Girl, by Mary Kubica is the third book in this list that involves a the word “girl”.

This novel centers around Mia Dent who goes missing on her way to work one morning after she had gone out with friends for drinks. Her mother hires a detective trying to find her, in the hope that they can bring her home.

It’s told from several different perspectives throughout the story before it all comes together in the end.

I would definitely call The Good Girl suspenseful and quite thrilling!

If you liked Gone Girl or books like it, I’d highly suggest picking up this read if you haven’t already done so!

Before I Go to Sleep, by S. J. Watson

Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Watson, S. J. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 371 Pages - 06/14/2011 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins e-books (Publisher)

$14.99

Buy on Amazon

Before I Go to Sleep  by S. J. Watson is another thrilling psychological suspense read that you’ll have a hard time putting down once you get started!

The novel centers around Christine Lucas, who wakes up every morning without any memory of what happened the day before or even her own name.

She’s told that she suffered from an accident and lost all memories as a result, but things start getting strange when she meets the doctor who tells her that they have been working together, and that she has a secret journal in the back of her closet. As she goes through the journal, it’s clear that something is not right with her life.

It sounds pretty confusing if I’m being honest, but it’s definitely worth trying out for fans of books like Gone Girl! It’s the story, like if 50 First Dates was a thriller instead of a comedy. I would definitely check it out.

Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff

Fates and Furies: A Novel

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Groff, Lauren (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 391 Pages - 09/15/2015 (Publication Date) - Riverhead Books (Publisher)

$7.99

Buy on Amazon

Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff is another book like Gone Girl that takes place in the modern day.

It’s only told from two perspectives over an extended period of time, but there are secrets on top of all sorts of mysteries within this novel. It starts out being about a marriage between Lancelot “Lotto” Satterwhite and his wife Mathilde.

The first half focuses on Lotto’s perspective as he becomes quite successful with acting before moving into politics and everything seems to be going well. The second part switches gears completely when we learn more about Mathilde’s perspective. We learn that not everything is as it seems, which seems to be a theme with a lot of these books.

It’s a long read, but one that will keep you hooked from beginning to end!

Lullaby, by Leila Slimani

The Perfect Nanny: A Novel

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Slimani, Leila (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 238 Pages - 01/09/2018 (Publication Date) - Penguin Books (Publisher)

$8.99

Buy on Amazon

Lullaby, by Leila Slimani is another book like Gone Girl that has been making headlines.

The novel follows Paul and Myriam, who are happily married until they decide to hire Nanny Louise to take care of their kids full time while both parents go back to work. The family seems happy enough with her at first but soon things start going very wrong as the nanny starts getting obsessed with them in more ways than one.

It’s told from multiple perspectives before coming together into something scarier then you could imagine for books like this!

This is a piece of translated fiction, originally written in French, but the translation is excellent and it’s definitely one that I would recommend for all my readers.

Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty

Big Little Lies

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Moriarty, Liane (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 458 Pages - 07/29/2014 (Publication Date) - Berkley (Publisher)

$12.99

Buy on Amazon

Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty is a thriller that has been made into an HBO series!

This novel focuses around three women who are each dealing with problems in their own lives.

Jane is a young single mother working to get back on her feet while juggling the many stresses of being a parent, Madeline’s marriage seems happy enough though she feels less than fulfilled at home after staying home for so long and Celeste just moved to town with her son but it slowly becomes apparent that there may be something sinister going on within their perfect looking family life.

It all comes together when one mom dies suddenly during trivia night at the school carnival…but was it really an accident?

This book is kind of a mashup of Gone Girl and Desperate Housewives, focusing on several stay-at-home mothers who were obsessed with keeping up their appearances in front of strangers and neighbors. But then all of that goes horribly wrong…

In the Woods, by Tara French

In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, Book 1)

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• French, Tana (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 612 Pages - 05/17/2007 (Publication Date) - Penguin Books (Publisher)

$8.99

Buy on Amazon

In the Woods, by Tara French is a book that takes place in Ireland and has been compared to books like Gone Girl.

It’s told from the perspective of Rob Ryan who was found as a child in the woods with blood in his shoes and no memory of what happened or why he had blood on him.

