7 Thrilling Reads to Kick Off Fall
Fall is the season for moody skies, cozy blankets, and books that keep you turning pages long after dark. If you’re searching for the best fall thriller books to get lost in this season, I’ve rounded up a list of highly rated, can’t-put-down novels. From haunted mansions and remote cabins to shocking suburban secrets, these stories will keep you hooked while the leaves fall outside. Whether you’re looking for spooky season reads or psychological thrillers perfect for autumn nights, these are the ones you’ll want on your nightstand.
So, pour yourself a hot drink, grab your favorite blanket, and let’s dive into the thriller books you need this fall.
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
When Maggie Holt inherits Baneberry Hall—the estate her father turned into a bestselling horror memoir—she returns determined to uncover the truth about her childhood home. The Victorian mansion creaks with ghost stories, unsolved mysteries, and sinister secrets. The question remains: was her father’s book a clever fabrication, or is the house truly haunted?
Why fall readers love it: This is the ultimate haunted house thriller for October. Dark, atmospheric, and chilling, it’s best read on a crisp fall night with the wind rattling the windows.
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Adam and Amelia’s troubled marriage leads them to a remote Scottish lodge for a weekend retreat. But when a snowstorm traps them inside, truths bubble to the surface. With each new revelation, Feeney peels back the layers of their relationship, leaving you questioning who can really be trusted.
Why fall readers love it: The perfect spooky season thriller—with snow, isolation, and betrayal wrapped in gothic atmosphere. Ideal for curling up under a blanket as autumn shifts toward winter.
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica
Several women vanish from a quiet suburban town, leaving a community rattled. Years later, one reappears, sparking shocking revelations about what really happened. Kubica’s tightly woven suspense explores the dark side of suburbia—what’s hidden behind closed doors and whispered across fences.
Why fall readers love it: With its suburban suspense and shocking twists, this novel pairs perfectly with overcast skies and the eerie quiet of leaf-strewn streets.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh accepts a job finishing Verity Crawford’s bestselling series, only to stumble upon Verity’s private manuscript. What she discovers inside is chilling, twisted, and unforgettable. Each page blurs the line between truth and fiction, pulling you into a story as addictive as it is disturbing.
Why fall readers love it: Moody, unsettling, and impossible to put down, Verity is the kind of psychological thriller that will keep you awake on stormy autumn nights.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
When artist Alicia Berenson is accused of murdering her husband, she stops speaking altogether. Years later, psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes obsessed with breaking her silence and uncovering the truth. The deeper he digs, the darker the secrets become—culminating in one of the most shocking twists in modern thrillers.
Why fall readers love it: With its moody, psychological suspense, this book is tailor-made for dark evenings when the storm outside mirrors the tension on the page.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
A glamorous wedding on a windswept Irish island is disrupted when a storm cuts guests off from the mainland—and someone turns up dead. Secrets, grudges, and betrayals bubble up among the guests, leaving everyone a suspect.
Why fall readers love it: Crashing waves, stormy skies, and locked-room mystery suspense make this a perfect autumn thriller. It’s Agatha Christie reimagined for spooky season.
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
A dinner party turns into a nightmare when a baby disappears next door. Every chapter unravels more lies and deceit, revealing just how far people will go to protect their secrets.
Why fall readers love it: A fast-paced domestic thriller, perfect for devouring in one breathless sitting on a chilly night. It’s addictive, tense, and unsettlingly close to home.
Final Thoughts
Pumpkin spice, cozy blankets, and a thriller with a twist ending—that’s my fall starter pack. If you’re looking for a sign to add one of these to your TBR, this is it.
