Best Thrillers of 2021

This year was such a great year for thrillers, it’s hard to think next year can top it. Thankfully, suspense, thrillers, page-turners, and whodunits await us in the year to come. Here we rounded up some of the most anticipated thrillers of 2021.

The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan (Jan 5, 2021)

When the passing of Georgina’s mother coincides with her son meeting someone named New Granny at the park, she becomes instantly suspicious. Still, she reminds herself that all children have imaginary friends and this must be the case with her son Cody. However, despite her husband’s assurances that it’s all just a game, Georgina worries that New Granny isn’t so imaginary after all. 

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (Jan 5, 2021)

When Jane arrives in Birmingham, broke and directionless, it’s with a perfect stroke of luck that she lands in Thornfield Estates. In this 2021 thriller, the wealthy housewives are too preoccupied with status to notice missing jewelry. So, when she meets Eddie Rochester, a recently widowed resident – handsome and mourning his drowned wife – she jumps into action to win him over. Will Eddie see past her tricks? Will his deceased wife stay buried? Or will Jane’s luck continue?

If you’re a fan of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda, then this domestic suspense is for you.

Not My Boy: A Novel by Kelly Simmons (Jan 5, 2021)

Hannah and her son are focused on a fresh start when the move to the cottage next-door to her sister. But when a young local girl goes missing just days after they arrive, her son quickly falls under suspicion. As accusations begin to fly, two sisters become divided, defending their families, and their futures, at all costs.

This 2021 thriller will have you in its grips the whole way through.

Spin by Patricia Cornwell (Jan 12, 2021)

When a rocket launch fails, the following chaos brings NASA investigator Captain Calli Chase face-to-face with her missing twin sister, along with the discovery of a top-secret space program that holds the key to her future. She must navigate this uncharted territory bravely and stealthily before the group who sabotaged the rocket launch discovers her buried secret.

From the White House to outer space, international bestselling author Patricia Cornwell takes us on an epic nail-biting journey that we won’t forget.

The Butterfly House by Katrine Engberg (Jan 15, 2021)

The last thing that the newly divorced father Jeppe Kørner needed was to become the lead investigator for a string of murders. His ex-wife Anette is exhausted from both the newborn and Jeppe and decides to investigate the murders on her own. After being exposed to unfathomable dangers, Anette soon realizes that the murders stemmed from the underlying greed, evils, and ambition in Copenhagen’s caregiving institutions. 

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner (Jan 19, 2021)

Frankie Elkin spends her time searching for missing people who the public and police have stopped caring about. Her latest search brings her to a troubled neighborhood in Boston to find a Haitian teen who vanished from her high school months earlier. After receiving no help from the police or family, Frankie realizes she’s asking questions that someone won’t answer. Still, Frankie is determined to solve this case, even if the next missing person will be her. 

In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce (Jan 19, 2021)

Men whisper about Belle Gunness all throughout the Midwest. They travel to visit her in Indiana and are eager to share their dreams. However, no one has ever seen anyone leave after a visit to Belle. Her peers share suspicions about what’s going on, but they’ll never understand until they see what was taken from her and how she’s struggling to make her way in the world. 

The Survivors by Jane Harper (Feb 2, 2021)

Kieran Elliott has never completely moved on from the reckless choices that changed the course of his life, in spite of his young, vibrant family and a new life far away. But when his struggling parents call him home, his past threatens to haunt him once again. So, when the body is discovered on the beach, questions, dark memories, and secrets begin to swirl around the seaside community, leaving Kieran questioning if anything will ever be the same.

This bestselling author doesn’t disappoint with her latest thriller mystery. It’s worth the wait!

More 2021 thrillers to add to your #TBR list

The House Uptownby Melissa Ginsburg (Mar 16, 2021)

Lane is a well-known artist in New Orleans. She’s eccentric, moody, and she’s all Ava has. Ava is 14, and reeling from her mother’s death. So, when she arrives at Lane’s doorstep, the unlikely pair are clueless about where to find equal ground. Oliver, Lane’s assistant might be her only hope. But the trio soon discovers that hope, heat, and a dark family history can be a dangerous combination.

If you’re looking to lose yourself in a 2021 thriller swirling with historic secrets and brooding characters, look no further.

Saving Grace by Debbie Babitt (Mar 16, 2021)

Mary Grace Dobbs rose up from a tragic past to become the first female sheriff in her small mountain village – a position that doesn’t sit well with many of the locals. When a child’s sudden disappearance mirrors a case from her own childhood, it’s a race against the clock for Mary Grace and her team as they dodge accusations and prejudices flying around a town that has, once again, lost one of their own.

