5 Gripping Thrillers to Keep You Up All Night

The line between horror literature and thrillers is extremely thin and almost invisible to most eyes. Both genres exploit our deepest fears, which lie dormant like bears in their dens. Both genres tell stories of evil in one form or another. Eventually, we all face this evil, which is described in the pages of many outstanding authors. Most often, we learn about it through local television or media publications: another maniac has killed another victim who was walking down another unlit street. Scaring a modern reader is not easy when such a stream of information attacks our minds daily. This is why some of the most skilled contemporary authors write in the thriller genre. They build captivating compositions of murders, investigations, chases, and internal resistance. Their goal is to keep the reader’s attention for hundreds of pages. Thanks to geniuses like Stieg Larsson, readers have the pleasure of meeting colorful characters who will remain in their memories forever.

Recently, thrillers have been rapidly developing, giving rise to many book series available in all major stores across the country. Today, we have selected five books for you that will make your blood run cold and keep you glued to the pages.

1. “The Birds” by Daphne du Maurier

Daphne du Maurier has long secured her place among the classics and pioneers of the psychological thriller. Her novel “Rebecca” has been read by countless people and has become the calling card of this remarkable author. However, one should not judge this writer solely by one, albeit the most popular, novel.

In 1952, over half a century ago, Daphne du Maurier wrote a substantial short story “The Birds,” which is so steeped in fear that Alfred Hitchcock himself decided to adapt it into a film. And he was not mistaken—the movie became extremely popular. How can these feathered creatures instill fear in a modern person? Many agree that the author used enraged birds as a symbol of the possible nuclear war between the USSR and the USA—a fear that was as real then as today’s “global warming.” But even now, “The Birds” has not lost its vividness: the attack described in the story is terrifying not because of its consequences, but because of its inhuman nature and the impossibility of dialogue.

2. “Blood Sacrifice to Moloch” by Åsa Larsson

If there are any modern female writers comparable to du Maurier, Åsa Larsson from Sweden—the country that gave the world the phenomenon of Scandinavian detective fiction—should be on that list. Åsa Larsson gained fame through her series of books about detective Rebecca Martinsson. “Blood Sacrifice to Moloch” is one of the latest books in the series.

The first thing that strikes the reader when encountering Åsa Larsson’s works is the amazingly detailed background—the setting where all the actions take place, filled with forest expanses, dark alleys, and the sounds of hunting. The author knows her country, its nature, and the customs of small-town residents well. The idealistic notion of an excessively prosperous Sweden crumbles when Åsa describes the daily life of ordinary townspeople. Any Scandinavian writer cherishes this atmosphere, and Åsa Larsson especially so.

“Blood Sacrifice to Moloch” tells the story of a small village where everyone knows each other. A woman dies in this place, and at first, everything seems clear—domestic violence, jealousy, a typical murder. Many residents attribute the death to an evil fate, some curse that has hung over the victim’s family. But detectives do not believe in curses; they believe in killers, and it is in the numerous murders that Rebecca Martinsson must unravel.

3. “The Terror” by Dan Simmons

After its publication in 2007, “The Terror” instantly became a bestseller. Many authors, such as Stephen King, not only highly praised the book’s plot but also named it the best published work of the year. Dan Simmons follows the tradition of fantasy literature, as he is essentially a seasoned fantasy writer. But this did not prevent the author from creating an excellent example of horror literature, spiced with a good dose of thriller.

The plot is based on the real story of Arctic explorer John Franklin and his expedition, which set out to find a sea route through the Arctic Ocean. Dan Simmons offers the reader an alternative view of the events that befell the Arctic expedition. The maritime life of the 19th century, the extreme conditions of the Far North, and a monstrous Something that poses a danger to every sailor. A captivating read.

4. “The Silence of the Lambs” by Thomas Harris

Thomas Harris is a rather controversial figure in English-language literature. Some critics despise him, while others adore him. But one cannot deny the significant contribution this author has made to the thriller genre. After all, he created the infamous Hannibal Lecter.

“I would love to chat, but I can’t: I’m having an old friend for dinner tonight.”

This character, known to many from the famous film adaptations with Anthony Hopkins, remains one of the trendsetters in the insane world of maniacs and killers. He is calculating, intelligent, educated, but unfortunately, he loves to eat people. Harris’s innovation lies in the fact that his antihero is not just an animal acting on instinct; his antihero is significantly smarter than the positive characters. And reading about such a person, as it turns out, is incredibly interesting. “The Silence of the Lambs,” Harris’s most popular novel, will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in this chilling story where humans are merely food.

5. “Live Flesh” by Ruth Rendell

If you want to know what a dark, extremely realistic English thriller is, you should choose Ruth Rendell. She is a unique author who writes books with non-banal evil. If Ruth Rendell writes about a killer, the reader will sympathize with him. If she writes about a rapist, the reader will still be able to understand him. Although, of course, she does not flirt with the dark side of the human psyche, she does not justify the crime itself.

“Live Flesh” is the story of Victor, a young man who raped several women, was caught, but received a sentence not for this, but for attacking a police officer who became disabled. When Victor is released from prison, he realizes that his entire life is ruined, and adapting to a new one is not so easy. No prospects or education, no income or hint of employment, although the social service tries to help him. Amazingly, his fate becomes intertwined again with the fate of the police officer who has spent all these years in a wheelchair.

For more thrilling reads, check out this authoritative source.