Reading a series really helps to narrow down your options when you’re looking for what to read next on your “To Be Read” list, and if you’re looking to jump into a series, the thriller and mystery genres are a great place to start looking! They are plentiful indeed. Rest assured, this is likely the first of many of these Serial Thriller lists. Below you will find the series starters for at least 30 thriller book series.
The Outsider by Stephen King
Series: Holly Gibney
Commitment Level: 4 books
A gripping and unsettling tale of a brutal crime and a seemingly airtight case against beloved coach Terry Maitland. Despite eyewitness accounts, fingerprints, and DNA evidence, Maitland insists on his innocence—and has an alibi. As the investigation deepens, horrifying revelations emerge, raising chilling questions about identity and evil.
Fog and Fury by Rachel Howzell Hall
Series: Haven Thriller
Commitment Level: 2 books
In this suspenseful mystery, former LAPD cop Sonny Rush moves to the seemingly idyllic seaside town of Haven, California, to work as a private investigator. What begins as a lighthearted search for a missing goldendoodle quickly spirals into a deadly case involving murder, secrets, and a town hiding dark truths. As Sonny digs deeper, she realizes Haven may be more dangerous than anything she faced in L.A.
A Clean Kill by Steven Konkoly
Series: Garrett Mann
Commitment Level: 3 books
FBI Special Agent Garrett Mann leads a task force hunting a brutal serial killer linked to cartel-style murders across the Southwest. When a key clue surfaces, he thinks the case is solved—until a deeper, more dangerous conspiracy begins to unfold. From Minnesota to New Mexico, Mann races to stop a killer who’s part of something far more sinister than he ever imagined.
A Chain of Pearls by Raemi A. Ray
Series: Martha’s Vineyard Murders
Commitment Level: 4 books
When a journalist’s body is found near a senator’s yacht, London lawyer Kyra Gibson returns to Martha’s Vineyard to settle her estranged father’s affairs—but quickly realizes his death may not have been an accident. As she investigates with detective Tarek Collins, they uncover a tangle of corruption, secrets, and murder hidden beneath the island’s polished exterior. What begins as closure becomes a dangerous search for the truth.
Leave No Trace by AJ Landau
Series: National Parks Thriller
Commitment Level: 2 books
When a devastating explosion topples the Statue of Liberty, National Park Service agent Michael Walker is thrust into a high-stakes terrorism investigation. Sidelined by the FBI but armed with a crucial video from a young survivor, Walker uncovers a domestic terror plot led by a mysterious figure named Jebediah. As the threat of more attacks looms, he must navigate government interference and uncover the truth before it’s too late.
Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway
Series: Titanium Noir
Commitment Level: 2 books
In a dystopian future ruled by genetically enhanced elites called Titans, detective Cal Sounder is called to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. As he delves into the case—complicated by his past with a powerful Titan heiress—he uncovers a conspiracy that reaches into the very core of society. Blending sci-fi and noir, this gripping thriller explores power, immortality, and the price of transformation.
Art of Deception by Cara C. Putman
Series: Secrets to Keep
Commitment Level: 3 books
Eight years after escaping a deadly crime family, Charlotte Montgomery’s carefully rebuilt life is threatened when they return, forcing her into a money-laundering scheme. Determined to bring down the ex who destroyed her past, she teams up with Thayer Jackson, an FBI-linked accountant with his own agenda. As danger closes in and sparks fly, Charlotte must outwit the mob and protect the life she’s fought to create.
Victim Without a Face by Stefan Ahnhem
Series: Fabian Risk
Commitment Level: 7 books
Criminal investigator Fabian Risk moves back to his hometown for a fresh start—only to be pulled into a grisly case when a former classmate is found murdered and mutilated. As more classmates turn up dead, Risk must race to stop a killer bent on revenge before the entire class is wiped out.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Series: The Housemaid
Commitment Level: 4 books
She cleans the Winchesters’ house, picks up their daughter, and prepares their meals—then eats alone in her small attic room. Nina plays unsettling games, Andrew seems to be unraveling, and she can’t help imagining what it would be like to live Nina’s seemingly perfect life. But after she tries on one of Nina’s white dresses and is caught, she realizes too late that her door only locks from the outside—and the Winchesters have no idea who she really is or what she’s capable of.
