10 Greatest Thriller Book Series of All Time

Image via Jasper Savage / ©Amazon/MGM Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection Published Jul 29, 2026, 4:28 PM EDT Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK. In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Sign in to your Collider account When we read a good book, we generally end up satisfied. Every so often, though, we are eager for more — especially when the story is filled with exceptional characters who can journey beyond the novel on new adventures. That’s ever-present in thrillers. Whether cop or private eye, hero or villain, if they can pop off the page for one thrilling expedition, chances are the author can send them out on many more. We are going to discuss 10 of the very best thriller book series of all time. The stories on this list have had such an impact on the world well beyond the book cover. Some of these novels feature the most beloved characters, which have been adapted for the screen. They may inspire us to be our own amateur sleuths, while others have haunted our nightmares for years. Some use the novels as a blueprint for a multi-season television show. While there may be many more that can join this list, the 10 series represent a strong cross-section of the history of thrillers. 1 Jack Reacher by Lee Child Image via Penguin Publishing Group/Lee Child Chances are someone in your life has watched every Jack Reacher movie and TV series because it is the epitome of the dad genre of entertainment. But we would never have these incredible live-action adaptations had it not been for Lee Child’s high-octane book series. Comprised of over 30 books and short stories, the British novelist’s series follows the titular character, a massive, nomadic ex-military policeman who wanders America solving crimes. Armed only with a formidable intellect, brute strength, and a strong moral compass, he acts as a modern-day "knight errant," stumbling into local conspiracies and taking out dangerous syndicates before moving on. By design, each book acts as a self-contained, standalone thriller that can be enjoyed in any order. In each, he shifts between big cities and small towns, investigating local crimes, corrupt officials, and international conspiracies, and always delivering rough, unapologetic justice to those who take advantage of the vulnerable. Lee’s series has redefined the modern action-thriller that has united a divided audience. The novels have reached the heights they have because they are highly addictive. They offer the ultimate modern-day fantasy of a capable, unburdened hero. The books aren't just mindless brawls. They feature intricate, clever mysteries where Reacher pieces together clues, military intelligence, and local politics. Along the way, the reader learns key facts, allowing them to investigate with Reacher. Because Reacher is constantly moving, almost every book acts as a completely self-contained story. You can pick up any novel in the massive series without needing to read the previous ones. And they all have a worthy payoff. Because the self-contained stories can be enjoyed at any time, they’ve served as perfect adaptations. Tom Cruise has played the part in a film adaptation of One Shot, as well as its sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. On the small screen, it took a big guy to fill the character’s shoes. This time it’s Alan Ritchson in Reacher, the hit Prime Video series. For that series, it’s adapted from Killing Floor, Bad Luck and Trouble, Persuader, and Gone Tomorrow. The series has been so successful, it’s spawned a spin-off, Neagley, coming this fall. Thanks to Ritchson’s visualization, "Reacher-esque" has joined modern vernacular for someone who is exceptionally large, highly observant, and operates by their own strict moral code. Nordic noir reached the global mainstream thanks to Stieg Larsson’s extraordinary Millennium Series. Comprised of three novels — The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest — the series follows Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant but deeply troubled, anti-social computer hacker. The narrative kicks off when Blomkvist is hired by a wealthy industrialist to investigate the decades-old disappearance of his niece. He enlists the help of Salander, and the story blossoms into a massive overarching thriller involving corporate espionage, sex trafficking, government conspiracies, and Salander's violent personal history. The series is driven by a deep exploration of systemic misogyny, sexual violence against women, and corruption within government and institutional authorities. There were originally intended to be 10 novels in the series, but at the time of Larsson’s sudden death, only three had been published. After his death, David Lagercrantz and Karin Smirnoff continued the series with Larsson’s characters. The novels have been so beloved that they found themselves adapted into films in both Sweden and America, though the second American film was of the Lagercrantz-penned novel The Girl in the Spider’s Web. The novel series popularized complex, tech-savvy anti-heroes, redefined the role of women in thrillers, and forced the publishing industry to reconsider international, socially conscious translations. It redefined the anti-hero and set a precedent for tackling gritty social taboos. Lisbeth Salander remains one of the greatest modern recurring protagonists. 