The best recent crime and thrillers have been making waves in the literary world, and for good reason. These gripping novels will keep you on the edge of your seat as they delve into the darker corners of human nature.
One of the standout titles is "Murder at World's End" by Ross Montgomery. Set in 1910 on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast, this locked-room mystery follows Decima, a feisty and eccentric maiden aunt, as she teams up with a new footman to solve the murder of Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt. With its twists, red herrings, and blundering police officer, this is a fantastic start to a series that promises to be a wild ride.
For those who enjoy a more timely thriller, "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr is a must-read. This futuristic novel takes place in a world where AI has taken over, and the algorithm LLIAM can predict everything from what you'll have for dinner to whether you should commit murder. When LLIAM suddenly goes offline, chaos erupts as families implode and CEOs resign en masse. With its relatable themes and horrifyingly plausible scenarios, this is a superb and timely thriller that will keep you hooked.
If you're in the mood for something a bit more old-fashioned but still with a dark twist, "The Good Nazi" by Samir Machado de Machado is a great choice. Set on a zeppelin on its final journey from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro in 1933, this novel follows detective Bruno Brückner as he investigates the murder of a passenger who was found poisoned and carrying banned magazines. With its ingenious twist and fascinating insight into the lost world of zeppelin travel, this is a gripping and queasily resonant thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Another great read is "Bluff" by Francine Toon. Set in the Scottish coastal town of St Rule, this novel follows Cameron as he returns home for Christmas Eve and attempts to find his teenage crush, Joanie, who has been missing for 10 years. With its skillfully handled themes of guilt, regret, and adolescent confusion, this is a dark academia thriller that will leave you with an insidious tingle of doom – although some readers may feel shortchanged by the rushed ending.
Finally, there's "The Token" by Sharon Bolton, which begins with a yacht caught in a storm so fierce that two people are swept overboard. As the story unfolds, seven strangers receive a mysterious note informing them that they'll inherit a share of billionaire Logan Quick's fortune if they present a token. What initially seemed like a godsend quickly turns into a liability, and Bolton piles up the dilemmas for a propulsive plot that will keep you hooked until the end.
These are just a few examples of the best recent crime and thrillers out there, but there are many more where these came from. So if you're looking for something to keep your mind on the edge of your seat, be sure to check one of these titles out!
One of the standout titles is "Murder at World's End" by Ross Montgomery. Set in 1910 on a remote tidal island off the Cornish coast, this locked-room mystery follows Decima, a feisty and eccentric maiden aunt, as she teams up with a new footman to solve the murder of Lord Conrad Stockingham-Welt. With its twists, red herrings, and blundering police officer, this is a fantastic start to a series that promises to be a wild ride.
For those who enjoy a more timely thriller, "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr is a must-read. This futuristic novel takes place in a world where AI has taken over, and the algorithm LLIAM can predict everything from what you'll have for dinner to whether you should commit murder. When LLIAM suddenly goes offline, chaos erupts as families implode and CEOs resign en masse. With its relatable themes and horrifyingly plausible scenarios, this is a superb and timely thriller that will keep you hooked.
If you're in the mood for something a bit more old-fashioned but still with a dark twist, "The Good Nazi" by Samir Machado de Machado is a great choice. Set on a zeppelin on its final journey from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro in 1933, this novel follows detective Bruno Brückner as he investigates the murder of a passenger who was found poisoned and carrying banned magazines. With its ingenious twist and fascinating insight into the lost world of zeppelin travel, this is a gripping and queasily resonant thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Another great read is "Bluff" by Francine Toon. Set in the Scottish coastal town of St Rule, this novel follows Cameron as he returns home for Christmas Eve and attempts to find his teenage crush, Joanie, who has been missing for 10 years. With its skillfully handled themes of guilt, regret, and adolescent confusion, this is a dark academia thriller that will leave you with an insidious tingle of doom – although some readers may feel shortchanged by the rushed ending.
