The must-read titles that made the list runs the gamut of murder mysteries, psychological thrillers, and classic whodunnits.
If there is one thing all the books on the NYT's 50 Best Thrillers list is their complexity, with plots that unfold in layers.
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The New York Times Book Review has long kept book lovers abreast of standout works by authors from around the world and across genres. For its 100 Best Books of the 21st Century list, the publication gathered recommendations and insights from more than 500 writers, critics, and readers, alongside selections from the New York Times Book Review team.
As a follow-up, the New York Times has unveiled its picks for The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century, based on submissions from a panel of 291 crime novelists, editors, librarians, booksellers, and other book lovers.
The list spans murder mysteries, psychological thrillers, crime and legal dramas, and classic whodunnits, featuring works by some of the most prominent names in contemporary literature. Together, the selections offer a wide-ranging collection of suspenseful reads.
Gillian Flynn, known for thrillers exploring characters with deep psychological scars, landed two books on the list. Sharp Objects, first published in 2006 and later adapted into an HBO limited series starring Amy Adams, ranks No. 19. Her other entry, the widely acclaimed Gone Girl, takes the No. 1 spot. The novel was adapted into a 2014 film starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike.
Celebrated crime fiction writer Dennis Lehane also earned two spots, with Shutter Island at No. 17 and Mystic River, published in 2001, at No. 2. Both novels were adapted into critically acclaimed films.
With such gripping stories in the NYT's 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century, it comes as no surprise that there are a number of them that have made the leap from page to the screen.
Taking 4th place is the book that introduced the world to "Nordic Noir," The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the first book in Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. There would be two versions of the film adaptation - a Swedish trilogy starring Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander, followed by the 2011 Hollywood film starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig.
In 12th place is Paula Hawkins' Girl On A Train, which tells a tale of obsession, voyeurism, and a twisted look on gaslighting, was an acting piece for actress Emily Blunt.
Cormac McCarthy's No Country For Old Men (no. 5), and Emma Donoghue's Room (no. 21) would have film adaptations that would win a number of Academy Awards.
The list also features books that have become limited series on both streaming and network TV - Caroline Kepnes' You (no. 42), Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer, (no. 16), and Mick Herron's Slow Horses (no. 9).
So which book do you want to read next?