Later when he was fully grown, he became a detective, and his past haunted him as he tried to solve a child murder that seems eerily similar to his own childhood experience.

This book has been compared books like Gone Girl because it takes place over the course of several years and we learn more about each character’s perspective throughout this time frame. There are twists and turns, secrets kept from other characters as well as from you, the reader, so you never know what will happen next!

If you’re looking for books like Gone Girl, In the Woods should definitely be on your list!

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Michaelides, Alex (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 308 Pages - 02/05/2019 (Publication Date) - Celadon Books (Publisher)

$12.99

Buy on Amazon

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides is another novel that you might like if you like Gone Girl.

It tells the story of a woman who shoots her husband five times in their home and then never explains why, even though she’s placed into an asylum for violent criminals.

From there we follow Theo Faber, a forensic psychotherapist, as he tries to solve the case but his investigation eventually leads him down a dark path.

This books seems so much like books like Gone Girl because it focuses on psychology, memory loss, mental illness and family relationships while still being a mind blowing psychological thriller.

Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn

Sharp Objects: A Novel

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Flynn, Gillian (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 272 Pages - 09/26/2006 (Publication Date) - Crown (Publisher)

$13.99

Buy on Amazon

Sharp Objects, by Gillian Flynn is a story about a journalist named Camille who returns to her hometown of Wind Gap in Missouri.

It’s there that she must cover the killings of two young girls while also dealing with issues from her own past and family relationships that have damaged her over time.

This book focuses on female characters while being incredibly dark and twisted at times! If you’re looking for books similar to Gone Girl but don’t want another crime novel, this might be an interesting read.

The Wife Between Us, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

The Wife Between Us: A Novel

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Hendricks, Greer (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 417 Pages - 01/09/2018 (Publication Date) - St. Martin's Press (Publisher)

$11.99

Buy on Amazon

The Wife Between Us, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a book similar to Gone Girl that focuses on a woman named Vanessa who finds out her ex-husband is sleeping with another woman.

It sounds cliche, but what follows after is far from it. It takes real twists and turns that you wouldn’t expect, leading us deeper and deeper into a tangled mystery novel.

This book and Gone Girl both focus around women trying to get revenge against men who’ve done them wrong at some point along their relationship timelines and how those women work through their feelings and actions to reach a certain outcome.

There’s also an element of mystery involved throughout this book that will keep you guessing until the very end!

Which Will You Read First?

Which books are you most excited to read first?

Personally, I’m currently tackling In the Woods, and let me tell you, it’s intense. Seriously. I’ve barely managed to put it down long enough to write this post.

I’m sure, if you liked Gone Girl, then you will definitely like one of these options above. Let me know which you’ve picked to read next in the comments below!

The post 11 Books like Gone Girl: Reads for Fans of Psychological Thrillers appeared first on Bookishnerd.

Discovering this sent me down a rabbit-hole of his other work – which is mostly in the sci-fi, techno-thriller, and medical fiction genres. It’s definitely different from what I usually read, but I found his novels very easy to follow and I loved the immense amount of detail that goes into his writing, making for very immersive stories that get you hooked. 

I’ve compiled a list of the best Michael Crichton books I’ve loved, so if you’re looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat – keep reading.

1. Jurassic Park – My Favorite

Jurassic Park

• Genre/Sub-genre – Science fiction, genetic engineering, thriller, adventure, fantasy, horror, classics, adult
• Content warnings – Gore, blood, death, animal death, violence, sexism, child death, fatphobia
• Type – Series
• No. of pages – 400
• First publication – November, 1990
• Goodreads rating – 4.09

$17.34

Buy on Amazon

I was itching to read this as soon as I found out that Jurassic Park the movie came from Jurassic Park the book, so I did, and it landed right at the top of my best Michael Crichton books. The nostalgia for my dinosaur-obsessed self was strong and I absolutely loved discovering Crichton as a writer, so it definitely made for a five-star read. 

I really liked the attention to detail in the book, covering how it all started. Crichton does not spare us any detail on the side of science, giving us the nitty-gritty behind every discovery and every plot development making it easy for us commonfolk to follow (and now I’m half-convinced I can revive an entire species myself. Stay tuned for how that one ends 🦕).

