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Nothing thrills readers like a twist they never saw coming.
Let’s be honest, the best thrillers live and die by that one mind-bending reveal, but few can actually pull it off. Gone Girl and Shutter Island are two perfect examples of books (and now movies) that accomplish just that, each delivering a final twist that’ll leave you sideways, gasping for air.
Last year, Fool Me Once—adapted from Harlan Coben’s 2016 #1 New York Times bestselling novel with the same name—was a smash hit on Netflix, not only dominating viewership charts but also sparking endless conversation amongst viewers who walked away stunned by the series’ shocking double-twist ending.
The most successful adaption of Coben’s work thus far, fans of his books—and fans of the various shows he’s been part of since signing a massive contract with the streaming giant—have widely praised the finale of Fool Me Once.
A heart-pounding thriller that’ll rock you to your core, that book remains one of the best I’ve ever covered, with few titles ever coming close to replicating that sort of sweaty-palms, dry-mouth, heart-thumping experience. Then again, there’s a reason they call Coben the “King of the double-twist.” And he’s proved it time and time again.
That said, there are a few books that can produce a similar “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!” moment, and you can read all about them below.
The very best of the best, these ten thrillers will do a real number on you. Mind-bending and full of twists that you’ll never see coming, I dug deep, going through thousands of books I’ve covered during my time as The Real Book Spy, to make sure that every title mentioned here will leave you speechless, trying to process what just happened. Because after all, that’s the rush we crave, no?
What makes Shutter Island, Gone Girl, and Fool Me Once such brilliant works is that 99.999% of readers will never see the endings coming . . . and yet, once all is revealed, after you facepalm and recover your breath, you realize that it’s the only thing that ever made sense to begin with. It’s so good, that feeling. And these other thrillers deliver that same kind of shocking finale.
So—be warned, because as I said above, you’re about to be rocked to your core.
Happy reading!
Originally Released On: September 20, 2016
Ten years after the high-profile kidnapping of two young boys, only one returns home in this gripping #1 New York Times bestselling Myron Bolitar thriller from the bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger.
A decade ago, kidnappers grabbed two boys from wealthy families and demanded ransom, then went silent. No trace of the boys ever surfaced. For ten years their families have been left with nothing but painful memories and a quiet desperation for the day that has finally, miraculously arrived: Myron Bolitar and his friend Win believe they have located one of the boys, now a teenager. Where has he been for ten years, and what does he know about the day, more than half a life ago, when he was taken? And most critically: What can he tell Myron and Win about the fate of his missing friend? Drawing on his singular talent, Harlan Coben delivers an explosive and deeply moving thriller about friendship, family, and the meaning of home.
Why You Should Read It: This one’s a no-brainer. Fool Me Once (mentioned above) is based on Harlan Coben’s novel, so naturally, if you loved it, you’ll want to dive into more of his books. Like Fool Me Once, Home packs one of Coben’s trademark twists: the kind of reveal you never see coming but, in hindsight, feels like the only possible answer. It’s clever, shocking, and perfectly executed—exactly the sort of jaw-dropping payoff that makes Coben the master of the twisty thriller.
Originally Released On: July 18, 2017
From “one of the best thriller writers in the business” (Associated Press) comes a novel praised by Harlan Coben as “mesmerizing, gripping…the perfect blend of complex characters, plot twists galore, and great psychological suspense.”
Sometimes the person you thought you knew best…
Turns out to be someone you never really knew at all.
The crash that killed him
Two years ago, Jane Norton crashed her car on a lonely road, killing her friend David and leaving her with amnesia. At first, everyone was sympathetic. Then they found Jane’s note: I wish we were dead together.
A girl to blame
From that day the town turned against her. But even now Jane is filled with questions: Why were they on that road? Why was she with David? Did she really want to die?
The secrets she should forget
Most of all, she must find out who has just written her an anonymous message: I know what really happened. I know what you don’t remember…
Don’t miss Jeff Abbott’s most chilling thriller to date–perfect for readers of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl, or The Woman in Cabin 10.
“One of my favorite writers.” — Laura Lippman, New York Times bestselling author
“If you like Harlan Coben, read this book. Taut, twisty, and elegantly-written, with an ending you won’t see coming.” — Sarah Pekkanen, bestselling author of The Perfect Neighbors
“Jeff Abbott is a master…I am, and always have been, a devoted fan.”-Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling autho
Why You Should Read It: After the runaway success of Gone Girl, I was certain Jeff Abbott’s nail-biting thriller would be fast-tracked for the big screen. To this day, I can’t believe it hasn’t happened. But here’s the thing—you will NEVER guess how this story unfolds. Consider that a challenge. Outside of Harlan Coben’s Fool Me Once, no book has rocked me harder.
