BookRank
Where to start

Thrillers to read

Not sure which thrillers to read? We ranked 200 of them using 60,160 reader ratings; the average is 7.8/10. Below: three books to start with, then short reads, series starts, new books, and classics.

If you read only one, make it A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (8.3/10). If you prefer a series: Hannibal Lecter starts with Red Dragon.

Start here

Three thrillers that many readers rate highly — each one a first volume or a book that stands alone.

  1. A Good Girl's Guide to MurderHolly Jackson · 2019 · 432 pages8.3/10 · 1,537 ratingsA Good Girl's Guide to Murder · book 1 of 3A young adult mystery with a well-built case and a solution that catches readers off guard.
  2. MiseryStephen King · 1987 · 382 pages8.2/10 · 1,594 ratings
  3. Big Little LiesLiane Moriarty · 2014 · 512 pages8.2/10 · 712 ratings

Short reads: under 300 pages

For a weekend or a commute. 12 of the rated thrillers are this short; these score best.

  1. You Weren't Meant to Be HumanAndrew Joseph White · 2025 · 268 pages7.8/10 · 73 ratings
  2. The Bright YearsSarah Damoff · 2025 · 288 pages7.8/10 · 59 ratings
  3. The Boys from BrazilIra Levin · 1976 · 280 pages7.7/10 · 75 ratings
  4. The GuiltyDavid Baldacci · 2015 · 288 pages7.7/10 · 72 ratings

Series worth starting

The first volume of each series, with the full reading order one click away.

  1. Red DragonThomas Harris · 1981 · 376 pages7.9/10 · 662 ratingsHannibal Lecter · book 1 of 4 · Reading order →
  2. The Girl with the Dragon TattooStieg Larsson · 2005 · 576 pages7.9/10 · 150 ratingsMillennium · book 1 of 8 · Reading order →
  3. Odd ThomasDean Koontz · 2003 · 399 pages8.0/10 · 484 ratingsOdd Thomas · book 1 of 7 · Reading order →
  4. Without RemorseTom Clancy · 1993 · 768 pages7.9/10 · 242 ratingsRyanverse · book 1 of 28 · Reading order →

New in 2025 and 2026

The best-rated new books with at least 50 reader ratings.

  1. Not Quite Dead YetHolly Jackson · 20257.9/10 · 238 ratings
  2. Fruit FlyJosh Silver · 20267.8/10 · 72 ratings
  3. The Perfect DivorceJeneva Rose · 2025 · 278 pages7.6/10 · 88 ratings

Classics from before 1976

Still read, still rated: the older books that hold up best.

  1. RebeccaDaphne du Maurier · 1938 · 397 pages8.2/10 · 991 ratings
  2. The Day of the JackalFrederick Forsyth · 1971 · 416 pages8.0/10 · 239 ratings
  3. CarrieStephen King · 1974 · 256 pages7.6/10 · 1,775 ratings

How long are the rated thrillers?

Under 300 pages12
300–499 pages117
500 pages or more44

173 of 200 rated titles with a known page count. Largest group: 300–499 pages.

Narrow it down with “Find a book”

“Find a book” holds 237 thrillers. Pick a shortcut — the filters are already set:

Thrillers in a series58Standalone thrillers179Short thrillers (under 220 pages)6New thrillers10Thrillers, mood: mysterious157Thrillers with a film or series34
All thrillers in “Find a book” →

Questions readers ask

What thrillers should I read first?

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson: 8.3/10 from 1,537 ratings, and it needs no earlier book. Next on our list: Misery and Big Little Lies.

What is a good thriller under 300 pages?

You Weren't Meant to Be Human (268 pages, 7.8/10) is the highest-rated one under 300 pages.

Which thriller series should I start?

Hannibal Lecter: begin with Red Dragon, the first of 4 books. The reading order page lists every volume.

What are the best new thrillers?

Not Quite Dead Yet (2025) leads the recent titles at 7.9/10 from 238 ratings.

How are these books chosen?

Only books with enough reader ratings to be ranked (at least 50) are picked. The score is a weighted average across independent rating sources, pulled toward the category average when ratings are few.

Go further

Other genres: where to start

FantasyScience fictionCrime & mysteryHorrorRomanceClassicsBooks to read →