All posts tagged: thrillers

Gothic Thrillers for the Haunted at Heart

Gothic Thrillers for the Haunted at Heart

Haunted house stories and horror don’t have to be historical, but there’s something about the genre of gothic fiction in particular that just feels right in a historical setting. Maybe it’s because the genre is so strongly associated with books from the past, like Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, and The Mysteries of Udolpho. Today’s authors have certainly shown that contemporary gothic novels can be just as compelling (see Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas, Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, and Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey), but even many modern-day authors of gothic fiction populate their worlds with historical settings. Think Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Isabel Cañas, and Sarah Waters. These four gothic thrillers fall into that latter category of historical gothic novels written by contemporary writers. Their perspective lends something new to these stories of old, twining together past and present and drawing upon gothic stories we’re already familiar with, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Crack them open if you dare, but beware the haunting stories that await inside. Get 15% off annual All …

Hulu buried one of its smartest sci-fi thrillers inside a sinister Silicon Valley lab

Hulu buried one of its smartest sci-fi thrillers inside a sinister Silicon Valley lab

I found Devs the way I find most things worth watching now: by accident, scrolling Hulu at 11 at night, looking for something to put on while I did the dishes — looking for another Hulu diamond in the rough. The thumbnail showed a gold Buddha statue standing in a redwood forest next to a glass office building, and that combination alone was strange enough to stop me. Devs came out in 2020, and if you missed it, you had company. It aired on FX and landed on Hulu the same week, which FX was still experimenting with in 2020, and it got buried almost immediately under bigger shows people were actually talking about. Eight episodes, one season, done. Alex Garland wrote, directed, and created every single one of them himself. That kind of one-man control over eight hours of television rarely happens. Related The best supernatural show on TV is on a platform you probably forgot you subscribed to Evil is the best hidden gem on Paramount+. Devs takes place inside one of TV’s …

2027 Mystery and Thrillers I’m Already Screaming About

2027 Mystery and Thrillers I’m Already Screaming About

Even though I am writing this in August of 2026, thanks to publishing announcements and catalogs, my mind is already in the year 2027. Have I already started reading some 2027 galleys? Of course! If I’m excited about something, then I’m going to do all the gimme gimme hands until it’s literally in my hands. And once I have it, I’m all in. Obviously, there is still much to be announced. Fall hasn’t even started for this year yet, but here are a few of the 2027 mystery releases I’m excited for. Girl Number 8 by Janice Okoh (January 19, 2027) A missing person case set in modern Nigeria that follows a detective and is labeled as a literary thriller—yes, please! Bonus: it’s written by a British-Nigerian playwright and screenwriter. Miss Lambert Steps Aboard Danger by Kazuo Ishiguro (March 9, 2027) The Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro is taking a twisty turn into the crime genre with his latest novel. A spy novel set in 1938 London, to be more specific. This Never Happens Here …

The New York Times Names the 50 Best Thrillers

The New York Times Names the 50 Best Thrillers

You’re bound to find plenty of mysteries and thrillers to read in the news and links below. Today’s roundup includes the adaptation of a fantastic crime trilogy, the next installment in a cozy crime series, a fall reading list to kickstart your preorder list, and more. Colson Whitehead’s Harlem Trilogy is Getting a Series Adaptation They better actually make this: Colson Whitehead’s historical crime Harlem trilogy sold the rights to Apple TV, and a series is in early development. There’s a hell of a team behind it: Graham Yost (Silo) and Aric Avelino (American Gun) are adapting the trilogy for the small screen as well as executive producing, along with Barry Jenkins (Moonlight and Mufasa), Adele Romanski (Sorry, Baby) and Mark Ceryak (Aftersun) of Pastel; Melissa Bernstein (Breaking Bad) of Special Interests; and Whitehead himself. More Vera Wong Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Vera Wong series will have a third book release in 2027: Vera Wong’s Vacation Hacks for Catching a Killer. The author recently revealed the cover and talked about the book, which sees the titular …

The Most WTF Thrillers and Crime Novels!

The Most WTF Thrillers and Crime Novels!

The mystery and thriller genres are constantly upping the game to keep readers on their toes. Think of Gone Girl and the explosion of domestic thrillers that followed after Gillian Flynn introduced a seemingly standard missing person mystery that ended up having a WTF twist that most readers did not see coming. While I’m overall neutral on the existence of WTF twists — most times I feel it goes too over the top in a distracting way, but am always here, and excited, to be proven wrong — I have never been able to resist a book where the actual premise makes me do a double-take. If you can use some WTF premises in your reading life, I’ve got some backlist along with a brand new release that range from crime novels to thrillers, with horror and sci-fi sprinkled in. The Secret Dinner by Raphael Montes, Zoë Perry (Translator) The Secret Dinner is part crime novel, part thriller, part horror (not supernatural), and not for the faint of stomach. This was originally published in 2016 …

