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With winter in full steam, there’s nothing better to do than to curl up by the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate in one hand and a book in the other.
It’s even better if that book just so happens to be a spine-tingling thriller that keeps you in its thrall because you just have to know who the killer is or how and why a character has disappeared, seemingly without a trace.
Here are 5 must read thrillers we’ve highlighted and reviewed:
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
I hope you won’t only read one thriller this year, but if you do, I’m going to tell you that you should definitely make it this one. With one of the most shocking endings to date, Behind Her Eyes tells the story of how Louise, a secretary to a psychiatrist, inevitably gets caught up in the lives of her boss, David and his wife, Adele.
However, for all of its simplicity, the book isn’t just a story about a woman who gets involved in a situation she shouldn’t, but it delves into the deepest and darkest psyche of human nature and features characters that are borderline sociopathic.
Laced with menace and a constant sense of foreboding, Behind Her Eyes fill you with anxiety and keep you glued to the pages until you come to that #WTFending.
Read our full review here
Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land
Make sure you add Ali Land’s book to your to-read list, because Ali will be joining us at this year’s Open Book festival, which takes place in Cape Town in September.
So, what would you do if your mother was a serial killer? Would you want people to know? And would changing your identity erase the ties that bound you to a known-killer? Good Me Bad Me explores what happens when a young girl named Milly changes her identity to start anew after handing her mother over to the police – and has to find a way to adjust after years of being subjected to abuse.
Marisa, our fashion and beauty ed, describes this book as a “fantastic psychological thriller for those seeking a glimpse into how abuse entraps, fractures and continues to haunt the victims even well after the actual abuse has ended.”
Check out the rest of the review here
The Thirst by Jo Nesbo
Jo Nesbo is, without a doubt one of the masters of Scandinavian crime thrillers out there, and his latest book is just another testament as to why he’s earned that reputation.
A murderer obsessed with blood, unsolved crimes and bodies that are piling up. There’s only one person who can deal with the case, but Harry Hole is reluctant to go back to the place that nearly stripped him of everything dear to him.
However, when he discovers that there may be a connection to one of his failed cases, Harry may just have to dive back in and hunt for the killer that has been eluding them for years.
Our reviewer had this to say: “Nesbo is crafty, and somewhat sneaky, with elaborately planned plots that incriminate several characters - disguising the true ending until it crashes upon you like the percussion solo in an orchestra.”
The best thing about this book is that it works well as a standalone – so you don’t have to read any of the previous books in the Harry Hole series (although we highly recommend that you do)
Read the review now
WATCH: Jo Nesbo's The Thirst may make you want to delete your Tinder
The Last One by Alexandra Oliva
A dystopian thriller, Alexandra Oliva’s survivor-esque tale revolves around twelve contestants who enter a reality show. But, unlike survivor, where you ultimately have to vote someone out in order to increase your chances of winning – this is a game where you face challenges and only leave the game if you quit.
What starts off as something as something exciting, quickly becomes a game of life and death as people become victim to the natural elements and the not-so natural ones. Zoo, our main character, soon finds herself disorientated and alone, questioning what’s real and what isn’t.
W24 book reviewer, Samantha says the following: “A fresh and unique plot with so many unexpected elements make the story into the reader’s own solo challenge – what will happen next? It is satisfying and beautiful – alternating between dream and nightmare, as beauty and love are interspersed with horror and decay.”
Read the full review here
A Time of Torment by John Connolly
Here at W24, we’ve become huge fans of Irish author John Connolly. Personally, I loved his Chronicles of the Invaders trilogy he co-wrote with his South African partner, Jennifer Ridyard, while our editor, Lili devoured A Time of Torment and declared herself an avid fan of the Charlie Parker series.
So, why should you read this unputdownable book? Well, I’m just going to go ahead and quote my editor.
“A) hard-bitten detective with a dark past? Check.
“B) Subtle supernatural elements to up the creep factor and heighten suspense? Check.
“C) Scary, cult-like village in West Virginia, who hates outsiders and can be tied to kidnappings and murders tracing back centuries? Check.”
And if you need even more convincing, you can read the full review here.
