Top list: Suspense

“I don’t just want to hear her laugh, I need to earn it. Every time I gain a little ground, I want more. I want to break out of the shade and back into her light. Without even realizing it, I’ve become addicted to it. To her.”

From the author of the genre-breaking international TikTok sensation Butcher & Blackbird comes the second book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy—a hate-to-love dark romantic comedy packed with danger, chaos, and heat.

Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.

And they can’t stand each other.

Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.

As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them.

There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep.

And this one has come for blood.

Tropes:

Hate-to-love

Marriage of convenience

Grumpy / sunshine

He falls first

Groveling, but make it psycho

Touch her/him and die

‘Deadly conspiracies, bone-crunching action and a tormented hero with a heart . . . packs a real punch’ Andy McDermott

THE HUNT IS ON

When a sniper leaves Ben Hope’s friend fighting for his life, the former SAS major declares war on the men responsible. But what begins as a straightforward revenge mission gets complicated when a mysterious letter reveals Ben to be the real target.

And his isn’t the only name on a crazed killer’s list.

Professor Anna Manzini has no idea she’s in grave danger from a man she’d thought dead. She’s on the cusp of a major discovery: the location of the lost Babylon idol, a golden statue of immeasurable value.

But when word of Anna’s work reaches her enemies, it sets off a cat-and-mouse chase that will lead Ben and Anna halfway across Europe and into the heart of war-torn Syria.

To reach the precious idol first, Ben must keep one step ahead of a powerful maniac. If he fails, it won’t just be Ben and Anna’s lives in danger, but the world.

The Ben Hope series is a must-read for fans of Dan Brown, Lee Child and Mark Dawson. Join the millions of readers who get breathless with anticipation when the countdown to a new Ben Hope thriller begins…

Whilst the Ben Hope thrillers can be read in any order, this is the fifteenth book in the series.

FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn't realize she's heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she's made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle occurs: she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.

But something isn't right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn't what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself?and her unborn child.

A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.

From New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a thrilling mafia romance with Mulan vibes.

In our brutal world, there’s no such thing as the truth.

Lies overflow until they become a reality.

But I’m determined to uncover what happened to my family.

One problem, though.

My monster, Kirill.

We are not the same anymore.

It’s become hard to trust one another.

But it’s downright impossible to stay away from each other.

It’s mad, chaotic, and wrong, but it’s us.

And we might have to pay for it with blood.

This audiobook is part of a trilogy and can't be listened to on its own.

©2023 Rina Kent (P)2023 Rina Kent

After a horrifying event leaves Daniela Bishop awake one morning with no memory of her life, her husband, brooding bodyguard Bishop, is her best chance to piece her broken memories back together again. Belief in Bishop is a risk...especially when Dani knows nothing about the dark-haired Adonis in her bed. Gorgeous, dangerous, and untouchable, the man she lives with may be her only hero in a world where nothing is recognizable, a fact which terrifies and thrills Dani. Trusting the mysterious man she’s married to might be the biggest gamble of her young, sheltered life. But when danger draws near, when the sins of her forgotten past reemerge, Dani must realize that betting on Bishop (and her growing attraction to him) might not just be her best chance…it may be her last.

She's come here to die.

When Lois Grover moves into the Beacon of Hope Assisted Living Center, she fears boredom will consume her, but a fellow resident soon invites her to a secret meeting of the Twilight Society. This quirky group of elderly residents, with a variety of skills, talents, and expertise, helps lost souls, tethered to the world of the living, by solving the mysteries keeping them from moving on. The center itself—a historic colonial mansion that has functioned as a hospital, a school, and a sanitarium—possesses mysteries of its own that both help and hinder the society's investigations. As Lois joins them on their latest case—a decades-old unsolved murder—she realizes that her new purpose may be more meaningful than she ever imagined.

Jerry Pardoe and Jamila Patel hunt down a ritualistic cult inspired by Neolithic cannibals in the new chilling horror from Graham Masterton.