This thrilling debut suspense novel will keep you at the edge of your seat. It’s definitely one of the most anticipated thrillers of 2021.

Lies We Bury by Elle Marr (Apr 1, 2021)

Marisa was born in captivity, a life that she escaped and put behind her in order to survive. At twenty-seven, she blocks out the memories of that basement prison but the shadows she fled from are once again invading her life. After a string of macabre murders brings back Marissa’s eerie past, she must confront her memories in order to stop the killer and learn who she really is. The person waiting in the dark knows who she is and he’ll see her soon.

We learn that shadows tend to follow us, even in the darkest of times in this heart-pounding thriller.

While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams (May 11, 2021)

Avery Keene just got promoted, whether she likes it or not. From legendary Justice Howard Wynn’s law clerk to his legal guardian and power of attorney after he slips into a coma, Avery finds herself in the maze of clues about a high-profile case that has been left behind by Justice Wynn. A chess game that Avery must finish might lead her into danger as the thrilling politics try to creep up on her. The truth always comes out. 

Nothing is off-limits when it comes to the war of politics in this novel, and you’ll love keeping up with every move made in this thrilling novel.

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb (May 18, 2021)

Sophie O’Neill left behind her successful big city career to settle into a charming small town in Texas with her husband and son. It’s idyllic, until idyllic turns boring, leaving Sophie searching for something new and exciting. She finds it in socialite Margot Banks, head of the Hunting Wives – a group of women who gather for late-night target practice and partying. Soon Sophie finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, caught between family, friends and the truth as everything spins out of control.

Obsession and seduction are at the heart of this murderous 2021 thriller, which will keep you holding your breath. 

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris (Jun 1, 2021)

Nella was just happy to have another Black employee working with her at Wagner Books. Yet, when the new girl, Hazel, suspiciously upgrades to Office Daring, Nella once again feels alone. Then Nella starts to receive threatening notes, and she can’t help but think and obsess over what’s at play. Thrilling and sinister, Nella might have more at stake than just her career.

You will be on the edge of your seat not only waiting for this novel to come out, but while reading the suspense build when it’s finally in your hands.

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby (Jul 6, 2021)

Isiah and his husband, Derek, are murdered and both their fathers are ex-cons with a craving for revenge. Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee band together and use their past resources in the underworld to find their son’s killer. They’ll find more than blood on their hands as they are faced with confronting their prejudices and redemption. Will they be able to make up for their lost time with their sons?

A thrilling-paced story of revenge and a suspenseful twist on avenging, this book will have you cheering on the bad boys. 

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena (Jul 27, 2021)

Would you know if one of your family members was a cold-blooded killer? After the Merton children’s parents are brutally murdered on Easter, the three adult siblings stand to inherit millions. They weren’t the happiest of families, but that doesn’t mean one of them was that disturbed. It had to have been someone else … right?

Everyone’s family is crazy, but this one might make you feel a little better about yours.

Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron (Jul 27, 2021)

Cassie just wanted a little excitement in her life, something new. So, after a crumbling career and social life, she took a job reviewing correspondence for a large-scale fraud suit. However, when Cassie finds an email chain from Forest Watts, a partner at the firm, and his wife, she can’t help but be enthralled with their perfect life. So much so that Annabelle orchestrates a “chance” meeting with Forest in the real world and suddenly Cassie doesn’t want to just read about a fantasy life, she wants their life. And she’ll do anything to get it.

Obsession and a deadly fantasy await you in this anticipated 2021 thriller.

The Husbands by Chandler Baker (Aug 3, 2021)

The Househusbands of Dynasty Ranch make Nora envious of their wives. Yes, Nora does have a hard-working husband and she has a successful career as an attorney, but she’s hanging on by a thread. When she meets a group of high-powered women and agrees to help with a resident’s wrongful death case, she finds there’s more to their lives than she thought. The secret to “having it all” might be something worth killing for. 

This 2021 thriller will remind you to keep your husbands close, and your neighborhood housewives closer if you want to stay alive.

The Turnout by Megan Abbott (Aug 3, 2021)

It’s all about order and precision, that is until an interloper arrives and threatens the Durant sister’s delicate balance. After the death of their parents almost a decade ago, Marie, Dara, and Charlie have running their family dance school down to a … well, dance. However, a suspicious accident occurs during the onset of the school’s annual performance of the nutcracker, and the twist is irresistible and alarming. 

A definite must-have for this fall!

