5 Thriller books for the bookworm on your holiday list

Is there a bookworm on your holiday shopping list who loves thrillers? 

Giving books as gifts during the holidays is one of my favorite things to do, but it can be difficult to know just what book would be the best to give. But don't worry! I've compiled a list of five recommendations for the thriller book lover on your shopping list. These books will satisfy every type of thriller lover and are choices that they probably haven't read yet. 

I've read all of these and loved them. Scroll down to see which one is best for your bookworm friend.

1. For fans of realistic thrillers/ Ruth Ware

If the reader on your list loves realistic thrillers with deeply complex female characters, give Carissa Ann Lynch My Sister is Missing a try. I loved how developed the main character was. When her sister goes missing, she is taken down a twisty road of secrets and lies. Carissa's writing style is similar to Ruth Ware in that the suspense aspect focuses a lot on relationships. You can see more of my full book review here.

2. For the Gone Girl Fan/ Readers who love shocking twists

There's an arsonist on the loose, and no one can figure out who it is. When Pete Andrews' son becomes a victim of the sinister serial killer's work, he will be sent on a path towards revenge. However, as secrets are unearthed, Pete and the reader learn that nothing is as it seems.

If your book lover loves shocking twists and plots that keep you guessing like Gone Girl, this dark thriller by the USA Today Bestseller will give them a satisfying reading experience. This book was named a Quarter Finalist in the Book Life Fiction competition. Numerous reviewers have noted that The Arsonist's Handbook  it truly kept them intrigued and guessing up until the last page.

See what reviewers are saying here

3. For readers who can handle dark material

If your bookworm enjoys really dark material with heavy storylines like those in The Sinner show, My Dark Vanessa is the book for them. There are a lot of trigger warnings with this one (sexual assault especially), so beware of that. However, if your bookworm enjoys a really complex book that doesn't censor itself, this one is a powerful read. This deals with a relationship between a student and teacher, so it definitely has a taboo vibe to it. However, the writing is gorgeous, and the author really covers an important topic.

​Gift with caution, of course...but if you know the reader really well on your list, this might be the kind of impactful read they are looking for.

4. For the True Crime Lover

For the book lover who can't get enough of true crime books and shows, A Serial Killer's Daughter is a moving, chilling account of Kerri Rawson, daughter of the BTK killer. It details what it was like to grow up with a father who was a serial killer. It also covers her healing process. Although the book has been noted as being a bit slow at points, I found it fascinating to learn about the behind-the-scenes life of BTK and to realize that he really did have two sides.

You can learn more from a full book review of Kerri Rawson's book here.

5. For the reader who likes their thriller on the horror side

Behind Closed Doors is a shocking thriller that will keep the bookworm on your holiday list turning the pages. It has an intense plot that is eerie and creepy, and the ending really does keep you up at night. This is a book I haven't been able to forget since reading it. Some thriller readers have actually noted it was too dark for them, but if your bookworm loves authors like Karin Slaughter and Gillian Flynn, I think they'll find this to be a good read.

Do you have any books you would add to the list? Be sure to comment below with some of your favorites. If you're looking for a FREE thriller read to check out now or gift to a friend, be sure to check out I'd Kill For You, my FREE short story thriller about how far a mother would go to protect her murdering son.

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