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
Series: Perfect
Commitment Level: 2 books
Would you defend your husband if he was accused of murdering his mistress? Sarah Morgan, a high-powered defense attorney in Washington D.C., seems to have it all—success, status, and a carefully planned life. Her husband Adam, a struggling writer, feels increasingly distant and begins an affair with Kelly Summers at their secluded second home. But when Kelly is found murdered there and Adam is arrested, Sarah must decide whether to stand by him in court—even as doubt creeps in: is Adam innocent, or has he been hiding the truth all along?
Kill Joy by Holly Jackson
Series: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Commitment Level: 3 books
In this prequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi reluctantly joins a 1920s-themed murder mystery party. But as the game unfolds, she’s drawn into the role of detective—and the fictional case soon stirs up thoughts of a real mystery that won’t let her go. Contains mature content, for older readers.
The Academy by Robert Dugoni
Series: Tracy Crosswhite
Commitment Level: 11 books
Driven by her sister’s disappearance, Tracy Crosswhite leaves her teaching job to join the Seattle Police Department. Faced with relentless pushback from Detective Johnny Nolasco and the challenges of training, Tracy refuses to back down. With her past fueling her determination, she’s willing to risk everything to prove she belongs.
The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
Series: The Martini Club
Commitment Level: 3 books
In a quiet Maine town, retired CIA operative Maggie Bird is trying to live a peaceful life—until a body appears in her driveway, signaling that her past has caught up with her. With the help of her old spy friends, the “Martini Club,” Maggie must uncover who’s targeting her and why. As local police chief Jo Thibodeau investigates, their paths collide in a race to uncover long-buried secrets before it’s too late.
1st to Die by James Patterson
Series: Women’s Murder Club
Commitment Level: 25 books
Four women—an inspector, a medical examiner, a prosecutor, and a reporter—form the Women’s Murder Club to solve a string of brutal murders in San Francisco. Frustrated by red tape, they team up to share information and track a killer who’s shocking the city. As their bond deepens, they uncover a truth more terrifying than they ever expected.
Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben
Series: Detective Sami Kierce
Commitment Level: 2 books
In this gripping thriller, widowed veteran Maya is stunned when her nanny cam shows her daughter playing with her husband—who was murdered two weeks earlier. As she searches for answers, Maya must confront secrets from her own past to uncover the shocking truth. Can she trust what she sees, or is something far more sinister at play?
Last Patient of the Night by Gary Gerlacher
Series: AJ Docker
Commitment Level: 5 books
A fast-paced medical thriller that blends ER drama with gritty detective work. When a young woman dies mysteriously in his ER, Dr. AJ Docker teams up with a cop and a police dog to uncover the truth, plunging into a dangerous criminal underworld. Filled with suspense and dark humor, this debut novel offers both heart-pounding action and authentic emergency room insight.
The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Series: Harry Bosch
Commitment Level: 25 books
For LAPD detective Harry Bosch, the body found in a drainpipe isn’t just another case—it’s personal. The victim is a fellow Vietnam tunnel rat, pulling Bosch back into the horrors of war as he hunts a killer through L.A.’s shadows. Caught between justice and vengeance, Bosch must confront enemies both on the streets and within his own department.
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Series: Robert Langdon
Commitment Level: 6 books
When a murdered physicist bears the seared emblem of the Illuminati, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is drawn into a race against time: the secret brotherhood has hidden a powerful antimatter bomb inside the Vatican just as a papal conclave begins. Partnering with brilliant scientist Vittoria Vetra, Langdon hurtles through Rome’s crypts, cathedrals, and catacombs, deciphering centuries‑old clues to stop the explosion. Fuses high‑stakes science with clandestine history in a breakneck battle between faith and reason.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Series: Millennium
Commitment Level: 8 books
When Harriet Vanger vanished decades ago, her wealthy uncle never stopped searching for answers. He hires disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who teams up with brilliant hacker Lisbeth Salander to uncover a web of dark secrets and corruption. A gripping blend of mystery, family drama, and financial intrigue that launched a global phenomenon.
