10 Good Thriller Books Made Great By Their Twist Endings

The success of thriller books often hinges on their twist endings, and some good additions to the genre have been elevated to greatness by their big reveals. Thrillers are meant to keep readers on edge from their opening pages, and they’re also tasked with delivering surprises throughout their runs. Many of them save the biggest revelations for the third act, dropping bombshell twists on readers just as they reach the end of the story.

Sometimes, twist endings can actually hurt the thriller books they’re a part of. Certain reveals play it way too safe, while others turn out to be too off the walls to be believable. It takes a skilled author to strike a proper balance, ensuring their conclusion feels both earned and surprising. In some instances, authors handle their twists so well that they catapult a good book to greatness. Such impressive revelations guarantee that these thriller books will stick with readers long after they’ve finished them.

10 The Girl On The Train By Paula Hawkins

There’s a reason 2015’s The Girl on the Train is so popular, as it’s a well-written story with interesting characters, an atmospheric backdrop, and a realistic approach to alcoholism. The novel works even without accounting for its big twist, as it’s an easy and quick read that allows you to instantly empathize with its main character. However, without its ending reveal, The Girl on the Train doesn’t feel that different from other domestic thrillers. In fact, even its ending twist mirrors many others in the subgenre, though The Girl on the Train helped the category become so popular.

At the time of its release, The Girl on the Train‘s twist ending proved a shocking use of unreliable narration. And that’s part of the reason the book became such a success. The Girl on the Train‘s big reveal may seem predictable in hindsight, but the novel does an impressive job of keeping you guessing during its run. It also lays the groundwork for its ending twist well, which may be why it feels so obvious after you finally reach it.

9 One Of Us Is Lying By Karen M. McManus

This Brilliant Ending Twist Is Very Hard To Predict

Not all young adult thriller books live up to their more mature counterparts, but One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus is a worthwhile read, no matter what age you are. It strikes the right balance of teen drama and murder mystery elements, allowing it to stand on its own with or without its big reveal. It’s an enjoyable story from the very beginning, but its clever ending twist is what helps it stand out from similar narratives.

The central mystery of One of Us Is Lying revolves around high school student Simon, who drops dead suddenly while in detention. Since he’s the mastermind behind a gossip app targeting his classmates, there’s no shortage of suspects who might want to kill Simon — and that’s not to mention the other kids in detention with him. McManus lays the groundwork for this story to go in a number of different directions, but the truth of Simon’s death is more surprising than anyone expects. It’s a unique twist that makes this one of the best YA thrillers out there.

8 We Were Liars By E. Lockhart

Not Your Traditional Thriller Story (Or Ending)

Another YA thriller that’s popular for good reason, We Were Liars has one of the most surprising, earned, and tragic endings of all the books on this list. We Were Liars isn’t set up like a traditional thriller narrative. It comes off as more of a contemporary story with mystery elements at first, though it turns out to be a psychological thriller by its ending. The book follows Cady Eastman, who returns to her family’s private island to reunite with her closest friends — the Liars — after a year away.

We Were Liars makes it obvious from the beginning that Cady is struggling in the aftermath of a major trauma, but it waits to reveal what it is. The story leading up to that point makes for an interesting read, wrought with great character interactions and commentary on class and family dynamics. The book cleverly sprinkles in clues throughout its narrative, and its final twist is both satisfying and heart-wrenching. It’s even better upon a re-read, with the ending taking We Were Liars from a good story to a great one. It’s no wonder Amazon is working on a TV adaptation.

7 The Silent Patient By Alex Michaelides

A Shocking Turn That Brings It All Together

The Silent Patient is a frequently recommended book in thriller spaces, and its premise alone sets readers up for a gripping ride. It centers on Alicia Berenson, a well-known painter who unexpectedly murders her husband and then stops speaking entirely. Criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes determined to uncover what really happened between Alicia and her husband. His obsessive nature makes this an engaging story, as do the snippets of Alicia’s perspective we get throughout it. The Silent Patient is certainly a popular book that deserves its hype.

While The Silent Patient‘s premise and intriguing characters set the book up for success, the big reveal is a huge contributor. It perfectly connects the book’s characters and threads, and it’s genuinely shocking — though not so much that you can’t go back and pick up on the clues. The Silent Patient‘s conclusion brings the story to a head in a way that makes it a great addition to the thriller genre. It’s a must-read for fans of the category.

6 Sharp Objects By Gillian Flynn

Like Gone Girl, This Strikes An Impressive Balance

Gone Girl gets a lot of attention for being one of the best thrillers of the 21st century, but Gillian Flynn’s other books are just as compelling. This includes Sharp Objects, the author’s very first novel. A tale about a troubled reporter who returns to her hometown to investigate a recent murder, Sharp Objects has all the makings of a solid thriller. It feels eerie and disturbing while you’re reading it, and its characters are complicated and often unlikable. There are also questions about the main character’s reliability, with her biases and traumas clouding her judgment.