Det. Sgt. Jamila Patel and Det. Con. Jerry Pardoe have reluctantly acquired a reputation in the Metropolitan Police for their ability to tackle bizarre and apparently supernatural crimes. Now they have been called back together after three bodies are found in a London basement... bodies which have been taken apart, roasted and eaten.

The markings on the wall suggest this might have been done by some kind of religious cult – and as more people are kidnapped and cannibalised, Patel and Pardoe realise they are dealing with a group of devil-worshippers invoking an ancient god who has not been worshipped since the Neolithic age...

Grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that altered her life, ex-police officer and bestselling mystery author Erin Delaney finds solace in the tranquility of a cabin nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains. But her newfound peace is shattered when cries pierce the night, hinting at a haunting presence lurking in the woods. When local police chief Adrian Nightengale seeks her help with a baffling murder case, she is thrust back into the world of crime solving. As they delve into the investigation, Erin's intuition reveals chilling truths about the killer's motives and methods.

Joined by the enigmatic Kaely Quinn-Hunter, a former FBI behavioral analyst, Erin not only embarks on a quest to stop a merciless serial killer but also confronts the ghosts of her past. In a race against time, Erin must defeat her own demons while outmaneuvering a cunning killer or risk becoming the next victim in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

In this propulsive series starter, bestselling author Nancy Mehl steals listeners away to the perilous Tennessee town of Sanctuary, setting the stage for an action-packed mystery that will keep them on the edge of their seats.

I finally have everything I’ve ever wanted: a career saving lives, my dream home among the pines, and my caring fiancé, Elton. He doesn’t know about my past. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…

I’m so excited for my life with Elton—we’ve even discussed which room would make the perfect nursery. And we’re working together in our new jobs in the ICU at Portland General hospital.

But when I walk in on my first day, I see my ex-husband Jameson. His familiar broad shoulders are unmistakable in his white doctor’s coat. The shock knocks the air from my lungs.

I’m thrown back to the moment Jameson and I gathered around that hospital bed as the steady beeping on the monitor slowed.

We did something unforgivable that day.

And for the first time, I saw who Jameson truly was.

The truth scared me more than I can explain.

So I ran.

If Jameson tells Elton what I did, I’ll lose everything. Will he destroy my new, perfect life? Is he still a danger to the innocent patients all around us? And how far will I have to go to stop him?

The Good Doctor is a totally twisty, rollercoaster ride of a psychological thriller that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Fans of Freida McFadden, My Lovely Wife and The Couple Next Door will love it!

Readers love Jessica Payne:

“OMG!!! What an absolutely EXPLOSIVE, non-stop, action-packed, suspense-rammed thriller!!! I just could not put it down!!!… One of the best books I have ever read… Do not even think about picking this up until you have cleared your schedules as you will NOT be able to put it down!!! Absolutely amazing.” Bookworm86, ?????

“WOW I am absolutely blown away… Fantastically twisty!… had my jaw on the floor… an extremely tense ride. Jessica Payne is a force to be reckoned with!” @the.grim.readers, ?????

“5 WELL DESERVED STARS! I was mad at life getting in the way preventing me from finishing this in one day!… Perfect, thrilling, heart-stopping… Once you start the first chapter you will not be able to stop!” @cabingirlreads, ?????

“What a blast this book is!… I couldn’t put it down. I read way into the night because I could. not. stop. I am exhausted today and don’t care. Totes worth it!!” NetGalley reviewer, ?????

“What. Just. Happened?!??… Shockers along the way that make you yell ‘WHAT?’… My jaw did not stop dropping… A new fave author for me!” @caffeinereadrepeat, ?????

“THIS is the thriller we've all been waiting for… I honestly could not put this book down and read it well into the night. I had to know what happened next!… A pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat thriller.” A Couple of B’s, ?????

