Looking for unputdownable thriller, mystery, and horror books? This collection of fast-paced, addictive reads will keep you turning pages long into the night. From chilling haunted houses and deadly secrets to small-town conspiracies and relentless killers. Each story grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go.
Girl, Alone by Blake Pierce
FBI Agent Ella Dark has spent her life chasing one dream—earning a place in the Behavioral Crimes Unit. At twenty-nine, her encyclopedic knowledge of serial killers finally gets her noticed and recruited for the job of her life. But when a chilling case puts her face-to-face with a real killer, Ella quickly learns that facts and theory can only take her so far. To catch him, she’ll need to trust her instincts and step into the darkest corners of his mind. One wrong move could cost her career—or someone’s life. Girl, Alone launches a gripping new FBI thriller series that will keep you reading late into the night.
What People Are Saying: “Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, action-oriented, and entertaining. If you enjoy action crime thrillers that have strong female characters, then this may be the series for you.” – lynguy1, B&N Reviewer
How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates
Prosperity Island was meant to be the ultimate escape. Five days of sun, games, and nonstop partying with an online influencer and hundreds of his most loyal fans. For Ruth, it should have been a chance to disappear into the crowd. A chance to finally hide from the cult she barely survived as a child. But when strange legends about the island’s past begin to surface, old fears stir. And her carefully guarded identity may no longer stay secret. Then the games turn deadly. Guests vanish. And the lush paradise reveals a horrifying truth that ties directly to Ruth’s past. To survive, she’ll have to confront everything she’s tried to bury—and outwit something that wants her blood. How Bad Things Can Get is a chilling descent into horror where paradise becomes a nightmare you can’t escape.
What People Are Saying: “This was an intriguing read that will have you asking questions the whole way through.” – TarynLee, B&N Reviewer
Bitter Roots by C.J. Carmichael
In Lost Trail, Montana, small-town secrets run deeper than the roots of its forests. Zak Waller prefers to stay behind the dispatcher’s desk, far from the spotlight. But when a newcomer is brutally murdered and the sheriff points the finger at an outsider, Zak can’t ignore his instincts. Beneath the picture-perfect surface of ranches and ski hills lies a town with shadows no one wants to face. Teaming up with Tiff Masterson, an old friend returning to run her family’s Christmas tree farm, Zak sets out to uncover the truth. But the closer they get, the more dangerous their search becomes. Kicking off the Bitter Root Mysteries, Bitter Roots is a gripping blend of small-town intrigue, chilling suspense, and a hero who refuses to back down.
What People Are Saying: “This novel was a surprising treat. The characters are well drawn, the settings richly detailed, the motives complex. There is a nice balance of mystery to day-to-day life to small town living.”
Little Girl Lost by Cheryl Bradshaw
Former detective Georgiana “Gigi” Germaine has spent the past two years hiding from the world. And trying to outrun the ghosts of her past. But everything changes the moment she learns her brother-in-law has been murdered—and her seven-year-old niece has vanished without a trace. Forced to return to the town she swore she’d left behind, Gigi is dragged back into a life of danger, heartbreak, and unanswered questions. Every hour that passes brings her niece closer to an unthinkable fate, and Gigi knows she may be the only one who can save her. Little Girl Lost launches a gripping new series of dark secrets, family ties, and a heroine who will risk everything for the ones she loves.
What People Are Saying: “I was mesmerized by this book, and could not put it down. I am so excited to read the next books in this new series.” – KCP317, B&N Reviewer
The Haunted Heritage by J.R. Mathis and Susan Mathis
The Acutis Society is ready to unveil their Fairy Tales and Frights haunted house. They’ve transformed the historic Myer Mansion into a spooky spectacle for Halloween. But when journalist Nate claims the ghost of Victoria Myer actually haunts the halls, Father Tom is skeptical. That is, until he witnesses Catherine Conway speaking to a presence no one else can see. Suddenly, the line between legend and reality blurs, and the mansion’s mysteries grow darker. When a participant is found stabbed to death, Father Tom and Helen must race against time to catch a killer hiding among the living.
