“I’ll never understand it – why people find the truth more shocking than lies.”
Filled with death, suspense and plenty of grizzly twists and turns, thrillers and mystery books are always amongst the most popular genres in the world of reading. Delving into the backgrounds and hidden motivations behind characters, all thriller enthusiasts look for that shocking revelation that manages to blindside them whilst simultaneously tying everything up in a now bow. Join us here at What We Reading as we run you through 10 of our favourite thriller books from 2022.
The Paris Apartment – Lucy Foley
On the back of acclaimed books such as The Hunting Party and The Guest List, Lucy Foley has established herself as one of the best in the business when it comes to thrillers. In 2022, the author released her most anticipated work: The Paris Apartment.
The book revolves around a beautiful upper-class apartment complex in the centre of Paris, where every door hides a secret. The story follows Jess, a down-on-her-luck ex-bartender who arrives in the French capital looking for a fresh start staying with her half-brother, Ben. However, when she turns up at his door and he’s disappeared, she realises there are more sinister things afoot in this building, and his collection of eccentric neighbours all have something to hide.
A Flicker In The Dark – Stacy Willingham
Stacy Willingham was one of the breakout stars of 2022, with her debut thriller novel A Flicker in the Dark was a New York Times bestseller and has already been slated for a series starring Emma Stone.
The book follows Chloe Davis who, at the age of twelve, was forced to deal with the sight of seeing her father hoisted off to jail as a serial killer with six teenage girls slated as his victims. Fast forward twenty years and Chloe is a struggling psychologist when one of her teenage patients disappears suddenly. In this spellbinding mystery-thriller, Chloe is forced to face the ghosts from her past while potentially unmasking a killer for the second time.
Nine Lives – Peter Swanson
Veteran thriller author Peter Swanson returns with Nine Lives, an eerie and suspenseful page-turner that follows FBI agent Jessica Winslow.
Considered one of the best thriller books of 2022, Nine Lives revolves around a mysterious list containing the names of nine people. Nothing seemingly connects the names on the list, until two of them wind up dead. While the rest of these lives spend their time frantically looking over their shoulders, Jessica, who is herself on the list, finds herself forced into a deadly race to uncover the truth behind this sadistic killer’s game.
The Maid – Nita Prose
Nominated for Best Debut Novel and winner of the 2022 Goodreads Best Mystery & Thriller award, Nita Prose’s The Maid follows socially awkward protagonist Molly Gray. Following the death of her grandmother, Molly throws herself into her work as a hotel maid, with her attention to detail making her the perfect person for the job.
However, her world takes a drastic turn when she discovers the lifeless body of the affluent Charles Black in his room. Before long, the investigating police officers have her chalked down as their number one suspect, throwing Molly and her friends into a desperate race to uncover the truth and clear her name.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Maid
The Night Shift – Alex Finlay
A touching tale of trauma and how survivors can recover in the aftermath, Alex Finlay firmly established himself as one of the leading lights of the thriller world with his 2022 novel, The Night Shift.
The book follows three figures whose lives become intersected in the wake of two heinous attacks from the same suspect. With one attack coming in a Blockbuster in 1999 and the other coming in an ice cream shop in the present day, the only thing that links them is the killer’s final words: ‘Goodnight, pretty girl…’
The Bullet That Missed – Richard Osman
Richard Osman has become one of the most acclaimed mystery writers in recent times, and the third edition of his Thursday Murder Club series stands as one of the best thriller books from 2022.
Featuring TV stars, money launderers and ex-KGB colonels, The Bullet That Missed is a witty and suspenseful ride that follows the Thursday Murder Club as they chase the mysteries behind two murders set a decade apart. But, along with the hunt to unravel these two crimes, Club member Elizabeth soon finds herself in a position that could be the difference between life and death.
The Game – Scott Kershaw
A text message informs five seemingly unconnected people that their loved ones have been kidnapped, and the only way to save them is by playing The Game. That is the chilling premise behind Scott Kershaw’s 2022 thriller, The Game.
This fast-paced story follows the five strangers as they become increasingly entangled in a high-stakes game to save the ones they love. It’s a breathless ride that revolves around a scenario many readers can imagine themselves being in, and Kershaw does a superb job of exploring how different dynamics and strategies unfold in times of crisis.
Check out our The Game book review!
The IT Girl – Ruth Ware
New York Times bestselling author Ruth Ware’s stunning 2022 thriller book The IT Girl is all about Oxford graduate April Coutts-Cliveden. The ultimate ‘IT Girl’, she pulled in a close-knit group of friends: Hannah, Will, Hugh, Ryan, and Emily.
During the start of the group’s second term, they discover April dead, and authorities convict Porter John Neville of the murder. Eventually, the group finds a way to move on. However, when a young journalist arrives at Hannah’s doorstep, suspecting that the wrong man might have gone to prison, the group must relive the crime. They dig up old secrets from the past, and suddenly, Hannah questions whether any of her friends might be capable of the most serious crime of all.
Breathless – Amy McCulloch
Cecily Wong seizes the opportunity to launch her career as a journalist by securing an exclusive interview with the legendary mountaineer, Charles McVeigh.He is on the final leg of his challenge of climbing the fourteen tallest mountains in the world without fixed lines or oxygen but has only promised to give the interview if Cecily can also summit his final hurdle, Mt Manaslu.
Readers follow Cecily and her team as they soldier up one of the world’s deadliest climbs, however, it doesn’t take long for a series of strange events to make themselves known. Damaged property and tents bearing creepy messages precede a tragic accident that ultimately dawns on Cecily: there is a murderer on this mountain.
Check out our Breathless Book Review!
All Good People Here – Ashley Flowers
The stunning debut from the host of the true-crime podcast Crime Junkie, All Good People Here is one of the best 2022 thriller books from Ashley Flowers. The novel follows the story of protagonist Margot Davies and the cold murder case of January Jacobs.
Twenty years after her murder, the journalist returns to the sleepy and secretive town of Wakarusa, Indiana to care for her ailing uncle. But, when the neighbouring town experiences the disappearance of a five-year-old girl, the similarities become too apparent to ignore. This forces Margot into a potentially deadly game to uncover the truth behind the ghosts from her past.
The Long Weekend – Gilly Macmillan
Gilly Macmillan whisks readers into the heart of the Northumberland moors in her 2022 thriller, The Long Weekend. Three couples, two bodies, and countless secrets, subversion and unreliable narrators help make this one of the most memorable mystery-thrillers of the year.
The book begins with three wives, Emily, Jayne and Ruth travelling for a weekend retreat at the isolated Dark Fell Barn. However, once there, they receive an ominous white letter from one of their other friends, Edie, who claims that she has killed one of their husbands, though doesn’t disclose who. With a storm knocking out their mobile signals and leaving them stranded for the evening, the three wives are forced to grapple with hidden secrets and sudden revelations, knowing that one of their husbands won’t be joining them at the barn in the morning.
Check Out Our The Long Weekend Book Review
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
