5 Thrilling Books to Check Out

By Hannah Dendas of naptime book review

October is the perfect time to hunker down with a cozy blanket and a spooky book. Thrillers aren’t always my favorite genre but I do love a good atmospheric page turner. Here are a few that I have enjoyed recently.

1. Once There Were Wolves

by Charlotte McConaghy

Set mostly in the Scottish Highlands this novel follows Inti as she leads a team of scientists who are trying to rewild the area by reintroducing wolves. There are clashes with local farmers over the safety of the project, an unlikely love story, and even a charming coed knitting group. Flashbacks to Inti’s previous wolf project in Alaska give us glimpses into her family life and the complicated relationship she has with her twin sister Aggie who seems broken beyond repair.

Once There Were Wolves goes to some dark, dark places but in the end it is a story about love: of animals, community, and the environment. If “eco-thriller” is a genre I would call it that or otherwise murder-mystery. The plot kept me hooked but the gorgeous writing is what will stay with me. Raw and vivid, with an emphasis on color, I was transported to the atmospheric winter of the Highlands.

Thriller

Price: $26

2. The Turnout

by Megan Abbott

I could not put this book down (I had a solo day at the beach last month and read the whole book in one sitting). I really enjoyed Abbott’s writing style and her ability to make the mundane details of ballet life beautiful and intriguing but in a twisted way. The setting - a ballet school run by two sisters - was perfect for lots of dark, gritty drama and the pace of the book kept me on the edge of my beach chair. If you’re looking for a gothic family drama with complex, unstable characters, a deep sense of foreboding, and the pressure of a Nutcracker performance looming, I highly recommend this one.

Thriller

Price: $21

3. The Guest List

by Lucy Foley

I loved the setting in this book: an exclusive wedding on a stormy, remote island in Ireland, complete with body swallowing bogs. It featured so prominently in the story that it was almost like another character. I also liked how so many of the characters had secrets to hide, which led to lots of suspects and suspense, and kept me guessing until the end.

I would specifically recommend this one as an audio listen. It’s read by a full cast, which really adds to the story, especially since each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the various wedding guests.

Thriller

Price: $26

4. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue

by V.E. Schwar

This is not technically a thriller but there is a fantasy/paranormal angle that carries the plot. When Addie LaRue is nearly forced into a marriage she does not want, she makes a deal with the devil to live forever and in exchange she is forgotten by everyone she encounters. Schwab is a beautiful writer and the book seamlessly flips between past and present over the course of Addie’s long life. It is a truly unique story that would appeal to readers who like fantasy, historical fiction, or a good love story.

Thriller

Price: $25

5. 11/22/63

by Stephen King

Being from Maine, I would be remiss not to include a Stephen King book on my list of thrillers. 11/22/63 is one of my favorites as it is a bit different than some of his more well known books like The Shining (which I also recommend if you haven’t read it already). This one leans heavily on historical fiction as it tackles the question of what the country would be like if JFK had not been assassinated that fateful day in Texas. Unlike some of his other books that feature actual monsters, this one considers the insights of an everyday, average English teacher who time travels through a portal in his local, small-town Maine diner and tries to change history by preventing the assassination. It is well-researched and paints a fascinating picture of the late 50s and 60s including fashion, cars, and rock and roll, along with the overt racism and sexism that was prevalent at the time. Don’t let the size of the book stop you, it’s well worth the 800+ pages.

Thriller

Price: $20

Hannah Dendas is a Postpartum Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor but since the pandemic, mostly a stay at home mom to her two young kids.

Always an avid reader, Hannah recently started sharing book reviews on her Instagram page @naptimebookreview. She has a book stashed in nearly every room of her house, is a frequent visitor to her local library, and loves historical fiction.