Are you looking for an exciting book to read this Halloween season, but horror isn’t your favorite genre? Want something different from your average blood, guts, and spooky monsters? Sometimes variation in reading different genres is a nice change of pace. Here, we have gathered some of our favorite thriller books for you to check out.
The Differences Between Horror, Suspense and Thriller
Before we begin however, let’s take a brief look at the difference between horror, thriller and suspense. Many people (myself included) tend to intermix the three. Horror is the easiest to tell the difference. Horror books try to evoke a fear response. The aesthetic matters along with the villain. If it’s bloody, scary, or attempts to evoke those primal emotions, it’s a horror novel. Think of H.P Lovecraft and his monsters. A lot of Stephen King books often fall in the horror genre, like It, but he also writes a lot in the other two genres as well.
Suspense and Thriller are more similar, yet still different. In both genres, the author builds suspense throughout, however how they build suspense differ. In the suspense genre, suspense is built slowly throughout the novel. The author tries to put off the conclusion for as long as possible to draw out the suspense. Oftentimes, the ending is ambiguous. Suspense is often those page turning novels where you can’t wait to find the conclusion.
Thriller is more action and plot driven. Characters act and react to one another in a faster paced style novel. The good guys and bad guys are usually very obvious. While suspense can often be unclear, thrillers are packed full of action with a big reveal happening earlier in the book. Authors reveal the villains early on, and the protagonist is often in danger from the start. The books below all fit into the thriller genre and are some of our favorites. Without further ado, here are ten must read thriller books for Halloween.
Doctor Sleep
I have read plenty of Stephen King books. For some reason, I put off reading Doctor Sleep for much longer than I should have. After having read it recently, (review to come soon) I can say it is one of my all time favorites he wrote. I can’t believe I waited this long to read such an incredible book. It features unique villains and a wonderful bond between the two protagonists. It is technically a sequel to The Shining but I think it makes a great standalone book as well.
Dan ends up taking after his father by being an alcoholic. Drifting town to town, Dan never feels at home. He eventually ends up in the small town of Frazier where he gives up drinking once and for all. Dan meets a special young girl, named Abra, with similar psychic abilities to him. Dan calls this unique power the shining. Meanwhile, in the western United States a group of ageless beings, known as the True Knot, eat the shining to survive. One of them sense the amount of energy Abra contains and decides she is a prime target so they can prolong their life even further. This sets the stage for the showdown between Dan, Abra, and the True Knot.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Many of my friends and fellow readers tell me The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson is a must read. Unfortunately, I have not gained the chance to read it yet. This one is definitely on my TBR list and I cannot wait to experience it for the first time. If you read this one and enjoy it, it’s a series. This book is a good standalone read as well for those who aren’t fans of book series.
Mikael Blomkivst, a journalist, recently lost a libel court case. Facing criminal charges he steps down from his position to the objection from his friend. Henrik Vangar, an elderly former CEO of a large company, hires Mikael to investigate the disappearance of his niece which happened forty years prior. Vangar also hires a girl to look into Mikael’s past without him knowing. The tattooed girl, Lisbeth then joins Mikael as they search for answers. Together, they discover deep corruption in the search for the missing niece.
Silence of the Lambs
I fell in love with the Hannibal series when I was in high school. My best friend, Heather, and I would rewatch the series anytime we got together. I finally got my hands on the novels when I was in undergrad and they lived up to every expectation the movies set out. Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris is likely the most well known of his novels, although the second in the book series, due to the hype Anthony Hopkins role as Hannibal created. This book is the definition of thriller and if you haven’t read it, I can’t recommend it enough.
Clarice Starling is a rising trainee at the FBI training base in Quantico. Jack Crawford, chief of the Bureau’s Behavioral Science section, sets Clarice on the task of interviewing Dr. Hannibal Lector, aka Hannibal the Cannibal. He is being held at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane and the FBI think he might be able to help in identifying the killer behind a series of gruesome murders. Hannibal’s background in psychiatry may bring some insight into the motives and profile of the killer, but at what cost to Clarice.
Bullet Train
Recently, we wrote a review on Three Assassins by Kotaro Isaka, which is the prequel to Bullet Train. I loved it and knew I needed to pick up the next book. I bought it immediately after we published the review. While Bullet Train is pending an Umbra Ex Libris review, I would argue it’s better than its predecessor. I cannot wait to read the final book in this trilogy. It’s been a wild train ride from start to finish.
Similar to Three Assassins, Bullet Train is a book written with multiple points of views. Each assassin’s story ends up connected by the end. Five assassins board the bullet train all with separate goals. Three of them, unbeknownst to them, are after a suitcase full of money. An assassin known as The Prince has business with all of them. Meanwhile, another assassin hunts The Prince to get revenge. All this goes down on the train traveling from Tokyo to Morioka. This action packed thriller will for sure keep you turning every page.
Crime and Punishment
Where would novels be without the classics? So many current writers learned from the greats. This includes the thriller classic Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Classics are not always our favorites, but we have to include this one because many consider it one of the best world literature books. Oddly enough, it’s even referenced in Three Assassins.