The characters and their growth arcs in the book were some of the best I’ve seen in the sci-fi genre. The way Crichton dives into the thoughts and backgrounds of the characters makes it easier to understand why they behave the way they do. For example, Ian Malcolm, the mathematician, comes across cocky and annoying but when I know what his motivations are, I can’t help but be grateful for his presence because he shares all our concerns about a park teeming with a newly revived species.

Speaking of, the book also covers the actual ethical implications of messing with nature. The entire time I was reading the book, there was this dread hanging over my head about the lines we are crossing as we experiment against the natural order of the world. 

Having now read Jurassic Park, I can see how Crichton spares no detail when building characters and the plot whereas Spielberg has left out some details to make room for action and drama. I still love both, but I’m super glad I got to read the book so I have the full context. 

So if you’re looking for a hair-raising adventure filled with lots of dangerous decisions in the name of science, easy-to-love characters, and of course, dinosaurs, this book is your one-way ticket to Jurassic Park. Pick it up for the dinosaurs and stay for the thrills!

2. The Lost World

Lost World Jurassic Park 2

• Genre/Sub-genre – Science fiction, thriller, adventure, horror, fantasy, dinosaurs
• Content warnings – Death, animal death, violence, blood, explicit language
• Type – Series
• No. of pages – 448
• First publication – September, 1995
• Goodreads rating – 3.84

$11.89

Buy on Amazon

The Lost World is the sequel to Jurassic Park so I didn’t think twice about reading once my trip to Jurassic Park ended. This book had a lot of focus on Ian Malcolm, so I fangirled my way into yet another dinosaur book from Michael Crichton. 

Ian and his girlfriend are on an expedition led by the cloning company from the first park when they discover a horrifying truth – dinosaurs are breeding again, causing chaos all over. So our MCs find themselves once again caught up in a struggle of survival against living, breathing, incredibly dangerous dinosaurs. 

Ian is a treat as usual – he’s his usual cocky, all-knowing self with a soft-spot inside the hard exterior, just soft enough to make us fall for him. I loved following his adventures this time around too, especially with his girlfriend Sarah who’s smart, adventurous, and a total girl crush. 

We can’t talk about the characters in this book without talking about Richard Levine, who, if possible, is even more notorious than Ian. Add a couple of curious kids to the bunch and we have an entire cast of interesting characters to root for and go adventuring with. The cast did a lot to keep the excitement and suspense alive in the narrative with their shenanigans, and it really is just such a testament to how vividly Crichton wrote.

This book also places a lot of focus on dinosaurs – we get some pretty detailed perspectives on the different types of dinosaurs and their behaviors, explained with (fictional) science. The awesomeness of the dinos meant that I got really into dinosaurs after reading this book and now I have an entire collection of dinosaur memorabilia that I’ve grown out of, but don’t have the heart to throw out 😅.

The Lost World doesn’t just continue the Jurassic Park saga; it brings philosophical reflections, well-crafted characters, and a dose of excitement all on its own. If you’re looking for a new adventure with dinosaurs we met in Jurassic Park, pick up The Lost World today!

3. Timeline

Sale

Timeline: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Science fiction, historical adventure, thriller, time travel
• Content warnings – War, violence, gore, body horror
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 489
• First publication – November, 1999
• Goodreads rating – 3.86

$14.21

Buy on Amazon

The journey that Timeline took me on is truly wild as it seamlessly switched between the present day and 14th-century France. If you’re a time-travel or a historical fiction nut (like me!), strap in because this story is one for the books!

The story revolves around the groundbreaking time-travel technology developed by the Timeline Corporation and a bunch of people experimenting with it. The company offers historians and archaeologists a chance to experience the past firsthand, but as expected with those who tamper with the past, it brings its own set of risks. I felt like Crichton did a great job taking the myth out of time travel and putting us in a whole other reality, showing us the risk of messing with the order of the world. 

The plot was intriguing on its own, but I also absolutely loved that at its core, the book was basically about a bunch of dorks (Professor Edward’s team of scientists/rescuers) dealing with much more than they had initially signed up for. I got so attached to Kate, Andre, and Professor Edward that I was on pins and needles the whole time, wondering how they were going to tackle the dangers thrown in their face. 

