They’re brilliant, broken, and dangerous when cornered. If you love thrillers with female leads who aren't waiting to be saved, these five books belong on your TBR.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Yes, it’s super famous, but I loved this book. Rachel’s spiral into obsession and unreliability is what makes this book so effective as a thriller. Is she crazy or is it real? Her descent is ugly, but her comeback in the end is so on point.
Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
Grace has the perfect life, the perfect husband, and the perfect home. This is a domestic thriller that takes the “trapped wife” trope and turns it upside down. The pacing is just right, and the tension is constant. By no means is Grace as helpless as she seems.
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
This is not your typical crime-solving thriller. It explores the complexities of what the hell just happened. Two sisters, a decades-old disappearance, and a hidden trail of violence create one of the darkest thrillers you’ll ever read. Claire isn’t a cop. She’s not the investigator, but she is forced to square up with an evil that’s not done with her family.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Millie needed a job. What she got instead was a nightmare. This book is great for a number of reasons. It’s a fast, easy-to-read thriller with the right amount of twists. This is popcorn thriller at its finest. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for a palate cleanser.
DarkBright by Ty Hutchinson
Of course Abby made the list. When a woman is found barely alive, stumbling down a remote mountain road, FBI Agent Abby Kane is called in. The only clue? The woman can only say one word—DarkBright.
Abby follows the trail into the wilderness… and vanishes. She wakes in a sterile maze of endless hallways. Surveillance cameras track her every move. Others are there too—calm, cheerful, and disturbingly compliant. No one can say what DarkBright is. But they all act like it's paradise.
It isn’t.
DarkBright is fast like Patterson, twisted like Marrs, and available on July 26, 2025. Preorder your copy now.