The Most Surprising Thrillers Ever Written

Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is in large part responsible for the massive explosion of the domestic thriller subgenre and the growth of more authors, including shocking twists in their thrillers. It has also been more than a decade since the book’s release, and yet, it’s still one of the most comped books. Even after knowing the “twists,” Gone Girl still makes for an excellent reread—with hindsight, you can see how it all intricately came together.

Not only do the twists feel earned, but the pacing and tension are tight throughout as readers get to know Nick Dunne, a husband whose wife has disappeared and who looks guiltier and guiltier as the investigation ramps up.

If you’re a fan of adaptations, the film was directed by David Fincher and stars Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck.

Jackson made a name for herself with her debut and has since built an excellent catalog of crime novels that showcase her storytelling gift, featuring compelling characters and twisty, shocking reveals.

Mary went to jail as a child for killing a baby that her mother was babysitting. Now, she’s in a group home and trying to figure out what kind of life she can have as a reputed baby killer in a system not designed for rehabilitation. The thing is, Mary has never once told her story about what happened. But now that she finds herself pregnant and threatened, she might need to tell.

Bahni Turpin narrates the audiobook, so absolutely go with that format if you can.

This has a shocking surprise twist, of course, but Pinborough’s novel also has an element of WTF that adds to the fun of reading this psychological thriller about a single mom who discovers that her one-night stand is her new boss and that his wife wants to befriend her. In my first review of this book, I wrote, “You might want a reading partner for this one so you can share your guesses and discuss the ending,” which I feel is always a bonus to a book.

You can watch the six-episode series adaptation on Netflix, which stars Eve Hewson, Simona Brown, and Tom Bateman.

Jennifer Hillier made a name for herself writing dark, twisty thrillers. In Jar of Hearts, she not only delivers on the shocking twist department but also on the popular fictional serial killer trope.

As a wealthy 30-year-old executive, Geo Shaw should be living the high life. Instead, her high school best friend’s body has finally been found, so she’s going to prison. But with a string of new murders with messages left on their bodies, the question is, does Geo know more than she’s revealed?

Alex Michaelides’ debut novel won the 2019 Goodreads Favorite Mystery & Thriller, thanks to its shocking twist. In this psychological thriller, we meet criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber, who begins working at a hospital where Alicia Berenson resides. Alicia was a famous painter who shot her husband dead and has refused to speak since. Now Theo is determined to get the answers everyone wants.

Translated from Chinese, this action-packed police procedural thriller is filled with twists sure to keep readers on their toes.

The book centers on a tense cat-and-mouse game between a vigilante out to kill those who’ve evaded punishment and the police he’s taunting by leaving “death notices” stating his intent before each act.

If this one captures your interest, you’re in luck. It’s the first in a series.