Ep. 198 is the second episode of our brand-new “Best of…” series. Anderson McKean of Page & Palette Bookstore joined me for the Best of Thrillers, with her all-time TOP TEN favorite thriller novels…and, a couple buzzy thrillers that didn’t work for her.⁠ Also, Anderson talks about how she started reading thrillers, the wide variety available in the genre, and books from her list that would be perfect for those new to the genre!

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• What draws her to the thriller genre.
• From domestic to psychological thrillers, Anderson talks about the variety of the genre.
• Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn’t work for her.
• Anderson picks a few books from her list that would be good starter books for those new to the genre.

Anderson’s All-Time Top Ten Thrillers [10:33]

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:44]
• Room by Emma Donoghue (2010) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:57]
• It Girl by Ruth Ware (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:41]
• A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:16]
• Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:43]
• The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [31:38]
• Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [34:17]
• Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [37:48]
• When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:12]
• These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:37]

High-Profile Thrillers That Did Not She Didn’t Love [48:35] 

• The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:41]
• None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:01]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2021) [13:23]
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (2015) [16:06]
• The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins (2024) [16:13]
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (2021) [16:38]
• The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware (2016) [20:58]
• I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (2023) [21:50]
• Zero Days by Ruth Ware (2023) [23:05]
• Vantage Point by Sara Sligar (2025) [23:11]
• One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware (2024) [23:54]
• The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003) [24:51]
• Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong (2025) [27:35]
• What Have You Done by Shari Lepena (2024) [30:09]
• The Couple Next Door by Shari Lepena (2016) [30:24]
• Someone We Know by Shari Lepena (2019) [30:31]
• Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent (2023) [32:23]
• The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth (2019) [33:26]
• The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth (2022) [33:50]
• The Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth (2023) [33:53]
• Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister (2023) [36:36]
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (2005) [38:04]
• The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum (1980) [39:24]
• In Light of All Darkness by Kim Cross (2023) [42:25]
• The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) [44:17]
• Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller (2015) [47:20]
• The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant (2024) [48:11]
• The Fury by Alex Michaelides (2024) [49:47]
• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (2019) [49:53]