Best Thrillers for Beginners (Fast-Paced & Addictive)

I’ve spent most of my reading life wrapped in romance — small towns, happy endings, and cozy storylines where love wins. But sometimes, I want my pulse to race for a different reason. I want a book that makes me lean forward, flip pages, and forget to check my phone.

That’s what finally pushed me toward thrillers. I’ve learned that I love books that are propulsive and plot-driven, the kind that make you guess until the very end. I like fast-paced chaos. If a thriller lingers too long without delivering tension, I’m out — I’ll DNF it in a heartbeat.

Now, I reach for thrillers as palate cleansers between romance binges. They’re my reading jump-starts — the kind of books that snap me out of a slump. And thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I’ve found so many unputdownable ones that keep my reading rhythm strong, especially when I need a change of pace.

To help me explore this genre, I turned to Sabrina Thatcher (you may remember her as Olivia Day), one half of Thrillers by the Bookclub. She’s the kind of reader who always has a new mystery queued up and has a knack for finding the perfect entry point for any reader. Together, we built a starter TBR that covers every kind of thriller — from locked-room puzzles to romantic suspense.

Here are Sabrina’s must-reads for anyone ready to dive into the genre.

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Sabrina’s Starter Thriller Recommendations

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

A true crime writer retreats to an isolated farmhouse to finish her book — but when a blizzard hits, she finds a child stranded in the snow outside. What unfolds is chilling, layered, and completely bingeable.
Why You’ll Love It: Fast, tense, and cinematic. If you crave an adrenaline rush and love twisty reveals, this is your perfect first pick.

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Hello, Transcriber by Hannah Morrissey

A police transcriber becomes entangled in a case she’s supposed to be documenting — and with the detective behind it.
Why You’ll Love It: Dark and atmospheric with a thread of romantic tension, this one’s ideal if you’re transitioning from romance to thriller. It’s sexy, dangerous, and full of late-night energy.

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Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett

Two childhood friends dare each other to enter a house with a violent past. Years later, one returns after a tragedy, forcing both to confront the trauma that started there.
Why You’ll Love It: A mix of mystery and light paranormal. If you like just a touch of eerie but not full-on horror, this one delivers that perfect goosebump balance.

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Catch Her When She Falls by Allison Buccola

Ten years ago, her boyfriend was convicted of murdering her best friend. Now, as new evidence surfaces, she starts to question everything she thought she knew.
Why You’ll Love It: For readers who love slow-burn mysteries without heavy violence, this one feels like a Netflix true-crime adaptation — smart, emotional, and easy to sink into.

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Dead End Girl by L.T. Vargus & Tim McBain

An FBI agent hunts a serial killer known as the “Doll Parts Killer,” but the case turns personal when her mentor disappears.
Why You’ll Love It: Dark, gritty, and fast-paced. This one’s for readers ready to dive straight into chaos. If you binge Criminal Minds or Mindhunter, you’ll feel right at home here.

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Want More Thriller Book Recommendations

What Kind of Thriller Reader Are You?

If you’re new to the genre, start by asking: What kind of thrill do you crave?

• If you love romance with tension: Try Hello, Transcriber.
  
• If you want a page-turner you can finish in one sitting: Pick The Overnight Guest.
  
• If you prefer eerie and emotional: Go with Beneath the Stairs.
  
• If you like legal or psychological tension: Choose Catch Her When She Falls.
  
• If you want dark, gritty, and fast: Go for Dead End Girl.
  

The best part about thrillers is that they meet you wherever you are — whether you want a light mystery to reset your reading groove or a heart-pounding ride that keeps you up all night.

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Meet Sabrina Thatcher

Sabrina Thatcher (formerly known as Olivia Day) is a Seattle-based thriller writer, reader, and co-host of Thrillers by the Bookclub Podcast. She’s loved mysteries since her Fear Street and Nancy Drew days and is now working on her own revenge-driven thriller. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably watching Law & Order: SVU and cheering for Olivia Benson to take down another villain.

Follow Sabrina on Instagram @thrillersbythebookclubpod.

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Ready to Build Your TBR?

Pair this list with my companion post, Books About Cults That Will Keep You Up All Night — a darker deep dive into manipulation, power, and belief gone wrong.