If you loved the Harlan Coben book Fool Me Once and have binged watched the series on Netflix, you might be looking for your next thriller fix.
I’ve compiled this list of books you should read if you’re a fan of twisty, suspenseful thrillers.
The Stranger by Harlan Coben
If you’re looking for another Harlan Coben story, you might want to try another of his bestselling novels. The Stranger was also adapted for Netflix and is another gripping thriller with a mystery at it’s core.
The story revolves around the seemingly perfect life of Adam Price, a suburban husband and father. His world is turned upside down when a mysterious stranger reveals a devastating secret about his wife. This revelation sets off a chain of events that unravels dark secrets and exposes hidden connections among various characters in the community.
I have a complete list of Harlan Coben books in order if you’re looking for more inspiration.
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Lisa Jewell is such a powerhouse when it comes to writing compelling suspenseful stories. I love her books and none more so than her latest offering, None of This is True.
Alix Summer, a podcaster celebrating her 45th birthday, encounters Josie Fair, also turning 45, at a local pub. Josie suggests she’d make an interesting podcast subject, hinting at impending life changes. As Alix delves into Josie’s complex life through an interview, she becomes increasingly disturbed by the dark secrets Josie is hiding. Despite her reservations, Alix finds Josie infiltrating her life and home, prompting her to question Josie’s true identity and the nature of her mysterious past.
I have a complete list of Lisa Jewell books in order if you’re looking for more inspiration.
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
Recommended by Harlan Coben himself, The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena is a fast-paced, twisty Sunday Times bestseller. It has sold over one million copies and was a Richard and Judy book club pick.
A seemingly innocent dinner party turns into a nightmare when your neighbour, unable to tolerate your baby’s crying, expresses her discomfort. Despite assurances from your husband and a plan to use a baby monitor, panic sets in when you discover your six-month-old daughter missing. Racing against time and grappling with escalating fear, you find yourself pushed to the limits, forced to confront unimaginable possibilities as the police investigate the mysterious disappearance from the supposedly secure confines of your own home.
I have a complete list of Shari Lapena books in order if you’re looking for more inspiration.
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
The Life We Bury was a USA Today bestseller and book club favourite.
College student Joe Talbert takes on a writing assignment that leads him to a nursing home to interview a dying Vietnam veteran and convicted murderer, Carl Iverson. As Joe delves into Carl’s life, he grapples with the contradiction between the heroism of the soldier and the crimes committed. With the help of his sceptical neighbour, Joe unravels the truth, but faces challenges from his dysfunctional family and haunting memories. The stakes rise as Joe seeks to uncover the reality behind Carl’s conviction, racing against time to escape the looming fallout.
I have a complete list of Allen Eskens books in order if you’re looking for more inspiration.
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Clare Mackintosh books are always brilliant and I don’t think any twist has shocked me like the one in I Let You Go! I had to go back and reread the first half of the book to see how I had missed it!
Jenna Gray’s life turns into a nightmare in an instant, pushing her to make a drastic decision to leave everything behind and start anew. Seeking refuge in a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, she battles haunting fears, grief, and memories of a tragic November night. As Jenna tentatively envisions a happier future, her haunting past resurfaces, leading to devastating consequences that threaten to shatter the fragile peace she’s tried to build.
I have a complete list of Clare Mackintosh books in order if you’re looking for more inspiration.
The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas
The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas was a Richard and Judy book club pick and a Sunday Times bestseller.
In suburban London, Emilia Ward, an ordinary wife and mother, leads a quiet life with her family while juggling her successful career as a bestselling crime writer. As she works on her tenth Detective Miranda Moody novel, a chilling turn of events unfolds: incidents from her book start happening in real life. Dismissing it as mere coincidence at first, Emilia grows alarmed when the eerie events continue, leading to the death of someone she knows in a manner mirroring her ongoing novel. The unsettling question arises: why is someone bringing her fiction to life, and how long before she and her family become the next targets?
I have a complete list of Claire Douglas books in order if you’re looking for more inspiration.
That Night by Gillian McAllister
This psychological thriller was a Sunday Times bestseller and featured as a Richard and Judy Book Club pick.
In the midst of a family holiday in Italy, you receive a frantic call from your sister. She admits she has caused a deadly accident. Fearing foreign imprisonment and separation from her child, she pleads for your assistance, promising to reciprocate. As lies weave a complex web to shield the truth, trust among family members begins to erode. What really happened that night?
I have a complete list of Gillian McAllister books in order if you’re looking for more inspiration.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
I loved The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley and was gripped from the opening page. It’s a classic whodunnit with clues and misdirection scattered throughout. I constantly thought I had it figured out until I was proven wrong again.
In a charming Parisian apartment block, secrets lurk behind each resident’s door. From the lonely wife to the party animal, the curtain-twitcher to the secret lover. And what about the watchful caretaker to the unwanted guest? Amidst these hidden lives, one resident is mysteriously missing. Only the killer possesses the key to unravelling the mystery.
I have a complete list of Lucy Foley books in order if you’re looking for more inspiration.
Summary
If you’re a fan of Fool Me Once, this list of gripping thrillers should provide some reading inspiration. Hopefully these novels will satisfy your craving for intricate plots and unexpected twists.
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