Renowned author Stephen King has captivated readers worldwide with his tales of horror and suspense. From the eerie corridors of the Overlook Hotel in “The Shining” to the haunting sewers of Derry in “It,” King’s novels have become genre classics.
Yet, beyond crafting his chilling narratives, King is also an avid reader. In homage to this literary maestro and his keen eye for gripping storytelling, we bring a selection of 16 mystery and thriller novels personally recommended by Stephen King. These books will have you shivering until the very last page.
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
King’s recommendation: “The Plot is one of the best novels I’ve ever read about writers and writing. It’s also insanely readable, and the suspense quotient is through the roof. It’s remarkable.”
Synopsis: Struggling MFA instructor Jacob Bonner steals a dead student’s novel and finds success. However, his newfound fame comes with a dark price when someone threatens to expose his secret.
All That Is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay
King’s recommendation: “A wonderful, well-written novel that crackles with suspense.”
Synopsis: Miranda Larkin’s mother disappeared when she was ten, and her father was once the prime suspect. When her mother’s body is discovered years later, old wounds reopen, and secrets emerge.
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
King’s recommendation: “Small Mercies is thought-provoking, engaging, enraging, and can’t-put-it-down entertainment.”
Synopsis: In 1974, Mary Pat Fennessy’s daughter goes missing, and a young Black man is found dead. As she seeks the truth, she faces the wrath of the Irish mob.
How Lucky by Will Leitch
King’s recommendation: “It’s suspenseful and often wildly funny. You are going to like this a lot, and I think a lot of you are going to like it. It has that Where the Crawdads Sing vibe.”
Synopsis: Daniel, a wheelchair user who cannot speak, witnesses a kidnapping but struggles to convince anyone to believe him. This poignant novel explores community, trust, and resilience.
Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham
King’s recommendation: “The guy can’t write a bad book. This is one of his best, suspenseful, and hard to put down.”
Synopsis: Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven teams up with troubled teenager Evie Cormac to solve a murder case while confronting his dark past.
City on Fire by Don Winslow
King’s recommendation: “Superb. This is storytelling with a keen edge. City on Fire is exhilarating to read.”
Synopsis: Two rival crime families in New England clash in a brutal cycle of revenge, putting Danny Ryan’s loyalty to the test as he seeks a way out to protect his family.
The Turnout by Megan Abbott
King’s recommendation: “Impossible to put down, creepy and claustrophobic. It’s What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? in ballet shoes.”
Synopsis: Dara, Marie Durant, and Dara’s husband, Charlie, run their mother’s dance studio. When a suspicious death occurs just before the annual production of The Nutcracker, trust among the studio members is shattered.
Find You First by Linwood Barclay
King’s recommendation: “Find You First starts with a bang and ends with an even bigger one. Barclay is a terrific writer, but he’s outdone himself with this. It’s the best book of his career.”
Synopsis: Tech millionaire Miles Cookson, facing a terminal diagnosis, seeks out his biological children. But as they start to disappear, Miles and his daughter Chloe must unravel a dark mystery.
Where They Wait by Scott Carson
King’s recommendation: “Where They Wait is so readable, you’ll be a couple hundred pages in before you realize you’re terrified… and then you can’t put it down.”
Synopsis: Journalist Nick Bishop investigates a new mindfulness app in his hometown, only to be plagued by disturbing nightmares that blur the lines between reality and fiction.
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
King’s recommendation: “Birnam Wood is terrific. As a multilayered, character-driven thriller, it’s as good as it gets. Ruth Rendell would have loved it. A beautifully textured work — what a treat.”
Synopsis: A New Zealand town faces a crisis, leading to a clash between a gardening co-op and a billionaire with apocalyptic plans. Trust is tested as lives intertwine.
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
King’s recommendation: “I loved Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby. The epigram tells you all you need to know about this fast-paced, bare-knuckle thriller: ‘Drive it like you stole it.’”
Synopsis: Former getaway driver Bug Montage takes on one last heist. However, this plunges him back into a world of danger and moral complexity in this Southern noir.
Never by Ken Follett
King’s recommendation: “Ken Follett can’t write a bad book and Never is his best. It’s terrifying. I defy anyone to put it down once the last 150 pages are reached.”
Synopsis: US President Pauline Green faces escalating tensions with China, navigating political and personal challenges while trying to prevent catastrophe.
The Witch Elm by Tana French
King’s recommendation: “Extraordinary… Here’s a things-go-bad story Thomas Hardy could have written in his prime… The book is lifted by French’s nervy, almost obsessive prose… This is good work by a good writer. For the reader, what luck.”
Synopsis: Toby Hennessy’s life changes after a brutal attack, leading him to a murder investigation and a reckoning with his past.
The Dark Corners of the Night by Meg Gardiner
King’s recommendation: “Don’t miss it. This is a great one!”
Synopsis: FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix hunts a sadistic serial killer terrorizing Los Angeles, confronting her past to stop the Midnight Man.
Natchez Burning by Greg Iles
King’s recommendation: “Natchez Burning is extraordinarily entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful. I defy you to start it and find a way to put it down; as long as it is, I wish it were longer… This is an amazing work of popular fiction.”
Synopsis: Lawyer Penn Cage returns to his Mississippi hometown to defend his father from a murder charge, uncovering buried secrets.
Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone
King’s recommendation: “I loved Mirrorland. It’s dark and devious, a neo-gothic featuring twin sisters and a deeply frightening old dark house. Beautifully written and plotted with a watchmaker’s precision.”
Synopsis: Cat returns to her childhood home to unravel the mystery of her twin sister’s disappearance, leading her back to the haunting world of Mirrorland.
Summing Up
These are some of the best mystery and thriller books, as recommended by the great Stephen King himself. Grab your copy today and let me know your favorite and if you agree with the King of Horror.
Garima Bais, a content creator since 2015, delivers unmatched quality with a personal touch. She is an expert in niches like beauty, fashion, digital marketing, health, parenting, travel, and home improvement. An Extremely positive person, she wishes to extend a helping hand to people dealing with problems who have no one to share them with.