3 Miss Marple Series by Agatha Christie There may be no more famous mystery writers than Agatha Christie. Widely celebrated as the "Queen of Mystery,” Christie is simply unmatched in her ability to craft airtight plots, misdirect readers, and create iconic detectives. The first entry on this list belongs to Miss Marple. The stories follow Jane Marple, a seemingly innocuous, elderly spinster living in the quiet English village of St. Mary Mead. Despite being underestimated by police and younger individuals, Miss Marple is a brilliant amateur detective who uses her sharp wit and lifelong observations of human nature to solve complex murder cases. The series comprises 12 classic novels and numerous short stories that span from 1930 to 1976. In each, the cozy mysteries hinge on the brilliant contrast between a gentle, unassuming elderly woman and the dark, desperate nature of human crime. Christie used Miss Marple to popularize the concept that wickedness can hide in the most idyllic, ordinary settings, making such locales unique to cozy thrillers. In contrast to many other literary sleuths, Marple's cases are usually personal, quiet, and intimately focused on rural life and desperation. And because of that, Miss Marple has served as a brilliant character to adapt for the stage and screen. The character herself has been played by Margaret Rutherford, Angela Lansbury, Helen Hayes, Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan, and Julia McKenzie, among others. Miss Marple transformed the elderly, seemingly harmless spinster into a cultural icon of quiet authority. She is widely credited as a primary inspiration for later television sleuths, most notably Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote, a role also played by Lansbury. 4 Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz Image via Penguin Many of the thrillers on this list are considered timeless. One of the newer series that is destined to receive the same accolade is Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series. Redefining the modern vigilante spy thriller, Orphan X follows Evan Smoak, a former top-secret, government-trained assassin known as Orphan X. After going rogue and vanishing, he reinvents himself as the "Nowhere Man," a shadowy figure who uses his lethal skills and high-tech gadgetry to protect and rescue the truly desperate who have nowhere else to turn. As the series progresses, Evan is forced to tackle complex modern-day issues, constantly testing the boundaries of his lethal skill set against his evolving moral code. Over the last 10 years, there have been 10 Orphan X novels, with a new title arriving each year. The high-octane thriller series masterfully blends relentless action with a deeply compelling human tale. Unlike many cold, unfeeling assassin protagonists, Evan was intentionally trained by his mentor, Jack Johns, to retain his empathy. The core conflict isn't just about outgunning enemies, but about an emotionally stunted weapon trying to re-engineer himself back into a genuine, connected human being. It’s something very few spies do. What makes him so endearing is how he exhibits charmingly obsessive, high-end habits which add levity and humor into the story. Hurwitz is quite strong at writing supporting characters, including Joey, a fiercely intelligent, foul-mouthed young hacker Evan takes under his wing. By not making him a lone wolf, Hurwitz showcases great world-building. Hurwitz’s intense, hands-on research — including mixed martial arts training, blowing up cars, and embedding with armorers — set a new industry standard for tactical and technological realism in spy literature, making it ready for adaptation. The rights had previously been optioned by Warner Bros. for Bradley Cooper and Todd Phillips, but the clock expired. Now, Orphan X belongs to Justin Lin’s Perfect Storm Entertainment. Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would BeYour Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn't work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back. 🎖️Rambo 🍸James Bond 🏺Indiana Jones 🔧John McClane 🎭Ethan Hunt FIND YOUR PARTNER → 01 You're dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you. ASomeone who already has three contingency plans running and is calmly working through all of them. BSomeone who reads the terrain instinctively and knows exactly how to use it against the enemy. CSomeone who keeps their nerve and their sense of humour when everything is falling apart. DSomeone who knows the history of wherever we are and what we're walking into. ESomeone with the right contact, the right cover identity, and the right exit already arranged. NEXT QUESTION → 02 You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission. AOn foot through terrain no one else would attempt — I move where vehicles can't follow. BOn a motorcycle, a cargo plane, or anything else that gets me there before I think too hard about it. CIn something that belongs to someone else — borrowed, stolen, or improvised under fire. DFirst class, with a cover identity and a gadget that does something I won't explain until it's needed. EBy whatever means are available — I've driven, flown, and once arrived by camel. The destination matters, not the method. NEXT QUESTION → 03 You're pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of. ADisappears into the environment, flanks them silently, and ends it before I've reloaded. BCracks a one-liner, grabs a fire extinguisher or a chair, and improvises something that somehow works. CProduces a gadget specifically designed for this exact scenario and uses it with infuriating precision. DPulls out a whip, a pistol, and an archaeological insight that somehow gets us out alive. ENeutralises the threat with maximum efficiency and minimum words — they were already three moves ahead. NEXT QUESTION → 04 The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are. AA bar with terrible lighting, cold beer, and absolutely no questions about feelings. BThe finest restaurant in the city, a bottle of something