As the season of gift-giving steadily draws closer, you may be wondering what the ideal gift is for your bookish friend or family member, or perhaps those who are seeking a thrill in their next read. This list compiles a carefully selected collection of thriller/mystery books that make the perfect gift for your friends, family, or even a little early gift for yourself!
Gone Girl (2012) by Gillian Flynn
Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl is a masterclass in suspense. From rapidly bursting onto the scene as a New York Times best seller to earning a commercially successful film adaptation by esteemed director David Fincher, with Flynn herself writing the screenplay to ensure total accuracy and faithfulness to the source material, Gone Girl was (or should be) on everyone’s TBR. The novel follows a successful young woman, Amy Dunne, who mysteriously vanishes on the anniversary of her wedding, leaving her husband at the top of the suspect list, but not all is as it seems. Flynn has proved herself to be a contemporary genre expert, so use this as your sign to gift it to a friend who has maybe seen the film and still hasn’t got around to reading the book.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke (2021) by Eric LaRocca
Eric LaRocca gained substantial online traction in recent years due to his divisive yet innovative thriller, Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke. Taking the form of a series of emails exchanged between two lonely young women, the novel eerily captures a gnawing sense of desperation for human connection in the early 2000s in what I believe to be the definitive thriller for the digital age.
Boy Parts (2020) by Eliza Clark
Eliza Clark knows how to write an unlikeable female protagonist. Boy Parts is a clear testament to this, as it subverts expectations of women as the victim. Clark’s novel is often a darkly comedic, yet disturbing tale of a young photographer who scouts average-looking men to model for her. Shifting the trope of the female victim, Clark impressively manages to enthrall her readers by going along for the ride as her demented protagonist spirals out of control, into a pit of self-destruction and despair. Perfect for the holiday season.
My Dark Vanessa (2020) by Kate Elizabeth Russell
Kate Elizabeth Russell’s painfully poignant My Dark Vanessa was actually a thesis project. Impressively, Russell managed to create arguably one of the greatest contemporary novels ever. The novel tackles an extremely delicate subject matter of sexual assault with utmost care and nuance. Drawing comparisons to Lolita throughout, My Dark Vanessa explores the complexities and trauma of being a victim of the unthinkable at such a young age, whilst simultaneously being in denial that there was any wrongdoing. Russell’s story is an essential read if it’s within your personal boundaries.
American Psycho (1991) by Bret Easton Ellis
Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho is regarded as a contemporary classic by literary critics and readers alike. Darkly comical and twisted, the novel intertwines razor-sharp social satire with surprisingly hilarious moments that provide comic relief for what is otherwise a grim and graphic novel. The story was later adapted into a feature film by Mary Harron, which gained cult status since its release. If you haven’t yet become acquainted with the eerily familiar Patrick Bateman, then now might be the time.
Kafka on the Shore (2002) by Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore is a compulsively addictive read, dragging its readers into a surrealist odyssey involving a fifteen-year-old runaway and an elderly man who can miraculously communicate with cats. The novel deliciously blends magical realism and philosophical fiction in what I consider to be Murakami’s best novel.
Brave New World (1932) by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley’s staggeringly ahead-of-its-time novel Brave New World is an essential read for almost anyone. Huxley’s mesmerising dystopia blends social critique and technological anxieties in what is still an eerie reflection of today’s society. The novel is set in the future, in which its citizens are organised into a social hierarchy, where a mind-altering drug referred to as “Soma” is used to enforce control and authority. The novel is often read as a companion to George Orwell’s 1984, as both texts are deemed essential dystopias that frighteningly still resonate today.
Rebecca (1938) by Daphne du Maurier
The late 1930s hasty pre-war marriage trend challenges the notion of whether or not your newlywed husband can be trusted. Daphne du Maurier’s pioneering Rebecca asks that exact question. The novel follows a young woman who suspects her new, widowed husband is holding a dark secret. The novel is almost a century old and has, to this day, never gone out of print — and was even adapted into an Oscar-winning picture by renowned director Alfred Hitchcock. If you’re seeking a twisted gothic novel, then Rebecca is most certainly for you.
A Clockwork Orange (1962) by Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange is a linguistically challenging yet rewarding read. But be warned, the novel doesn’t shy away from delving into controversial themes — whilst keeping a darkly comedic tone. The novella follows a teenaged gang in a dystopic near-future, in which extreme violence prevails. The novella was later adapted into a controversial film by director Stanley Kubrick, which was heavily censored and even banned in numerous countries upon its initial release.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (1985) by Patrick Süskind
Patrick Süskind’s deliciously chaotic classic Perfume: The Story of a Murderer marvellously blends themes of horror with class disparity. The novel was originally written in German and later translated into English. Perfume is set in the slums of Eighteenth-century France, following a serial killer (as the title suggests) who has a twisted affinity with scent. The novel will be a sure-fire hit for any fans of magical realism and Gothic horror fiction.
Well, there you have it. Ten essential thriller/mystery reads that serve as the perfect gift for your bookish friends!
To accompany your reads, try Thriller Movies That Will Hurt Your Brain This Halloween
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