best thriller novels to read

'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown is a must - read thriller. It takes you on a wild adventure filled with puzzles, religious mysteries, and a race against time. The plot moves at a fast pace as the main characters try to solve the mystery behind the Da Vinci paintings and their possible connection to a powerful secret.

I also highly recommend 'Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It features the iconic character Hannibal Lecter. The cat - and - mouse game between FBI agent Clarice Starling and Lecter is thrilling. The psychological aspects of the story add an extra layer of depth, and the overall atmosphere of the book is both creepy and captivating.

Another option for beginners could be 'Another' by Yukito Ayatsuji. The high - school setting might be familiar to many, and the supernatural elements mixed with the thriller aspect are not overly complicated. It builds up the suspense gradually, which is great for those new to Japanese thriller novels.

A great steamy thriller is 'Sin' by Ted Dekker. The story is set in a world full of secrets and danger. The relationships between the characters are charged with passion and the mystery element keeps you guessing throughout. There are many unexpected turns that add to the overall excitement of the story.

One must - read is 'Kaalam'. It's a brilliant crime thriller that takes you through a journey of mystery and suspense. The plot is well - crafted and the characters are believable. Another is 'Undaunted: Save the Pearls Bhagavad - Gita'. It's full of action and crime - related elements that will keep you hooked. And 'Vazhakku Enn 18/9' is also great. It shows real - life crime scenarios in a very impactful way.

One of the best horror thriller novels is 'The Shining' by Stephen King. It's set in an isolated hotel with a family as caretakers during the off - season. The slow build - up of supernatural events and the psychological decline of the main character, Jack, is truly terrifying. Another great one is 'Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris. It combines the horror of a serial killer with the psychological cat - and - mouse game between FBI agent Clarice Starling and the brilliant but deranged Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

Tom Clancy's 'The Hunt for Red October' is a classic political thriller. It's set during the Cold War and focuses on the race between the United States and the Soviet Union to gain control of a technologically advanced Soviet submarine. The book is known for its detailed descriptions of military technology and political tension between the two superpowers.

Project Gutenberg is excellent. It has a vast collection of classic literature, and there are some classic thriller - like works there. Another is ManyBooks.net. It categorizes books well, making it easy to find thrillers. And Free - eBooks.net also has a decent selection of free thriller novels.

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.