Thrillers I'm excited about in 2025
- Tracy Buchanan
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
Love thrillers with a killer hook? These are the most addictive psychological and domestic suspense novels to watch for in 2025—including some you won't see coming.
If you're anything like me, you want your thrillers to come with a hook. Not just any vague sense of mystery but a real, satisfying premise that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. That’s what I look for as a reader and it’s exactly what I try to deliver as a writer in my Dr Vanessa Marwood series, which feature a forensic entomologist who solves gruesome crimes. My aim is to start a story with one irresistible idea. Something that makes you think: I need to know what happens next.
So what other books am I excited about this year that have an unforgettable hook?
The Bride’s Secret by Rosie Walker
This one doesn’t come out until June 4th, but the premise is already giving me chills. Maeve wakes up on her wedding day next to the dead body of her groom-to-be, covered in blood and holding the murder weapon. Instead of calling the police, she runs. Why? Who’s trying to frame her? This is exactly the kind of “I must know what happens” setup that gets under your skin.
The Penthouse by Catherine Cooper
This glamorous psychological thriller features Enola, a world-famous singer who vanished fifteen years ago. Now her former bandmates are reuniting in Las Vegas, but someone doesn’t want the past to stay buried. Mysterious accidents begin to make them wonder: is Enola somehow back? Full of glitz, secrets and possible revenge, this feels like Big Little Lies meets Daisy Jones & The Six with a killer twist.
While My Baby Sleeps by Natali Simmonds
This dark and emotional story offers a thrilling twist on a mother's sleep deprivation. It's about a new mother who's pushed to the edge by exhaustion and fear, and becomes convinced she’s the only one who can keep her baby safe. But as sleep deprivation blurs reality, people around her begin to vanish... her partner, her sister-in-law, even the neighbour she resented. Has she done something terrible or is someone manipulating her into believing she has?
The Man She Married by Alison Stockham
I love an amnesia-related story! And this psychological thriller is a clever twist on the amnesia trope, tapping into many people's worst fear: trusting the wrong person. After a car accident, Beth wakes up with five years of her memory gone, including any memory of marrying the man at her bedside. Everyone insists Rob is her husband, but Beth can’t shake the feeling that something is very wrong.
The Swimming Group by Bella Ellwood-Clayton
A missing woman. A cold water swimming group. A tell-all book that threatens to blow everything apart. Then one of them disappears… leaving only her clothes behind. This one has serious Liane Moriarty energy, mixed with that creeping unease you get from Lucy Clarke or Sarah Goodwin. A sharp, sexy blend of tension, secrets and chilly water swims—what’s not to love?
No son of mine by C.L.Swatman
This is officially a 2024 release but I had to include it as I read it in early draft form and the premise is unforgettable. When Alex discovers the son she gave up for adoption is accused of murder, she becomes convinced violence runs in the family. Desperate to protect her teenage son, she invites the accused killer into her home... and quickly begins to regret it. It's a fantastic read so I'd thoroughly recommend.
And a thriller that hasn't been officially announced yet but here's a sneak peak...The Writer by Valerie Dickenson
Out on 1st July, this one flips the lens on the writer herself. Cara Jenkins, a bestselling author, sits down to start her 30th novel… but realises she has no ideas left. As the pressure mounts, the threatening letters begin. Is someone watching her? Sabotaging her? Or is it all in her mind? I love thrillers that explore creative pressure (feels very familiar, ha ha!), especially when it’s paired with paranoia. And of course, I'd be remiss not to recommend my own:
And of course, I'd be remiss not to recommend my own: Moth to the Flames, the next instalment in the Dr Vanessa Marwood forensic crime thriller series. This time, Vanessa heads to Sydney—not for the sights, but to confront the shadows of her past. When seven bodies are found cocooned in rare silk, all signs point to the same insect-worshipping cult that may be connected to Vanessa’s own history. As she joins forces with cult expert Detective Finn Harper, the case spirals into a chilling race against time. Packed with forensic detail, psychological tension and a truly sinister hook, this is a must-read for fans of dark and gripping thrillers with a forensic edge.
Let me know which thrillers you’re excited about—and which hooks always get you clicking buy now.
留言