Crime and Punishment follows a poor ex-student who lives in St. Petersburg. Rodion Raskolnikov believes his way to wealth lies in the murder of a pawn broker, Alyona Ivanovna, who stores her riches in her apartment. Raskolnikov believes he is meant to be a great man and with wealth he can perform great deeds. He tries to convince himself the end justifies the means. By removing poverty off his list of obstacles, he can become a great man himself. He quickly discovers guilt, confusion, and paranoia are the consequences of his actions.
American Psycho
Where do I even begin with American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. This is one of those books I debated labeling thriller or horror. On one hand, the descriptions are gruesome. This book is all about violent, bloody murder. On the other hand, It’s a dark social commentary on accepting the normal behavior of society. I decided it fits more in the thriller than the horror, because while Patrick Bateman is a psychopath the action never stops while Bateman takes on the American Dream.
Patrick Bateman is a charming handsome man who works on wall street. Unknown to his coworkers, Bateman is also a serial killer. Narrated in first person by Bateman we see his everyday thoughts and actions, from his dinner dates with coworkers to his gruesome murders at night. After killing one of his coworkers, he uses his house as a place to murder more people, all while his mental state deteriorates more rapidly. As the book progresses, we see more and more gruesome murders and Bateman’s diminished mental state. I would not recommend this to readers without a strong stomach, but it’s still an exciting and thrilling read.
The Maid
I recently wrote a review on The Maid by Nita Prose. I went back and forth if this is more thriller or suspense, where I came to the conclusion of the thriller for three main reasons. First, it is heavily plot driven. Each action is followed directly by a reaction. Secondly, the bad guys are easily identified. Maybe not for our narrator, but the reader can single out who’s the antagonist. Lastly, our protagonist is in danger right off the bat. While the plot may not be as action packed as some of the other thriller’s on the list. It definitely hits the mark in all other ways.
Molly the maid has been working at the Regency Grand for several years now. Cleaning brings stability to her life. However, that stability is turned upside down when a dead body is found on her cleaning floor. Molly quickly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. The people she thought to be friends may hold deep secrets than she could ever expect. Now, Molly must figure out how to clear her name and set the truth free.
The Chain
A few years ago, Marissa and I were wandering Barnes and Noble when we spotted The Chain by Adrian McKinty. It was likely the bright red cover that caught our eyes. But it was the plot that really sucked us in. Everything about this novel screams thriller. From the short and abrupt chapters to the cruel and blatant antagonists. It is a must read for anyone who loves books that have them racing to the last page.
Rachel’s day starts like any other. She drops her daughter off at the bus stop before heading off to start her routine. She doesn’t get very far though. Her phone starts ringing and on the other end is a woman. The woman claims she’s kidnapped Kylie and the only way to get her back is by paying a ransom and abducting another unsuspecting child. This isn’t your usual kidnapper. This woman has a child of her own, a child who has also been kidnapped and Kylie is her key to getting them back.
One by One
While I personally haven’t read this one, I know Marissa is a big fan. One by One by Ruth Ware has readers gripping their seats to the very last page. I know Marissa enjoys a lot of Ruth Ware’s books. I’m thinking I might too after looking into this one. What do you guys think?
A company plans a winter retreat at a beautiful, rustic mountain chalet. The views are breathtaking, the fire is cozy, and it’s a well deserved break, even in the company of your coworkers. But what happens after an avalanche traps the company for the weekend. The corporate food chain quickly dissolves and the coworkers are no longer quite as trustworthy.
The Cabin at the End of the World
It has been about a year since I read The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. I remember how quickly the plot picked up and how I couldn’t get through the pages quickly enough. This book brought on an unexpected ending, adding to the thrill of it all. If you are looking for a book surrounding the ideas of an apocalypse without the zombies and general horror, this ones for you.
Eric and Andrew take their seven-year-old daughter, Wen, to a remote cabin on a quiet New Hampshire lake. Wen is exploring the front yard, catching grasshoppers in the grass, when a large man approaches. Lynard quickly makes friends with Wen. In the midst of their play, Lynard apologizes to Wen, assuring her how nothing that’s about to happen is her fault. Before Wen has a chance to ask any questions, a group of strangers arrive holding various menacing objects. Wen races inside to warn her parents just in time to hear Lynard’s harrowing warning, “Your dads won’t want to let us in, Wen. But they have to. We need your help to save the world.”
Conclusion
Maybe you don’t have time to read all of these books or even some of these books. Luckily for you, a couple of these books have Hollywood adaptations. Sometimes it’s hard to read a six hour book but easier to watch a two hour movie. No judgment from us. The books that have movie adaptations are: Doctor Sleep, American Psycho, Bullet Train, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Silence of the Lambs. I have seen a few myself but I like to read the books before I watch the movies. It’s the reason I haven’t watched a few of them.
Are any of these books on your to be read list? Do you want to argue about any of these books being more suspenseful or horror? What’s your favorite thriller novels? Leave a comment below. We always love to hear from you!
As always, happy, thrilling reading!