20 BEST Thrillers of All Time on HARD MODE 😱🔪

Mikaela’s Favorite Thrillers

Mikaela presents her all-time favorite thrillers with a few strict rules: no books she read in 2026, only one book per author, and—she later remembers—no series. She admits she bends that last rule for Peter Swanson and that some picks lean toward horror or literary fiction.

She’s enthusiastic but fiercely opinionated, repeatedly reminding viewers to check content warnings. She jokes that she respects people’s right to disagree—except, apparently, when it comes to Mad Honey.

Top Pick

The One by John Marrs is Mikaela’s undisputed favorite. Its near-future, Black Mirror-like premise imagines DNA testing that identifies everyone’s soulmate. Mikaela praises the brisk pace created by its many interwoven couples, calls it her go-to recommendation, and considers it a benchmark for thrillers. She also makes a point of distinguishing the book from the Netflix adaptation, which she didn’t enjoy.

Twists, Turns, and Unsettling Mysteries

• Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough begins with an awkward affair between Louise and her married boss before delivering a twist that shocked Mikaela. She says other books have since imitated it.
• Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a personal favorite that Mikaela read with her wife, Amy, on their honeymoon. She praises its layered subplots and “miracle” twists.
• The Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney has a divisive reputation, but Mikaela was won over by its eerie island setting and hidden message.
• Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister turns a mother’s nightmare—seeing her son commit a murder—into an intricate story told in reverse.
• The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard follows a woman trying to draw out whoever kidnapped her sister.
• The Only One Left by Riley Sager centers on a caregiver hired by a woman long suspected of murdering her family. The woman communicates her account on a typewriter, and Mikaela loves the barrage of twists.
• The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson is a dark, twist-filled reimagining of Strangers on a Train. Mikaela jokes that she’s too worried about being disappointed to read its follow-up.

Darker Stories and Content Warnings

Mikaela strongly recommends checking content warnings for several of her picks.

• The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier follows a retired officer who once caught a serial killer. When a young woman’s family history raises doubts about whether the right person was caught, the case takes on new significance.
• Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah begins with a missed childcare handoff and becomes a devastating family and legal drama.
• Mad Honey, co-written by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan, combines a murder case with a deeper, more literary story. Mikaela urges viewers to avoid reviews that might spoil its major turn.
• Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent follows a socially withdrawn woman who takes her father’s odd last instruction literally. Her actions prompt a police investigation and uncover a traumatic past. Mikaela notes that the American and British editions have different endings, and says she prefers the American one.

Distinctive Formats and Premises

• None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell follows two women who share a birthday and raises the unsettling question of whether one of them is telling the truth. Mikaela calls the audiobook a full-on production.
• Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera combines a murder investigation with a true-crime podcast. Its humor made Mikaela laugh harder than any thriller had before.
• Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth explores the lives of three foster sisters and the secrets surrounding the house where they grew up.
• Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak follows a child whose drawings grow increasingly sinister.

Horror-Leaning Picks

• The Gathering by C.J. Tudor is a small-town police procedural involving vampires. Mikaela openly campaigns for a sequel featuring Detective Babs.
• Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison follows a woman returning to her estranged, cult-raised family for a wedding. Mikaela even scolds an interviewer for spoiling its early twist.
• Bloom by Delilah S. Dawson, Mikaela’s best book of 2025, is a short, tense story about a woman becoming fascinated with a magnetic but alarming stranger.

Mikaela’s Commentary

Mikaela’s humor and enthusiasm are part of the appeal. She jokes about being unusually positive for someone known for abandoning books and creating “book drama,” but makes a dramatic exception to her usual tolerance for differing opinions over Mad Honey. During filming, she briefly pauses to deal with her cat ringing its bell in front of the camera and apologizes for the changing light as the UK weather shifts.

People and Pets Mentioned

• Mikaela — the presenter
• Amy — Mikaela’s wife, discussed but not featured in the subtitles
• Vespa — Mikaela’s cat, briefly visible and heard