Top 3 Thriller Novels: Intrigue, Suspense, Plot Twists

 

Let's discuss Thriller novels. In this post, we're uncovering three gripping thriller novels that'll keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Whether you're a seasoned thriller aficionado or someone seeking a thrilling read for the first time, you'll find valuable insights and exciting recommendations on this page.

Table Of Content

• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
• Verity by Colleen Hoover
• Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena

1.) The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient Book Cover

The Silent Patient is a widely popular book that was first published in 2019.

In this psychological thriller, a renowned painter, Alicia Berenson, inexplicably shoots her husband multiple times and then falls silent. This shocking act turns her into a mysterious and famous figure. She's confined to a secure facility, while her artwork becomes highly valuable. Dr. Theo Faber, a criminal psychologist, is determined to make her speak and uncover the truth behind the shooting, even if it means confronting his demons.

Alex Michaelides is a bestselling British Cypriot author and screenwriter. The Silent Patient is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, and it was his debut novel. Since The Silent Patient was first published in 2019 by Celadon Books, over 6.5 million copies have been sold.

I read this book sometime this year and had no regrets. Alicia wasn't mentally stable, but genuinely speaking, Theo wasn't either. This book had me pausing to recollect my thoughts because it was equally suspense as it was mystery. This is one of the most enthralling mystery books I've encountered, making it a strong contender for my 2023 thriller book recommendations.

The idea of hazy distinctions between sanity and insanity is explored throughout the story. There is constant tension and psychological suspense due to the characters' actions, perspectives, and intentions. You will be kept on the edge of your seats, eager to learn the truth.

The author explored themes of mental instability and this story shows just how much traumatic events from our childhood affect our lives and our person. This makes it one of my top picks for gripping thriller books in 2023.

I had fun reading this book and is one of my top thriller books 2023. Read the complete The Silent Patient review here.

It's a 4 stars recommendation from me.

2.) Verity by Colleen Hoover

Verity Book Cover

Verity was first published in 2018 but I read this book last year and couldn't stop talking about it for a week straight. In time we all would definitely forget the plot of our favorite books but we'll never forget how the book made us feel. Verity wowed me. 

Struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh takes a life-changing job offer from Jeremy Crawford, the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford. Her task is to complete Verity's series due to Verity's incapacitation. While searching through Verity's notes, Lowen stumbles upon an unpublished autobiography containing shocking revelations, including the truth about Verity's daughter's death. Lowen keeps this dark secret from Jeremy, but as her feelings for him grow, she contemplates the benefits of revealing the manuscript, knowing it could alter their relationship forever.

Find out what happens when it turns out that Jeremy already found and read the un-published autobiography

Colleen Hoover is an American author who primarily writes novels in the romance and young adult fiction genres. She is best known for her 2016 romance novel It Ends with Us which later gained popularity on #BookTok in 2021. Many of her works were self-published before being picked up by a publishing house. In 2022, Hoover held six of the top ten spots on the New York Times paperback fiction best seller list with Verity at number 2.

I cannot begin to understand Hoover's thought process when she created Verity's story because the plot twists and turns had me wanting more. Every move that I expected to happen next was the opposite.

While this is still a romance novel, don't expect it to be fluffy. This is a 5-star recommendation for me and has been my favourite book since I read it. 

3.) Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena

Everyone Here Is Lying Book Cover

I didn't like where the book was going but I read anyway.

William Wooler, seemingly a family man, had an affair that ended badly. Afterwards, when he arrives home, he's upset to find his nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly there. He loses his temper, and hours later, Avery is declared missing. This incident shatters the sense of security in Stanhope, revealing that many of William's neighbours are hiding secrets. Witnesses provide uncertain information, and the neighbourhood descends into chaos. The mystery of who took Avery Wooler is shadowed by a shocking truth that will leave you stunned.

Shari Lapena is a Canadian novelist who is best known for her 2016 thriller novel The Couple Next Door, which was a bestseller both in Canada and internationally. Lapena was a lawyer and English teacher before beginning her writing career. In 2008, she published her debut novel Things Go Flying which novel was a shortlisted Sunburst Award finalist in 2009. Everyone Here Is Lying is a more recent work of Shari Lapena which was published in 2023.

I didn't finish this story because the author put me in too much suspense to not even give me a big reveal. I dropped the story immediately I found out where the little girl was but I have a feeling that there is still more to the story that I didn't read. 

The author kept introducing new characters into the story to instil a sense of mystery and suspense in the readers and I think it was all unnecessary if the culprit was going to be an entirely new character. 

While the author was skilled with words and the story was easy to read because of that, the plot got a bit boring. To be searching for a single child from the beginning of a story till the end was not bound to keep me interested although it had its appeal.

It's a 3-star rating for me. 

These are the best mystery and thriller books that I've come across in a while. Share yours in the comment section, let me know which of these books you've read and what you thought about it. Also, feel free to tell me how Everyone Here Is Lying ended or recommend new reads for me.

ALSO READ: Top 5 Anticipated Book Series of 2023: Release Dates & More

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