And that epilogue! Oh my god, I didn’t expect to get so emotional reading a book about time travel of all things, but Crichton really did do me in with that one. It was beautiful and really made me think about how humanity and its ways of life remain unchanged across centuries, be it in the 14^th century or the 21^st. 

If you’re into historical fiction like I am and would love to read a fast page-turner full of time-traveling adventures, this is the book for you. I promise you, it’s a real treat with its blend of science and adventure – and not to mention the adorable cast of characters.

4. The Andromeda Strain

Sale

The Andromeda Strain

• Genre/Sub-genre – Science fiction, thriller, horror, mystery
• Content warnings – Death, medical content, animal death, explicit language, gun violence, suicide
• Type – Series
• No. of pages – 327
• First publication – September, 1969
• Goodreads rating – 3.91

$9.68

Buy on Amazon

When I started my deep dive into sci-fi thrillers, a friend told me I had to try The Andromeda Strain because it would change my perspective on aliens. I dove in skeptically but my friend turned out to be right, because now I, too, am worried about aliens that are too small to be seen by the naked eye but are dangerous enough to wipe out humanity. It’s a more reasonable fear than it sounds, I swear.

The book is a full-blown version of what could happen if the plague was caused by an alien species (think Covid-19 but make it space-y and way worse). The bacteria on the satellite that crashes in Arizona can clot up blood and kill anyone instantly and with that, I felt this sense of unease, despair, and uncertainty that Crichton clearly wanted us to feel. Mysterious diseases are always so terrifying because history says that deathly diseases can pop up at any time (as we’ve all seen), so when you add aliens to the mix, it gets even more panic-inducing. 

The solution to this life-ending disease is a simple one, but Crichton makes the characters (and us) put in the work and race through the book to save humankind from its end. The ride was so intense that it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. 

Crichton, true to his style, explains the science in pretty easy-to-grasp language most of the time, but there were some instances when I thought it was a bit science-heavy. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it because it made the story that much more realistic for me, but since the book wasn’t that long, I wish we could’ve had more plot and less focus on details. 

If you’re looking for a sci-fi thriller about diseases and aliens or just interested in reading about an epidemic after the unspeakable year of 2020, The Andromeda Strain might be a perfect fit for you. 

5. Sphere

Sale

Sphere

• Genre/Sub-genre – Science fiction, thriller, horror, mystery
• Content warnings – Death, confinement, gore. Sexism, violence, racism, misogyny, panic attacks
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 371
• First publication – January, 1987
• Goodreads rating – 3.82

$5.64

Buy on Amazon

I was on the search for another alien story after reading The Andromeda Strain, so when Goodreads recommended Sphere, I decided to give it a try. And well, if you ever wondered what it would mean for humanity if an alien invasion happened, the Sphere is probably what you’d have in mind, but worse. Much, much worse. 

The story immediately kicks off with a wild discovery – there’s a mysterious alien spacecraft hiding in the Pacific Ocean. And it gets better – the powerful ‘sphere’ inside it can make your wildest fears and desires come to life. I won’t say more because I want you to explore this tumultuous journey by yourself and feel what I did, but I’ll leave you with this: this book has one of the most original plots of Crichton I’ve come across. 

I also think that it was this originality that added so much philosophical and psychological depth to the book. The entire time I was reading this book, I was thinking about what makes us strong as humans and how humanity is susceptible to its own desires. It helped that the entire story unfolded in the mysterious depths of the Pacific Ocean, giving us the perfectly eerie and intense backdrop for musings about the unknown. 

Crichton, like always, makes us ponder the consequences of scientific advancement while exploring the idea of a powerful life beyond earth and we are torn between possibility and the danger of possibility. So if you’re looking for something suspenseful and extraterrestrial, the Sphere is a perfect read that checks all those boxes. 

6. Prey

Sale

Prey: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Science fiction, thriller horror, suspense, mystery
• Content warnings – Death, violence, body horror, animal death, explicit language, medical content, child abuse, body shaming
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 507
• First publication – November, 2002
• Goodreads rating – 3.78

$12.39

Buy on Amazon

When I told a hardened Crichton fan that I was getting into techno-thrillers, they repeatedly said I had to try Prey because it was one of the best pieces of speculative fiction that Crichton has produced. I agree with them, because after a riveting read that had me completely hooked, I know firsthand that Prey is unpredictable and thrilling at every turn of the page. 