expensive, and a conversation that is equal parts brilliant and exhausting. CA local dig site, a museum after hours, or a long story about why that particular artefact matters to human civilisation. DPizza. Bad TV. Falling asleep halfway through a movie neither of you were watching anyway. EA debrief that turns into three hours of contingency planning that somehow becomes the most fun you've had all week. NEXT QUESTION → 05 How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability. APrecise and minimal — tell me what I need to know and nothing else. Every word has a cost. BDeadpan and dry — keeping it light keeps me sharp, even when everything is on fire. CEnthusiastic and slightly chaotic — but always with useful information buried somewhere in the noise. DCalm and controlled through an earpiece, with a plan that covers every variable I haven't thought of yet. EBarely at all — silence is a language and they speak it fluently. NEXT QUESTION → 06 Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership. AInfiltrate their inner circle, learn everything, and dismantle them from inside out before they know we're there. BStudy the historical pattern — every villain of this type has a weakness written somewhere in the past. CGet them talking. The more they monologue, the more time I have to figure out how to beat them. DGo through them. Directly. With as much force as the terrain allows. EFind the one thing they haven't accounted for — there's always one thing — and make sure we're holding it. NEXT QUESTION → 07 Things go badly wrong and you're captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters. ACome in alone, quietly, and get me out before anyone knows they were there. BHave already been working on the extraction since the moment I disappeared — the plan is already running. CCome in loud, come in fast, and worry about the collateral damage later — I'd do the same for them. DUse every resource, every contact, and bend every rule until I'm out — they don't leave people behind. ECharm their way in somehow, bluff through the hard part, and still manage to look good doing it. NEXT QUESTION → 08 What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn't replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn't know you had. ATechnology that shouldn't exist yet and the training to use it under any conditions. BSurvival instinct so refined it borders on supernatural — and the scars to prove it's been tested. CKnowledge of history, language, and culture that makes them invaluable in places where force is useless. DThe ability to walk into any room in the world and immediately become the most trusted person in it. EStubbornness that refuses to accept a situation is hopeless — and the improvisational skill to back it up. NEXT QUESTION → 09 Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together. AA partner who never fully switches off — always watching exits, always calculating threats, even at dinner. BA partner who gets the job done brilliantly but has the emotional availability of a locked filing cabinet. CA partner who makes everything ten times more complicated than it needs to be — but who always comes through. DA partner who gets personally attached to every relic, ruin, and artefact we encounter, which slows everything down. EA partner who was not built for this and knows it — but shows up anyway, every time, without being asked. NEXT QUESTION → 10 It's the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one. AOne line. Absolutely dry. Delivered like the world isn't ending. Then we move. BNothing said at all — just a look that means we both already know what has to happen. CA plan I don't fully understand that somehow accounts for everything, delivered in thirty seconds flat. DA piece of historical context that reframes the entire situation and tells us exactly what to do next. ESomeone who steps forward instead of back — because that's who they've always been. REVEAL MY PARTNER → Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse. RamboYour partner doesn't talk much, doesn't need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you've finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You'll never need to ask if he has your back. You'll just know. James BondYour partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it'll take you a moment to remember what's actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You'll never be bored. You'll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing. Indiana JonesYour partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar's eye and a brawler's instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn't matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you'll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them. John McClaneYour partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren't so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay. Ethan HuntYour partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you've finished reading the briefing, and the plan he's settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn't exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 5 The Harry Bosch Series by Michael Connelly Image via Little, Brown and Company American author Michael Connelly has contributed much to detective novels and crime fiction, with perhaps the greatest being the character of Harry Bosch. The book series follows the life of Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch, a relentless, maverick LAPD homicide detective. Driven by the motto "everybody counts, or nobody counts," Bosch tackles gritty murder cases while navigating police corruption, internal politics, and his own personal demons as a Vietnam War veteran. Connelly’s