Best Thriller Books December 2024

The Final Empire

In a world shrouded in ash, where the immortal Lord Ruler reigns supreme, hope seems lost. But Kelsier, a charismatic thief turned rebel, has a daring plan. He recruits an unlikely crew, including the street urchin Vin, who harbors a hidden power. As they plot to overthrow the empire, Vin grapples with her newfound abilities and her growing feelings for a noble-born ally. Sanderson’s masterful worldbuilding and intricate magic system had me spellbound from the first page. A thrilling ride that left me craving more.

Crown of Midnight

Celaena Sardothien, the King’s Champion, finds herself caught in a web of secrets and lies. As she struggles to maintain her facade of loyalty, her heart is torn between two men: the roguish captain of the guard and the charming prince. But darker forces are at play, and Celaena must confront her own mysterious past. With each mission, she uncovers more about the kingdom’s sinister underbelly, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew. In this gripping sequel, Maas weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and magic that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

The Messenger

In “The Messenger,” Zusak weaves a tale of an ordinary man thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Ed Kennedy, a hapless cab driver, finds himself entangled in a mysterious game of chance and destiny. As he receives cryptic playing cards with addresses, Ed becomes an unwitting messenger, touching lives in ways he never imagined. With each task, he uncovers hidden truths about himself and the power of small acts of kindness. Zusak’s prose is both poignant and humorous, crafting a story that lingers long after the final page.

The Perfect Couple

Nantucket’s idyllic charm sets the stage for a wedding that promises perfection, but beneath the surface, secrets simmer. As the Otis family prepares for their daughter’s big day, unexpected twists unravel their carefully woven plans. With each turn of the page, I found myself drawn deeper into a web of lies, love, and loyalty. Hilderbrand’s vivid prose transported me to the island’s sandy shores, where the salty air carries whispers of scandal. A gripping tale that kept me guessing until the very end.

The Escape Room

In this heart-pounding thriller, four Wall Street rising stars find themselves trapped in an elevator-turned-escape room. As the hours tick by, tensions rise and dark secrets surface. Each character’s carefully crafted facade begins to crumble, revealing the cutthroat ambition and betrayal lurking beneath. I couldn’t put it down, staying up way too late to finish. Goldin’s sharp prose and twisty plot kept me guessing until the shocking end. A claustrophobic, suspenseful read that will make you think twice about office politics.

The Night Swim

Rachel, a true-crime podcaster, arrives in Neapolis to cover a controversial rape trial. As she digs into the case, she’s drawn into a decades-old mystery involving a young girl’s drowning. Haunted by anonymous letters pleading for help, Rachel uncovers dark secrets that have plagued the town for years. With each revelation, she realizes the two cases might be connected, forcing her to confront her own painful past. Goldin’s gripping narrative weaves together past and present, exploring themes of justice, trauma, and the power of truth in a small town where everyone has something to hide.

A Nearly Normal Family

Stella Sandell, a seemingly ordinary teenager, stands accused of murder. Her parents, a pastor and a defense attorney, grapple with the unthinkable as their perfect family unravels. As the trial unfolds, long-buried secrets emerge, challenging everything they thought they knew about each other. This gripping psychological thriller explores the lengths parents will go to protect their child, and the devastating consequences of lies and betrayal. With each twist, Edvardsson masterfully blurs the lines between right and wrong, leaving readers questioning their own moral compass.

The Good Samaritan

Sarah can’t bear the thought of another person taking their own life. As a volunteer for a suicide prevention helpline, she’s dedicated her nights to talking people back from the brink. But when she receives a call from a man determined to end it all, Sarah’s world is turned upside down. She becomes obsessed with saving him, crossing ethical lines and risking everything she holds dear. As their connection deepens, Sarah realizes she may have stumbled into a dangerous game where nothing is as it seems. A gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Minders

In a world where secrets are currency, five ordinary people are chosen for an extraordinary task. They’re “minders,” human vaults entrusted with the nation’s most classified information. But as they navigate their new roles, they discover the weight of knowledge can be crushing. Marrs weaves a taut thriller that explores the boundaries of trust, the price of security, and the human cost of protecting secrets. With each page, you’ll find yourself questioning who to believe and what’s truly at stake in this gripping tale of power, paranoia, and the perils of knowing too much.

The Passengers

In a near-future London, eight strangers find themselves trapped in self-driving cars, their fates controlled by a mysterious hacker. As their vehicles speed towards an unknown destination, a jury of public viewers must decide who lives and who dies. With each passenger’s secrets unraveling and time running out, the story becomes a gripping exploration of morality, technology, and human nature. Marrs masterfully weaves tension and ethical dilemmas, leaving readers breathless until the very last page.