“Impulsive actions led to trouble, and trouble could have unpleasant consequences.”
There are few things as exhilarating as a cat-and-mouse thriller. These pulse-pounding stories keep readers on the edge of their seats, following high-stakes chases, clever mind games and suspenseful twists that make it impossible to stop turning the pages. Whether it’s a relentless detective pursuing a cunning criminal or two equally matched forces locked in a deadly game of wits, these books deliver the sort of tension that lingers long after the grand finale. Here at What We Reading, we’ve rounded up the most gripping cat-and-mouse thrillers, perfect for fans of fast-paced plots, edge-of-your-seat suspense and unforgettable showdowns. From tense psychological thrillers that keep you guessing to crime novels with intense chases, these are the must-read suspense novels that redefine the thrill of the chase.
The Snowman (Harry Hole #7) – Jo Nesbø
The first case in our cat and mouse thrillers is Jo Nesbø’s acclaimed novel, The Snowman. The story begins in Oslo, Norway, during the first snowfall of the year when a young boy discovers that his mother has vanished. The only clue left behind is a sinister snowman in the garden with her scarf wrapped around it. Harry Hole, a veteran investigator, is drawn into the case when he starts connecting it to other unsolved disappearances of women over the years. As he delves deeper, he discovers a horrifying pattern: all the victims are married women with children, and their disappearances have coincided with the season’s first dose of snowfall.
The Snowman taunts Harry with cryptic messages, leading him on a dangerous cat-and-mouse chase. As the tension builds, Harry grapples with his own demons whilst racing against time to unmask a killer before it proves too late. With a gripping narrative, unexpected twists and an eerie atmosphere, The Snowman keeps readers guessing throughout and cements Nesbø as an icon of Nordic noir.
The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme #1) – Jeffrey Deaver
Lincoln Rhyme was at one time a brilliant criminologist, a genius within the field of forensics – until an accident left him physically and emotionally shattered. However, a diabolical serial killer soon begins to challenge Rhyme to a terrifying and ingenious duel of wits.
Joined by police detective Amelia Sachs by his side, Rhyme is forced to follow a labyrinth of clues that reaches back to a sordid chapter in New York City’s past – and reach further into the darkness of the mind of a madman who won’t be stopped until he has stripped every down to the bone. Jeffrey Deaver’s The Bone Collector introduces readers to the brilliant Lincoln Rhyme, which remains a pulsating cat-and-mouse thriller novel that any hard-boiled detective fan is sure to love.
No Exit – Taylor Adams
In No Exit, Taylor Adams crafts a heart-pounding thriller set during a blizzard in the remote Colorado mountains. College student Darby Thorne is driving home to visit her dying mother when she becomes stranded at a highway rest stop thanks to the weather. Inside, she finds herself trapped with four strangers, each of them waiting for the conditions to clear up.
As Darby heads back outside, hoping to get a signal on her phone, she happens upon a shocking discovery: a young girl is locked in a cage inside a van parked at the rest stop. Horrified and unable to trust anyone, Darby is forced to figure out who amongst the strangers is responsible, all while finding a way of saving the child without endangering herself. What follows is a tense game of survival as readers are treated to a delicious cat-and-mouse game of unravelling secrets and lies.
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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Millenium #1) – Stieg Larsson
Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist faces professional ruin after losing a libel case against an influential businessman. Looking for a bit of rest, he accepts a bizarre assignment from Henrik Vanger, the wealthy patriarch of an infamous Swedish family. Henrik wants Mikael to investigate the disappearance of his niece, Harriet, who vanished from their isolated island under mysterious circumstances.
As Mikael digs into this cold case, he begins to uncover a number of troubling secrets about the Vanger family, whose affluence clouds a history of dark deeds. Enlisting the help of brilliant but troubled hacked Lisbeth Salander, Mikael unravels a series of shocking revelations that connect Harriet’s disappearance to a string of violent crimes. Fast-paced, intricately plotted and deeply atmospheric, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo remains one of the best cat-and-mouse thrillers from recent times.
The Hypnotist (Joona Linna #1) – Lars Kepler
The Hypnotist is a Scandinavian thriller that opens with a brutal triple homicide in a quiet Stockholm suburb. The sole survivor is a teenage boy who is gravely injured and in shock, unable to provide any details about the attack. Detective Joona Linna, known for his dogged pursuit of justice, believes that the key to solving the case lies in unlocking the boy’s memories.
Joona turns to Dr. Erik Maria Bark, a disgraced hypnotist who has sworn off his controversial practice after a tragic incident years ago. Begrudgingly, Erik agrees to hypnotise the boy, only to bring to light the terrifying secrets that point to a far larger and more sinister plot. As the investigation deepens, Erik is hauled into a web of danger and deception that threatens not only his life but also his fragile family.
Don’t Let Go – Harlan Coben
Detective Napoleon ‘Nap’ Dumas’ life has been defined by tragedy. Fifteen years ago, his twin brother, Leo, and Leo’s girlfriend, Diana, were discovered dead on railroad tracks in what was ruled as a tragic accident. At the same time, Nap’s high school sweetheart, Maura, disappeared without a trace.
When Maura’s fingerprints are suddenly found at a murder scene, Nap is thrust back into the past he has tried so hard to forget. Determined to uncover the truth, he digs into the lives of his former friends and uncovers a connection to a top-secret military base and a nationwide conspiracy that promises to upend everything he thought he knew. One of the best cat-and-mouse thrillers by Harlan Coben, Don’t Let Go is a breathless read about loyalty and the buried truths that refuse to stay hidden.
Check Out Our Don’t Let Go Book Review
I Am Watching You – Teresa Driscoll
When Ella Longfield overhears two attractive young men flirting with teenage girls on the train, she thinks nothing of it – until it clicks that they are fresh out of prison. With her maternal instincts on high alert, she debates whether she should be intervening. She decides against it, but is shocked to wake the next morning and see that one of the girls, Anna Ballard, has vanished.
A year on, Anna is still missing. Ella is wracked with guilt over what she failed to do, and she’s not the only one unable to move on. Someone is sending her threatening letters – letters that make her fear for her life. Then an anniversary appeal starts to suggest that perhaps Anna’s friends and family know more about the disappearance than they are letting on. In Teresa Driscoll’s gripping domestic thriller, someone knows where Anna is, and they are watching Ella.
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).