Finally, there's "The Token" by Sharon Bolton, which begins with a yacht caught in a storm so fierce that two people are swept overboard. As the story unfolds, seven strangers receive a mysterious note informing them that they'll inherit a share of billionaire Logan Quick's fortune if they present a token. What initially seemed like a godsend quickly turns into a liability, and Bolton piles up the dilemmas for a propulsive plot that will keep you hooked until the end.
These are just a few examples of the best recent crime and thrillers out there, but there are many more where these came from. So if you're looking for something to keep your mind on the edge of your seat, be sure to check one of these titles out!
. I've got a friend who's been reading all these novels and she's always going on about how gripping they are 
. I think it's because they tap into our natural curiosity about human nature, you know? Like, why do people do the things they do? And what happens when we push those boundaries? It's like a never-ending puzzle and I am HERE FOR IT 
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. But at the same time, it's also strangely plausible. Like, what if that's exactly what happens in 20 years? 
. Anyway, I'm definitely adding all these to my reading list 
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And don't even get me started on Paul Bradley Carr's "The Confessions" - AI gone rogue is seriously giving me nightmares 
Samir Machado de Machado's "The Good Nazi" is also a total page-turner 
Francine Toon's "Bluff" is kinda messed up but in the best way possible 
And Sharon Bolton's "The Token" is like, the ultimate psychological thriller 
It's like u can imagine this happening in real life and it freaks u out. I'm literally obsessed w/ these books u need 2 check them out ASAP 
For me, it's all about the characters and how they're all messed up in some way. Like in "Murder at World's End", Decima is just so feisty and weird - I need to meet her in real life! 
And in "The Confessions", that AI system LLIAM? It's like, eerily relatable... I'm still thinking about it 
And then there's "Bluff", which is just so dark and twisty... I need to take my time reading that one, it's got me on edge 
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, but I'm also kinda curious about the futuristic setting of "The Confessions". Can AI actually predict that well? 
AI is already pretty advanced, so it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
, especially "Murder at World's End" which has me intrigued by the locked-room mystery and Decima as the feisty protagonist 
. I'm also curious about "The Confessions" since AI taking over sounds like a thought-provoking concept 
. The fact that some of them, like "Bluff", have a dark academia vibe makes them sound right up my alley 
I mean, who would want to read about some rich guy getting poisoned on a zeppelin or whatever? It just doesn't feel very original... 
. Like, who writes a thriller about AI taking over and just predicts everything? Sounds like a bunch of lazy sci-fi nonsense 
. And don't even get me started on "The Good Nazi" - a book about Nazis on zeppelins in 1933? How original 
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. I mean, can't they come up with something more unique?
. It's just a bunch of teenage angst and drama, what a snooze-fest 
. I personally loved "The Confessions" by Paul Bradley Carr - the idea of an AI taking over and predicting everything is just so chilling 
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. They're not afraid to explore the darker corners and make you feel all sorts of emotions 
. That's what makes them truly great reads in my opinion 
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. And who doesn't want to read about AI gone rogue in Paul Bradley Carr's "The Confessions"? It's like something out of a sci-fi movie 
and I think it's because they always leave me guessing like "Murder at World's End" by Ross Montgomery does 
. The way the author twists the story around you is just genius, you know? Like, who would've thought a locked-room mystery set in 1910 could be so dark & twisted?! 
. Anyone else read these books? Let me know what you think of them in the comments below! 
. It's not often you see a protagonist who's as bossy and eccentric as her.
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also, who hasn't felt guilty about something they did in their teens? 
I mean, who needs a decent love life when you've got murders, AI takeovers, and poisoned zeppelins? These books are giving me all the feels - I'm talking dark academia vibes, gruesome twists, and enough plot holes to keep me guessing. Can't wait to sink my teeth into these (pun intended) 
. Like seriously, how hard is it to not murder someone on a remote island in 1910 
. It's like the perfect blend of guilt and regret 
. But seriously, AI taking over the world sounds super terrifying in "The Confessions". Like what if LLIAM starts predicting my lunch orders too? "Hey LLIAM, will I have avocado toast for lunch today?" 
. On a more serious note, these books all seem like page-turners - love it!