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins (Aug 31, 2021)

Three women who are full of simmering resentment are linked to a young man who is found murdered in a London houseboat. Laura, a one-night stand, Carla, the grief-stricken aunt, and Miriam, the nosy neighbor, are all out for revenge. Each woman is holding back secrets. Which one could be capable of trying to find peace through this rageful deed?

This thriller will show you how far some people are willing to go, and who they’re willing to sacrifice.

These Toxic Things by Rachel Howzell Hall (Sept 1, 2021)

When a client of Mickie Lambert dies, she fulfills Nadia’s last wish and begins to curate twelve mementos that were collected from flea markets across the country. However, these souvenirs mean a lot to someone else, too. Mickie Lambert is driven to find the truth behind these odd treasures when she starts to receive threatening messages to leave Nadia’s past alone. A sinister past might be inescapably intertwining with her own.

Sometimes it’s easier to leave the past in the past, but it sure does make for a thrilling future.

Friends Like These by Kimberly McCreight (Sept 7, 2021)

Secrets can tear friends apart, but sometimes it brings you closer than you could ever imagine. A group of friends is summoned together once again after 10 years of complicated relationships to do whatever it takes to protect each other. Their history might not be enough though, and those secrets keep coming out. Will they be able to stick together this time, or will it turn ugly?

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

Nice Girls by Catherine Dang (Sept 7, 2021)

Mary used to be a nice, quiet, Ivy League school girl until she gets kicked out of Cornell her senior year and comes back as a cynical, restless failure. Coincidentally, Mary’s former best friend goes missing, and she can’t help but remember the manipulative girl Olivia was, even though the entire town thinks she’s little miss perfect. Mary starts to think Olivia’s disappearance might be linked to the disappearance of another missing girl, DeMaria Jackson. Mary doesn’t know what she’s in for when she starts to pry at the truth behind their cases, and she will be horribly confronted by her past and the truth. 

This most-anticipated thriller will have you begging to know all the secrets of this small town.

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian (Sept 7, 2021)

Chloe Sevre is a psychopath. Sure, she doesn’t seem like one as a freshman honor student with the looks of the hot girl next door, but she spends most of her time plotting the death of a childhood friend who wronged her, Will Bachman. She’s part of a clinical study of psychopaths and when one of them is found murdered in the psychology building, Chloe goes from hunter to prey. 

I can’t wait to get inside the head of a psychopath and see how the suspense builds with every page!

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell (Sept 7, 2021)

If you found a note that said “DIG HERE”, would you? A writer who moves to a town haunted by the disappearance of a couple is confronted with this exact situation. No one knows what happened to the couple and the Dark Place is surely not a popular hang-out spot, so the writer must figure out if this note is a clue and what exactly is buried in this eerie forest? 

Dark and twisted, this novel will have you reading full-speed to get to the end.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeny (Sept 7, 2021)

After ten years of marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wright have it all wrong, or so it seems. Adam Wright is a workaholic that suffers from face blindness, he can’t recognize friends, family, or even his own wife. Amelia has written a letter to Adam every anniversary but has never let him read them. That is until they win a weekend getaway to Scotland. This trip might be just what their marriage needs, or it may be the breaking point. One of them is lying, and someone doesn’t want them to live happily ever after. 

You’ll be trapped inside this book for days!

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty (Sept 14, 2021)

One night, a stranger named Savannah knocks on the door of Stan and Joy Delaney’s house. Now the four grown Delaney children are wondering what happened after their parents let Savannah into their house, as both their mother and Savannah are missing. They love each other dearly, but when they start to reexamine their childhood memories they can’t help but think is it possible that one of them is the most obvious suspect of their missing mother?

You’ll find it hard to pull yourself away from this … unique family drama.

Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger (Oct 5, 2021)

It was supposed to be a hook-up, but she fell in love with the guy from the dating app. Then, he ghosted her – profiles deleted, phone disconnected, he just disappeared. She thought maybe it was her fault, she came on too strong. Until she starts looking into his past and discovers that she might be hunting for something much darker than she realized, she might be the one being hunted. 

You have to pick up this 2021 thriller if you’re looking for love, suspense, and a game of cat and mouse.

As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall (Oct 26, 2021)

There is a serial killer on the loose, and Jordan Manning believes he’s hiding in plain sight. After the gruesome murder of a Black 15-year-old Masey James, the smart and aggressive crime reporter Jordan puts everything else on hold to make sure this case gets the coverage it deserves. She is going to give a voice to the voiceless and she won’t rest until Masey, and the murders of all the other women, are brought to justice. 

This 2021 thriller is served hot and will have your heart pumping with every page.