Guess what, guess what, guess what? Fall is nearly here! I don’t know if you’re a fan of the fall, but I know a lot of people are! I know what I’m most looking forward to is Halloween and spooky season! With that comes gripping thrillers and spooky books that will set the mood for this time of year!
What kind of books do you typically think about this time of year? Do you like to read more uplifting books, or would you rather read darker books?
I know for me, I always think about reading darker books, whether that is one of the gripping thrillers or a horror book. Our days are starting to get shorter, which means we have more darkness during our days. I completely understand if some of you guys would rather read something lighter.
I’m pretty sure fall is the time of year when people start getting into seasonal depression. Or at least by the end of fall, they do. So, trust me, I get it!
For most of the fall, I would much rather stick with the darker books, and then closer to winter time, I like to start reading more uplifting books. This way, it helps me get into the new year in a bit of a happier mood, especially considering that by November and December is when I start to hit that slump.
During the fall is a great time for gripping thrillers and spooky reads! So here are some great gripping thrillers that are perfect for cozy fall afternoons.
Top gripping thrillers perfect for fall days
I feel like it’s hard to find good books anymore. At least in a way. There are so many “popular” books that get promoted that wind up not being all that good. Some of these gripping thrillers are one’s I know personally are good because I’ve read it but there are other’s where I’ve read other books by the author and loved their writing style. I know that doesn’t garuntee that the book will be good but they are highly likely to be good!
The Silent Patient
I could have sworn I read The Silent Patient. This just goes to show how I tend to forget things that I’ve read. I mean, that’s partly good and partly bad in a way when it comes to gripping thrillers. That’s mostly because I get the thrill to reread a really good book, but if I don’t remember if I like it, then I’m practically wasting time on a book I didn’t like.
This just means that I need to reread this book so I can remember, because I know this book is highly popular. When it first came out, I remember how much praise the story was getting. If any of you guys would love to buddy read this one, then let me know!
Here is what The Silent Patient is about.
Alicia’s life looks perfect on the outside. She’s a famous painter and is married to an in-demand fashion photographer. She lives in a huge house that looks over a park in just one of London’s most desirable areas. One night, her husband comes home late from a fashion shoot, and she shoots him five times and doesn’t speak another word.
People’s imaginations run wild when she won’t talk or explain what happened, turning domestic violence into something much bigger. In return, it turns her fame into something much bigger. Her artwork starts to skyrocket as she’s hidden away in a secure forensic unit.
Theo is a criminal psychotherapist who has wanted the opportunity to work with Alicia for a long while. He’s determined to get her to talk and figure out why she shot her husband, and it ultimately takes him down a windy path into why he wants to do this and to search for something that just might consume him.
The Perfect Marriage
I swear, The Perfect Marriage is one of the gripping thrillers on this list that seemed to blow up almost overnight. It’s for good reason, too, because this story has twists and turns throughout the entire book.
The good thing is that the second book, The Perfect Divorce, is also out now too so you can get both of them knocked out. Granted, if I’m going to be honest, I didn’t like the second book as much as this one, only because it’s basically the first book rehashed.
Here is what The Perfect Marriage is about.
Sarah is a very successful and powerful defence attorney. She lives in Washington, D.C., and at 33 years old, she was just named a partner at the firm where she works. Everything in life is going as she planned.
But things are different for her husband, Adam. He’s a writer and has been struggling to make his career successful. He also starts to get tired of his relationship with Sarah. She doesn’t really pay attention to him anymore. All she does is work around the clock, not paying him any mind.
Instead of being honest, Adam is having an affair with a woman named Kelly in his and Sarah’s secluded second home.
But then everything changes when Adam is arrested for Kelly’s murder. She was found stabbed to death in their second home.
Soon, Sarah finds herself as her husband’s own defender. He’s a man being blamed for murdering his mistress, but is he guilty or innocent?
Love, Mom
Surprisingly, I haven’t heard of this one before doing some research on this post. What better way to spend a fall night than to read a book that reveals a family’s secret? If I were stuck in a situation like this, I would be so mad!
