Best Thriller Books of 2020s (2026): Compared

Some nights call for a thriller that will not let you sleep. This list of the best thriller books of 2020s gathers decade standouts, compared by page count, publisher, edition and series position.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Chain by McKinty	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The Locked Door by McFadden	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	City of Ghosts by Creed	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Target Down by Steck	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	The Nanny by Rivers	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Chain by McKinty

Adrian McKinty·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A kidnapping thriller of impossible moral choices; skip it if child abduction stories are too much.

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Pros

• 368-page paperback reprint; September 22, 2020 publication date stated
• A chain of kidnappings forces victims into hard choices
• Works as a standalone with no series to follow

Cons

• Child kidnapping at the center, plainly described
• A reprint, not a new release
• No reading age or grade level stated

2

The Locked Door by McFadden

Freida McFadden·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 320-page psychological thriller about a surgeon hiding her past, for readers who like twisty domestic suspense.

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Pros

• Print length of 320 pages is stated
• Published October 3, 2023 by Poisoned Pen Press
• Psychological thriller premise built on family secrets

Cons

• The description centers on murder, so it suits adult readers
• No reading age or grade level is stated
• No series information is stated

3

City of Ghosts by Creed

Ben Creed·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Historical crime in 1951 Leningrad; skip it if you want a standalone, since it opens a three-book series.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 3; new readers start at the beginning
• October 15, 2020 publication date stated
• Historical setting gives the plot a distinct backdrop

Cons

• No print length stated
• Murder investigation with frozen corpses
• Only the first book is listed

4

Target Down by Steck

Ryan Steck·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Military action with family stakes and cross-country chases; skip it without the earlier Matthew Redd books.

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Pros

• 370 pages; published September 8, 2026
• Series order listed; readers can find the first four books
• Family-driven plot keeps the action personal

Cons

• Book 5 of 5, landing mid-series with established characters
• A Russian mafia hit team and a home invasion
• No reading age or grade level stated

5

The Nanny by Rivers

A.J. Rivers·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Slow-burn secrets in a big house; skip it if the independently published format matters to you.

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Pros

• 210 pages; published March 26, 2026
• Standalone story with no series to catch up on
• Familiar nanny-in-a-manor setup

Cons

• Independently published; no track record stated
• Children in danger and death threats
• 210 pages, shorter than the other picks

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More picks to compare

• Guilty Girl by GilcreaseFor slow-burn suspense fans; a parents-murder mystery in 243 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit, contents and edition, and value; no pick lists a reading age or grade level.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best thriller books of 2020s

Start with the premise, not the praise

A thriller lives or dies on its setup. The Chain turns a kidnapping into impossible choices; City of Ghosts opens a murder case in 1951 Leningrad. Read the description and pick the one you would keep reading past midnight.

Check the series position before you buy

Some of these books belong to a series. City of Ghosts is Book 1 of 3, a clean entry point; Target Down is Book 5 of 5, so it assumes you know the cast. For series starters, browse the thriller and mystery shelves and our thriller series lists.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and publication date against the original release.
• For a series, buy Book 1 first and confirm the series number on the listing.
• Read the description for mature themes before buying for a younger reader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these thrillers should I read first?

The Chain for a moral-dilemma kidnapping plot, City of Ghosts for historical crime. Both work without earlier books.

Are these books part of a series?

City of Ghosts opens its series and Target Down closes another; the rest are standalones.

Do any of these listings give a reading age?

None states a reading age or grade level, so match the book to the reader by the description and the mature themes in each pick.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Chain by McKinty

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Related lists

See every thriller and mystery list and all fiction lists.

More lists: browse new thrillers, thriller series and thrillers you cannot put down.