Let me just start by putting it out there that this book was unprecedented with a capital U. And I can’t even say Crichton didn’t warn me because our narrator, Jack Foreman, tells us on the very first page that, “Things never turn out the way you think they will.” 

Foreman, along with his ominous predictions was such an amazing narrator to root for because he’s one of those characters who become heroes due to circumstance. It all starts when he’s rehired at the same place that fired him because he’s the only one with the expertise to attempt controlling these nanoparticles. So he goes all in but discovers, to his alarm, that he can’t trust anyone around him to do the right thing and put an end to the moving mass of nano predators. 

One thing I loved about the plot development is the contrast between Foreman and his wife – both make different decisions in the face of overwhelming responsibility. The conflicts that came up owing to different opinions kept the tension at an all time high, and gave me enough fuel to  suspect Julia, the wife, of ulterior motives. She didn’t sit well with me from the start of the story, and I was biting my nails to find out how it panned out for Foreman and Julia.

As usual, Crichton’s characteristic style of suspense and his deep emphasis on science doesn’t fail in this story either. In fact, I thought the science was even more whacky, dangerous, and closer to home in this story because it was about nanotechnology. 

With Prey, you’re in for a classic tale about the dangers and ethical implications of toying with science, so if that sounds like a good fit for you, pick up this book and discover humanity’s potential to destroy the world in a chilling, absorbing read. 

7. Congo

Sale

Congo

• Genre/Sub-genre – Science fiction, fiction, thriller, adventure, horror, mystery, suspense
• Content warnings – Animal cruelty, injury/injury detail, animal death, fun violence, death, blood, gore, violence
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 480
• First publication – January, 1980
• Goodreads rating – 3.62

$1.50

Buy on Amazon

I have to admit I’m a little claustrophobic about rainforests, but this book came with such high praise that I set my fear aside to read Congo. No regrets at all, because I fell in love with the book, and the rainforest, from the very first page. 

The adventure takes place in the jungles of Congo, following Dr. Karen, Peter – the monkey expert, and the tough Monroe Kelly. The team uses high-tech gadgets on a mission chasing a rare blue diamond, sponsored by a mysterious company – and I’m already hooked on the intrigue. The plot, the pacing, and the mystery factor made this book so immersive that I was glued to my Kindle to make sure I didn’t miss a single detail. 

I absolutely loved Amy – the gorilla! I’ve always been fascinated by just how intelligent they are, and this was perfectly captured in the character of Amy. After reading the book, I have half a mind to go to a jungle, befriend a gorilla, and spend the rest of my days chilling with my new best friend, because Amy was that awesome and smart, adding a lot to the dynamics of our little scavenger team.  

Also, can we talk about the ‘info dumps’? I know some may find it annoying but Crichton does it in such a natural way that you actually look forward to having oddly specific and highly relevant information thrown your way. I think this is one reason Crichton is well-loved as a sci-fi and techno-thriller writer, because he gives us the necessary context without making us wade through jargon and subject-specific concepts. 

So, if you’re a fan of stories that keep you engaged from start to finish, Congo is definitely worth checking out. Bonuses include a healthy dose of science, a highly intelligent gorilla, and an action-packed adventure in the depths of a rainforest. 

8. Airframe

Sale

Airframe: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, thriller, mystery, science fiction, suspense, mystery, thriller adventure
• Content warnings – N/A
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 431
• First publication – January, 1996
• Goodreads rating – 3.73

$9.99

Buy on Amazon

My odd fascination with reading about air disasters (which probably stems from my fear of flying) led me to this Crichton novel about an air disaster. Now let me tell you, this is not your typical aviation calamity tale; it’s a mesh of mystery, disaster, and detective work that had me hooked from the takeoff to the landing.  

In typical Crichton-style, the book is full of suspense as it follows the mystery of what happened in the air which resulted in injuries and death, but this wasn’t the sole selling point of the book for me. I absolutely loved Casey’s character! She was super cool, independent, smart, and determined to see things through. Crichton does a wonderful job of writing a strong FMC and I couldn’t help but cheer her on. 

