Thrillers To Grab Before Halloween
By: Hidden Gems on October 24, 2023
If you’re looking for a can’t-put-down thriller for Halloween night, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered five of the top-rated thrillers we’ve offered to Hidden Gems ARC readers this fall, each one full to the brim with action and thrills.
The Jealous Wife by James Caine
Expectant parents Nora and Jameson decide to move closer to her hometown to be near family. But their new neighbor is the reason Nora wanted to move away, and her name is Kelly Van Patten. Everyone falls for Kelly’s charm, except for Nora, who knows Kelly has something sinister in mind.
“Whew! This was one twisted psychological thrill ride, and I loved every minute of it, right up until the mind-blowing ending. This thriller is so full of secrets and lies that the reader is constantly trying to figure out what is truly going on. It’s told in a dual perspective, alternating between Nora and Kelly who are the main characters around which the novel is centered; all others are merely background players. The anger, angst, and leftover high school trauma between them is palpable,” writes GC in their 5-star review. “I admit it had me rapt and on the edge of my seat throughout.”
“Wow! The twists in this book gave me whiplash!” wrote Sherri M. in their 5-star review. “Some things aren’t always black and white, memories aren’t what they always appear to be. The ending will leave you speechless.”
Until Death by London Clarke
After a toxic relationship and a tragic suicide bring Hope Hendriks and Reed Sewall together, their connection becomes deeper amid unexplained phenomena. Hope is on a journey to unearth her family’s history of tragedy and malevolent forces, and Reed is drawn to her pursuit. Together, they must confront those forces that are coming for their souls.
“I can’t remember the last time I read a book in a day. Half a day, really,” writes Anonymous in their 5-star review. “Quickly drawn in by the main characters and their stories. Romance, mystery, mourning, rebirth, and scary expertly intertwined – supernatural, felonious, and domestic relationship scary at that. Felt like I knew some of the supporting characters. Glad I finished it during daylight though. I’ll never look at mannequins the same again.”
“This is a well written paranormal, romantic thriller/mystery. So much happens that ties together cohesively in the end, and crazy creepy things happen, “ writes Elizabeth J. in their 5-star review. “It was overall well written with a lot of twist and turns.”
Gothic Revival by Michael Mullin
Years after graduating and growing apart, former MFA colleagues and friends Chris, Anne, Fiona and Lauren are invited to a reunion by Eric, who was also part of their group. Eric reveals his obsession with recreating a modern version of the iconic literary event of Villa Diodati in 1816. When laughter, creativity, and reminiscence is replaced with deceit, suspicion and fear, what is the true intention for this reunion?
“This book pulled me in immediately with a compelling premise at the outset, and didn’t stop until the dramatic conclusion. Mullin has done a remarkable job creating interesting, believable characters and intertwining their lives with complex history and present-day intrigue,” writes Chris in their 5-star review. “The novel is propelled by a suspenseful story, plenty of twists and turns, clever dialogue, and vibrant scenery — all deftly orchestrated in the hands of a gifted writer.”
“Mullin writes this thriller from multiple character perspectives, and quickly amps up the pressure until you can’t stop reading until you find out what is going to happen. Crisply written, with an internal dialogue that’s as interesting as what the characters say, and do, to each other,” writes Pam in their 5-star review. “Written about writers, with stories within stories. Is this a ghost story, or something more sinister? Read it to find out!!”
The Fifth Student by Geoffrey M Cooper
When a student in Professor Brad Parker’s lab is wrongfully accused of sharing answers on an exam, the accusing professor is killed. Now Professor Parker and his fiancée, FBI agent Karen Richmond, will now have to try and understand what is truly going on behind the scenes at Maine Translational Research Institute.
“This starts out as a seemingly easily explained cheating, or lack thereof situation that quickly escalates into theft and murder. We follow a professor, his fiancée who is an FBI agent and an old friend who happens to be the chief of campus police where the cheating that starts this sordid tale takes place. We follow along as they search out the puppet master that’s pulling the strings that sets off all these events. Not to be cliche but it’s really quite a thrilling read,” writes Michelle in their 5-star review. “First book from this author and absolutely loved it, definitely will not be the last!”
“This book took right off and never landed until the very end,” writes Ayanna H. in their 5-star review. “Wonderfully done thriller.”
The One by Audrey J. Cole
Doctor Sloane Marks decides to forgive her husband Ethan after he slept with his partner at Seattle Homicide. When Sloane bumps into Brody Carr, a popular dating app’s billionaire founder, and a previous college colleague of hers, she learns he has returned to Seattle. Ethan now worries Sloane is cheating, especially after the billionaire takes Sloane on a freediving excursion. But when Brody’s wife dies in an accident, Ethan becomes the lead investigator in her death, a death that he suspects wasn’t an accident at all.
“The One is the new domestic thriller from the talented pen of author Audrey J. Cole, and it was so riveting I was compelled to read it in one mesmerizing session. I flew through this story, and with its vivid visuals and stunning twists and turns, I can easily see this as the basis of a terrific film,” writes Karen S. in their 5-star review. “With its flawed and very human characters and suspenseful plot, rife with twists and turns, I recommend THE ONE to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers, especially those set in the Pacific Northwest or involving water sports.”
“This twisty psychological suspense story had me riveted from the first page. Sloane is such an intriguing character and I wanted to understand her choices, but could only watch the train wreck happen. The aftermath quickly became lies on top of lies and I started questioning everything I thought I knew. Ethan was interesting and I wasn’t sure if he was going to be the good cop, bad cop, or a gray area in between,” writes Lisa A. in their 5-star review. “Skillfully plotted and well-written to keep the reader on their toes.”
Hidden Gems readers got to read these thriller novels first, so if you want more stories that will stay with you, sign up today! Subscribers to Hidden Gems receive invitations to read books like these – plus other titles from any of up to 15 other genres – for free. All we ask is that you consider leaving an honest review of them on Amazon when you’re done reading!
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