“Woah!… A total bombshell! This is a binge-worthy, unputdownable, grab you by the throat and hold on tight kinda story. Just outstanding. I was sucked in from that very first page.” @rubie_reads, ?????

“Stayed up WAY TOO LATE reading last night… The amount of twists and turns this book held was unreal. Every time I thought I had it figured out another twist came flying at me!” @thrillbythepage, ?????

A series of threatening letters, a forgotten figure from the past, and a killer out to settle scores…

England 1928. Mystery writer Marius Quin receives alarming news from his sleuthing partner Lady Bella Montague that their childhood friends are in danger. Back in their charming village of Hurtwood, the three Heaton cousins have all been sent identical death threats. When the local constable refuses to help, it’s up to Marius and Bella to stop the would-be killer. But they arrive too late, and Marius finds his former best friend dead in his kitchen with a knife through the heart…

Who in this tightly knit community wants to eliminate the Heaton family? Between shady business practices, fierce competition over the village’s best garden award, and the tragic tale of a soldier who never returned from the war, it’s more a case of who doesn’t? With the clock ticking, can Bella and Marius figure out the mystery before the two remaining cousins meet their fate?

A captivating and warm-hearted 1920s cozy mystery to delight fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss!

Readers love the Marius Quin mysteries:

‘My first book by this author but I absolutely loved it! Adored the period setting and how the 1920s were brought so vividly to life. This was a twisty-turny mystery that kept me guessing to the end… A cross between Agatha Christie and PG Wodehouse, this is an engaging, witty story that made me laugh and kept me hooked.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Absolutely fabulous… While I hate to use the cliche of unputdownable, it really was. More of this crime fighting duo please.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Jam-packed with lively wit, quirky characters, red herrings and cleverness. I felt an instant connection and was riveted to each page, even giggling out loud at times. Spellbinding books such as this are pure joy!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A lovely cosy whodunit set in 1920s England… Lots of twists and turns and beautiful character development. A very cosy read!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Charming, witty, and fast-paced.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Readers love Benedict Brown:

‘Deserves 10 stars!… Not since Agatha Christie’s Bertram’s Hotel have I felt I was right there watching from the sidelines.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I couldn’t put this book down, and I didn’t even come close to guessing “whodunit”! I wish it hadn’t ended so soon.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘WOW Benedict Brown has done it once again… the ending was completely astounding, the perfect climactic twist.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘One of the best Christmas murder mysteries I’ve ever read.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Kept me totally hooked until the last page… lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A fresh, fun, atmospheric, joy ride… Stoke up the fire, get your hot toddy, and get cozy with this treat!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Deserves more than 5 stars. I really loved this book.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘What a great read this was!… Murder, mayhem, evildoers doing evil deeds, a clever twist that I never saw coming.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#1 New York Times Bestseller * A New York Times Notable Book * An NPR Best Book of the Year

Holly Gibney, one of Stephen King’s most compelling and resourceful characters, returns in this chilling “exploration of grief and delusion, just pure undistilled evil” (New York magazine) as she uncovers the truth behind multiple disappearances in a midwestern town.

When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency, hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly Gibney is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just passed away. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny’s desperate voice makes it impossible to turn her down.

Meanwhile, mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong academics. But they are also harboring a shocking, unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one that may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are up to…for they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless. Now Holly must summon all of her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver these unimaginably depraved and brilliantly disguised adversaries in this chilling and unforgettable masterwork from Stephen King.

North, South… and no Star.

Chicago falls into Dante’s hands.

His six-year dream becomes a reality.

But it means nothing without Layla by his side.

The war has ended… peace failed to follow.

Tormented by recent events, Dante struggles to choose a path. Betrayal cuts deep, no matter the circumstances, hatred keeps his mind busy but it’s no match for the heart. Going up against love is futile.

Stuck in limbo, ruled by fear and memories, Layla hides from the wrath she knows is coming. Regret is the last thing on her mind. If she could, she’d do it all over again. Hope is all she has left. Hope, that Dante will leave her alone… or find it in him to forgive her.