The premise is irresistible: Jane, a young woman ostracized by her entire town after she’s in a car crash that kills David, the local golden boy, and her close friend. Rumors swirl that Jane crashed on purpose, fueled by whispers that she had feelings David didn’t return. The catch? Jane has no memory of the accident. She can’t fathom ever hurting him, but the truth is buried in the shadows of her own mind. Then one day, a stranger messages her online claiming to know what really happened—and from that moment, Abbott pulls readers into a taut, brilliantly twisted psychological puzzle. The ending? Absolute genius. The kind of finale that leaves you stunned, breathless, and flipping back through pages just to see how you missed it.
Originally Released On: June 20, 2023
The New York Times bestselling “new Agatha Christie” (Air Mail) Ruth Ware returns with this adrenaline-fueled thriller that combines Mr. and Mrs. Smith with The Fugitive about a woman in a race against time to clear her name and find her husband’s murderer.
Hired by companies to break into buildings and hack security systems, Jack and her husband, Gabe, are the best penetration specialists in the business. But after a routine assignment goes horribly wrong, Jack arrives home to find her husband dead. To add to her horror, the police are closing in on their suspect—her.
Suddenly on the run and quickly running out of options, Jack must decide who she can trust as she circles closer to the real killer in this unputdownable and heart-pounding mystery from an author whose “propulsive prose keeps readers on the hook and refuses to let anyone off until all has been revealed” (Shelf Awareness)
Why You Should Read It: Ruth Ware has often been hailed as a modern-day Agatha Christie—and it’s easy to see why. She’s a master at lulling readers into a false sense of security before pulling the rug out with one jaw-dropping twist after another. Zero Days is no exception. The story follows Jack, a professional “penetration specialist” hired by corporations to test and expose security vulnerabilities. But when a routine job goes catastrophically wrong and her husband is brutally murdered, Jack suddenly finds herself framed for the crime. With the police closing in, she’s forced to go on the run—determined to clear her name and unmask the real killer.
Of course, in true Ware fashion, nothing is as simple as it seems. This one is packed with shocks, turns, and gut-punch reveals that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Originally Released On: February 3, 2015
A devious tale of psychological suspense so irresistible that it prompts Entertainment Weekly to ask, “Is The Kind Worth Killing the next Gone Girl?” From one of the hottest new thriller writers, Peter Swanson, a name you may not know yet (but soon will), this is his breakout novel in the bestselling tradition of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train—and is soon to be a major movie directed by Agnieszka Holland.
In a tantalizing set-up reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train… On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the stunning and mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing very intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage that’s going stale and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. Ted and his wife were a mismatch from the start—he the rich businessman, she the artistic free spirit—a contrast that once inflamed their passion, but has now become a cliché.
But their game turns a little darker when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.” After all, some people are the kind worth killing, like a lying, stinking, cheating spouse. . .
Why You Should Read It: Peter Swanson’s The Kind Worth Killing isn’t just a thriller—it’s a masterclass in psychological suspense. With a setup that nods to Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, Swanson takes the familiar premise of two strangers casually discussing murder and detonates it with a series of twists so diabolical, you’ll find yourself gasping out loud. Each time you think you’ve got this story figured out, Swanson layers reveal upon reveal, each twist more shocking than the last, constantly ripping the floor out from beneath you. The Next Gone Girl? It should have been—and at one point was in development with Amber Heard attached (boy, there’s some rich irony, as her career has taken a, uh, twist, too). Bottom line: this is the kind of novel that makes you cancel plans, stay up way too late, and text your friends in all caps: “YOU HAVE TO READ THIS.”
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Originally Released On: January 9, 2018
The instant New York Times Bestseller (January 2018)!
“A fiendishly smart cat-and-mouse thriller” ―New York Times Book Review
“Buckle up, because you won’t be able to put this one down.” ―Glamour
“Jaw-dropping. Unforgettable. Shocking.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The best domestic suspense novel since Gone Girl.” ―In Touch Weekly
When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.
You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love.
You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.
Assume nothing.
Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen’s The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage – and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.
Read between the lies.
Why You Should Read It: I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like this book, which takes every assumption you make and weaponizes it against you. From the very first page, the tension coils tighter and tighter, daring you to guess where the story is headed. But trust me—you won’t see the truth coming until it slams into you like a freight train. At first glance, the plot seems familiar: a jealous ex-wife, her younger replacement, and the man who binds them together. But I’m warning you now, appearances are deceiving, and Hendricks and Pekkanen delight in using your own logic to subvert expectations. When you think you’ve figured out who’s lying, who’s obsessed, and who’s in danger, the narrative flips on its head, revealing . . . well, you’ll see. A classic, “just one more chapter” thriller that’ll leave you exhausted, emotionally spent, and totally satisfied.
The Wife Between is diabolically twisty and completely unforgettable.