Thriller Books to Read - Fall 2024

There’s nothing quite like getting cozy with a blanket and a gripping mystery thriller on the couch during a crisp fall evening. Lucky for you, this is one of my favorite genres. 

If you are debating what to read this fall, look no further! 

I’ve put together a list of some of the best mystery thrillers to dive into, perfect for the season. Whether you’re into psychological twists, dark secrets, or chilling suspense, there’s something here for everyone. 

Let’s take a deep dive into each novel so you can get a sense of what they’re all about and pick your ideal fall read. 

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides 

The same author who wrote the best selling novel, The Silent Patient, this psychological 

thriller dives into the dark underbelly of Cambridge University. Mariana, a group therapist, becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth when one of her niece’s friends is murdered. The plot thickens with secret societies, ancient rituals, and a mysterious professor with too much to hide. If you love intricate plots with slow-building tension, this one will keep you guessing until the last page, literally. 

On Goodreads, this was a 5 star book for me! 

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

This book will have you hooked from the second you start reading until the very last 

word. It’s an eerie tale where several women go missing in a small town, sending shockwaves through the community. When one of the missing girls reappears years later, the search for answers intensifies. As secrets unravel, you’ll be captivated by the way the author intertwines the lives of the characters. It’s so good! It will make you question who you can really trust and how far people will go to protect their secrets. 

On Goodreads, I also gave this 5 stars, and I wrote “So so so good! Hooked from the very beginning.” 

The Housemaid Series by Freida McFadden

This series starts with book 1, The Housemaid, where Millie takes on a housekeeping

job at a seemingly perfect home, only to realize nothing is as it seems. As she gets closer to the family’s dark secrets, her own past starts creeping up on her. Book 2, The Housemaid’s Secret, continues the suspense with even more twists and turns, and a whole new house and family. Book 3, The Housemaid Is Watching, Millie now has a house of her own, with a maid of her own, and neighbors with their own quirks and dark secrets. Things turn upside down in this seemingly perfect neighborhood, and Millie is left questioning if she made a terrible mistake moving there. McFadden’s ability to weave suspenseful narratives will keep you hooked from the start of book 1 to the end of book 3. 

On Goodreads, I gave The Housemaid 5 stars, The Housemaid’s Secret 3 stars, and The Housemaid Is Watching 4 Stars. 

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Disclaimer: this is extremely dark and honestly, I was only able to read it in daylight. 

It’s a darker, more intense thriller. Slaughter expertly explores themes of grief, trauma, and revenge as two sisters come together after years of estrangement to investigate their sister’s disappearance. In the process of trying to discover what happened to their sister, they are met with many obstacles, realizations, dark secrets, and scary truths about individuals around them. This novel doesn’t shy away from brutal and graphic scenes, but it’s packed with emotional depth and shocking twists that make it hard to put down.

On Goodreads, I gave this 3 stars because the writing was so well done and the plot was unpredictable, however, it was a bit too dark for me to enjoy it more. 

The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda

Megan Miranda is such a great writer, if you have not read anything by her yet.

The novel is set in a small, eerie town surrounded by the wilderness. It follows the mystery of disappearing tourists. When a journalist arrives to investigate, long-buried secrets begin to surface, and tensions rise. Miranda’s atmospheric writing and slow-burn suspense make this a perfect pick for a quiet, chilly evening in the fall. 

On Goodreads, I gave this novel 3 stars, which I would have given 3.75 if it was an option. I wrote “ It was slow to start but the ending was really good…so much suspense.”

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Unlike most, I didn’t love her novel The Guest List, but I rather enjoyed this one. She’s 

known for her locked-room mysteries, and this is another hit. When Jess arrives in Paris to stay with her brother, she finds that he’s gone missing. As she meets the eccentric and suspicious residents of his apartment building, she starts to uncover a web of lies and hidden motives. The twists come fast in this one, making it an ideal read for fans of fast-paced mysteries with a glamorous setting. 

On Goodreads, I gave this a 3 star rating because I felt that there were some dead spots throughout, but stick through them because it gets good…really good! 

With these thrilling reads, your fall nights are bound to be full of suspense, mystery, and a whole lot of entertainment. Happy Reading!