Now, let’s talk airplanes. Airframe doesn’t just give you a thrilling story; it also serves as a mini lesson on aviation. As usual, Crichton dives into the nitty-gritty, explaining everything from airplane structure to manufacturing without talking down to his readers. I love his careful attention to detail because it makes the book easy to follow and shows me that Crichton is super thoughtful about his audience. 

Airframe is a great choice if you’re looking for an exciting read about air disasters, complete with nail-biting investigations that follow it, so pick it up for a turbulent ride that you don’t want to miss!

9. The Great Train Robbery

Sale

The Great Train Robbery: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, historical fiction, thriller, mystery, crime, historical adventure
• Content warnings – Colonization, classism, murder, rape, violence
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 300
• First publication – May, 1975
• Goodreads rating – 3.88

$12.29

Buy on Amazon

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and when I came across this Crichton novel from the genre, I didn’t waste a single minute getting into it. It turned out to be a Jules Verne-style adventure novel, and one of my favorite Crichtons to date. 

The Great Train Robbery has everything a great heist novel should have: a charming and witty MC, fast-moving scenes packed with thrill and suspense, and an ambitious plan. I’ll just say this heist plan was inspired by the actual great train robbery of 1855 and leave it at that, because it cannot get any better. 

Watching Pierce, our MC, go through every little twist and turn of the plan, sort out the setbacks, and fine-tune every last detail was downright fun. It had that devilish luck usually found in classic heist novels and took the thrills up a notch or two because our stakes are high and the robbery dangerous. 

I was completely taken by Pierce’s character because he’s one of the most charismatic, subtle, and gentlemanly villains I’ve come across. He can seamlessly flit through both the upper and lower classes of society and does everything he possibly can to ensure he achieves success. 

In this book, we see Crichton tackling a different type of thriller genre and leading us into a historical drama but he still manages to make it thought-provoking with the development of Pierce’s character. Commenting on how society sees criminals and villains he says “Criminals are not limited in intelligence, and it is probable that the reverse is true.” And considering what Pierce gets up to in this adventure, I can’t agree more.

So if you’re in for a fun and adventurous heist-novel, The Great Train Robbery is the book you should pick up. Go for the heist, stay for the criminal – you won’t regret it. 

10. Eaters of the Dead

Sale

Eaters of the Dead

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, thriller, horror, adventure historical
• Content warnings – Sexual content, war, slavery
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 304
• First publication – March, 1976
• Goodreads rating – 3.69

$5.96

Buy on Amazon

Continuing our streak of historical fiction from Crichton is Eaters of the Dead that takes us into the depths of history with a tale focused on Vikings and an Arab courtier named Ibn Fadlan. When I first read this, I felt like it was sneakily similar to Beowulf, and lo and behold, Crichton had actually fashioned it off the classic epic. The result? An equally epic adventure that had me hooked from the very start.  

The story follows Fadlan who travels all the way from Baghdad to end up helping the Vikings get rid of a terrifying monster. The book is written in the form of a travel journal and a manuscript, and the choice of this form made for an amazing reading experience because I truly felt like I was actually following Fadlan along his trials and tribulations through his 10^th century travelog. 

As is expected from a novel about fighting a literal monster, the plot unfolds with gripping action and relentless suspense. Reading it was like being in the middle of the action itself, nervously anticipating the next move of the unseen menace and not knowing what to do when the inevitable attack came. 

Set against the suspense were the intriguing observations that Fadlan made of the Vikings, and I absolutely loved the contrast between action and contemplation. He is as much a historian as he is a fighter, and he documents the Vikings, their culture, and their curious way of life as they attempt to slay the deadly beast that haunts them in the night. 

If you enjoy historical fiction, you might like this travelog-style thriller novel from Crichton because it’s got the perfect combo of action and intrigue. Buckle up for an exquisite dive into the life of Vikings, set in an exciting reawakening of the classic Beowulf. 

