Here are some of the notable thriller novelists and their acclaimed novels from the past 20 years:
Authors and Novels:
1. Gillian Flynn
• Gone Girl (2012): A psychological thriller that redefined the genre, known for its unreliable narrators and a shocking twist. It explores a dysfunctional marriage and a missing wife.
• Sharp Objects (2006): Flynn’s debut novel follows a journalist who returns to her hometown to cover a murder, uncovering dark family secrets.
2. Lee Child
• Never Go Back (2013): Part of the “Jack Reacher” series, featuring the iconic drifter and former military policeman, combining suspense and action.
• 61 Hours (2010): Another entry in the series that showcases Reacher’s investigative skills and resourcefulness.
3. Paula Hawkins
• The Girl on the Train (2015): A psychological thriller about a woman who becomes involved in a missing persons case after witnessing something suspicious from a train. Its complex characters and shifting perspectives keep readers on edge.
4. Stieg Larsson
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005): The first book in the “Millennium” trilogy, featuring journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander. The novel blends a murder mystery with social critique.
• The Girl Who Played with Fire (2006): Continues the story of Lisbeth Salander as she faces new threats and unravels conspiracies.
5. Robert Harris
• The Ghost (2007): A political thriller that follows a ghostwriter hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, uncovering dangerous secrets.
• An Officer and a Spy (2013): Based on the Dreyfus Affair, it combines historical fiction with thriller elements to explore espionage, scandal, and justice.
6. Harlan Coben
• The Stranger (2015): A gripping tale about a mysterious stranger who reveals secrets, leading to a web of deception and murder.
• Tell No One (2001): Though slightly older than 20 years, this novel remains popular for its story about a doctor whose wife reappears years after her supposed death.
7. David Baldacci
• Memory Man (2015): The first novel in the “Amos Decker” series, featuring a detective with a perfect memory, investigating a complex and dangerous case.
• The Innocent (2012): Introduces Will Robie, a skilled assassin, who finds himself targeted by his own government.
8. Tana French
• In the Woods (2007): A psychological crime thriller that begins the “Dublin Murder Squad” series, focusing on two detectives investigating a child’s murder with eerie similarities to a case from the detective’s past.
• The Likeness (2008): The second book in the series, which delves into undercover work and the complexities of identity.
9. Dan Brown
• The Da Vinci Code (2003): Though published just over 20 years ago, it deserves mention as a pivotal work in the thriller genre. The story involves symbologist Robert Langdon uncovering historical and religious secrets.
• Inferno (2013): Another entry in the Langdon series, combining art, history, and a deadly plot to control the world’s population.
10. Don Winslow
• The Power of the Dog (2005): A gripping tale about the U.S. war on drugs, filled with intrigue, violence, and moral ambiguity.
• The Force (2017): A gritty thriller about a corrupt NYPD officer navigating the dangers of law enforcement, crime, and personal survival.
11. Ruth Ware
• The Woman in Cabin 10 (2016): A psychological thriller set aboard a luxury cruise ship, where a journalist witnesses what she believes to be a murder, but no one else can confirm it.
• In a Dark, Dark Wood (2015): Follows a hen party in a remote forest, which takes a dark turn as secrets and past grievances resurface.
12. Megan Abbott
• Dare Me (2012): A psychological thriller set in the world of high school cheerleading, exploring the dark side of competition and friendship.
• You Will Know Me (2016): Centers on a family involved in the competitive world of gymnastics, where ambition leads to tragedy.
13. Adrian McKinty
• The Chain (2019): A high-concept thriller in which a woman must kidnap someone else’s child to free her own, creating a chain of victims.
• Rain Dogs (2016): Part of the “Sean Duffy” series, combining elements of crime and political intrigue in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
14. Sophie Hannah
• The Monogram Murders (2014): A continuation of Agatha Christie’s legacy, featuring Hercule Poirot in a new mystery with twists and turns true to Christie’s style.
• Little Face (2006): Her debut thriller, dealing with psychological suspense and domestic secrets.
These authors and novels have defined the thriller genre over the past two decades, offering a mix of psychological suspense, action, and crime, with gripping narratives that keep readers engaged.
