The best thriller book reviews, including crime, fantasy, historical fiction, horror, legal thrillers, medical, psychological thrillers, sci-fi and more.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A clever psychic thriller steeped in 80s nostalgia that will delight Stranger Things fans and anyone looking for a great read. The story begins in a humid Minnesota summer in 1986. Twelve-year-old Jackie Tanner is a latch-key kid doing her best to get by with a mom who works at the local strip club and often disappears for days and an older […]
Lost Girls of Kato, a Clever Psychic Thriller by Quinn Avery READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: For fans of Susanna Clark’s Piranesi, The Midnight Cafe reads like an immersive fever dream that fans of magical realism will love. Set in the dark underbelly of Trinidad and Tobago, The Midnight Cafe is a place “where the night creatures gather” according to Bishop, a self-appointed champion of marginalized people. Bishop seems to exist somewhere between the land of the living
The Midnight Cafe, an Immersive Paranormal Thriller by J.R. Peter READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: The dynamic duo of Weis and Astor make magic together. A rising body count, a dark pact among unlikely friends and a wholly evocative world propel this small town mystery to epic heights. Highly recommended. Until three unsolved murders rocked tiny St. Benedict, Louisiana, the town hadn’t had a single murder since 1942. As River of Wrath opens, local sheriff Kent Davis
River of Wrath, an Epic Coming of Age Thriller by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: Not one of Koontz’ most memorable books, but this tall tale about lethal synchronicity is still good enough to be enjoyed by fans of edgy sci-fi thrillers. One of the most compelling scenes in The Big Dark Sky comes as a man who has clearly embraced angst as a lifestyle slips out in the dark – as is his nightly habit –
The Big Dark Sky, an Edgy Sci-Fi Thriller by Dean Koontz READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: A truly important medical thriller about the role of AI in life-or-death decision-making. Highly recommended. In the tradition of Robert Harris’ classic thriller The Fear Index, and Arthur C. Clark’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, JL Lycette’s novel about the perils of flawed, uncontrollable artificial intelligence is an emotionally-charged, cautionary tale about the role of technology in modern medicine. Chief Resident Hope Kestrel,
The Algorithm Will See You Now, an Important Medical Thriller by JL Lycette READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: Clark Viehweg’s timely thriller about an epic battle against big oil sizzles with wildly imaginative schemes and an extravagant global conspiracy. D.A.D. (an acronym for “Dad’s Anti-Gravity Device”) is the story of a groundbreaking invention that threatens the global energy market. The narrative is told in a progression of fictional and non-fictional bursts set across several decades. Setting the stage, author Clark Viehweg
D.A.D.: The World’s Biggest Con, a Timely Thriller by Clark Viehweg READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: For fans of The Girl in Cabin 13, The Fear of Winter is an emotionally resonant, atmospheric thriller that simmers with a highly memorable investigation en route to an unforgettable crescendo. Grand County, Colorado, consists of 1800 square miles of sprawling mountainous terrain. At any time, there are at least two dozen missing people in the county. Most are hikers or skiers.
The Fear of Winter, an Emotionally Resonant Thriller by S.C. Sterling READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: Perfect for fans of Honor Raconteur and Jason Rose, Tilted Scales: Inhuman Trafficking deftly blends courtroom drama and legal maneuvering with supernatural gangsters, warlocks and spell casters. The Southern Serpent is a heroine that readers won’t easily forget. Lawyers are often referred to as snakes, but Jayne Hart, known as the Southern Serpent, actually does have scales. Human from the waist up
Tilted Scales, an Unforgettable Fantasy Legal Thriller by Julian Kindred READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: An irresistible debut crime thriller from a promising new voice. Highly recommended. As FBI Special Agent Miles Ronan arrives in Brazil to identify his father’s body, he also hopes to close a dark chapter that has haunted him since he was a boy. Ironic is one way to describe the estranged relationship between Frank Ronan, one of the world’s most wanted criminals,
The Rio Affair, a Highly Recommended Crime Thriller by Micah Barnett READ MORE >
The Bottom Line: Detective Hiroshi has never been more entertaining in this electrifying crime thriller featuring some truly ingenious financial crimes. When American wealth manager Patrick Walsh returns to his Tokyo apartment and keys in his passcode, he’s surprised to find that it still works. For those unfamiliar with Tokyo, Azabu is known as one of Tokyo’s most expensive residential districts. When Walsh’s ex-wife Miyuki
Azabu Getaway, The Year’s Best Crime Thriller by Michael Pronko READ MORE >