But hope is the mother of all fools.

Ghosts of the past come back to haunt them both. Reality shatters their dreams when a new threat emerges. A race against time, death, and vengeance.

There’s only one rule… there are no rules.

The New York Times bestselling Mitch Rapp series returns with this “fast-paced spy thriller” (People) following the country’s best assassin as he finds himself in the crossfire of America’s deadliest enemies.

Returning from a covert mission, Mitch Rapp was publicly hailed by the president for his role in the fight against terrorism. After years of working in the shadows, Rapp was caught in the media spotlight—and marked for death by virtually every terrorist in the world. Now a CIA advisor, Rapp is ready to battle terror far from the front lines.

When a Navy SEAL team in the Philippines is ambushed, all evidence points to a leak within the US State Department. And a greater threat lurks—a ruthless assassin working for the most powerful men in the Middle East, who are bent on igniting a world war. With the world watching, Rapp must hold back the flames of Armageddon.

‘Wonderful storytelling, with a superbly drawn killer, it underlines exactly how good Carter has become’ DAILY MAIL

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

A serial killer who will stop at nothing…

The Killer

His most valuable possession has been stolen.

Now he must retrieve it, at any cost.

The Girl

Angela Wood wanted to teach the man a lesson. It was a bag, just like any other.

But when she opens it, the worst nightmare of her life begins.

The Detective

A journal ends up on Robert Hunter’s desk. It soon becomes clear that there is a serial killer on the loose.

And if Hunter can’t stop him in time, more people will die.

Starting with Angela.

If you have read it

You must die

PRAISE FOR CHRIS CARTER

‘An exceptional thriller writer who fully deserves to be ranked alongside Jeffery Deaver’ Daily Mail

‘Former criminal psychologist Carter knows what he’s talking about when it comes to creating bone-chilling serial killers, so be prepared for a terror ride’ Heat

‘Carter has a background in criminal psychology and the killers at the centre of his novels are all the more terrifying for it’ Mail on Sunday

‘Carter is one of those authors who makes writing look effortless . . . I couldn't put it down’ Crimesquad

‘An insanely good crime series. Extraordinarily well written, high quality and high drama all the way’ Liz Loves Books

‘An intriguing and scary thriller’ Better Reading

‘A gripping feast of thrills’ Shots

‘A page turner’ Express

‘A gripping psychological thriller’ Breakaway

‘Punchy and fast paced’ Sunday Mirror

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs’s twenty-second high-stakes thriller! In this “attention-grabbing” (Booklist) narrative, forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan follows a series of bizarre disappearances on the islands of Turks and Caicos and enters a sinister labyrinth in which a new technology may wreak worldwide havoc.

Called in to examine what is left of a person thought to have been struck by lightning, Tempe traces an unusual tattoo to its source and is soon embroiled in something much larger. Young men—tourists—have been disappearing on the islands of Turks and Caicos. Seven years earlier, the first victim was found in a strange location with his left hand hacked off; subsequently, two other visitors vanished without a trace. But recently, tantalizing leads have emerged…

Maddeningly, the victims seem to have nothing in common—other than the odd places where their bodies turn up, and the fact that none seems likely to have been involved in criminal activity. Do these attacks have something to do with the islands’ culture of gang violence? Tempe isn’t so sure—but she soon discovers evidence that what’s at stake may have global significance, and the sound of a ticking clock grows menacingly loud. Then Tempe herself becomes a target…

Return to the world of the Farseers…

Robin Hobb’s best loved characters, Fitz , The Fool and Nighteyes the wolf, face new adventures and trials in the first book of The Tawny Man trilogy.

When Assassin’s Quest closed, Fitz was living in self-imposed exile. Wracked with pain, he had chosen to discard the magical gifts that had seen him survive the wonders and torments of navigating the legendary city of the Elderlings, and of raising a dragon.

