What are the characteristics of good novel thriller books?

Good ones often have complex characters. For example, they might have a character with a hidden past or a mental disorder that drives the plot. In 'The Silence of the Lambs', Hannibal Lecter is a very complex and disturbing character.

The pacing is crucial. It needs to be fast - paced to keep the thriller aspect alive. In 'The Girl on the Train', the quick revelations and unexpected turns create a thrilling atmosphere while the main character's romantic entanglements add another layer. And there should be high - stakes situations that not only affect the thriller part but also the relationship between the characters.

In horror fiction, a sense of atmosphere is crucial. Books like 'Dracula' create a spooky and foreboding atmosphere that adds to the horror. They might also use supernatural elements effectively. Psychological thrillers, on the other hand, are all about mind games. They often have unreliable narrators. Take 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' for example. The mother's narration makes you question what's really going on as she tries to come to terms with her son's actions.

One characteristic is high tension. For example, in many of these books, the main character is often in a life - threatening situation. This creates a sense of urgency and keeps the reader engaged.

Psychological thriller fiction books usually have a sense of unease and suspense throughout. The settings are often used to enhance this, like in 'In a Dark, Dark Wood' where the isolated location of the bachelorette party creates a feeling of being trapped. Also, they tend to have unexpected plot twists. 'The Silent Patient' is full of such twists that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

The element of mystery is key. There are clues and red herrings scattered throughout the story. The authors use these to mislead the reader and make the final revelation more surprising. The protagonists in these books are often in some sort of danger, either physically or psychologically. This creates a sense of urgency and keeps the reader hooked. There is also often a cat - and - mouse game between the detective or the good guy and the criminal, which is very exciting to read.

One characteristic is the suspense. They keep you on the edge of your seat, not knowing what will happen next. For example, in 'And Then There Were None' by Agatha Christie, the mystery of who the killer is among the group on the island builds and builds.

The top 100 thriller novels often involve mystery and danger. The characters are usually in some sort of peril, like in 'In Cold Blood' where the victims are in a life - threatening situation. They also tend to be fast - paced. Readers are quickly drawn into the action from the very beginning, as seen in many of these novels. And they can be very psychological, delving into the minds of the characters and their motives, just like in 'The Shining' which explores the psychological breakdown of the main character.

Well, they often have young protagonists, usually in their teens. These characters are thrown into extraordinary and often dangerous situations. For example, in 'The Hunger Games', Katniss has to fight for her life in a brutal game. Another characteristic is fast - paced action. There are a lot of twists and turns, like in 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' where the mystery unfolds in unexpected ways. Also, they usually explore themes relevant to young people such as identity, friendship, and coming of age while still maintaining a high level of suspense.

Well, in these types of books, there's often a sense of mystery. For example, in 'Rebecca' itself, the mystery of the first Mrs. de Winter haunts the whole story. There's also usually a romantic relationship that is intertwined with the crime or thriller elements. It could be a relationship that is at risk because of the crime, like in many stories where one partner may be suspected of something and the other has to decide whether to trust them or not.