All these qualities serve to make Sharp Objects an impressive book, and its ending ensures you’ll continue thinking about it long after it’s over. Sharp Objects’ killer twist benefits from Flynn’s writing style, which often sees the author leaving enough evidence to predict the big reveal — but somehow ensuring it’s surprising all the same. Flynn strikes the balance all thriller authors should aspire to, and it elevates her books from good to great.

5 Shutter Island By Dennis Lehane

The Ending Twist Is What The Book Is Famous For

Anyone who has read Shutter Island can attest to the fact that it’s one of the greats within the thriller genre. Set in the mid-1950s, Shutter Island follows Marshal Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule as they venture to the titular island to assist in the search for an escaped patient at Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. With Rachel Solando running free for the first time since she was placed there for multiple murders, this is already a dangerous task. Add in an incoming hurricane, and it’s doubly so.

As Shutter Island‘s main duo looks into Rachel’s disappearance, it becomes increasingly obvious that something is off at Ashecliffe. And that extends to one of its main characters, who finds himself at the center of a plot twist that’s perfectly set up and delivered. This revelation is one that leaves most readers reeling, and it’s what Shutter Island is famous for.

4 Verity By Colleen Hoover

An Ending That Leaves Readers Speculating

Verity is considered one of Colleen Hoover’s best books, which is interesting, as it veers more into the thriller genre than her usual romance books. Hoover’s 2018 novel is fast-paced and easy read, and it’s full of suspense and well-written characters. As thrillers go, it doesn’t initially feel that unique — though there are a lot of explicit scenes you might not expect from your average thriller novel. Still, Verity is an entertaining journey, and its ending flips everything readers think they know.

This ending is precisely why Verity leaves such a lasting impression, and it brings the entire novel up a notch. The fact that it raises questions and feels somewhat ambiguous may be frustrating, but it also contributes to its greatness. This novel leaves readers thinking and talking about it after it’s done, which is something every thriller should strive to do.

3 Behind Her Eyes By Sarah Pinborough

There’s A Reason This Unpredictable Twist Gets Praise

Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes is another thriller book that’s often praised for its ending, though its entire narrative is engaging. The novel follows Louise as she’s unexpectedly pulled into the marriage of a seemingly perfect couple who has more going on beneath the surface. Louise’s involvement only starts after she unknowingly sleeps with the husband, David, who also happens to be her new boss. When she meets Adele, she starts noticing red flags that signal some serious secret-keeping between these two characters.

Behind Her Eyes has a lot going for it, from its approach to its unsettling love triangle to its writing. These qualities make it a good domestic thriller. However, its jaw-dropping ending sets it apart from other books in the subgenre. There’s a reason it receives so much hype in discussions about the book, even if some readers find it a bit over the top.

2 Rock Paper Scissors By Alice Feeney

An Unpredictable Reveal On Par With The Author’s Other Books

Alice Feeney is a must-read thriller author, and it’s difficult to choose which of her books is best. But readers looking for a solid ending twist should pick up Rock Paper Scissors. This 2021 novel is another domestic thriller that sticks the landing, and it has a unique premise to boot. It follows married couple Adam and Amelia as they journey to Scotland in the hopes of rekindling their relationship. Adam has face blindness, which makes this an especially interesting read — especially when you realize this trip and the couple aren’t what they seem.

As Adam and Amelia exchange anniversary gifts, it becomes clear that someone isn’t being fully honest. And as is the case with many of Feeney’s twist endings, readers probably won’t predict what’s happening in Rock Paper Scissors until the novel finally reveals it. The book’s big reveal sets it above many other releases in the domestic thriller subgenre, though it could be compared in terms of greatness to Feeney’s other works.

1 The It Girl By Ruth Ware

A Book That Makes Good Use Of Red Herrings

The It Girl is probably one of Ruth Ware’s best thriller books, but it’s definitely a slow burn. Its central mystery unravels from two separate timelines. In the past one, Hannah’s Oxford roommate, April, is murdered in their residence. And the present one sees Hannah questioning whether she helped put away the right man 10 years later. The It Girl is an immersive read, if only because its college setting and central cast of characters are incredibly compelling. It’s a great thriller to pick up, though its pacing is a common complaint.

Fortunately, The It Girl‘s ending twist proves itself worth the wait. After teasing many directions the story could go in, Ware proves that she’s skilled at writing red herrings. The author does an impressive job of establishing the true killer throughout the book without making it too obvious. The result is a conclusion that’s genuinely surprising. And the thriller‘s slower storytelling at the beginning makes its ending that much more powerful, since readers will feel more connected to the characters and their plights.