Best Thriller Books May 2025

The Alice Network

Plunging into the shadowy world of espionage, “The Alice Network” weaves a gripping tale of courage and redemption. Quinn’s masterful storytelling transports readers between war-torn Europe and the aftermath of conflict, as two remarkable women’s paths intertwine. I found myself utterly captivated by the resilience of these heroines, their raw emotions palpable on every page. With its blend of historical intrigue and personal drama, this novel left me pondering the untold stories of countless brave souls who risked everything in the name of freedom.

The Outsider

In a small town, a beloved Little League coach is arrested for a horrific crime. Eyewitnesses and DNA evidence point to his guilt, but he has an ironclad alibi. Detective Ralph Anderson, grappling with personal demons, is drawn into a perplexing case that defies logic. As the investigation deepens, unsettling questions arise, blurring the line between reality and the supernatural. King masterfully weaves a chilling tale that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Silent Patient

Alicia Berenson’s life seems perfect. A famous painter married to a fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house overlooking a park in London. One evening, her husband Gabriel returns home late, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face. Then she never speaks another word. Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, is determined to unravel the mystery of Alicia’s silence. As he delves deeper into her past, he becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth. But his search leads him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Kya Clark, known as the “Marsh Girl,” grows up isolated in the coastal wetlands of North Carolina. Abandoned by her family, she finds solace in nature and friendship with two local boys. As she blossoms into a young woman, Kya becomes entangled in a murder mystery that threatens to shatter her hard-won peace. Delia Owens weaves a haunting tale of resilience, love, and the untamed beauty of the marshlands, inviting readers to explore the delicate balance between human connection and the wild world that shaped Kya’s extraordinary life.

The Goldfinch

Theo Decker’s life is forever altered when a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art claims his mother’s life. In the chaos, he steals a priceless painting—The Goldfinch. Haunted by loss and guilt, Theo navigates a world of antiques, addiction, and dangerous secrets. As he grows older, the painting becomes both his burden and his salvation, leading him on a journey of self-discovery across continents. Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a mesmerizing exploration of love, identity, and the power of art to shape our lives.

Big Little Lies

Beneath the glossy veneer of Pirriwee Public School lies a web of secrets and lies. As three mothers navigate the treacherous waters of parenthood, their seemingly perfect lives begin to unravel. Madeline, fierce and funny, grapples with an ex-husband’s new wife. Celeste, beautiful and haunted, hides a dark truth. And Jane, young and mysterious, harbors doubts about her son. When a tragic incident occurs at the school’s trivia night, their worlds collide in unexpected ways. Moriarty’s razor-sharp wit and keen observations of human nature make this a gripping, thought-provoking exploration of friendship, marriage, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves.

Divergent

In a world divided by factions, Beatrice Prior faces a life-altering choice. As she grapples with her identity, she uncovers a dangerous secret that threatens everything she holds dear. Roth’s gripping dystopian tale had me on the edge of my seat, heart racing with every twist. The raw emotion and complex characters lingered in my mind long after I turned the last page. A thrilling journey of self-discovery and courage that left me craving more.

The Martian

Stranded on Mars, astronaut Mark Watney faces impossible odds. With dwindling supplies and no way to contact Earth, he must rely on his ingenuity and gallows humor to survive. Weir’s gripping tale blends hard science with human resilience, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. I found myself rooting for Mark’s MacGyver-like solutions and laughing at his snarky log entries. A thrilling adventure that reminds us of the indomitable human spirit.

Deception Point

In this heart-pounding thriller, intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton finds herself thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse. When a NASA satellite discovers an ancient meteorite buried in the Arctic ice, Rachel is sent to verify the find. But as she delves deeper, she uncovers a chilling conspiracy that threatens to shake the foundations of American politics. With time running out and assassins closing in, Rachel must navigate a web of lies and deception to expose the truth. Brown’s signature blend of science, history, and edge-of-your-seat suspense will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Room

Jack lives in Room with Ma. It’s all he’s ever known—eleven square feet of space, with only a skylight to glimpse the outside world. Ma says it’s to keep them safe, but Jack doesn’t understand from what. As he turns five, his curiosity grows, and Ma realizes they can’t stay forever. A heart-wrenching tale of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bond between mother and child, “Room” explores the power of imagination and the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable circumstances.