Best Thriller Books December 2024

Her Last Day

Detective Jessie Cole’s life changed forever when her sister vanished without a trace. Now, years later, she’s haunted by the unsolved case and the ghosts of her past. When a new missing persons case lands on her desk, Jessie is drawn into a web of lies and deceit that threatens to unravel everything she thought she knew. As she races against time to find the truth, she discovers that sometimes the answers we seek are hiding in plain sight. With each twist and turn, Jessie must confront her own demons and face the possibility that her sister’s disappearance may be connected to something far more sinister than she ever imagined.

I Am Watching You

Ella can’t shake the haunting memory of two teenage girls she saw on a train, flirting with strange men. The next day, one of them goes missing. Wracked with guilt, Ella becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth. As she delves deeper, she realizes everyone has secrets – even her own family. With each revelation, the danger grows closer to home. Driscoll’s gripping thriller keeps you guessing until the very end, exploring the ripple effects of one fateful decision and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love.

The Swallows

Nestled in the hallowed halls of Stonebridge Academy, a prestigious New England prep school, dark secrets simmer beneath the surface. When Alexandra Witt joins the faculty, she unwittingly stumbles upon a toxic culture of misogyny and revenge. As she forms an unlikely alliance with a group of rebellious students, Alex finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. Lutz’s razor-sharp prose and biting wit expose the raw underbelly of privilege, power, and the devastating consequences of silence. A gripping tale that will leave you breathless and questioning everything you thought you knew about loyalty and justice.

The Passenger

Sarah’s life unravels in an instant when her husband falls down the stairs, dead. Panicked, she flees, assuming a new identity and embarking on a perilous journey across America. As she navigates seedy motels and small towns, Sarah grapples with her past and the secrets that haunt her. Lutz’s gripping prose keeps you on edge, wondering who Sarah really is and what she’s running from. A thrilling tale of reinvention, survival, and the lengths we’ll go to outrun our demons.

All the Beautiful Lies

Harry’s world shatters when his stepmother calls with news of his father’s suicide. Returning to his coastal Maine hometown, he’s drawn into a web of secrets and lies. Alice, his enigmatic stepmother, seems oddly calm, while a local girl’s disappearance raises suspicions. As Harry unravels the truth, he discovers his father’s hidden life and confronts his own conflicted feelings for Alice. Swanson’s taut prose and twisting plot keep readers guessing until the shocking finale.

The Girl with a Clock for a Heart

George Foss never thought he’d see her again, but on a late-night visit to his favorite Boston bar, there she was. Liana Dector, his college girlfriend, vanished twenty years ago. Now she’s back, with a desperate plea for help. George can’t resist her pull, despite knowing she’s trouble. As he’s drawn into her dangerous world of lies and murder, he realizes some people never change. This gripping thriller explores the power of first love and the consequences of betrayal, leaving readers breathless until the final twist.

The Better Sister

Chloe always admired her older sister Nicky, despite their tumultuous relationship. When Chloe married Nicky’s ex-husband Adam and became stepmother to Ethan, she thought she’d finally found happiness. But tragedy strikes when Adam is murdered, and Ethan becomes the prime suspect. Suddenly, the sisters must reunite to uncover the truth and protect Ethan. As they dig deeper, long-buried secrets surface, forcing Chloe to question everything she thought she knew about her perfect life and the people she loves most.

The Ex

Olivia Randall’s world is turned upside down when her ex-fiancé, Jack Harris, is accused of a horrific mass shooting. Despite their tumultuous past, Olivia, now a successful defense attorney, can’t shake the feeling that Jack is innocent. As she delves deeper into the case, old wounds resurface, and she’s forced to confront her own demons. With time running out and evidence mounting against Jack, Olivia must navigate a treacherous maze of lies, betrayal, and long-buried secrets to uncover the truth and save the man she once loved.

The Wife

Gripping and suspenseful, “The Wife” delves into the complexities of marriage and trust. Angela’s perfect life with her charismatic husband unravels when he’s accused of a horrific crime. As secrets emerge, she’s forced to confront her past and question everything she thought she knew. Burke’s masterful storytelling kept me up late, turning pages and second-guessing every character. A haunting exploration of loyalty, deception, and the lengths we go to protect those we love.

Home Before Dark

Maggie Holt returns to her childhood home, Baneberry Hall, determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s bestselling horror memoir. As she renovates the eerie Victorian mansion, long-buried secrets resurface, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Haunted by fragmented memories and inexplicable occurrences, Maggie grapples with her own skepticism and the house’s dark history. With each creaking floorboard and shadowy corner, she’s drawn deeper into a mystery that threatens to consume her, just as it did her family years ago.