Why Hollywood Is Drunk on “White Wine Thrillers”

Why Hollywood Is Drunk on “White Wine Thrillers”

It was just three years ago when Bela Bajaria revealed the internal label for Netflix’s programming ideal, the gourmet cheeseburger. Evoking populist fare with a garnish of prestige, it seemed like the only dining-related descriptor the TV industry would ever need. But there’s a new moniker on the rise, which I learned when a screenwriter friend recently shared their concerns about a project never getting out of development. The rationale? “Oh, they’re only buying white wine thrillers.” This trio of words is so evocative that it barely needs a definition. Let’s establish one, just to be safe. A white wine thriller can get dark but not too dark. The body count is kept low. One, two murders tops. There must be aspirational elements, typically wealthy characters wearing Brunello Cucinelli while emotionally unraveling in Nancy Meyers-worthy kitchens. White wine thrillers are often adaptations of books. And, pivotally, they are centered on female protagonists and marketed with a female audience in mind. The characters may drink white wine. They frequently do. The real implication is that the viewer …

13 of August’s New Mysteries and Thrillers

13 of August’s New Mysteries and Thrillers

Whether you’re counting down the days of summer because you don’t want it to end or you can’t wait for fall to smother the heat, publishing is ready to stack your mystery and thriller TBR list! You can put on your sleuthing cap for cozy mystery solving — delicious food and even some vampires included — or pack in all the tension with thrillers. There’s something for middle grade readers, YA readers, and adult readers. August’s mystery and thriller releases will keep you wildly entertained—seriously, there’s a delicious hook in a thriller that will have you saying “what?!” There’s also a cold case unit at the DA’s office, a tween after a ghost photo who stumbles onto a murder mystery, a murder mystery set two months before the world ends, an accident-or-murder trope involving a sizable will, and so much more! How do we order more time for reading? All We Hide by Robyn Gigl For fans of cold case units and murder mysteries Lauren Kelly has been sent to the DA’s Cold Case Unit, …

Again and Again and Again: 6 Time Loop Thrillers

Again and Again and Again: 6 Time Loop Thrillers

Flatiron Books A young man is commuting on a Tokyo subway, when he receives a phone call from his ex with life-changing news. As he hurries off the train to join her, the call drops, no signal. Suddenly, reality shifts. He can’t find the exit. He discovers himself back at the same hallway, going past the same ads, locked doors, photo booth, and, disturbingly, the same man, who never responds to him. A sign on the wall reveals the rules he must follow in order to escape: Do not overlook any anomalies. If you find an anomaly, turn back immediately. If you do not find any anomalies, do not turn back. Go out through Exit 8. For many years, the only time loop story I knew was Groundhog Day. It’s a classic film that still slaps 30 years after release, as we watch Bill Murray’s character repeat the same day over and over. In 2020, we had Palm Springs with Andy Sandberg, which is also well worth watching.  These are not just one-off stories; they …

Blood-Chilling Thrillers to Cool Off With

Blood-Chilling Thrillers to Cool Off With

We’ve reached the most miserable part of summer. By this point in July, you’ve probably already been to a cookout or two, oohed and aahed at fireworks, and shown off your cutest swimsuit at the pool. Pride Month is over. The jaunty tunes of the ice cream truck have lost their novelty. The summer joy has come and gone, and yet the punishingly hot weather remains. How are we to survive the scorching months to come? With some bone-chilling thrillers, of course! While you’re sweating excessively and bemoaning the horribly hot outdoors, it’s crucial to remember that cooler days are ahead. That’s why “Christmas in July” has become a bizarrely popular thing. Personally, I’m a Christmas-hating Scrooge, and there’s nothing I want to think about less in July than that corny, commercialized holiday. But an icy, winter-set mystery? Now we’re talking! I’ve got three book recommendations for mystery/thrillers with snowy settings that will send chills down your spine, plus one book coming out this fall that you can pre-order now. Pull your reading chair over …

10 Fall 2026 Mystery & Thrillers To Pre-Order

10 Fall 2026 Mystery & Thrillers To Pre-Order

I get very excited about upcoming books that I can’t wait to read, pre-buy, and then promptly forget about until they arrive on my doorstep, or I get a notification from Libro.fm. It’s the greatest surprise, and it immediately makes any day way better. As many of us are melting away in the summer heat, I thought, why not look forward to fall with some upcoming releases you should definitely have on your radar! This is in no way exhaustive—there are a lot of great books to come that will be in my monthly roundups. There’s a variety of series you should be reading along with, standalone thrillers (Freida McFadden fans will definitely be on the edge of their seats), and two graphic novels. Series Before You Were Anne (Chelsey Calhoun #2) by Emiko Jean Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life looks different from where it was in The Return of Ellie Black. She’s now married, pregnant, has a new job, and a new case. The latter involves a murdered mother and a missing teen daughter. Told …