I’m the type of person who doesn’t want to be involved in any unnecessary drama. I don’t want to find out any secrets that are going to change how I feel about someone or might incriminate me in some way.
Here is what Love, Mom is about!
Mackenzie’s mother is a bestselling author and is very well known for writing thrillers. What sucks for Mackenzie is that she lives in her shadow.
When her mom dies in an “accident”, she’s left with a little more than grief. She has so many questions.
But then she receives a letter. In the letter are pages from her mom’s diary and a creepy message.
Want to know a secret? Love, Mom.
When more letters start showing up, Mackenzie starts to find out about buried family secrets, and some are worth killing for.
Room for Rent
The only two books I’ve read by Noelle are Ask for Andrea and Run on Red. And between those two, I definitely liked Run on Red better than Ask for Andrea.
I do have to say that her books are just a bit misleading. At least they are for me. It comes across as a horror book. I went into these books thinking that they were going to be horror, but that’s not the case. That was ultimately my fault for not paying attention and going into the books with the wrong mindset.
I do kind of want to read this one, though. It’s books like this that make me realize how lucky I am that I haven’t had to deal with a roommate!
Here is what Room for Rent is about.
Nya is forced to rent a rundown home. She can’t afford anything else. At first, it doesn’t seem so bad. But then she notices someone is stealing her food. Someone starts rattling her bedroom doorknob and then digging through her stuff.
Each night only seems to be worse and brings more disturbing stuff. The longer it goes, the more she’s convinced that it’s not an intruder. She thinks they are hiding in plain sight: her kind of strange roommate, Sidney. She wouldn’t even have a roommate if she didn’t have to, and she can’t afford to live anywhere else.
The terrible rental is the only option she has right now. But in just a few short months, she’ll be finished with her final semester of college and be able to get the hell out of there. But to her surprise, the scary mind games are only the beginning. Not long after, she has to face the possibility that her physical safety might be at risk.
The truth is a lot scarier than Nya could have imagined. As things spiral out of control, it’s clear that surviving through the night might not be an option.
That’s Not My Name
That’s Not My Name is one of the gripping thrillers that I haven’t stopped hearing about lately. In fact, I’m pretty sure I got an advanced copy of this one, but I haven’t had the chance to read it yet.
I don’t know what it is about memory loss thrillers that always catches my attention, but this is definitely one of those books! In fact, I know I’m going to have to make sure I read this one next month!
Here is what That’s Not My Name is about!
A teenager wakes up on the side of the road, shivering and bruised up. She has no memory of how she got there or even who she is. Thankfully, an officer passes by and takes her to the police station. After they get there, a frantic man shows up, and he’s been searching for her. He has her school ID, birth certificate, and family photos. He says that he is her father and that her name is Mary. Or at least that’s what he says.
Lola slams the car door and storms off in the night. Drew thinks they just need time to cool off. But then she disappears, and the whole town is convinced that he murdered her. He wants to prove his innocence, but first, he needs to find her before it’s too late. The longer she’s missing, the more danger they are both in.
Incidents Around the House
I’m going to be honest, Incidents Around the House isn’t one of my favorite gripping thrillers. But I understand why it’s so wildly popular. It’s creepy, and the ending is wild. I’m just going to leave it at that.
I know I’m in the minority with not liking this one, so make sure to check it out! Especially considering that there will be a movie coming out of it soon!
Here is what Incidents Around the House is about!
Bela is eight years old, and her family means everything to her. There’s her mom, dad, and Grandma Ruth. But then there’s another mommy. She’s an entity who asks every day, “Can I go inside your heart?”
But then things start happening around the house, making things worse. This only goes to tell Bela that Other Mommy is tired of asking if she can go inside her heart. She ultimately understands that unless she says yes, soon her family will pay.
She’s starting to get fidgety, stronger, daring. The bond of family is the only thing that is able to keep Bela safe, but there are things that are beginning to show cracks in her parents’ marriage. The safety she relies on is slowly starting to unravel.
Other Mommy needs an answer now.
The Sundown Motel
It has been a while since I read The Sundown Motel, and honestly, I don’t remember a whole lot about it. However, I do kind of remember that I liked it. It’s just that I don’t remember what exactly about it that I enjoyed.
