Whether you’re a bookworm who devours multiple novels a week or just a casual reader who enjoys dipping into a book on holiday, everyone has their own go-to genre. Some prefer fantasy or romance novels, while others gravitate towards genres like sci-fi or literary fiction.
Thrillers are another choice for many, with bestselling authors like Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden particularly popular with readers today. But if you’re new to the genre or are looking for something a little different, Goodreads’ list of the top thrillers of all time, as voted for by the website’s users, may help you pick your next read. With heartstopping twists and pacy writing, there’s something for everyone on this list.
Topping the list is Murder on Family Grounds by Susan Rowland, the third in the Mary Wandwalker series. Originally published just last year, this thriller follows Mary as she is forced to confront her past and work out who is killing off members of the same family.
While it may not be the best-known series of thrillers in the world, it’s one that’s proved popular with Goodreads readers, winning the most votes.
Following in second place is Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea. Published in 2021, the book follows a TV reporter determined to uncover the truth behind a gruesome murder decades after the investigation was abandoned.
Deeper Than the Dead by Debra Webb is in third, with Jason Rekulak’s Hidden Pictures in fourth place.
With 464,629 ratings on Goodreads, Hidden Pictures is one of the most-read books in the top 10, as well as a BookTok staple.
The best thrillers of all time, according to Goodreads:
- Murder on Family Grounds by Susan Rowland
- Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea
- Deeper Than the Dead by Debra Webb
- Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
- The Elephant Tree by R.D. Ronald
- Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea
- The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
- On Her Watch by Melinda Leigh
- Never Lie by Frieda McFadden
Just missing out on the top 10 were the likes of What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall, None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.
You can find the full list of the best thriller novels of all time on Goodreads. For more book recommendations, reviews and news, you can also click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack.