Best thriller of 2026 so far? > Likes and Comments

Now that we're half way through 2026, what has been your favorite book (or 3-5 books) so far this year?

My top 5 so far are:


Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd
The Keeper by Tana French
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan
Redbelly Crossing by Candice Fox

Here are my top 4. However, I had 5 other 5-star books that rated almost as high.

Cold Zero by Brad Thor & Ward Larsen
First Sign of Danger by Kelley Armstrong
The Crossroads by C.J. Box
Fury in Death by J.D. Robb

PamG wrote: "Here are my top 4. However, I had 5 other 5-star books that rated almost as high.

Cold Zero by Brad Thor & Ward Larsen
[book:First Sign of Danger|23112..."

Great list Pam. You've had a great year so far :)

I am taking notes from this thread. What interests me is how different the answers are: some look driven by pace and action, others by atmosphere or moral pressure. That is usually what decides whether a thriller stays with me after the plot details fade.

Vera wrote: "I am taking notes from this thread. What interests me is how different the answers are: some look driven by pace and action, others by atmosphere or moral pressure. That is usually what decides whe..."

I think that's the good thing about thrillers. There is such a wide range of genres, pacing, intensity, topical commentry, historical and atmospheric settings that your reading can be very varied.

Carolyn, I like that your list spans such different kinds of tension. It is a useful reminder that a best thriller does not have to be the fastest one: sometimes atmosphere, or the sense that a character is making the wrong choice, is what carries it.

Very true Vera. The characters and how they behave under pressure or difficult circumstances are so important in thrillers. That was particularly important in the first three books I've listed there. Those three writers (Kidd, French and Hepworth) all write terrific characters with personalities and flaws that make them real and unique.

Carolyn wrote: "My top 5 so far are:


Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd
The Keepe..."</i>

I totally agree with four of your top 5. The only reason it’s not five for five is I still need to read Redbelly Crossing. Planning to rectify that soon!

I’d add Death and Other Occupational Hazards [bookcover:Death and Other Occupational Hazards by Veronika Dapunt.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Vera, you've put your finger on something I think about a lot as a writer — the distinction between pace-driven tension and choice-driven tension. The best thrillers don't just accelerate; they narrow the character's options until every scene feels like the only path left. That's what made Cold Zero (which PamG mentioned upthread) work so well for me — the stakes weren't just external, they were the result of decisions the protagonist couldn't undo. Do you find that your reading mood shifts between those two kinds of tension, or do you have a clear preference?

My reading mood does shift, but choice-driven tension tends to stay with me longer because it makes the suspense personal. Pace can be exhilarating, yet I remember the moment a character realizes that every available option will cost something.

Not find mine yet

One of the books I've enjoyed this year was Hangman by Faye Kellerman. It's not the fastest-paced thriller, but I really liked how much attention it gives to the investigation itself and the characters behind it. Those are usually the stories that stay with me the longest.

Vera, that distinction you're drawing really resonates — choice-driven tension stays with me longer too, and I think it's because the reader co-owns the decision. When a character chooses the costly option, we feel the weight of it alongside them, whereas pace-driven tension is more of a ride we're being taken on. That's why the most re-readable thrillers tend to be the choice-driven ones — on a second read, you see every fork in the road differently knowing what's coming. Do you ever find yourself re-reading a thriller specifically to watch how the choices line up?

Sean, I hear you — sometimes narrowing down a best-of list is harder than finding the books in the first place. What kind of thriller do you usually gravitate toward when you want something that really sticks? Pace-driven or more of a slow-burn character study?

Very much action thriller, and have a list of favourites

Love a bit of fast pace.

Sean, fast-paced action thrillers at their best feel almost like a controlled burn — the pacing pulls you forward but every beat still lands. Since you mentioned having a list of favourites, I'd love to hear which one stands out as the gold standard for pacing. Any title you keep coming back to?

Daniel wrote: "One of the books I've enjoyed this year was Hangman by Faye Kellerman. It's not the fastest-paced thriller, but I really liked how much attention it gives to the investigation itself and the charac..."

Daniel, I appreciate you mentioning Hangman — books that invest in the investigation itself and the people behind it tend to reward a different kind of attention, don't they? There's something grounding about a thriller that trusts the reader to sit with the details rather than racing past them. Do you find yourself gravitating toward procedurals and character-driven mysteries more often than pure action thrillers?

Mel, yes, definitely — I think what draws me in is watching a character work through a problem methodically rather than just reacting to whatever the plot throws at them next. There's a kind of intimacy to that; you get to know how someone thinks, not just what they do. I actually write in that space myself (forensic-focused crime fiction), so maybe I'm biased, but I do think procedurals reward patience in a way pure action thrillers rarely try to.

Daniel wrote: "Mel, yes, definitely — I think what draws me in is watching a character work through a problem methodically rather than just reacting to whatever the plot throws at them next. There's a kind of int..."

Daniel wrote: "Mel, yes, definitely — I think what draws me in is watching a character work through a problem methodically rather than just reacting to whatever the plot throws at them next. There's a kind of int..."

That's a great perspective, Daniel — and I think writing in the forensic space gives you a lens most readers don't have. You're absolutely right that there's an intimacy in watching a character work through a problem methodically; it reveals how they think, not just what they do. That kind of interiority is harder to pull off than it looks, and it's what separates a memorable procedural from one that just ticks boxes. Do you find that writing forensic fiction has changed how you read thrillers — do you catch yourself analyzing the investigative logic even when you're trying to just enjoy the ride?

Mel, That's definitely happened. I catch myself wondering whether the evidence would actually support a conclusion or whether an investigator would realistically take that next step. But I try not to let it get in the way of enjoying the story. If the characters feel real and the investigation follows its own internal logic, I'm happy to go along with it—even if I'd handle a few details differently in real life. In the end, I'm still reading as a fan first and a writer second.

Great to see new topics, so thanks you three for joining in and building our group discussions.