The Silence of the Lambs Starring Anthony Hopkins is based on the 1988 psychological crime thriller by Thomas Harris
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10. The Terminal List by Jack Carr
Former US Navy Seal Jack Carr is a relative newcomer but his 2018 thriller exploded onto the scene with the force of a demolition charge. Seven books on, Carr’s hero James Reece, is a fan favourite and an Amazon Prime adaptation starring Chris Pratt as the veteran special forces operator whose wife and daughter are murdered to cover up the betrayal of his unit only added to the allure for fans. A second series is due soon.
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9. Dead Man’s Grave by Neil Lancaster
Former police officer Lancaster’s debut crime novel introduced Detectives Max Craigie and Janie Calder, a 21st century duo who instantly grabbed readers’ attention. Tasked to root out police corruption and tackle the biggest, baddest of baddies, they have since appeared in five books with the latest instalment, When Shadows Fall, due in March. Lancaster’s books have been compared to Line Of Duty in print, and it’s flattering… to Line Of Duty. Brilliant, fast-paced and action-packed, Lancaster’s part of a new wave of brilliant British thriller writers, also including Tony Kent, Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Lucy Foley.
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8. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
One of the creepiest books this side of Stephen King, who should probably also be included here for The Shining or Pet Sematary or Carrie (sorry Stehen), Thomas Harris’s 1991 serial killer thriller took psychological horror to the next level. Not one to read late at night in an empty house. Another great book that became an even better movie, starring Anthony Hopkins as Dr Hanibal Lecter and Jodie Foster as FBI agent Clarice Starling.
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7. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
This 2003 thriller blockbuster breathed new life into the thriller genre, selling 80 million copies and inspiring a hit Tom Hanks movie even if experts loudly denounced its author’s historical and scientific inaccuracies. US author Dan Brown didn’t care, he was (I presume) laughing all the way to the bank. The book explores an alternative religious history, the secretive Catholic institution Opus Dei and involves a lot of running about. Perfect thriller fodder.
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