Chilling Thrillers for the Spooky Season

As the days get darker and the nights grow longer, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a story full of twists and suspense. Whether you love dark secrets or fast-paced thrills, our shelves are packed with books that will keep you hooked. This spooky season, trade haunted houses for haunted minds and check out one of these thrilling reads.

Looking for fast-paced suspense? Paula Hawkins’ “A Slow Fire Burning” (FIC Haw) unravels dark secrets connected to a shocking crime that changes everything. Riley Sager’s “The Last Time I Lied” (FIC Sag) is a twisty psychological thriller about a woman who returns to the summer camp where her friends vanished years ago. As she uncovers new clues, she begins to question what really happened and who she can trust. Karin Slaughter’s “Pretty Girls” (FIC Sla) follows two sisters forced to face their haunted past when tragedy strikes again.

Some thrillers are so gripping they’ve been adapted into unforgettable films and TV shows. Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psycho” (FIC Ellis) centers on a successful Wall Street professional whose polished exterior hides a chillingly violent nature. Caroline Kepnes’ “You” (FIC Kep) introduces a charming bookstore clerk whose obsession with love quickly spirals into something far more sinister. This fast-paced psychological thriller offers a chilling look into the mind of a stalker who believes he’s the hero of the story. Gillian Flynn’s “Sharp Objects” (FIC Fly) follows a journalist returning to her hometown to cover a string of murders. As she digs deeper, long-buried trauma and family secrets come to light in unsettling ways.

For readers who enjoy staying in a twisted world a little longer, these popular thriller series deliver even more intrigue. Jeneva Rose’s “The Perfect Marriage” (FIC Ros) and its sequel “The Perfect Divorce” (FIC Rose Perfect v.2) trace the unraveling lives of a high-profile defense attorney and her husband, as their seemingly perfect world is consumed by secrets, lies, and courtroom drama. Lisa Jewell’s “The Family Upstairs” (FIC Jewell Family v.1) duology begins with a mysterious inheritance and a house with a sinister past, weaving together multiple timelines and voices. The follow-up, “The Family Remains” (FIC Jew), continues the story with new revelations and unexpected consequences.

There’s never been a better time to discover your next favorite thriller. These titles, and more, are available and ready to check out with your library card. Stop by our second floor Info desk if you need help finding any of these books. Many are also available to check out digitally on our free Libby app.