A non-shit non-ridiculous twist thriller rec please

[BottomWibblyWob]

I have a book token left over from Xmas and normally read thrillers though lately I’ve dabbled in chick lit, but I’d like to read a good thriller again.

I got sick of thrillers because they just got so ridiculous and I’m sick of the twists being bonkers like “It turns out his wife was actually the cat”

Thrillers I enjoyed were things like The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean, Lisa Jewell’s The Family Upstairs and BA Paris Behind Closed Doors. Creep thrillers!

Any recommendations please?

Or Alex Smith and the DCI Kett books

Riley Sager is my favourite author! I love the twists and turns I don't see coming.

I've also just read Jar of Hearts that was pretty good!

I thought he was on here? Didn't get pop up on a thread?

Daisy Darker is one of my least liked books of 2024. Really don't recommend.

Any other Lisa Jewell, Daisy Darker and Strange Sally Diamond. I assume you've already read Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, Before I Go To Sleep.

Ah what?!

I keep recommending it on here but All the Colours of the Dark by Christ Whitaker is absolutely brilliant.

Stayed with me for ages.

I know what you mean about the ridiculous plot twists OP. I also hate when plots are just a very powerful and mysterious serial killer who only kills women. Sexist crap festivals.
I went back to reading victorian fiction, boy did they have mental plot twists. I have read and enjoyed Woman in White and the Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and Sherlock Holmes is good for a laugh in that respect as well.
I love the Jack Reacher books, he usually has a fairly solid twist or two. And the bad guys ask for it. I love a satisfying retribution tale.

Anything Lisa Jewell. I particularly liked None of This Is True.

I enjoyed Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter. It was written in an unusual style (a bit like None of This is True) so took some time to get into, but once I got used to the style I really liked it.

Sorry folks but KL Slater is a big nooooo from me. I can't stand overly descriptive writing though - even 'her buttery blonde highlighted hair' gets on my tits

I had recently tried to read 'Message Deleted' and had to abandon as plot was too ludicrous and writing was too irritating. But as pp said - we all have very individual tastes, and I'm obviously missing something, as she has loads of 5 star reviews.

OMG I read Nightwatching as an early review copy. It was absolutely brilliant. I haven't seen anyone else mention!

Go and check it out everyone!!!

@TinyMouseTheatre @CatamaranViper
Somebody definitely posted as JD Kirk on a thread - but given how posters can call themselves anything as a user name, there's no guarantee it was him! I see MN referenced quite frequently in books - generally associated with characters wearing Boden!

Jane Harper?

Very much enjoyed The Lost Man.

Another Lisa Jewell recommendation here. Many of her latest novels are thriller/mysteries.

I recently read The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell and whilst it’s not an out and out thriller, it’s quite nervy and tense the whole way through. I absolutely loved it.

I enjoyed these too - there was a thread a few months back about books with unusual formats and I think I picked these up as a recommendation from there, although I like Lisa Jewell generally. Also Janice Hallet - I think The Appeal was the best of hers.

People also recommending Liane Moriarty. Didn't like Nine Perfect Strangers, plot was too contrived (a bit like Lucy Foley) but like everything else of hers I've read.

My favourite book is The Swimming Pool by Louise Candlish

I get Clare MacKintosh and Clare Douglas mixed up, also Claire McGowan - I think they are all OK thriller writers though.

I wouldn't go for Daisy Darker if you don't like books stretching credibility...

I've just bought Nightwatching off the back of this thread!

I’ll go with both of these recommendations - I read The Marriage Portrait last year and found it really poignant. And yes, I know what you mean about nervy and tense - I kept hoping for a different outcome.

I was introduced to Shari Lapena books by a friend on holiday last year and got absolutely hooked on them. Everything else just gets pushed to one side when I’ve got in of hers on the go. I’ve just come across Alison James recently and am currently binge-reading my way through her books.

The new Lianne Moriarty is good.

Another vote for Liane Moriarty, though I wouldn’t call the majority of her books thrillers. My favourite of hers is What Alice Forgot which is definitely not a thriller but still a great read!

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

I've just read Random by Craig Robertson and honestly I didn't see the end coming and I read a lot of crime thrillers. I really enjoyed it, his second book Snapshot was also really good, the end was quiet shocking though.

Finished Nightwatching. Bits of it were really obvious, won't post spoilers, but it was interesting. One I would recommend maybe.