Mystery & Suspense With a Happily Ever After
Some people like their romance novels to be soft, fluffy, and sweet. And then there are those who thrive on crime, action, and enough thrills to keep them turning pages well into the night. This list is for the latter group. If you’re looking for something that will make your heart pound with both excitement and longing, these six thriller books are just the ticket. They’ve got as many dark secrets and vicious killers as they do grand, romantic gestures and star-crossed lovers. In other words, they will please anyone who likes to see fictional couples really have to earn their happily ever after.
Years after his wife's death left him traumatized, Crawford Hunt believes he is ready to regain custody of his young daughter. His focus is quickly shattered by an assassination attempt, the implications of which threaten to undo all of the progress he has made. As sparks fly between Hunt and Holly Spencer, the judge in charge of deciding his case, Hunt must decide if his personal vendetta is worth risking Holly's life—and losing his daughter once again. Written by Sandra Brown, a New York Times-bestselling master of suspenseful romance, Friction is perfect for readers who love watching hard, tough characters learn the value of softer emotions.
Before you watch the new movie adaptation or rewatch the 1940 Hitchcock classic, read the novel that inspired them both. Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca is the story of a newlywed couple: Maxim de Winter, a wealthy and secretive man, and his second bride, who is intimidated and later frightened by the lingering memory of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca. The more time she spends in her new home, the beautiful but haunting Manderley, the more she is convinced that the mansion hides a terrible secret — a secret she must uncover if she and Maxim are to leave the past behind them. From its iconic opening line to its stunning conclusion, Rebecca is a giant among suspense books.
A serial killer is using his victims' deepest, darkest fears to kill them in the worst way possible. The FBI's best chance of catching this monster is special agents Monica Davenport and Luke Dante. But Monica is sick of trying to understand the sick minds of serial killers, and her relationship with Luke is threatened by their mutual inability to cope with the past. They will both have to confront their own fears if they want to catch the killer and build a future together. The first in Cynthia Eden's "Deadly" trilogy, Deadly Fear is just the start of many a thrilling adventure.
Erin Sims is a psychologist, not a detective. But with her brother about to be executed for a crime he didn't commit, she feels she has no choice but to track down the real criminal by herself. Her quest brings her to the small town of Hopewell, Ohio, where the local sheriff, Nick Mann, is less than pleased by her interference... at first. Just as he begins to feel more than antipathy for Erin, Hopewell residents start going missing, and Erin herself ends up in the crosshairs of a dangerous and desperate killer. This is the first in Kate Brady's "Mann Family" series.
The first in Susan Crandall's "Warner Forever" series, Back Roads is a gripping mystery featuring a passionate but perilous whirlwind romance. The book follows Leigh Mitchell, a small-town sheriff who is unsatisfied with her lot in life. When a handsome stranger pulls into her stagnant little town, it seems like her wish for love and excitement has come true. Will Scott is sweet, charming, irresistible—and hiding a painful past that may destroy them both. When a local girl goes missing, Leigh finds herself torn between love and duty. Can she solve the case before suspicions and secrets ruin both her career and her burgeoning romance?
Lucas remembers nothing about his blackouts, except that the aftermath is always bloody and terrible, and that he had to do whatever it took to make them stop. Life in the quiet town of Payson, Arizona has helped him find the peace he has always craved. And then Shyann arrives. A relentless and ambitious reporter, Shyann is on the trail of the Shadow, an unknown criminal responsible for a series of violent assaults on women. When her investigation brings her to Payson, Lucas is attracted to her... and terrified of what she may unleash in him.
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Eileen Gonzalez is a freelance writer from Connecticut. She has a Master’s degree in communications and years of experience writing about pop culture. She contributes to Book Riot and Foreword Reviews, and she occasionally tweets at @eileen2thestars.
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