Recent Thrillers Make Waves in the Genre.
In 2025, readers were treated to an array of gripping crime and thrillers that kept them on the edge of their seats. At the forefront of this wave is Ross Montgomery's "Murder at World's End", a locked-room mystery set on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast in 1910. This debut novel by award-winning children's author Montgomery promises to be a lot of fun, thanks to its twists, red herrings, and an endearing but slightly foul-mouthed character.
Another standout title is Paul Bradley Carr's "The Confessions", set in a near-future world where AI has made decisions for everyone. When the LLIAM algorithm suddenly goes offline, chaos ensues as families implode and CEOs resign en masse. This superb thriller explores relatable issues, like empathy and personal responsibility, with horrifyingly plausible results.
Samir Machado's "The Good Nazi" transports readers to a zeppelin on its last leg from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro in 1933, the year Hitler rose to power. When one of the passengers is found poisoned with banned magazines, police detective Bruno Brückner must unravel a mystery that uncovers dark secrets about the past.
Francine Toon's "Bluff" weaves together two narratives – an adult search for a teenage crush and an 18-year-old girl adrift after her boyfriend cheats on her. The result is a thought-provoking exploration of guilt, regret, and adolescent confusion.
Last but not least, Sharon Bolton's "The Token" sets off on a stormy sea with eight strangers receiving mysterious notes about inheriting billionaire Logan Quick's fortune. As news spreads, they are pursued by the press and those desperate to get their hands on these golden tickets. With expertly constructed suspense and high-stakes drama, this novel propels readers towards its thrilling conclusion.
Each of these thrillers showcases a distinct voice and style that will appeal to fans of the genre.
In 2025, readers were treated to an array of gripping crime and thrillers that kept them on the edge of their seats. At the forefront of this wave is Ross Montgomery's "Murder at World's End", a locked-room mystery set on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast in 1910. This debut novel by award-winning children's author Montgomery promises to be a lot of fun, thanks to its twists, red herrings, and an endearing but slightly foul-mouthed character.
Another standout title is Paul Bradley Carr's "The Confessions", set in a near-future world where AI has made decisions for everyone. When the LLIAM algorithm suddenly goes offline, chaos ensues as families implode and CEOs resign en masse. This superb thriller explores relatable issues, like empathy and personal responsibility, with horrifyingly plausible results.
Samir Machado's "The Good Nazi" transports readers to a zeppelin on its last leg from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro in 1933, the year Hitler rose to power. When one of the passengers is found poisoned with banned magazines, police detective Bruno Brückner must unravel a mystery that uncovers dark secrets about the past.
Francine Toon's "Bluff" weaves together two narratives – an adult search for a teenage crush and an 18-year-old girl adrift after her boyfriend cheats on her. The result is a thought-provoking exploration of guilt, regret, and adolescent confusion.
Last but not least, Sharon Bolton's "The Token" sets off on a stormy sea with eight strangers receiving mysterious notes about inheriting billionaire Logan Quick's fortune. As news spreads, they are pursued by the press and those desperate to get their hands on these golden tickets. With expertly constructed suspense and high-stakes drama, this novel propels readers towards its thrilling conclusion.
Each of these thrillers showcases a distinct voice and style that will appeal to fans of the genre.
. Ross Montgomery's "Murder at World's End" had me dying to figure out whodunit and when, but those twists kept me on the edge of my seat 
. Paul Bradley Carr's "The Confessions" really got under my skin - the concept of AI taking over is so plausible it freaks me out 
. Francine Toon's "Bluff" might be a bit heavy-handed with the guilt trip, but the themes are still super thought-provoking 
. Sharon Bolton's "The Token" kept me guessing until the very end - love how suspenseful that one was 
. overall, these recs have set the bar pretty high for thrillers this year...
. The way Samir Machado explores the dark secrets of the past in "The Good Nazi" is so chilling, it made me shiver 
.
. Francine Toon's blend of adult and teenage narratives was a nice surprise - it's not often you see those two worlds collide in such an interesting way 
. And Sharon Bolton's "The Token" had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, that suspense is just masterful 
!
. One thing that caught my attention is how these books are tackling real-world issues like empathy, personal responsibility, and guilt in a way that feels super relatable. I mean, who hasn't felt guilty about something or regretted a past decision? 
. And the themes? All about AI and personal responsibility? Sounds like a smokescreen to me 
. I mean, what's really goin' on with this LLIAM algorithm? Is it just a coincidence that it goes offline at the same time all these thrillers are gettin' released? 
I'm not buyin' it, man...
. Like, can't we just have a good ol' fashioned whodunit without having to hit us over the head with life lessons? 
Still, I do appreciate how each author's voice shines through – Ross Montgomery's humor is on point 
and Francine Toon's exploration of guilt and regret feels super relatable 
. The more research that goes into crafting these mysteries, the more authentic they feel 
and we saw this huge swarm of jellyfish just chillin' in the water 
. It was like they were waiting for something to happen... anyway, back to books, I'm loving the sound of that AI thriller "The Confessions" - I mean, who doesn't love a good story about robots taking over the world? 
But seriously, have you guys ever noticed how weird it is when you're walking down the street and you see someone doing something totally normal, but then you realize they're actually doing it in reverse? Like, my mom was shopping last week and she turned around to go back into the store... only to come out again 
. It's just little things like that which make life so fascinating!
Ross Montgomery's "Murder at World's End" sounds like a total wild ride, and that locked-room mystery is giving me major Sherlock vibes. And Paul Bradley Carr's "The Confessions"? Mind blown – an AI system malfunctioning and causing global chaos? That's just too real for comfort 
. And Francine Toon's "Bluff"? It sounds like it's going to be such a great exploration of those messy teenage emotions 
I mean, have you seen the lineup for Murder at World's End? Ross Montgomery is a GENIUS 
. And Sharon Bolton's The Token? Oh girl, that one's got me on the edge of my seat! 
I love how each book brings its own unique voice and style to the table... it's like a masterclass in thriller writing 
...
. Francine Toon's "Bluff" was another fave - it was like two stories collided and created something amazing 
. But you know what's even better? The way they're all tackling relatable issues, like empathy and personal responsibility 
. It's not just about thrills and chills, it's about having real conversations too 
. I'm defo gonna check out these books! 
I mean, who doesn't love a good whodunit or a thriller with loads of twists and turns? Ross Montgomery's "Murder at World's End" sounds like it has all that and more - and the fact it's by an award-winning children's author is insane, right? 
But with all those strangers involved, things have to get pretty intense.