Thrillers, a genre I wouldn’t normally read. For years, my Mum and my Grandma have been pestering me to get into the gruesome murders of Peter May and Nicci French. But for someone who is more used to the likes of Sophie Kinsella, I need something inbetween.
A thriller without too much thrill. This isn’t to say these books are boring or dull; these books simply focus more on people and family than murder and violence.
So here are my top 5 thrillers to get you started on a new genre…
I’ve tried to keep this as spoiler free as possible but bear in mind *possible spoilers ahead*
“I couldn’t believe that my body would carry this thing to term. I couldn’t believe that in the middle of all the chaos and suffering, something could thrive and grow”
Alice is heavily pregnant and her and partner, Pete, have just moved to a new home. But it isn’t only Alice’s internal environment that is changing, a skin sealing disease is rapidly spreading over Australia and Alice is seeing it everyone.
The sci-fi thriller speaks volumes about environmental degradation as well as focusing in on the pressure surrounding becoming a new mother in treacherous times, very apt for our current climate.
Booth’s use of metaphor and internal monologue throughout the novel really pulls the reader into Alice’s head and we journey with her through her pregnancy and self-doubt. I don’t want to give too much away as this is a super unique book; so I will leave you with 3 words – The Birth Scene.
Let me know how you get on with this one if you give it a go.
2) The Couple Next Door - Shari Lapena
“Anne feels her scream inside her own head and reverberating off the walls – her scream is everywhere … They both stare at the empty crib where their baby should be”
Anne and Marco Conti are just next door when their 6-month old baby daughter, Cora, is taken from her cot.
How could this have happened? Marco checked on the sleeping tot at 12:30; only half-an-hour later and the tiny baby is gone. But then a car with no headlights is spotted driving away from the Conti’s garage at 12:35 and suspicions begin to arise. Was the baby kidnapped or is the baby’s disappearance linked to a darker plot involving the parents?
The 3rd person perspective of Lapena’s novel allows the reader to explore all possibilities for the disappearance of baby Cora. Motives and opportunity surround the couple and as the press begin to hammer at the door, the truth starts to leak out of the couple’s New York townhouse. It’s a rollercoaster of twists and turns as Lapena reveals everything from Anne’s mental health issues, Marco’s financial difficulties and Cora’s Grandparent’s extreme wealth. But whoever was involved doesn’t have Cora now and Detective Rasbach is determined to find out why.
This novel kept me up at night; after all, no-one likes a missing baby. Add this book to your TBR list for sure.
3) The Hypnotist's Love Story - Liane Moriarty
“For a moment Ellen couldn’t quite understand what he meant. It was as if English had become her second language and she had to translate the words. ‘I have a stalker’”
Liane Moriarty is an artist. I absolutely adore her books and The Hypnotist’s Love Story is no different.
The novel tells the story of Ellen, a hypnotist, who is dating young widower Patrick. Patrick is kind, smart, has an adorable young son and … a stalker.
Saskia is Patrick’s ex-girlfriend and has been stalking him since they split – she’ll follow him down the freeway, be on the next table at a restaurant or even get on flights to join Patrick and Ellen on their romantic getaway (not that they know that).
Moriarty creates such rich characters, her beautiful writing gives us an insight into her characters souls and, as a reader, we can really connect with Ellen and her emotions. The mixture of fascination and fear Ellen expresses surrounding Patrick’s stalker highlights exactly how the reader feels about Saskia, creating a bond between Ellen and us.
Similarly, Moriarty gives us insight into Saskia by hiding her own story amongst Ellen’s narrative - much like Saskia herself hides herself in Ellen’s life. Often there is no introduction to the change of voice, it is simply the darker, more sarcastic tone that makes us realise we are now hearing from Saskia. We even grow to like Saskia with her dark humour and lack of boundaries; and as the novel continues we start to understand her and her actions.
I could rave about this and many Liane Moriarty books for days, another to add to your list.
4) My Sister, The Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite
“Ayoola summons me with these words – Korede, I killed him”
Korede is a nurse at St. Peter’s Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Her job is to preserve life but this is the 3rd time sister, Ayoola, has called her to the scene of death to help clear up. Ayoola is beautiful, glamourous and has no trouble attracting a man – she also has no trouble getting rid of one. Ayoola is a serial killer; one that has never and probably will never be caught. And that’s all thanks to Korede who, armed with bleach and buckets, is always there to clean up the mess.
But then Ayoola starts dating Dr. Tade Otumu, Korede’s work colleague and long-time crush and Korede becomes more involved in Ayoola’s relationship than ever before – trying her hardest to keep Ayoola happy and Tade safe.
The novel explores life in Nigeria and highlights the importance of family and protecting those you love. Braithwaite’s novel is an easy read and the ending leaves you guessing what will happen next for the sisters.
5) Sealed - Naomi Booth
“I couldn’t believe that my body would carry this thing to term. I couldn’t believe that in the middle of all the chaos and suffering, something could thrive and grow”
Alice is heavily pregnant and her and partner, Pete, have just moved to a new home. But it isn’t only Alice’s internal environment that is changing, a skin sealing disease is rapidly spreading over Australia and the globe and Alice is seeing it everywhere.
The sci-fi thriller speaks volumes about environmental degradation as well as focusing in on the pressure surrounding becoming a new mother in treacherous times; very apt for our current climate.
Booth’s use of metaphor and internal monologue throughout the novel really pulls the reader into Alice’s head and we journey with her through her pregnancy and self-doubt. I don’t want to give too much away as this is a super unique book; so I'm going to keep this one short and leave you with 3 words – The Birth Scene.
Let me know how you get on with this one if you give it a go.
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