“Life is an adventure to be lived, not a series of repetitive days to survive.”
Romantic suspense novels offer the perfect mix of adrenaline-pumping tension and heartfelt romance. For readers out there who love a blend of mystery with their passion, these tales deliver an irresistible blend of danger, intrigue and love. Whether you’re a fan of high-stakes thrillers or slow-building suspense, the genre has something for everyone with its array of complex characters, unexpected twists and relationships pushed to the limits by life-threatening scenarios. From gripping whodunnits to tense thrillers where trust is just as fragile as the love stories at their epicentre, we here at What We Reading thought we would keep you on the edge of your seat with some of the best romantic suspense books to submerge yourself in.
Mr. Perfect – Linda Howard
Kicking off our list of the best romantic suspense books is Linda Howard’s classic from the genre, Mr. Perfect. Jaine Bright and her three girlfriends are pondering on what makes the perfect man at their favourite after-hours hot spot. As their conversation hots up, they concoct a tongue-in-cheek checklist that soon becomes an overnight sensation, spreading like wildfire at work and scorching along email lines.
But, what started out as a harmless joke between friends soon turns deadly serious when one of the four women is murdered. Turning to her neighbour, an unpredictable police detective for help, Jaine is forced to confront unmasking a killer to save both her friends and herself. As knowing whom to trust and whom to love becomes a matter of survival, the idea of Mr Perfect becomes a chilling nightmare.
Something About You (FBI/US Attorney #1) – Julie James
Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde just had to select the one next to 1308, where a hot and heavy evening ends with a death. And, of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this headline-making homicide. The very same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for an unsuccessful crackdown three years ago that almost ended his career.
For Jack, the idea of working with Cameron appears to resemble more of a welcome-back prank than a serious assignment. But, it’s no joke. The pair are forced to put their messy past behind them and focus on the job at home. That is if they can find a way of cutting back on the razor-sharp jabs and keep a lid on the undeniably hot tension between them.
The Witness – Nora Roberts
The daughter of an overbearing and controlling mother, Elizabeth finally lets loose one evening. Drinking at a nightclub, she allows a strange man and his seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. What follows is a series of events that change her life forever.
Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs advanced security systems and fortifies her own security with an arsenal of firearms and her fierce dog. Nevertheless, her pragmatic mind, secretive nature and unromantic outlook raise the suspicions of police chief Brooks Gleason. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something. Featuring a quirky heroine and a pulse-pounding plotline, Nora Roberts’ The Witness remains one of the best romantic suspense books going.
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Dark Waters (Barkley Sound #2) – Toni Anderson
Since her rocky childhood and its sudden, abrupt end, schoolteacher Anna Silver hasn’t surrendered her trust easily. But, when her estranged father finds himself in over his head and winds up dead, his final message to Anna is as clear as it is genuine: she is in danger. What’s more, Brent Carver, the man he had shared a prison cell with for five years, is the only individual she can trust. With nowhere else to turn and her father’s killer hunting her down too, Anna heads for what she hopes is safety.
Nestled on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Brent Carver’s secluded home hasn’t seen many visitors. But, when his friend’s daughter arrives at his door, he knows he can’t deny her protection. Nor can he deny the attraction he is feeling toward her. One of the best romantic suspense books, Toni Anderson’s Dark Waters follows Annie and Brent as the perfect storm threatens to ignite a passionate spark into a flame and bring a sadistic killer to Brent’s home.
Cut And Run (Criminal Profiler #3) – Mary Burton
Trauma victims are not new to medical examiner Faith McIntyre. But this one is different. The unconscious woman, barely clinging to life after a hit and run, is FBI agent Macy Crow. What the woman from Quantico was doing in a dark, dingy alley is just one mystery. The other is even more unnerving: Macy is the spitting image of Faith, the twin sister she never knew she had.
Faith was aware she had been adopted, but she is now discovering that her childhood had hidden other secrets. Following a trail of clues left behind by Macy, she and Texas ranger Mitchell Hayden unearth a shocking discovery that leads them to an isolated country ranch – and the bodies of three women who had disappeared three decades earlier. As the missing pieces of Faith and Macy’s lives fall into place, Faith is becoming increasingly terrified of what she sees, and what she must do to save both herself and her sister from the past.
Riley Thorn And The Blast From The Past (Riley Thorn #3) – Lucy Score
The third entry in one of the best romantic suspense series, Riley Thorn and her hot, tattooed private investigator boyfriend have just moved into their next fixer-upper. Not only do they now have their own place, but they’re also pleased they haven’t discovered any dead bodies on the premises. But while Nick starts to obsess over the cold case that has haunted him for years and Riley attempts to fix the crumbling crime scene they call home, any hopes for a normal life come to a screeching halt when a beloved psychic is abducted.
To make matters worse, it soon becomes apparent that Riley’s new house guests are either in trouble or are the trouble after some of the bad guys deliver a warning in the form of a severed finger. Will Nick and Riley be able to solve the case the old-fashioned way before they wind up in pieces?
The Girl Who Knew Too Much (Burning Cove #1) – Amanda Quick
When Hollywood moguls, stars and celebrities want privacy, they head off to a small idyllic small town on the coast where the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel caters to their every whim. It’s where Irene Glasson finds herself staring down at the body of a beautiful actor at the bottom of a swimming pool. The dead woman held a secret about the up-and-coming Nick Tremayne, a scoop that Irene couldn’t afford to miss out on.
But Irene’s investigations into the drowning soon introduce her to a number of powerful men, willing to do anything to protect their investments. As she attempts to uncover the truth, she is drawn to the world-famous magician and owner of the Burning Cove, Olver Ward. A glitzy and glamorous romantic suspense novel set during the age of Jazz, Amanda Quick’s The Girl Who Knew Too Much takes readers to the heart of the Burning Cove, and the dark secrets hiding out of sight.
Fatal Affair (Fatal #1) – Marie Force
After a disastrous investigation, Metro Police Detective Sergeant Sam Holland is in desperate need of a break to salvage her career, and her confidence. And the perfect opportunity appears to be on the cards when Senator John O’Connor is found brutally murdered in his bed, and Sam is assigned to the case.
However, things are complicated when Sam is paired up with Nick Cappuano, O’Connor’s friend and chief of staff, and the same man she had a memorable one-night stand with years earlier. There’s still an intense chemistry between the two of them and Sam has to fight to stay focused on the case at hand. Becoming romantically involved with a material witness is another mistake she cannot afford to make – especially when the bodies begin to pile up.
Cold Sight (Extrasensory Agents #1) – Leslie Parrish
In her Extrasensory Agents series of romantic suspense books, Leslie Parrish introduces readers to a band of psychic investigators who are only interested in the coldest of cases in Cold Sight. After being scapegoated in a botched investigation that led to a child’s death, handsome and rugged Aidan McConnell has become a recluse, keeping his feelings in check and only assisting in the occasional case.
Reported Lexie Nolan has a nose for news – and she believes a serial killer has been targeting teen girls around Savannah. But, no one believes her. With nowhere else to turn, she reaches out to a new paranormal detective agency and the sexy, mysterious Aidan, for help. But, just as the two of them begin to forge a relationship, the case turns unnervingly personal for Lexie. And, soon enough, Aidan discovers that his ability to keep his emotions guarded may have become compromised.
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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).
