classic thrillers novels

There are quite a few great dark thrillers. 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' by Patricia Highsmith is a classic. It follows the devious Tom Ripley as he gets involved in all sorts of dark deeds. This novel is known for its exploration of the dark side of human nature. Then there's 'In the Woods' by Tana French. It combines elements of mystery, dark secrets from the past, and a complex investigation that slowly unfolds and reveals more and more disturbing things.

Well, 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins is a great classic psychological thriller novel. It's told from the perspective of an unreliable narrator, which adds to the mystery and psychological intrigue. 'Misery' by Stephen King is also a classic. The psychological torment that the main character endures at the hands of his 'number one fan' is truly nerve - wracking. And 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' by Patricia Highsmith is a classic that explores the dark side of envy and identity through the character of Tom Ripley.

Well, 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiell Hammett is a classic in the thriller genre. It has a hard - boiled detective and a convoluted plot involving a valuable statuette. 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote is also a significant one. It's a non - fictional thriller that tells the story of a real - life murder in a very engaging and suspenseful way. And 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler, with its tough private detective and seedy underworld setting.

Classic thrillers novels have had a huge influence on modern literature. For example, their use of suspense. In modern mystery and thriller books, we often see the same techniques of building up tension that were used in classic thrillers like 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' by Arthur Conan Doyle. The way classic thrillers created complex characters, such as the morally ambiguous ones in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde, has also been adopted in modern literature.

Gillian Flynn is a well - known author of classic psychological thrillers. Her book 'Gone Girl' was a huge success. Lionel Shriver, the author of 'We Need to Talk About Kevin', delves deep into the psychological aspects of a mother - son relationship. And Robert Bloch, the writer of 'Psycho', is renowned for creating a truly terrifying psychological thriller.

'The Woman in the Window' by A.J. Finn was quite popular in 2017. It was a psychological thriller about an agoraphobic woman who witnesses a crime from her window. The book was full of suspense and had a really interesting take on the unreliable narrator trope.

Yes, spy novels are often considered a subgenre of thrillers. They usually involve elements of suspense, mystery, and danger that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Well, 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn is also a great psychological thriller. It plays with the concept of marriage and how people can be so different from what they seem. The twists and turns in the plot keep readers on the edge of their seats. And then there's 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier. The mystery surrounding the first wife, Rebecca, is full of psychological intrigue.

I also think 'An Anonymous Girl' by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a top 2019 thriller novel. It's a psychological thriller that explores the relationship between a young woman who signs up for a mysterious study and the psychologist conducting it. The power dynamics and the slow - burn mystery make it a really captivating read.

Another notable thriller from 2018 novels was 'My Sister, the Serial Killer' by Oyinkan Braithwaite. It had a unique premise where the main character had to deal with her sister's murderous tendencies. The cultural backdrop of Nigeria added an extra layer of intrigue, and the cat - and - mouse dynamic between the sisters was filled with suspense.