series spans over two dozen novels, evolving with Bosch's career as he transitions from active homicide detective to working cold cases and eventually into an investigative partnership with LAPD detective Renée Ballard and his half-brother, defense attorney Mickey Haller. The series provides a hyper-realistic portrayal of police work and its deeply flawed, fiercely driven protagonist. Drawing from Connelly’s past as an LA crime reporter, the books capture authentic police procedures and complex plots that feel true to life. Connelly’s creation of Bosch is the reason why the series has exploded to the depths it has. He is as hard-boiled as hard-boiled can be. His guiding philosophy drives him to relentlessly seek justice for victims, even when it puts him at odds with his superiors. In addition to Bosch himself, Connelly writes Los Angeles as a character as well. The city is meticulously detailed, infusing LA’s unique culture and dark underbelly into each narrative. Connelly expertly connects his books, allowing Bosch to occasionally cross paths with other fan-favorite characters like defense attorney Mickey Haller, who could be on this list as well. Connelly’s visceral storytelling made the series a perfect fit for the screen. Beginning with Bosch and its sequel Bosch: Legacy, Connelly’s world was ideal for Prime Video. Portrayed by Titus Welliver, Bosch got fans excited to see the books realized, while enticing TV viewers to go back and explore the novels. The world simply cannot get enough of Harry Bosch. ​​​​​​​ 6 The Hannibal Lecter Series by Thomas Harris Image via St. Martin's Press We tend to see heroes lead a novel series; rarely is the villain the primary character. But when you write a character so deliciously, excuse the pun, it’s impossible not to further their journey. Such is the case for Thomas Harris and Hannibal Lecter. Consisting of four novels — Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Hannibal Rising — the legendary psychological horror thriller series centers on Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant, highly sophisticated psychiatrist who is also a cannibalistic serial killer, tracking his evolution from a traumatized child into one of literature's most chilling masterminds. Celebrated for pioneering the modern psychological thriller, the Hannibal Lecter series blends intricate police procedural details with chilling horror through the lens of a terrifyingly brilliant, cultured, and unpredictable antagonist who forces both characters and readers to confront their own dark impulses. Dr. Lecter is the ultimate anti-hero. He is a monster, yet he possesses a refined intellect and a strict moral code of his own, making him profoundly captivating to readers. Harris finds such depth and nuance in his central antagonist. Harris goes beyond basic "whodunit" tropes to explore the psychology of criminal intent. No better individual to catch a killer than a killer themselves. But further, it’s the dynamic he sets with Lecter and his counterparts like Will Graham and Clarice Starling that crafts relentless tension. And it’s those protagonists who are fiercely intelligent and well-drawn who navigate complex institutional systems to solve cases. Harris’ stories have found their way onto the big and small screen, and yes, fostered nightmares in the process. The titular character first came to the screen in The Silence of the Lambs as played by Anthony Hopkins. That film made history as it won the Big Five at the Academy Awards. The origin story, Hannibal Rising, was adapted for film with Gaspard Ulliel as Hannibal. Mads Mikkelsen took on the part in the NBC horror series Hannibal. It’s safe to say Harris crafted a brilliant character ripe for all media. 7 The Hercule Poirot Series by Agatha Christie Perhaps only rivaling Sherlock Holmes, the most beloved and iconic detective of all time, is Hercule Poirot. The fictional Belgian detective is Agatha Christie's most famous and longest-running character, appearing in 33 novels, two plays, and 51 short stories. A former police officer who fled England during World War I, Poirot relies on psychology and his "little grey cells" rather than physical evidence to solve complex, baffling murders among high-society suspects. The Hercule Poirot series of novels is famous for its ingenious twists, closed-circle mysteries, and exploration of human motives. Made his debut in Christie's debut novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Christie has used him as a vehicle for some of the most beloved mysteries, including The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder on the Orient Express, and Death on the Nile. Christie's Poirot stories stand as a gold standard in mystery fiction thanks to being unlike any other sleuth on earth. Christie is truly unmatched when it comes to plotting. Her writing features all the clues they need but cleverly misdirects them flawlessly until the ultimate twist ending. Poirot is portrayed as an accessible individual, even if he is kookier than others. But that's where his charm comes in. He's amusing, fastidious, and delightfully arrogant. But his wit often triumphs in the end, making you fall for his endearing traits. Agatha's character has influenced the mystery genre, influencing many characters like Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe and Rian Johnson's Benoit Blanc. Through Poirot, the whodunit format has become a staple on screen. The character has been seen numerous times, from David Suchet to Kenneth Branagh. What's evident about every portrayal is that he comes adorned with the iconic impeccably groomed mustache. 