11. The Terminal Man

Sale

The Terminal Man

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, thriller, horror, suspense, mystery, novels
• Content warnings – Ableism, fatphobia, homophobia, death, gun violence, sexual assault
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 268
• First publication – March, 1972
• Goodreads rating – 3.39

$14.65

Buy on Amazon

I haven’t really explored medical thrillers, but when I saw that Crichton has a well-known medical thriller in his list of works, I decided to give it a shot. It was bone-chilling and exciting from the get-go, and I recommend this to anyone who wants to start exploring the genre. 

The plot itself terrified me. Benson is a man who frequently suffers violent seizures, so the Neuropsychiatric Research Unit decides to apply an experimental method on him in an attempt to ‘cure’ him. This method converts Benson’s seizures to pleasurable experiences in his brain through the use of electrodes, and Benson, liking this feeling a little too much, learns to increase the simulation. However, when it becomes difficult for his brain to handle, he escapes from the hospital with a deadly intent. 

The book had my heart in my throat from start to finish and I promise you, I’m not exaggerating. The breakneck pace of events accumulating with each turn of the page gave it an exhilarating feel of a superhero saga, except our protagonist wasn’t a hero; he was a man medically induced to be a maniac and I loved how unhinged and out of control he was as the villain of his own story.

While Crichton is known for piling a lot of scientific information into his novels, The Terminal Man deviates from this formula. It doesn’t give us the usual scientific information overload, but instead resorts to an explanation limited to the unfolding events. I felt like something was missing, probably because I don’t have any kind of background on medicine and would have appreciated more of that classic Chrichton detail but still, the lack of detail didn’t take away anything from the plot development or characters.  

If you’re looking to switch up genres with a medical thriller, The Terminal Man might be right up your alley because it has a maniac villain that you can sympathize with, a crazy science experiment gone wrong, and a thrilling chase to make things right. What more could you ask for?

12. Odds On

Sale

Odds On

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, thriller, mystery, crime, mystery thriller, adventure, suspense
• Content warnings – N/A
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 288
• First publication – January, 1966
• Goodreads rating – 3.55

$2.62

Buy on Amazon

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if a heist movie and a techno-thriller combined to make a single work of fiction? Well, after reading Crichton’s Odds On, I no longer had to guess because I got to jump in on a heist gone wrong as variables in the plan go haywire.

Jencks, Miguel, and Bryan mastermind a plan to rob Reina, and like in all well-laid plans, they have to account for one too many variables. And in this case, the hiccups in the plan come in the form of three beautiful women and technical failures that Jencks didn’t account for. 

I loved the whole summery vibe of the book that came from the hotel’s descriptions, its guests and all the partying, because it gave the heist trope a whole new face lift. I definitely had fun reading this book because the characters kept me engaged with banter and scheming and the narrative kept me guessing on where the story would take me. 

This is one of the early novels by Crichton and I have to say it shows. There’s a few plot holes here and there with a couple of places where I felt the story dragged on, but thanks to the technical add-ons and the well-crafted heist plan, I could really see the exceptional thriller writer Crichton would become a few more novels later.

That said, I definitely had fun reading Odds On. This is a low-stakes heist thriller perfect for a beach read or to take a break from Crichton’s high-pressure thrillers, so I recommend Odds On to anyone who wants a lighthearted read with heist thrills, close calls, and unexpected alliances.

13. State of Fear

Sale

State of Fear: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, thriller, science fiction, mystery, suspense, mystery thriller, adventure
• Content warnings – Cannibalism, gore, body horror, violence, car accident
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 672
• First publication – December, 1987
• Goodreads rating – 3.70

$13.59

Buy on Amazon

Can I just take a minute to talk about how Crichton effortlessly weaves science and suspense together, sparing no detail all the while making the book a thrilling ride? That’s exactly what happens in State of Fear, and even though the book is huge with nearly 700 pages, I could not put it down. 

So the plot follows Dr. John Kenner, who is a genius environmental scientist, and a whole gang of characters who are on a race against time to stop the world from literally being destroyed by itself. Talk about one hell of a premise. 

I was sold enough by the setting, but I have to say the locations explored across the book took the cake this time. From the icy depths of Antarctica to the tropical vibes of the Pacific, Crichton paints beautiful landscapes with his words that make you feel like you’re right there, battling the elements alongside the characters. The natural beauty of the backdrop was jarring (in a good way) against the intensity of the plot, so I really think Crichton wanted to make a statement about environmental action by making the locations stand out. 

