Thriller Book Reviews

The best thriller book reviews, including crime, fantasy, historical fiction, horror, legal thrillers, medical, psychological thrillers, sci-fi and more.

The Escape Artist, a Truly Magical Crime Thriller by D.B. Cooper

By

The Bottom Line: Hands down, Brad Meltzer’s best novel. Whether in his novels or in his short-lived TV show, Decoded, Brad Meltzer has always favored using historical events as the basis for implausible but entertaining conspiracy thrillers. In The Escape Artist, Meltzer demonstrates that he can also invent a truly magnificent character that, in virtually all ways, is better than the real-life characters he often […]

The Escape Artist, a Truly Magical Crime Thriller by D.B. Cooper READ MORE >

DEADSPEAK, a Standout Serial Killer Novel by Ruth Bainbridge

By

The Bottom Line: A standout serial killer novel tailor-made for fans of Alice Sebold and Tana French. The aptly-named DEADSPEAK begins with testimony from 13-year-old Griff Lindon: “I don’t even know where or what I am anymore. I just sit in this perpetual darkness, wondering if I’ll ever be me again.” Griff’s questions are soon answered, as the murdered teenager witnesses the discovery of her

DEADSPEAK, a Standout Serial Killer Novel by Ruth Bainbridge READ MORE >

Longreave, a Mesmerizing Horror Novel by Daniel Barnett

By

The Bottom Line: Horror fans will find a treasure trove of supernatural surprises in Daniel Barnett’s Longreave. Set in a hotel called Longreave, situated in the fictional Atlantic seaboard town of Manxfield, author Daniel Barnett delivers plenty of creepy ambiance, especially when he introduces Mark Currier, a man who is picking up the pieces after a failed marriage. Mark isn’t unfamiliar with the hotel. His

Longreave, a Mesmerizing Horror Novel by Daniel Barnett READ MORE >

Restitution, One of the Year’s Best Thrillers

By

The Bottom Line: One of the year’s best thrillers. Rose Edmunds proves that her Crazy Amy series is only getting better with each installment. Has a long-lost Picasso really resurfaced in Prague? That’s the hope of 84-year-old London resident George Smithies, whose father, a gallery owner, was allegedly tortured and killed by the Nazis in 1939. Having avoided his homeland since his escape to England

Restitution, One of the Year’s Best Thrillers READ MORE >

Force of Impact, an Addictive Crime Thriller by Bryan Cassiday

By

The Bottom Line: A potent shot of contemporary LA Noir that will have readers hooked from page one. Fans of Dennis Lehane and James Ellroy will love Force of Impact. When LA horror novelist Bart Dillinger’s girlfriend doesn’t return home to the condo they share, he calls one of her friends to see if she’s seen her. The awkward call doesn’t produce any leads, so

Force of Impact, an Addictive Crime Thriller by Bryan Cassiday READ MORE >

The Big Guy, a Superb Prison Thriller by Jason Palmer

By

The Bottom Line: This gritty, masterfully crafted thriller about one man’s quest to survive incarceration is a worthy addition to the canon of great prison novels. Seamax prison inmate Percy Croft has kept his nose clean while serving nearly four years of a five-year sentence. He’s got a cushy job in the prison’s furniture factory, and he’s a massive, hulking figure that commands respect from

The Big Guy, a Superb Prison Thriller by Jason Palmer READ MORE >

A Different Kind of Fire & Fury: Revenge, by Julie Reichwein

By

The Bottom Line: A timely, high-octane revenge thriller for the #metoo era. Julie Reichwein’s new thriller is a raw revenge fantasy where fiction meets the real-world fight to stop sexual assault. The story begins as Detective Michelle Velasquez is assigned to two cases, the first of which is the rape of financial company intern Maria Acevedo. The second is a 30-year-old murder case involving her

A Different Kind of Fire & Fury: Revenge, by Julie Reichwein READ MORE >

The Greatest Good, an Explosive Police Procedural by Craig Hooper

By

The Bottom Line: An explosive police procedural with an endearing hero at its core. Readers will be longing for another Craig Hooper novel. Shamed federal agent Garrison Chase is dealing with some first day on the job jitters. After facing legal issues because of his somewhat unorthodox collection of assault weapons, Chase just landed a new gig as the governor’s son’s bodyguard. Things escalate quickly,

The Greatest Good, an Explosive Police Procedural by Craig Hooper READ MORE >

Do Not Ask, a Sexy Legal Thriller by Elaine Williams Crockett

By

The Bottom Line: A sexy legal thriller about sex, politics and forensic science. Supreme Court justice Warren Alexander may spend most of his days behind the bench, but the former FBI agent springs into action when the president’s adult twin daughters – along with his own aide – go missing. Curiously, first daughters Eden and Echo dismissed their Secret Service detail. But why? Alexander’s son-in-law,

Do Not Ask, a Sexy Legal Thriller by Elaine Williams Crockett READ MORE >

Red Notice, a True Crime Financial Thriller by Bill Browder

By

The Bottom Line: A titan among financial thrillers, this mind-blowing expose of corruption, fear and greed is an absolute must-read. Although it’s been out since 2015, Red Notice is back in the limelight due to the investigations into the connection between Russia and the Trump campaign. If you’re looking for a smoking gun in this excellent novel, don’t bother, because it’s not there. Read this

Red Notice, a True Crime Financial Thriller by Bill Browder READ MORE >

Scroll to Top