In recent times, Crime-Thriller novels/shows/movies have gained themselves a large fan-following. Many streaming sites such as Netflix and Prime have taken up to release many crime-thriller shows or movies that are either real-life based or fiction. Nonetheless, they are widely watched. However, if you are a fan of reading novels as well as a fan of crime-thriller fictions, then here is a list of famous thriller books that every thriller loving fan must read!
1. The Da Vinci Code- Dan Brown
If we’re making a list of crime/mystery/thriller novels, including a work by Dan Brown is a must. ‘The Da Vinci Code’ is one of Brown’s most successful and amazing works, and the book is bound to have its readers hooked from the very start. The book has something for everybody, staging an elaborate murder mystery, with topics that include history, religion, art, and culture. The book will have you creating theories throughout, only to come through the climax that you never expected. ‘The Da Vinci Code’ also has its own movie adaptation made in 2006, that was directed by Ron Howard and starred Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon
2. The Silence of The Lambs- Thomas Harris
The Silence of The Lambs is a psychological thriller and horror novel that follows a young FBI trainee, Clarice Starling, who investigates the murders committed by a serial killer known as ‘Buffalo Bell’. To gain more information on him, she also interviews the terrifying cannibalistic serial killer ‘Hannibal Lecter’. The book will keep you on your toes throughout the read, especially the chilling conversations about serial killings, that Starling has with Hannibal Lecter in the interview. ‘The Silence of The Lambs’ has also been made into a movie that was equally as thrilling and was loved by all.
3. The Murder on the Orient Express- Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie is known to be one of the best murder-mystery writing authors and has certainly earned that title. The Murder on the Orient Express’ was published in 1974 and follows the investigation of the murder of an American tycoon who is killed in his compartment by being stabbed a dozen times- his door locked from the inside. This is another one of her murder-mystery works where the investigation is led by protagonist Hercule Poirot. The novel is thrilling and will keep you guessing throughout.
4. The Spy Who Came In from the Cold- John le Carré
‘The Spy Who Came In from the Cold’ is a classic spy novel by John le Carré. The novel portrays Western undercover working methods as morally inconsistent with Western Democracy and values. The buildup through most of the novel will keep you engaged and it generates the value of the novel. Carré is able to hold out attention throughout the novel, as we read a tale about espionage, politics, and the elementary shortcomings of the human condition. The novel received critical acclaim at the time of its publication and became an international best-seller. It was selected as one of the ‘All-Time 100 Novels’ by ‘Time’ magazine.
5. The Widow- Fiona Barton
Fiona Barton made a name for herself with her debut novel, ‘The Widow’, that was a crime psychological thriller. The novel follows the twists and turns of an unimaginable crime, that showed us the dark space between a husband and a wife. Jean’s husband was suspected of a twisted crime, and like a ‘dutiful’ wife, she stood by him, including holding secrets for him. But when her husband dies, she no longer has a reason to stay quiet about those secrets, and the lies she’s told herself.
6. Angels and Demons- Dan Brown
This novel is another one of Dan Browns crime-mystery books that is a must-read for all thriller loving fans. ‘Angels and Demons’ follows a series of murders while also having several conversations about the controversial debate of Religion vs Science. “Science tells me God must exist. My mind tells me I will never understand God. And my heart tells me I am not meant to.” Brown’s thorough research on the topics discussed in the novel provides the readers with an interesting knowledge of things. The novel is extremely engrossing, and as we know from his works, Brown gave the reader the grand twist towards the end of the novel that left us shocked, and also satisfied.
7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- Stieg Larsson
‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’, a crime psychological thriller written by Stieg Larrson, was published in 2005, and instantly caught the attention of people, becoming a bestseller. Larsson introduced the world to a misanthropic hacker named Lisbeth Salander and provided us with one of the best novels under the genre of Nordic noir. The story follows a decades-old missing person case, family secrets, and dark and thrilling events that make it hard for the readers to keep the book down.
8. Rebecca- Daphne du Maurier
Published in 1938, Daphne du Maurier’s romantic thriller revolves around an unnamed young woman who heedlessly marries a wealthy widower, only to discover that he and his household are haunted by the memory of his late first wife, Rebecca. A bestseller, that still hasn’t gone out of print, sold 2.8 million copies between its publication in 1938 and 1965. It has been adapted various times for stage and screen, including a 1939 play by du Maurier herself, the film ‘Rebecca(1940)’, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, which won the ‘Academy Award for Best Picture’.
9. Gone Girl- Gillian Flynn
Gillian Flynn got well known as an author after her dark and twisted novel, ‘Gone Girl’ was published. The novel is centered on complex and seemingly unsympathetic female characters. With ‘Gone Girl’, Flynn provided us with a shocking page-turner that embeds readers inside the twisted, dark minds of Nick and Amy, a couple with a crumbling marriage. Amy’s disappearance leads to more and more questions, and you will be kept on your toes. The novel is compelling and suspenseful, so if you love this genre, ‘Gone Girl’ is a must-read!
10. The Girl on the Train- Paula Hawkins
‘The Girl on the Train’ revolves around an alcoholic divorced woman who watches a couple every day, as she rides a train. She watches them from afar and deeply idolizes them as they seem like the perfect couple to her, until she witnesses something out of ordinary, and falls into a missing person’s case. This book is an exhilarating glimpse into one woman’s inability to cope with the past and articulates a distressing truth about violence and love.
Comment below what your favorite Crime-Thriller novel is!
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