When this book first came out, I remember there being a whole lot of hype surrounding this book in the horror and thriller community. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it either!
I’m not sure what it is about creepy hotels and houses that always catches my attention, but I love them!
Here is what The Sun Down Motel is about.
There are secrets surrounding a rundown motel. Those secrets have caught the attention of a young woman just like they did her aunt thirty-five years before.
The story takes place in upstate NY. Every small town, just like Fell, New York, has a place just like the Sun Down Motel. Some of the guests are from out of town and just passing through to get to something better. Then there are the locals who are trying to hide their secrets. Viv works there as a night clerk to help pay for her move. Something isn’t right with the motel, and she’s determined to figure out its secrets.
The Tenant
The Tenant is another thriller that I have been seeing a lot of buzz around over the past year or so. This one has grabbed my attention as well, and I’ve been debating whether or not I want to try and read it or not. I’m almost positive that this is one that I will like, though.
Have you read The Tenant yet? Let me know in the comments what you thought about it, if you have!
Here is what The Tenant is about!
Blake is high on life. That is, until he’s not. He was suddenly fired from his job as VP of marketing, and now he’s unable to make the mortgage payment on the new home he shares with his fiancée. He’s desperate to make ends meet.
Then there’s Whitney. She’s beautiful and charming. She’s looking for a room to rent, and she’s just what Blake is looking for! Or is she?
After she moves in, he realizes something isn’t right. The neighbors start treating him differently. Then there’s the fact that he starts to smell decay in his house, no matter how much he cleans. Weird noises wake him in the middle of the night, and soon he starts to worry that someone knows his darkest secrets.
Danger lives at his house, and when he realizes it, it’s way too late.
The Surrogate Mother
Reading the synopsis of The Surrogate Mother sends chills up my spine. I’m sure it would feel the same way for other moms, or at least other women who want children. I understand the thought of wanting children, but struggling to have any (thankfully not anymore for us).
To me, having to use a surrogate is scary enough. I don’t know what it is, but I feel like so much could go wrong using someone as a surrogate. Also, what if they wind up being untrustworthy?
The Surrogate Mother only goes to show that I’m not the only one who thinks about this, either! This is definitely one I want to try and read soon.
Here is what The Surrogate Mother is about.
Abby has been wanting a baby more than anything.
She’s had years of failed infertility treatments. She’s tried adopting, but they always seem to fall through. With everything that has happened, it feels like motherhood isn’t going to be in her future. But then her personal assistant, Monica, offers a generous solution to make her dreams come true.
Or maybe her nightmares.
It turns out that Monica isn’t who she says she is. Abby finds out that she has some dark, twisted secrets, and she won’t stop to get what she wants.
Drift by L.T. Ryan
This is probably the only one that I’m not exactly hyped up to read, but that’s only because I’m not a fan of thrillers that revolve around cops. I know, I know the main character isn’t exactly a cop, but I do feel like she’s cop adjacent, and she teams up with a cop.
Don’t ask me why I’m not a fan of cop related thrillers because I’m not even fully sure why. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they are trained to deal with people like this, so it kind of takes the “fun” out of the book for me, and it takes me out of the story.
With that being said, I know that there are many of you who would actually really enjoy this story!
Here is what Drift is about.
Rachel is an ex-army criminal investigator, but now she’s a drifter. She doesn’t have a home, and she doesn’t have any commitments. That is, until her sister’s drowning brings her back to the town she left fifteen years ago.
She’s convinced her sister’s death wasn’t an accident, so she partners with the sheriff, Dalton, to figure out what happened. Every answer they figure out only unlocks another question. As everything starts to unravel, the two of them find that their lives are on the line.
Unfortunately, she’s forced to use her special skill set if she ever wants to learn the truth about her sister and give her justice.
Conclusion to thrillers you have to read
I know there are so many more gripping thrillers that could be added to this list. Sometimes it’s so hard to figure out what thrillers are at the top of the game and what everyone likes. If there are any that you think should be added to this list, then please let me know! I love hearing about all of the books that you guys enjoy!
If you enjoy this post, then maybe you’ll like my post on domestic thrillers!