9 New Thriller Books With Twists You'll Never See Coming

Published Oct 3, 2026, 6:27 PM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. Many fantastic new thriller books have come out in 2026, and these nine stand out for their truly shocking plot twists and endings. This year has brought plenty of great books to thrill readers. While sci-fi and fantasy books have received more attention, the thriller genre has brought some of the most exciting and twisty stories out there. Some writers prefer a straightforward approach, laying out the plot clearly early on and driving it with an unrelenting feeling of suspense. Then there are authors like Harlan Coben, who deliver weirdly compelling endings that are completely out of left field and barely logical. Those stories absolutely have their place. The best thriller writers of 2026 have taken a different approach from both of those groups, though. More traditional thrillers of the year seem straightforward at first are actually very different than how they appear at first glance, thanks to twists and turns. The best mystery-thrillers of the past ten months provide unpredictable but deeply satisfying endings. If you’re looking for suspense and shocking twists, these nine books are the way to go. 9 The Unknown by Riley Sager Riley Sager has found her place in the mystery and thriller genres, and The Unknown is her most recent addition. In 1926, spiritual mediums lived on an island called New Avalon in Vermont. Five women disappeared, leaving only dresses behind on the branch of an oak tree. A decade later, an actress named Marin Keane lands a role in a movie about the unsolved mystery. In preparation, she must go on a weeklong research trip. When she arrives, Marin starts to realize something sinister is going on, not knowing whether an individual wants to derail the movie or the supernatural past is finally coming back around. Rather than being fast-paced, The Unknown is a slow-burn thriller. Like in her past books, Riley Sager proves again that she’s the master of plot twists. My jaw was on the floor with some of the reveals. 8 The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian The Amateur is a unique thriller, written as an autobiography from the perspective of the fictional main character. Set in August 1978, a golf prodigy named Mira Winston is practicing at the country club, but she hits the ball so hard that it breaks through the practice net and drives full force into the head of a high schooler named Kenny Foster, who dies. She turns to a 48-year-old married man, her mother, and Kenny's younger sisters for comfort. I feel the need to provide a content warning for this book. This is a modern retelling of Lolita that flips the script, focusing on the perspective of the teen girl being victimized instead of the adult predator. The book dives into grooming, child exploitation, and predatory behavior. Mira retells the events of the investigation and trial that follow Kenny’s death. This book is packed with secret affairs, guilt, and class privilege—the ingredients of a great thriller. What’s more, many of the blurbs for The Amateur, shared on Chris Bohjalain’s website, praise the addictive writing and eleventh-hour twist that changes everything. 7 The Quiet Girls by Dorothy Koomson Dorothy Koomson’s The Quiet Girls begins as a murder mystery. MJ Hudson, whose daughter attends a prestigious boarding school, asks Dr. Kez Lanyon for help after a teacher is killed and a student disappears. When Kez goes undercover as the school’s psychologist, The Quiet Girls shifts to a twisty thriller. Powerful individuals are manipulating everything at the school. The deeper she investigates, the greater the risk to her family’s safety, as some will kill to keep secrets hidden. The Quiet Girls honors the unwritten contract between thriller readers and writers. Readers suspend their disbelief, and writers play fair, not lying or resorting to cheap tricks. Luckily, Koomson lays out all the clues, but they are subtle enough that the plot twists still feel surprising and unpredictable. 6 Intrusive Intentions by Sebastian J. Plata Intrusive Intentions is a gripping psychological thriller that explores themes of sexual harassment and manipulation fueled by dangerous obsession. A 21-year-old closeted gay man named Daniel does a semester abroad in Krakow, Poland, hosted by the ultra-wealthy Lis family. On the surface, Aneta, Henryk, and their six-year-old son appear perfect. Daniel is drawn to the rich, supportive lifestyle, but the cost is too high. Darkness bubbles beneath the surface. Daniel must navigate unwanted sexual advances from Aneta and demands from Henryk. Intrusive Intentions feels like a spiral that pulls readers deeper into darkness. The suspense starts early and builds, leading to a truly shocking ending you won’t see coming. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after the last page. 5 You Should Have Been Nicer To My Mom by Vincent Tirado Most new unpredictable thrillers fall into the traditional thriller or thriller-mystery category, but You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado leans more toward horror-thriller. When Papi Ramon, the patriarch of the Abreu family, passes away, he gives his family one task. They must find out which of them is the demon he made a deal with if they want his inheritance. Thanks to a storm, they must solve this mystery while stuck together in a single house. As Xiomara investigates the demon, nonstop family scandals and secrets are revealed. Those revelations give characters and readers alike plenty of surprises. The book ends with an unpredictable plot twist, making it a fun ride. 4 Fruit Fly by Josh Silver Rather than a traditional thriller, Fruit Fly walks the line between psychological horror and satirical thriller, offering darkly comedic, cutting commentary. The book follows Mallory Maddox, a writer seven years into writer’s block. She’s advised, “Go gay. Go sad. Go dark.” Following this suggestion, Mallory finally finds her next story in Leo, a 22-year-old unhoused gay man living with a stimulant use disorder and doing sex work to survive. Mallory feels entitled to Leo’s story, so she goes to desperate lengths to get what she wants, raising the question of how far she will go to write the perfect story. Fruit Fly alternates between Mallory's and Leo's perspectives. By the end of the book, readers will enjoy an unpredictable, ironic twist ending that redefines everything. 3 Unreliable Narrator by Araminta Hall Written by Araminta Hall, a 23 year old Hope Jenkins takes an assistant job with writer Ambrose “Rosie” Glencourt, spending time at his secluded estate, where she falls for him and his wife. However, her time there ends with secrets and a fatal disaster. A decade later, Hope learns that Rosie turned their story into a bestselling novel, painting her as the villain. Hope strives to set the record straight. Unreliable Narrator flips back and forth between different perspectives and a shifting story structure, forcing readers to question who’s telling the truth. One reveal will feel completely obvious to thriller readers, but most will fit with the author’s perspective on endings. Hall explained to The Nerd Daily, “For me, great endings are unexpected but satisfying. They shouldn’t come out of the blue and they shouldn’t twist on a lie or something withheld from the reader.” 2 Trust No One by James Rollins Cross-genre author James Rollins has put out around 40 books, and his most recent, as of the time of writing, is the standalone thriller Trust No One. A British professor of witchcraft, folklore, and spiritualism at Exeter is murdered, and a US student named Sharyn Karr is the prime suspect because the professor gave her an encrypted 18th-century diary to keep safe. ​​ Sharyn goes on the run across Europe with Duncan Maxwell, a royal heir and master codebreaker. Trust No One by James Rollins is an interesting thriller where the questions and twists focus less on “who” and more on “how” and “why.” Ultimately, those answers are enjoyable and surprising. 1 Served Him Right by Lisa Unger A group of women friends gathers for brunch to celebrate Ana Blacksmith’s breakup with her toxic boyfriend, Paul. However, they’re in for a shock, as news arrives that Paul died. All eyes turn to Ana, who has a bad reputation, but she isn’t the only one with motive. Ana and her best friend Vera set out to find the truth before all their secrets come spilling out. Rather than a straightforward mystery novel, Served Him Right features a race against time, psychological tension, and a nonstop suspenseful atmosphere. Plus, themes of female rage, justice, and survival are much more common in thrillers than in traditional mysteries. Ultimately, Unger does a great job of constantly surprising readers, whether that be with small twists or bigger shocks.