The Suspense Has Killed Me… (repeatedly)
By: Kaylah Keys
There is nothing better than a good read to get your blood pumpin’, your heart racin’, and your mind blogglin’! Lucky for YOU, as a self-proclaimed thriller guru, I have a few recommendations for you. Open your favorite book tracking app and get to addin’!
Psychologically Thrilling
Starting off with one of my favorite thriller author’s works, One In Four by Lucinda Berry. One In Four is her newest thriller in a string of dark, realistic, psychological thrillers. As an openly queer author, she also has great representation in her work! Specifically, One In Four follows Dr. Laurel Harlow, who works as a chemical dependency counselor on the set of a reality TV show for troubled child stars. When one of her patients turns up dead, Dr. Harlow is on the HUNT to find her killer.
Lucinda Berry is the QUEEN of dark, contemporary, psychological thrillers that will leave your jaw on the floor and your brain at the door! Her work as a psychologist and a childhood trauma researcher give her books a realistic look at the depths and darkness of the human mind. Be prepared to question EVERYTHING you know about people after diving into her works. In my opinion, that’s the fun part... *evil laugh*
Criminally Thrilling
Crime thrillers are a new-to-me sub-genre. I couldn’t write this article without including S.A. Cosby. His crime thrillers are my favorite books right now. A recent read that is now an all-time fave, Razorblade Tears, is a story following two fathers, Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee Jenkins. These men have a rough past, having each been in the prison system, and had tumultuous relationships with their sons. Their sons married each other and neither got the acceptance they wanted from their dads. When their sons get murdered together in a targeted hate crime, the two team up to avenge their sons deaths, learning lessons of acceptance, friendship, and what it means to love unconditionally along the way.
Cosby writes so cinematically and immersively that it makes his books IMPOSSIBLE to put down. I have to eat popcorn when I read his books because they read like a movie. Speaking of popcorn and movies, a couple of his books have also been optioned for film so it’s time to hop on the train NOWWW!!
Twistingly Thrilling
This article wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t talk about a book with one of my favorite plot twists EVER (which also happens to be a Netflix series). Last but certainly not least, Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough is a must read for those who love a true psych thriller with a big twist. When I tell you my jaw was on the floor, I MEAN THAT.
Louise is a single mother who works as a secretary. In an effort to get out of the rut she’s stuck in, she goes on a night out of the town and hooks up with a VERY fine man. When she goes back to work, she finds out that not only is the man from the bar her new boss, but he is also married... (can you say MESSY??) Her boss, David, and Louise cannot get each other off their minds. When Louise accidentally bumps into David’s wife, Adele, while running errands, and befriends her, things hit literally every fan. After you read this one and recover, check out the Netflix show!!! You will NOT regret it. The Netflix show has a great cast of characters and stays true to the original source material while making the show its own. NO NOTES!
The thriller genre is incredibly multi-faceted and has something for everyone! Make sure you add these to your list/TBR if you haven’t read them yet. May the spooks and kooks fulfill all your heart’s desires! Thank you to Readin’ Magazine for giving me the opportunity to write for you. I had a BLAST!!!! Thank YOU for reading! Happy Thriller Readin’! If you’re reading at night, keep the lights on :)