Eight of The Greatest Psychological Thriller and Suspense Books of All Time | Novel Suspects

The 10 Best Suspense Novels of All Time | by Karen B kish | Reading and Thinking | Medium

The 50 Best Suspense Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

The Silence of the Lambs

El Silencio de los Corderos

The Girl on the Train

La Chica del Tren

Gone Girl

Perdida

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

La Chica del Dragón Tatuado

The protagonist, unnamed, and her spouse, Maxim de Winter, are moving from one European hotel to another, cherishing the memories of a beautiful dwelling called Manderley, which was devastated by fire. Reminiscing about the past, the protagonist remembers how she and Maxim met in Monte Carlo. During this period, she was employed as a travel companion for a wealthy American, Mrs. Van Hopper. Maxim was staying in the same hotel and after a short acquaintance, he proposed. Following their marriage, they moved to Manderley, his ancestral home. However, their life was overshadowed by the untimely demise of Maxim's previous wife, Rebecca, who had drowned near the estate. The presence of Rebecca's loyal housekeeper, the eerie Mrs. Danvers, combined with the constant reminders of Rebecca's perfection, fueled the protagonist's feeling of inferiority and her suspicion that Maxim was still attached to Rebecca.

Every year, a fancy-dress ball was organized at Manderley, and as the event approached, the protagonist found herself enthusiastic. However, the celebration ended poorly when Mrs. Danvers tricked her into wearing the same outfit Rebecca had worn at the previous ball. This had a profound effect on Maxim, and the protagonist became convinced that Maxim was still devoted to his deceased wife. The following day, a shipwreck was discovered near the mansion, and divers found Rebecca's sailboat, with her body inside. This led Maxim to confess to his new wife that Rebecca was a manipulative woman, embroiled in numerous affairs and planning to bear another man's child. In a fit of rage, Maxim had shot her and then sunk her boat with her body inside.

The protagonist's knowledge about Rebecca's true character rejuvenates her marriage, although Maxim soon finds himself facing legal issues. The discovery that Rebecca's boat had been tampered with raised suspicions of murder. Rebecca's cousin, Jack Favell, accused Maxim of the crime, leading to an investigation by Colonel Julyan. A visit to a Doctor Baker in London, whom Rebecca had seen on the day of her death, uncovered that Rebecca had been terminally ill with cancer and was infertile, contradicting her claim of pregnancy and providing a possible reason for suicide. As they returned to Manderley after being cleared of the murder charges, they found the mansion ablaze with Mrs. Danvers missing.

Rebecca

A Novel

Una Novela

Misery

"Miseria"

Within the heart of the Louvre, a zealous monk named Silas interrogates museum curator Jacques Saunière, seeking the location of the Holy Grail. Saunière deceives Silas about its whereabouts before being fatally shot, leaving him enough time to create a cryptic message in his own blood. Meanwhile, Robert Langdon, a symbology professor and the main character, is called by detective Jerome Collet to interpret the scene, unaware he's under suspicion himself. Silas, deceived by Saunière's misleading information, goes to the Church of Saint-Sulpice only to realize he's been tricked. In a fury, he kills the church's guardian, Sister Sandrine Bieil.

Sophie Neveu, Saunière's granddaughter and a cryptology agent, arrives at the crime scene. She instructs Langdon to call the embassy, leading him to a message warning him of his perilous situation. She reveals to Langdon that they're being tracked by police captain Bezu Fache and successfully diverts the tracker. Sophie and Langdon discover a hidden key behind one of the Louvre's paintings, leading them to a Swiss bank. Inside the bank, they discover a cryptex designed by Da Vinci, an intricate device only unlockable with a password. Despite being pursued by the authorities, bank manager André Vernet aids their escape.

