As a writer of suspense and thrillers, I have my preferences in the types of stories I read and write. I love a good twist, and I appreciate red herrings in a mystery. I enjoy domestic suspense, psychological suspense, and whodunnits.
Some of my favorite authors include: Mary Higgins Clark, Freida McFadden, Riley Sager, B.A. Paris and Louise Penny
https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Mary-Higgins-Clark/6230
https://www.freidamcfadden.com/
https://www.rileysagerbooks.com/
So what are the different genres that fall under the suspense/thriller umbrella?
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS (probably my favorite)
Often using unreliable narrators, these stories pull the readers inside the minds of their protagonists
as they experience and react to the story’s events. Freida McFadden is known for her psychological
thrillers.
SUSPENSE THRILLERS (my other favorite)
If you love cliffhangers and lots of tension leading to a build-up, this genre might be for you. My love of reading and writing suspense came to life after I read my first Mary Higgins Clark Book, Where are the Children.
LEGAL THRILLERS
As the name implies, books in this genre focus on court cases and the lawyers and investigators who work to build enough evidence to win their cases. John Grisham’s The Firm, The Pelican Brief, and The Client are all great examples of this genre.
MYSTERY THRILLERS (or whodunnits)
Books in this genre usually involve a variety of suspense, a sleuth, and lots of red herrings mixed with clues. Agatha Christie comes to mind for novels of this sort as does Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series.
CRIME THRILLERS
As the title suggests, these books follow a detective or the police trying to put together the pieces of the mystery as they work to solve the crime. David Baldacci, James Patterson, and John Grisham dominate this space.
POLITICAL THRILLERS
Politicians and corruption fill the pages of these books. John Grisham and Tom Clancy have also penned books in this genre. Interestingly enough, Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton co-wrote a political thriller called State of Terror.
MEDICAL THRILLERS
One of the very first medical thrillers I ever read was Robin Cook’s Coma, which also was made into a movie. Michael Crichton and Patricia Cornwall are also well known voices in this genre.
ACTION THRILLERS
Fans of The Bourney Identity and Jack Reacher series know the fast paced action and impossible physical stunts the characters in action thrillers exhibit. These stories are much more explosive than those that build more steadily. Robert Ludlum, Lee Child and Tom Clancy are forerunners in this genre.
SPY THRILLERS
Immediately, I think of James Bond. Both the books by Ian Fleming, and the movies starring a wide variety of Bonds are spy thrillers at their best.
HISTORICAL THRILLERS
In this sub-genre, the period in time plays a substantial role in the story. Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code, blends religious elements with historical ones in this thriller.
TECHNO THRILLERS
If you love advanced technology, using hacking, and often a sci-fi setting, this genre’s for you. William, by Mason Coile, delves into the existence of AI persona, William, and what happens when AI technology feels threatened.
SUPERNATURAL THRILLERS
Interwoven with the horror genre, this genre incorporates things like paranormal occurrences and elements of the supernatural into its pages. Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Jennifer McMahon have penned supernatural thrillers.
No matter which genre/sub-genre you choose, you’re guaranteed a page turning read.
In the comments, let me know your favorite suspense/thriller novels and/or authors.