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Series: Lo Blacklock
Commitment Level: 2 books
Travel journalist Lo Blacklock is thrilled to board a luxury cruise in the North Sea—until she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard. With all passengers accounted for and no one believing her, Lo is trapped at sea, desperate to prove a crime has occurred. A chilling, claustrophobic thriller where nothing is as it seems.
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Series: One of Us is Lying
Commitment Level: 3 books
Five students walk into detention, but only four walk out alive. When the school’s notorious gossip king dies before revealing secrets about his classmates, the remaining students become prime suspects. A twisty, high school whodunit where everyone has something to hide—and someone will do anything to keep the truth buried.
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Series: Hannibal Lecter
Commitment Level: 4 books
When a second family falls victim to a brutal serial killer known as “The Tooth Fairy,” the FBI calls on retired profiler Will Graham to track him down. Haunted by past trauma from capturing Hannibal Lecter, Graham must now confront the infamous killer once again—for help. A chilling psychological thriller that delves into the mind of madness.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Series: The Family Upstairs
Commitment Level: 2 books
Just after her 25th birthday, Libby Jones learns she’s inherited a multimillion-pound mansion—and the shocking truth about her birth parents. But others have been waiting for this moment too, and dark secrets from the house’s past are about to surface. A gripping tale of twisted family ties, hidden identities, and a decades-old mystery.
The Shining by Stephen King
Series: The Shining
Commitment Level: 2 books
Jack Torrance takes a job as the winter caretaker of the remote Overlook Hotel, hoping for a fresh start with his family. But as isolation deepens, dark forces within the hotel begin to awaken—noticed only by his psychic son, Danny. A chilling tale of madness, supernatural terror, and a family’s slow unraveling.
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Series: Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner
Commitment Level: 3 books
On a flight from London to Boston, Ted confesses his crumbling marriage to the alluring Lily—who shockingly offers to help him kill his unfaithful wife. What begins as a drunken joke spirals into a deadly plot, as Lily’s dark past and true motives come to light. The Kind Worth Killing is a twisted psychological thriller of secrets, betrayal, and murder where no one is what they seem.
Killing Floor by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher
Commitment Level: 30 books
Jack Reacher’s impulsive stop in Margrave, Georgia, lands him accused of a murder in a town shaken by its first homicide in decades. As dark secrets emerge and bodies pile up, Reacher proves he’s no easy target. Introduces the tough, nomadic ex-military cop who’s ready to take on injustice head-on.
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Series: Bill Hodges
Commitment Level: 3 books
In a desperate American city, a stolen Mercedes plows through a crowd at a job fair, killing eight and injuring many more. Haunted ex-cop Bill Hodges is pulled out of retirement when the killer taunts him with a chilling letter, signaling a deadly new attack. Mr. Mercedes is a gripping battle of wits between a relentless detective and a twisted murderer bent on mass destruction.
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
Series: Jason Bourne
Commitment Level: 21 books
Jason Bourne wakes up with no memory of who he is—an assassin, a terrorist, or something else entirely. Haunted by questions about his identity, a mysterious bank account, and attempts on his life, he must uncover the truth before it’s too late.
In the Woods by Tana French
Series: Dublin Murder Squad
Commitment Level: 6 books
In 1984 Dublin, three children vanish in the woods—only one returns, terrified and silent. Twenty years later, detective Rob Ryan faces a chilling new murder in the same woods, forcing him to confront his forgotten past. This gripping psychological thriller explores memory, trauma, and the haunting search for truth.
The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
Series: The Collector
Commitment Level: 4 books
Near an isolated mansion, young women known as “butterflies” are kidnapped and tattooed by a brutal captor known as the Gardener. When a survivor named Maya is found, FBI agents must unravel her haunting story to uncover the chilling truth. The Butterfly Garden is a dark, suspenseful thriller about captivity, secrets, and survival.
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