Crichton also threw in facts and perspectives so seamlessly into the book, making us question everything we thought we knew about climate change which, I feel, is timely and necessary, given the climatic state of the world right now. 

So, if you are in a mood for a heart-pounding and mind-expanding read, give State of Fear a read. I’m pretty sure you’d come away with more than a chilling reading experience. 

14. Disclosure

Disclosure: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, thriller, mystery, suspense, science fiction, mystery thriller
• Content warnings – Sexism, sexual assault, death, car accident, alcohol, cancer, racism, xenophobia
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 464
• First publication – January, 1994
• Goodreads rating – 3.79

$9.99

Buy on Amazon

Workplace drama is always a banger on screen and, of course, IRL, but this was the first time I read a book with corporate drama/intrigue/thriller as the main plotline. Trust me when I tell you it was suspenseful read full of twists and turns (and lot of tea🍵).

Tom, our senior executive MMC, is just trying to climb the career ladder when his ex, Meredith, decides to drop a harassment bombshell on his promotion parade. Honestly, all that corporate scheming, juicy accusations, and professionally-veiled drama throughout the book literally had me raising eyebrows on more than a few occasions.  

The story really feels like something you might encounter at work with everyone stirring up trouble for their own benefit. I loved how the book prompted me to reflect on the crafty getups of people trying to gain power in office or outside of it. It also convinced me that anyone could be plotting something nefarious at work, so here’s looking at you, my work bestie! 😆

Crichton’s dialogue is snappy and the characters are colorful and intriguing to follow around, so the book had me feeling like I was eavesdropping on the hottest tea being spilt in the break room. 

So if you are up for a corporate rollercoaster along with scandalous secrets and twists, Disclosure is the book to buckle up for. Be warned, you might come away with an unhealthy suspicion about your co-workers!

15. Pirate Latitudes

Sale

Pirate Latitudes: A Novel

• Genre/Sub-genre – Fiction, historical fiction, adventure, pirates, thriller, historical fantasy
• Content warnings – Violence, adult/minor relationship, death, animal cruelty, gun violence, pregnancy, racial slurs
• Type – Stand-alone
• No. of pages – 312
• First publication – November, 2009
• Goodreads rating – 3.48

$15.19

Buy on Amazon

Action? Adventure? Pirates? Sign me up, yes, thank you. Michael Crichton took me on an unforgettable adventure of sea battles and treasure hunts in the Caribbean, starting with Hunter’s daring pursuit of a Spanish galleon.

I was immediately taken with the premise because it scratched this super specific itch for a Pirates of the Caribbean-like setting and honestly, Pirate Latitudes is how I’d imagine the movies would read like if they were written into a book.

The story was not just about the loot (even though we were hanging around literal pirates), it was also about exploring mysterious tribes, ancient ruins, and adventuring through unexpected challenges on the way. 

Crichton also weaves in political intrigue masterfully into the plot, and it really made for an awesome combo along with the piracy. Captain Hunter battles not just the sea, but also European powers and local authorities out in the hunt for him. Add to this the crew’s alliances and betrayals, and we get a Crichton-brand thriller on the high seas. 

Pirate Latitudes kept me hooked with adventure, camaraderie, and unexpected turns from start to finish, so I’m recommending it for those who fantasized about becoming a pirate – the Neverland variety or the Jack Sparrow variety. 

Well, there you have it – my picks of the best Michael Crichton books. From dinosaurs and extraterrestrial life to pirates and mad scientists, Crichton has a diverse range to pick your next read from. So try out a few sci-fi or techno-thrillers that appeal to you best, and you might just discover a cool new go-to author. Happy reading!

I recommend checking out ‘Humans, Bow Down’ from my list of the best James Patterson books if you want to maintain the sci-fi-high. The plot covers a post-apocalyptic dystopian society that’s been taken over by robots so it’s a bit of a switch up from dinosaurs, but it’s another interesting take on what could happen if technology went too far.

If you want more thrillers to add to your TBR, you might want to check out my collection of book lists and reviews of the thriller genre.

The post 15 Best Michael Crichton Books: The Techno-Thriller Genre appeared first on Bookishnerd.