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

[SorchaMumsnet]

From global bestseller Cathy Glass comes gripping new crime novel The Darkness Within, written under the name of Lisa Stone.

When critically ill Jacob Wilson is given a life-saving heart transplant, his parents are relieved that their darling son has been saved.

However, before long, his family are forced to accept that something has changed in Jacob. Their once loving son is slowly being replaced by a violent man whose mood swings leave them terrified – but is it their fault?

Jacob's girlfriend, Rosie, is convinced the man she loves is suffering from stress. But when his moods turn on her, she begins to doubt herself – and she can only hide the bruises for so long.

When a terrible crime is committed, Jacob's family are forced to confront their darkest fears. Has the boy they raised become a monster, or is someone else to blame? You know your son better than anyone... don't you?

To be in with a chance of winning a copy of The Darkness Within plus a £100 Love2Shop voucher, just tell us: what makes a good thriller? Give examples of your favourites if you like!

This discussion is sponsored by Avon and closes at midday Wednesday 9 August

Books T&Cs apply

A great twist or two! Character development, good pacing and descriptive writing.

Good characters and a bit of noir

Really good descriptions of the environment, characters and a really good sense of place does it for me. It all helps build the atmosphere and make the book immersive. I remember Peter Hoeg's 'Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow' making an impression on me and was one of the first Scandi Noir books that I loved - the first of many.

I like a thriller which tells the stories of several seemingly unconnected events and people and then slowly brings them together to be connected in a way you couldn't imagine. This is perfectly illustrated in the book 'I Am Pilgrim' by Terry Hayes.

A plot that keeps you guessing is a must. And it's even better if you've started to think you know what happened and there is a plot twist that completely throws you and you didn't see coming.
If you struggle to put the book down when you really have to stop reading and do something, that's a sign of a great book.

Twists and a plot that keeps me glued to the book

It's difficult for a writer to achieve but I enjoy a thriller that is not predictable. I think with both books and films it's hard to write an unpredictable plot twist or ending that hasn't already been done to death. One of my favourite thriller writers is Dean Koontz because his stories take me to places I'm not expecting to go. The secret is to get your reader comfortable and then pull the rip-cord!

In a good thriller you can't guess the twist until right at the end, it keeps you guessing all the way through.

suspense, mystery and a good twist

It's needs to give you red herrings! You need to be able to have some ideas yourself on what happened/is happening, but then you need to be surprised. The story cannot be predictable but you have to have some ideas and that only makes you more keen to know the truth!
For example 'Girl on the train' by Paula Hawkins, makes you think you know one thing, then allows you to work out the truth just as you're being told and it shocks you - I love that.

When you're almost too afraid to read it alone or at night!

Believable and likeable characters, interesting and not too far-fetched sub-plots to lead you off course, but most of all, the twist must be unexpected and unpredictable while remaining totally credible.

I love it when I am in awe of the actual twist or solution and immediately tell (usually DH who remains stoically disinterested) the person I am with, or the dog, or thin air if I'm on my own, that I didn't see it coming AT ALL...

Mystery and gripping storyline

Something relatable, a plot twist... and the unknown at the same time

I like a complicated story (but not too complicated to follow), lots of unexpected plot twists, a fast pace and being kept in suspense all the way through. I also like the story to come to a proper conclusion and not leaving me hanging with an unsatisfactory ending!

I don't like anything too graphic, I like subtle twists and turns and interesting, complex, but believable characters.

I like it when the premise is believable, as I become more immersed in the story. Good, strong characters (but not too many that you lose track of who is who, nor lots with similar names) who interact well. Twists which work, and a plot that does not just hang on one coincidence after another.

The thing that spoils it for me is the inclusion of the next chapter at the back of the book, especially if I don't know. There was something I read a few years back in which the last 40 pages or so were taken up like this, but I didn't know when I was reading it. Therefore, when the concluding twist happened (which was fairly obvious anyway) I ignored it, thinking the 'proper' ending was coming shortly, only to turn the page and realise I was at the end of the story. It really spoilt the book for me.

The other thing I hate only occurs in one series of books (so not widespread), but it is making me wonder about giving up reading them, which is a shame as the stories themselves are great. Basically, Book 1 ended up with a huge twist, in a way outwith the story itself, which related to the backstory of one of the protagonists (Bk1P1). Fair enough, it's an imaginative ending and leads into Book 2. Only it didn't. Book 2 set off with a different protagonist, though Bk1P1 did appear halfway through. Story ends, almost with an appendix, with a similar 'twist' to Book 1. And then the same story with Book 3. It's a shame, as, whilst the ending was good in Bk1, and annoying but ok in Bk2, carrying it on for yet another book seems more lazy than clever.

good story and well written

Teasers, plot twists and clever, in depth characters

A likeable main character - one that you can emphasise with.

A big twist that you really didn't see coming.

A chilling story that makes you want to turn the light on!

Recently I've enjoyed:

The Sister - Louise Jensen
Behind Closed Doors - B A Paris

suspense, suspense, suspense. Even if that suspense is never released, the threat of things happening keeps the emotions going. Multiple suspects also goes a long way.

Something exciting so that you can't put the book down!
I think it helps if it is very descriptive so that you can really picture what is going on!

I think a good plot with lots of twists makes a good thriller. I don't like it when you can guess what's going to happen. The 'hero' of the story should also be a character that you like. James Patterson is an author who I think does this brilliantly. The Alex cross series is brilliant xx

A good plot twist not something that can easily be guesses and good characters , characters that you can get lost in and when something happens it leaves you shocked

It is not about the gore or even the detailed description but it is about the intrigue, the engaging start and the suspense. I hate being able to work out the ending without a lot of anticipation and wonder and this is what really gets the reader thinking and excited