5 Books Every Thriller Fan Needs to Read

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5 books

These are 5 books which led me down the path to understanding how the writing process worked. First of all, Elmore Leonard taught me that people don’t always speak in complete sentences. They get interrupted, lose their train of thought, or simply misspeak. I thought that writing needed to be structurally finite in its parameters, but was liberating to discover the freedom of natural dialogue. The other 4 writers all have their own strengths and each book I chose had a significant role in my own writing career. I know you’ll enjoy each one.

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Be Cool

Elmore Leonard, 2005

This book is the sequel to Get Shorty and so much fun. Leonard has a way of entertaining you while wielding an interesting plot along the way. Chili Palmer is a shylock from Miami who goes to Hollywood to collect on a debt but becomes entwined in the music industry. Leonard’s dialogue is so fluid it makes you believe these people are real. There are so many hilarious scenes with pernicious undertones, you’ll smile all the way through the book.

The Lion's Game

Nelson DeMille, 2000

John Corey is a wisecracking ex-NYPD cop who works for the FBI in a task force operation to track a Libyan terrorist with revenge on his mind. Corey makes smart aleck remarks all the way through the book, but the real tension comes when they go into the terrorist’s mind, AKA the Lion. This book is the shortest 900 pages I’ve ever read.

Before the Fall

Noah Hawley, 2016

Yes, he’s won an Emmy, PEN, and Golden Globe, but Noah Hawley is one terrific writer. Before the Fall is about a survivor of a plane crash and the consequences and coincidences that occur before and after his fall into the ocean. It’s tense, dramatic and beautifully written. He also created the Fargo series for TV which is also one of my favorite shows.

Unknown Remains

Peter Leonard, 2016

Yes, he’s Elmore Leonard’s son, which, full disclosure, is my favorite author, but don’t let that taint your opinion of his skills. This book has that casual feel of a guy telling you a story with a cigar and a beer and a glint of fun in his eyes. This book is about a Wall Street broker who owes a debt to the mob. That’s really all you need to know, right? Great premise with great execution.

Killing Floor

Lee Child, 2012

If you haven’t read any of Lee Child’s work, you’re missing out. This is the first book of the series. Jack Reacher is an ex-military policeman and a drifter who hitchhikes his way across the country. When he finds himself in a small town in Georgia arrested for murder, his acutely scientific brain goes to work and discovers what is really happening. Child is so impressive with his research, it makes for a truly believable experience. A must read.