# Looking for thriller novels **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071 "2009-04-05T22:51:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/21 "2009-04-06T20:03:01Z")
Thomas Perry should be on any list of this sort. I didn’t care for Dead Aim, but otherwise, his books are great. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/22 "2009-04-06T20:18:14Z")
Sarah Paretsky is good. If you like “whodunnits” then earlier PD James are enjoyable. I found"The Murder Room" disappointing. I like Dick Francis, but his heroes always seem to be the same self pitying character in each book. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/23 "2009-04-06T20:23:15Z")
Most of Eric Ambler and Len Deighton. Both are dated as hell at this point of history, but still very good reads. I’d suggest starting with the former’s _A Coffin for Dimitrios_, and _SS-GB_ from the latter. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/24 "2009-04-06T20:32:41Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > _Point of Impact_ by Stephen Hunter is easily one of the best thrillers ever written. Enthusiastically seconded. Everything else he’s written is pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/25 "2009-04-06T20:40:58Z")
> [@Rufus\_Xavier](#): > > Michael Connelly is a master. _Void Moon_ is my favorite, but you can’t really go wrong with any of them. I haven’t read much Connelly, but I really enjoyed _The Lincoln Lawyer_: top-notch pop fiction. Maybe the Alex Cross novels of James Patterson? Even though it’s not exactly “my kind of thing,” I read and quite enjoyed Joe Quirk’s [The Ultimate Rush](http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Rush-Joe-Quirk/dp/0312969023/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239049731&sr=1-3) (after reading and loving his very different non-fiction/science/humor book [Sperm are from Men, Eggs are from Women](http://www.amazon.com/Sperm-are-Men-Eggs-Women/dp/0762426802/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239049851&sr=1-2)). I can’t vouch for any of them, not having read them, but you may be interested in [Stephen King’s picks for 10 Best Books of 2008](http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20244426,00.html), some of which are thrillers. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/26 "2009-04-06T20:57:51Z")
> [@Rufus\_Xavier](#): > > _The Eight_ by Katherine Neville is one of my all-time favorite books: chess, history and mysticism all rolled up together in a thriller that never gets boring. I wish Dan Brown could have written a book one tenth as good. Katherine Neville’s other stuff is also good; I enjoyed \*[The Magic Circle](http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Circle-Katherine-Neville/dp/0345423135/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239051189&sr=1-4) \*quite a bit. Also, if you haven’t heard, she’s written a sequel to _The Eight_, called _[The Fire](http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Novel-Katherine-Neville/dp/0345500679/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239051189&sr=1-1)_. It’s not as good as _The Eight_, but it’s not bad and there are crossover characters. I like **Steve Berry** also. Mystic thrillers, very good. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/27 "2009-04-06T22:17:00Z")
Oh, and you should definitely try _The Ruins_ by Scott Smith. ---
**Author:** ![MissIntent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@MissIntent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissIntent)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/28 "2009-04-07T00:28:09Z")
There’s a book called Thriller: Stories to keep you up all night. It’s edited by James Patterson, and is compromised of thriller short stories from I think 20 different thriller writers. Its a great book by itself, and a great way to sample tons of different authors. ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/29 "2009-04-07T10:46:06Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Most of Eric Ambler and Len Deighton. > > Both are dated as hell at this point of history, but still very good reads. > > I’d suggest starting with the former’s _A Coffin for Dimitrios_, and _SS-GB_ from the latter. If dated is okay, then I’d also suggest the Adam Hall _Quiller_ novels, featuring a “shadow executive” only known as Quiller. Lots of tradecraft, lots of action, despite the fact that the hero refuses to use a firearm. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/30 "2009-04-07T11:10:30Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I couldn’t recommend _The Phantom of Manhattan_ if you put a gun to my head. I haven’t read that one, to be fair. I never cared for _The Phantom of the Opera_, so a sequel didn’t really appeal to me. _The Afghan_ was rather more padding than I was happy with, admittedly, but certainly everything he’s written before that (with the apparent exception of _Phantom_) is, IMHO, absolutely brilliant. Someone actually used _The Dogs of War_ as a “How-To” guide in trying to overthrow the government of a West African country and very nearly got away with it, interestingly. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/31 "2009-04-07T12:35:20Z")
> [@Damfino](#): > > If dated is okay, then I’d also suggest the Adam Hall _Quiller_ novels, I second Quiller. A bit over the top at times, but I particularly enjoy the details of the executives being run by a controller. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/32 "2009-04-07T13:33:25Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > [Robin Cook](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Cook_(american_novelist)) is the king of medical thrillers. He is great. I like him, but I find that Cook can get repetitive. As with Dean Coontz, once you’ve read a couple of his books, you’ve read 'em all. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/33 "2009-04-07T13:51:56Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > I like him, but I find that Cook can get repetitive. As with Dean Coontz, once you’ve read a couple of his books, you’ve read 'em all. Sorry for the nitpick, but it is either Dean _Koontz_ or Stephen _Coonts_. I’m a fan of Dean Koontz (but would not disagree that many of his book are repetitive) and a few years ago I was in the hospital recovering from surgery. My mother asked if she could bring me some books. The pain meds kept me from thinking too straight, so all I could think to ask her to bring me was anything by Koontz. I couldn’t remember the first name nor even how to spell the last. (In the end I couldn’t concentrate enough to read either, but none-the-less.) She brought me something from Stephen Coonts. They are very different authors. ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/34 "2009-04-07T14:03:52Z")
I love Michael Connelly - he’s an excellent writer and his H. Bosch novels are the best; I heartily recommend any of his books. I’d also recommend Jeffrey Deaver; one of his main characters is the paralyzed detective Lincoln Rhymes. The Bone Collector, starring Denzel Washington, was one of Deaver’s novels about Rhymes. I love thrillers; John Sanford is another author I have read and liked for years. I’m always looking for different authors, though, so shall keep an eye on this thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/35 "2009-04-07T19:42:00Z")
[The Reincarnationist](http://www.amazon.com/Reincarnationist-M-J-Rose/dp/0778325768/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239133224&sr=8-1) is supposed to be very good. I’m looking forward to reading it next, myself. There is also a sequel out. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/36 "2009-04-07T20:55:19Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I’m a fan of Dean Koontz Who is not the Science Fistion author [Dean R. Koontz](http://remus.rutgers.edu/~silk/koontz.html), as I understand. ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/37 "2009-04-08T20:34:48Z")
> [@tarragon918](#): > > I’d also recommend Jeffrey Deaver; one of his main characters is the paralyzed detective Lincoln Rhymes. The Bone Collector, starring Denzel Washington, was one of Deaver’s novels about Rhymes. A non-Rhymes novel by Deaver, _A Maiden’s Grave_, is fantastic. Hostage situation, deaf hostages, trained FBI negotiator-- well worth reading. ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/38 "2009-04-08T20:37:10Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I second Quiller. A bit over the top at times, but I particularly enjoy the details of the executives being run by a controller. Ferris is my favourite. Isn’t he the one who stamps on cockroaches ? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/39 "2009-04-08T21:22:49Z")
> [@Damfino](#): > > Ferris is my favourite. Isn’t he the one who stamps on cockroaches ? 🙂 And Quiller, who kills folks with his bare hands, cringes when he does so. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Novalyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@Novalyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novalyne)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071/40 "2009-04-08T23:26:36Z")
Good stuff here. Many affirmations of authors I like and many, many good recommendations for new stuff. Thanks again! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-thriller-novels/492071.md?page=3)