Now, in this the first of a new trilogy, we are returned to the world of the Six Duchies and the lives of those who managed to survive the events of the first Assassin trilogy.

Fifteen years have passed and events are about to sweep Fitz out of his quiet backwater life and into the main political current again. Persecution of the Witted has become rampant throughout the Six Duchies despite Queen Kettricken’s effort to damp it. The Witted themselves have begun to strike back. So when 15 year old Prince Dutiful disappears, is it only because he is nervous about his betrothal ceremony to an Outislander princess, or has he been taken hostage by the Witted? Worse, is he perhaps another ‘Piebald Prince’, a Farseer tainted by Wit magic? As the desperate situation worsens, Kettricken has no choice but to summon Fitz to Buckkeep, for who better to track the young prince down than another gifted with the Wit, together with his bonded companion, the wolf Nighteyes?

In this debut thriller perfect for fans of Bunny and Yellowface, a young woman steps into her deceased twin’s influencer life, only to discover dark secrets hidden behind her social media façade.

Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin sister has everything. Except a pulse.

Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated (Finding My Long-Lost Twin And Buying Her A House #EMOTIONAL). When Julie discovers Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live the life she’s always envied.

Transforming into Chloe is easier than expected. Julie effortlessly adopts Chloe’s luxurious influencer life, complete with designer clothes, a meticulous skincare routine, and millions of adoring followers. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but.

Haunted by Chloe’s untimely death and struggling to fit into the privileged influencer circle, Julie faces mounting challenges during a weeklong island retreat with Chloe’s exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise and realizes she might be the next target.

The basis for the blockbuster motion picture directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Shutter Island by New York Times bestselling author Dennis Lehane is a gripping and atmospheric psychological thriller where nothing is quite what it seems. The New York Times calls Shutter Island, “Startlingly original.” The Washington Post raves, “Brilliantly conceived and executed.” A masterwork of suspense and surprise from the author of Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone, Shutter Island carries the reader into a nightmare world of madness, mind control, and CIA Cold War paranoia and is unlike anything you’ve ever read before.

In this “skillfully penned tale of murder and cover-up that will keep readers enthralled until the powerful finish” (Fresh Fiction), family secrets and a serial killer from the past converge in this electrifying thriller.

In 1985, Edward Shank famously gunned down the Beacon Hill Butcher, ending the serial killer’s reign of terror over the city of Seattle. But now in his eighties, Edward’s action-packed glory days are long behind him. The decorated former Seattle police chief has given up his high-maintenance Victorian home to his grandson Matt for a quiet life at the nearby Sweetbay Village Retirement Residence, where mac-n-cheese Wednesdays have become the highlight of his week.

Though it’s hard to watch his grandfather get older, Matt is thrilled to inherit the large house he grew up in. Already an accomplished chef with a popular restaurant and a TV show in the works, Matt’s dream life is finally within reach…until he discovers a crate buried in the backyard that holds a secret about his grandfather so terrible, it threatens to ruin all their lives if it ever gets out. Especially his girlfriend Sam’s, whose mother was killed when she was only two years old.

As Matt struggles with his dark family secret, Sam’s obsession with solving her mother’s murder continues to grow. A true crime writer now working on a book about the Butcher, Sam has always suspected her mother was one of his victims, even though she was killed two years after the Butcher was supposedly gunned down.

But when new victims begin to turn up, their murders eerily similar to the Butcher’s all those years ago, Sam realizes she might be right. The more she digs into the old murders, the more dangerous it gets…and the truth is closer to home than she ever could have imagined.

“A tense, suspenseful, thoroughly creepy thriller” (Booklist), The Butcher sinks its teeth in you from the very first page.

“Part (possible) murder mystery, part deep dive into out-of-control social media addiction, and part sleight-of-hand trick by the author...terrific.” —The New York Times

The author of The Family Plot brings her signature “taut, emotionally charged, and propulsive” (Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author) prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.

She has his wife’s heart; the one she wants is his.

Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.

A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.

As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?