best british thriller novels

One of the best is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. Although the author is Swedish, the Millennium series which this book is part of has been highly popular in the British market as well. It has a complex plot filled with mystery, murder, and a strong female lead.

One characteristic is the complex characters. In British psychological thrillers, characters often have hidden motives and secrets. For example, in 'Gone Girl', both the main characters are not what they seem at first. Another is the use of atmosphere. British settings like old mansions or foggy streets can create a sense of unease, as seen in 'The Woman in Black'. Also, the exploration of the human mind is key. These novels often dig into topics like madness, memory, and identity, like in 'Before I Go to Sleep' where the main character's struggle with memory loss is central to the plot.

Another good one is 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill. It has a spooky and mysterious atmosphere. A young solicitor travels to a remote village to attend the funeral of a client and there he encounters the terrifying figure of the woman in black. It's not overly complex but still very thrilling.

One of the best is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It has a complex plot full of twists and turns that keep you guessing about the characters' true natures. Another great one is 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins. The unreliable narrator adds to the psychological tension as the story unfolds. Also, 'Before I Go to Sleep' by S.J. Watson is quite good. It plays with the idea of memory loss and identity in a thrilling way.

One well - known classic British thriller novel is 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier. It has a great sense of mystery and a spooky atmosphere set in a large English estate. Another is 'The Thirty - Nine Steps' by John Buchan. It's full of adventure and intrigue as the protagonist tries to outwit the enemy. And 'The Woman in White' by Wilkie Collins is also a classic, with a complex plot full of secrets and betrayals.

One of the top British thriller novels is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It has a complex plot full of mystery and a strong female lead. Another great one is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. The twists and turns in this novel are truly mind - boggling. And 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris is also a classic, with its terrifying antagonist Hannibal Lecter.

Some of the 2018 best thriller novels include 'The Woman in the Window' by A.J. Finn. It's a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its unreliable narrator and a mystery that unfolds within the confines of a house.

One of the best 2017 thriller novels is 'The Dry' by Jane Harper. It's set in a drought - stricken Australian town and has a great mystery at its core. Another is 'Before the Fall' by Noah Hawley. The story of a plane crash and the subsequent investigation is full of twists and turns. And 'The Girl Before' by JP Delaney is also notable. It's about a woman who moves into a minimalist house with some very strange rules and a dark past.

Some of the best 2019 thriller novels include 'The Silent Patient' by Alex Michaelides. It's a gripping tale about a criminal psychologist trying to get a mute patient to talk about her crime. Another great one is 'The Institute' by Stephen King. It involves a mysterious institute and children with special powers. Also, 'The Chain' by Adrian McKinty is quite good. It has a unique and terrifying concept of a chain of kidnappings.

The 'Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown is a popular thriller that combines mystery and historical elements. 'The Bourne Identity' by Robert Ludlum is also great. It follows a man with amnesia trying to figure out his identity while being chased. And 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie, with its isolated setting and series of murders, is a masterful thriller.