Seeking help to unlock the cryptex, Sophie and Langdon approach historian Sir Leigh Teabing. He unwraps the legend of the Holy Grail, suggesting it is Mary Magdalene's remains and documents proving her royal lineage with Jesus. Their meeting is interrupted by Silas demanding the cryptex. They manage to overpower and capture Silas, before escaping to England via Teabing's private plane. Here, they unravel more cryptex clues leading them to the tomb of Sir Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey. Teabing reveals himself as the orchestrator of the events, wishing to uncover the secret of the Holy Grail. After a tense standoff, Teabing is apprehended by Fache and the remaining cryptex clue leads Sophie and Langdon to Scotland where she discovers her connection to Mary Magdalene's lineage.

The Da Vinci Code

El Código Da Vinci

Ripley, Book 1

Ripley, Libro 1

The Talented Mr. Ripley

El Talentoso Sr. Ripley

Best Suspense Books | theSkimm

The Silent Patient

El Paciente Silencioso

Big Little Lies

Pequeñas Grandes Mentiras

The Shining

El Resplandor

And Then There Were None

Diez negritos

The Dry

El Seco

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

Hercules Poirot, Libro 11

The renowned retired detective, Hercule Poirot, embarks on a train journey to Istanbul, sharing his ride with Mary Debenham and Colonel Arbuthnot, who seem intimately acquainted despite pretending to be strangers. Upon reaching Istanbul, Poirot is summoned back to London, and while waiting for his return journey, he encounters his old acquaintance, M. Bouc, who arranges for his accommodation on the Orient Express. In the interim, Poirot crosses paths with Ratchett and Hector McQueen, who arouse his suspicion, particularly Ratchett, who approaches him for protection against death threats, but is rebuffed by Poirot. Despite the train being unusually crowded, Poirot manages to secure a first-class cabin where he experiences a series of peculiar incidents, including a cry from Ratchett's compartment indicating possible danger.

The following morning, Poirot is informed by M. Bouc that Ratchett has been brutally murdered, prompting Poirot to launch an investigation. A detailed examination of Ratchett's compartment reveals multiple clues such as twelve stab wounds on Ratchett's body, an open window, and a handful of miscellaneous items that include a handkerchief with an initial "H", a peculiar match, and a burnt piece of paper with the name "Armstrong" on it. This leads to Poirot deducing that Ratchett was actually Cassetti, the infamous kidnapper and murderer of the toddler, Daisy Armstrong, whose crime had shocked the nation. 

Poirot proceeds with interviewing the passengers, starting with Hector McQueen, who was startled that Poirot had discovered the Armstrong note, believed to have been destroyed. Several interviews subsequently provide Poirot with potential alibis, but also raise doubts about the identity of an unseen woman in a red kimono and the presence of an unfamiliar man in a Wagon Lit uniform. A thorough examination of the passengers' belongings brings forth more suspicious findings, leading Poirot to unveil the true identities of several passengers who were closely connected with the Armstrong case. Finally, Poirot presents two possible explanations for the murder and reveals the collective guilt of twelve passengers, all of whom were connected to Daisy Armstrong. To protect the involved parties, Poirot proposes that the authorities be informed of the less plausible theory, which is ultimately agreed upon by M. Bouc and Dr. Constantine.

19 Best Suspense Books of All Time

The Silence of the Lambs

The Girl on the Train

Gone Girl

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Rebecca

Misery

A Novel

The Da Vinci Code

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Ripley, Book 1

The Silent Patient

Big Little Lies

The Shining

And Then There Were None

The Dry

A Novel

Murder on the Orient Express

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

Before I Go To Sleep

A Novel

Bird Box

A Novel

The Dinner

Fingersmith

Intensity

A Novel

Sources

What To Read Next

19 Best Suspense Books of All Time

The Silence of the Lambs

The Girl on the Train

Gone Girl

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Rebecca

Misery

A Novel

The Da Vinci Code

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Ripley, Book 1

The Silent Patient

Big Little Lies

The Shining

And Then There Were None

The Dry

A Novel

Murder on the Orient Express

Hercule Poirot, Book 11

Before I Go To Sleep

A Novel

Bird Box

A Novel

The Dinner

Fingersmith

Intensity

A Novel

Sources

What To Read Next

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