8 'The Ripliad' by Patricia Highsmith Image via Coward-McCann We tend to prefer the antics of morally good individuals. Then, Patricia Highsmith created Tom Ripley, and soon we became enamored by a charming, amoral career criminal, con artist, and serial killer. In the Tom Ripley series, lovingly known as The Ripliad, Tom Ripley's dark evolution is chronicled. Exploring themes of obsession, identity theft, and the terrifying absence of remorse, Highsmith forces readers to sympathize with a cold sociopath. And if five novels are proof, it worked. Introduced in The Talented Mr. Ripley, the titular character embarks on a dangerous journey. Told through Ripley's eyes, he is portrayed as a social underdog yearning for a glamorous lifestyle. His obsessive striving throughout the story makes him a compelling individual, while his detached, suspenseful prose keeps readers endlessly captivated. Highsmith writes Ripley as the ultimate anti-hero. He may seem to be a minor con artist and a lonely orphan, operating as a classic underdog, only to root for him harder as he commits brutal crimes. The Ripley series, at its core, is a story of survival and success and the means to achieve both. Highsmith uses her novels to mirror modern desires. Ripley's motivations to covet wealth and luxuries are deeply human, just like the impostor syndrome we all face. Ripley just has a talent for forgery and imitation. Highsmith masterfully drops the readers into deeply psychological narratives. The tension doesn't come from whether Ripley will be caught; it comes from how he justifies his actions and lives with his own escalating immorality. Highsmith's first three Ripley novels have been adapted into various films, with Alain Delon, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper, Dennis Hopper, and John Malkovich taking on the part. On the small screen, Andrew Scott took on the lead role in Netflix's daring series, Ripley. Long before many modern on-screen antiheroes tried the tactic, Ripley was the ultimate master of "fake it till you make it." 9 The Robert Langdon Series by Dan Brown Image via Doubleday We all love a conspiracy from time to time, but when it comes to thrillers, the conspiracy thriller genre sparked public interest in art history and secret societies thanks to Dan Brown. The series pioneered the "narrative tourism" trend that brought millions of readers to real-life historic sites like the Louvre and the Vatican thanks to Robert Langdon as their guide. Comprised of six books, The Robert Langdon series follows Langdon, a Harvard professor of symbology who is thrust into life-or-death situations. He must race against time to decode ancient symbols, religious secrets, and historical enigmas to prevent catastrophic events or uncover hidden conspiracies. The series, which includes the hits Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, mixes a curation of real-world art, architecture, and history with fictional plots that evolve into high-stakes puzzles. In each novel, Brown crafts enthralling, fast-paced thrillers where the pieces of the puzzle result in a frantic race against the clock. Brown's writing is brilliantly accessible, filled with cinematic twists and intriguing turns that keep you hooked from the very first page. He utilizes short, punchy chapters that often end in a cliffhanger. This leads to a binge-reading experience that forces you to keep reading to find out what happens next. Each book is heavily researched, allowing the mix of real history and fictional conspiracy to feel authentic. With Langdon at the center, he serves as an Everyman protagonist. He's an adventurer on a mission, just not one who engages in physical combat. The books had such commercial success, with over 250 million copies sold worldwide, launching three film adaptations starring Tom Hanks. On the small screen, The Lost Symbol was adapted by Peacock with Ashley Zukerman as Langdon. Netflix also has an adaptation in the works: The Secret of Secrets, with Morgan Spector in the lead. 10 Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman Image via Viking Press The cozy crime genre had a rebirth thanks to Richard Osman's mesmerizing The Thursday Murder Club. With five books in the series, The Thursday Murder Club follows four eccentric retirees living in an upscale British retirement village. They meet weekly to investigate unsolved crimes for fun, but frequently end up outsmarting the police to solve actual, present-day murders occurring within their own community. Through the eyes of four main characters of diverse backgrounds, Osman paints them as the underestimated, only for them to emerge as super sleuths in the end. Osman's books blend clever whodunit plotting with sharp British wit and touching dissertations on aging and friendship. Osman introduced Elizabeth Best, Joyce Meadowcroft, Ron Ritchie, and Ibrahim Arif in The Thursday Murder Club, following it up with The Man Who Died Twice, The Bullet That Missed, The Last Devil to Die, and The Impossible Fortune. Each book is character-driven and elevated by deeply emotional storytelling. His characters are not helpless seniors but smart, fiercely independent, and often lovable underdogs. The series subverts the modern thriller with the ease in which he writes low-stakes warmth with legitimate, clever mysteries to solve. There are genuine laugh-out-loud moments along the poignant beats. By shifting between third-person perspective and Joyce's intimate journals, it gives the reader the chance to feel as if they're part of the club. The characters jump off the page, which is why it was inevitable that a film would be made. The Netflix adaptation by Chris Columbus starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie is as delightful as Osman's writing. Cross your fingers that the other stories get the film treatment.