Tell us what you think makes a good thriller - to win a copy of crime novel The Darkness Within plus £100 voucher. Now closed!

I like fast-paced action, mainly told in the third person. I find it distracting when story told by several characters, as the book I am reading now, called 'The Widow'. It slows the story down when this happens.

I like well-rounded characters who are likeable, and you become concerned about events happening in their life.

Lots of plot twists, a surprise or two, tension, and an unbelievable (but happy) ending.

Well drawn characters which you can identify with (maybe not the murderers lol) and maybe three or four narrative streams which all end up being connected in weird and wonderful ways.

A good thriller needs to grip you from the beginning right through till the end, lots of twists & turns to keep you guessing & on the edge of your seat, also if it makes yiu feel as though you are part of the story by keeping you intrigued thoughout & when the buildup to the ending comes & you realise it was not the person you thought it would be .

For me there as be a good cast of people that one can get into there shoes so to speak ,like it fairly fast paced, a good theme or plot, a few twists and turns along the way but for me as have a great ending cut and dried

Love believable characters, lots of twists and a proper ending, I hate it when books leave you hanging, having to make up your own ending!

In my opinion, a thriller has to grip the reader from the opening paragraph, have enough "chills" in it to keep the reader engaged and be totally believable all the way through.

A good thriller will keep me reading, all night if necessary, but at the same time you don't want to finish it as you want to make it last!

Good thrillers include Behind Closed Doors, In a dark dark wood and Before I go to Sleep. The last one was not truly represented in the film version however!

What makes a good thriller is thinking you have an idea of the ending but when you reach the end of the book you actually had no idea and it leaves you feeling unsettled!!!

Pase.being made to almost breathe in and out with the chapters.so not to long chapters or pages.
a detective or character you feel for and want to fight and survive.
don't scrimp on the details of horrific injuries or abue but don't do it just for the sake of it.
don't do twist just to do a twist.
make you feel yourself on edge and almost going "no no no "at the book or certain parts.
wanting to pick it up and carry on as soon as u put it down.
being scared or emotionally moved.but no in a jorro way more in a disturbed way.
Karin slaughter is the best there is.

I love all the Agatha Christie books ..You never know who has done it until the end ..anyways a sting in the tale with some humour....I can't take too much overly descriptive violence...but I do like to know what has happened its a delicate balance for the author, and to not litter the tale with the "f" and "s" words.

I like a book where you THINK you know all the facts and have it sussed, for it then to be turned on its head and surprise you!

A great plot with lots of twists and suspense, ones that stay with you long after you have read them.
I have recently enjoyed The Girl On The Train, Gone Girl and The Girlfriend.

Strong female characters, situations and actions which are believable, but with a strange and intriguing storyline that ties up all those annoying loose ends in the last chapter, leaving you feeling satisfied !

A story with twists and turns, but not too complicated that you have to keep re-reading bits (or is that just me?)

I like a fairly believable plot but I get annoyed if it's too easy to guess what's coming next.

I not only expect it to meet the basic requirements:

• Plot twists and cliffhangers.
• Hints and twists.
• Clues and teasers.
• 3D characters with flaws, strengths and full personalities.
• Paced escalation.

But for me, it also needs to be different. Whether it takes place in Azerbaijan or the hero is an Estonian undertaker or it's written from a mosquito's perspective or it takes place during the Aboriginals' genocide, I need it to have something distinctively different that would set it apart.

With so many books to choose from, I'd rather go for those that open windows to a different reality than mine :)

Unexpected twists and turns in the storyline.... a book that keeps you wondering until the final chapter.
Complicated characters that appear straightforward and physcological sometimes bizarre explanations for their behaviour.

I like ones that give you clues as to what/who is responsible for what is happening but also throws in some red herrings so you are guessing right up to the end about what will happen/how the situation will be resolved.

When you get a twist thrown in from nowhere then it always gets exciting. I really enjoyed.

I enjoyed 'Try Not to Breathe' by Holly Seddon which I won a copy of on here.

A twist! Just finish Behind Her Eyes which was fab.

i like a book with a good plot and a twist at the end. i like to have a book that i cant put down. I like something that keeps my interest and keeps me wondering right up until the last chapter. i cannot think of the last book that i read that really gripped me

A good thriller has a twist. I loved Girl on the Train (not original I know) and didn't see the end coming. Her latest book is fab too. A thriller needs a good plot, a fast steady pace and a character you can side with. Perfect summer holiday reading!

A good storyline and a page turner with full on plots, twists. The final minute by Simon Kernick is my favourite and so his other books.

Always keeping the reader guessing, letting them think they've worked it out then throwing a curve ball

A cliffhanger at the end of each chapter, so you just can't put it down

For me a thriller needs to be dark with an ominous feel. I'm quite partial to supernatural elements, for example the recent Stephen king mr Mercedes trilogy.

For me, i like a hero(ine) i can root for, a sense of intrigue and Something Must Be Solved, a cracking villain (even if you dont find their true identity until the end) and a good twist in the tale.

I hate thrillers that become increasingly unrealistic and unbelievable, and series' where beloved characters suddenly act out of character and become caricatures. I'm looking at you Patricia Cornwell...

Big surprises and plot twists; I'm an avid re-reader and I love when you read a book again and you just can't understand why you didn't see the big plot twist coming ALL ALONG. Definitely good characters, I need to feel emotional attachment to them, whether positive or negative.