What People Are Saying: A thrilling mystery full of haunted twists, historical intrigue, and a ghostly secret readers won’t soon forget.
Hollowed by Jessica S. Taylor
Sleepy Hollow is unraveling, its survival dependent on a yearly sacrifice to the Headless Horseman who guards the veil between worlds. Nineteen-year-old Katrina van Tassel never imagined she’d be chosen—until the night she comes face to face with the Horseman himself. But he’s not the monster she was warned about, and Katrina quickly realizes darker forces threaten the Hollow. Torn between fleeing with the Horseman or fighting beside him, she discovers a secret: only she has the power to stop the evil rising in her town. Hollowed is a standalone gothic fantasy brimming with eerie magic, dangerous bargains, and a hauntingly reimagined Sleepy Hollow that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
What People Are Saying: “I was Hooked on this book! I couldn’t put it down. It’s an amazing retelling and really leaves you feeling satisfied at the end.” – Kimsingley18, B&N Reviewer
The Library by Carmen Desousa
In 1934, the body of a young woman was found near The Depot, her brutal murder quickly forgotten except for a tattoo marking her identity. Eighty years later, Detective Mark Waters investigates what appears to be a suicide by train—only to uncover ties to the unsolved killing. As whispers of hauntings spread, the past refuses to stay buried, dragging Mark deeper into the town’s darkest secrets. When another body turns up months later, the trail leads to The Library, where shelves hide more than just books. Step inside The Library and discover a chilling story where murder, mystery, and restless spirits refuse to stay silent.
What People Are Saying: “Wonderfully twisted whodunit! … I’d love to see more paranormal investigations from this detective.” – JeannieC, B&N Reviewer
An Evil Premise by T. Marie Vandelly
From the author of Theme Music comes a chilling new tale of madness and possession. When Jewel’s sister, bestselling author Deidre Baldwin, falls into a coma after a freak accident, Jewel discovers her unfinished manuscript—and offers to complete it herself. But the story within is no ordinary draft. Pages shift, word counts climb, and a creeping illness spreads across Jewel’s own skin as paranoia twists into obsession. The deeper she goes, the clearer it becomes: some stories aren’t meant to be written, and An Evil Premise may be the last one she ever tells.
What People Are Saying: “This book is fast-paced, filled with questionable characters, chilling imagery, and a final twist that left my jaw on the floor. It’s the kind of story that gets under your skin and stays there. Perfect for spooky season.” – meghan readsbooks, B&N Reviewer
Robber’s Road by J.L Bryan
According to local lore, a phantom car prowls the shadowed curves of Robber’s Road, summoned by those reckless enough to follow three rules: drive at night, kill the lights, and keep silent. For generations, thrill seekers have dared the road—and some never made it back alive. Now paranormal investigators Ellie Jordan and Stacey Tolbert must unravel the mystery before the ghostly race claims its next victims. Robber’s Road delivers thrills that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
What People Are Saying: Perfect for fans of chilling urban legends and fast-paced paranormal mysteries.
Where The Chill Waits by T. Chris Martindale
There are dark places in the forest—cold, sun-starved places where man was never meant to go. The hunters didn’t know that when they followed their leader into the valley, believing the expedition would test their mettle and separate the men from the boys. But when the winds rose and the beasts they killed refused to stay dead, the four men realized too late what kind of ancient evil they had awakened. A day later, only two crawled out of the killing ground, broken, haunted, and carrying something far worse than fear. What they brought back with them refuses to stay buried.
What People Are Saying: A chilling blend of survival horror and dark folklore, perfect for readers who crave eerie, atmospheric tales that linger long after the last page.
Whether you love thrillers, mysteries, or horror, these unputdownable indie books deliver suspense, twists, and excitement that keep you hooked until the very last page. Dive in, find your next obsession, and explore our other curated collections for more gripping, fast-paced reads you won’t want to put down.
