The 10 Best Suspense Books
Special Honors
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Editor's Notes
April 07, 2020:
Suspense books run the gamut from true literary masterpieces to escapist fantasies that demand suspension of disbelief. While compelling writing, tight pacing, good character development, and descriptive, evocative prose always ranks high on our priority list, our biggest concern when curating this selection was choosing addictive volumes that get your heart racing. Each has its method of doing so, but be aware that many books in this genre have dark, graphic, and/or disturbing content.
Much like a good true crime or spy novel, a mystery lies at the heart of most of our choices. The exception to the rule is Finding Rebecca, which instead uses the horrors of World War II and a pair of star-crossed lovers to get readers on the edge of their seats. Those who like a bit of detective work thrown in will enjoy The Fix and Bones Don't Lie, while Stillhouse Lake involves gripping family drama. Fans of flawed protagonists and unreliable narrators should consider The Girl Who Lived and the newly added The Silent Patient.
Today we said goodbye to The Life We Bury and The Woman in the Window to make room for the recently released and well-received The Silent Patient and the dark, well-paced Then She Was Gone. The Life We Bury remains an entertaining book, although there is some complaint among readers and critics that it combines too many tropes and improbable plot points, which can be distracting. And while The Woman in the Window is a compelling read, the plot is a bit old hat, while its replacement The Silent Patient is lauded for its fresh, unique take on the genre.