The 30 Best Thrillers to Put Under the Tree
Use this as a straight reading order, or mix and match for different people on your list. Each recommendation comes with:
- A short teaser
- Perfect for: quick targeting
- A few lines on why it’s a great gift
1. Dark State – JCK Slater
Teaser: When the country burns, a dead man is the only one who can save it.
Perfect for: Fans of Vince Flynn, Jack Carr, and big-canvas action thrillers and audiobooks.
A devastating “Bloody Monday” attack brings the U.S. to its knees and drags Jason Trapp – a CIA assassin officially listed as dead – out of hiding. Betrayed by his own side, hunted by enemies, and racing against time, Trapp becomes the only thing standing between civilisation and collapse.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Blisteringly fast, cinematic and addictive
- Book 1 in a series – ideal for starting a new obsession
- Perfect for the relative who loves 24, Jack Ryan, or The Gray Man
2. An Inside Job – Daniel Silva
Teaser: A murder in the Vatican, a conspiracy in the shadows, and an art restorer who’s no ordinary man.
Perfect for: Readers who enjoy elegant, cerebral espionage
Gabriel Allon, legendary spy and art restorer, is pulled into a case that begins with a shocking crime in the Vatican and spirals into a global tangle of politics, religion, and power.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Feels classy and sophisticated – ideal for someone who loves BBC dramas and le Carré
- Rich with art, history and geopolitics
- Works as a stand-alone, but opens the door to a superb long-running series
Pull quote:
“If they love John le Carré but wish he’d written just one more book, give them Daniel Silva.”
3. Matterhorn – Christopher Reich
Teaser: A retired spy, a dead son, and a mountain full of secrets.
Perfect for: Anyone who loves cold-weather espionage and European atmospheres
Mac Dekker (living under an alias) is quietly existing in a tiny Swiss village when his estranged son dies under suspicious circumstances. The investigation drags him back into the world of intelligence and into a deadly game played in the shadow of the Matterhorn.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Snow, mountains, and danger – a perfect winter read
- Launches a new series, ideal for long-term fans
- Great for people who love The Night Manager or Alpine settings
4. Slow Horses – Mick Herron
Teaser: The spies MI5 wants to forget are the only ones who can save the day.
Perfect for: Fans of dark British humour and sharp character-driven plots
Slough House is where disgraced MI5 agents are sent to fade away doing meaningless admin under the gloriously awful Jackson Lamb. When a live operation goes wrong, these “slow horses” get their shot at redemption.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Hugely popular TV tie-in, ideal for fans of the show
- Witty, cynical and surprisingly moving
- A fantastic series starter for people who like their thrillers smart and character heavy
5. The Elias Network – Simon Gervais
Teaser: He’s a UN translator on paper – and a ghost in the field.
Perfect for: Readers who enjoy stylish espionage with a romantic edge
Caspian Anderson is officially a mild-mannered linguist. Unofficially, he’s a highly trained covert operative in a secret program targeting the world’s most dangerous criminals. When a mission forces him to team up with a former lover, things get very complicated – and very dangerous – very quickly.
Why it’s a great gift:
- “Spy couple” energy: think Mr & Mrs Smith meets political thriller
- Modern, pacey, and emotionally engaging
- Perfect for readers who like glamour and banter with their action
6. Edge of Honor – Brad Thor
Teaser: A country on the brink, and Scot Harvath once again in the crosshairs of history.
Perfect for: Hardcore political thriller and military-action fans
Thor’s long-running hero Scot Harvath is trying to step back from the frontline, but fate – and a dangerously fragile America – drags him back. Corrupt politics, extremist threats, and explosive set-pieces make this a quintessential Thor novel.
Why it’s a great gift:
- A sure bet for fans of Flynn, Clancy, Greaney, and Carr
- Top-tier action and current political resonance
- Great gift for someone who loves big-budget, patriotic thrillers
7. See Glass – Ido Graf
Teaser: A single discovery shatters the surface – and reveals something far more sinister beneath.
Perfect for: Fans of conspiracy thrillers, intelligent suspense and moral ambiguity
See Glass is a sophisticated, slow-burn thriller that pulls the reader into a web of secrets, political manoeuvring and hidden agendas. Rather than relying on nonstop gunfights, Graf builds tension through layered characters, creeping paranoia and steadily escalating stakes.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Feels like a cross between Robert Harris and early John Grisham
- A brilliant “word-of-mouth” novel – the kind people love recommending afterwards
- Ideal for thoughtful readers who enjoy complexity and atmosphere as much as pace
Pull quote:
“Ido Graf writes the kind of intelligent, slow-burn thriller you keep thinking about long after the last page.”
8. The Asset – Saul Herzog
Teaser: A former CIA operative, a resurgent Russia, and a plot that feels uncomfortably real.
Perfect for: Readers who can handle grit, intensity, and graphic action
Lance Spector is a lethal former CIA officer pulled back into the shadows to confront a terrifying conspiracy spanning Russia, Europe and the Middle East. It’s brutal, fast and unflinching.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Perfect for readers who thought mainstream thrillers were getting too tame
- Kicks off a long, dark, addictive series
- Great “hidden gem” for seasoned thriller fans
9. Midnight Black – Mark Greaney
Teaser: The Gray Man returns – and the world might not survive this mission.
Perfect for: Fans of The Gray Man film and hugely detailed action sequences
Court Gentry – the Gray Man – is back in one of his strongest adventures yet. Expect intricate operations, tactical authenticity and the kind of set-pieces that feel like they were filmed with a helicopter and a stunt team.
Why it’s a great gift:
- A must for fans of military and spy action
- Greaney is a master of realistic weapons and tradecraft
- Perfect Boxing Day sofa read for action junkies
10. True Believer – Jack Carr
Teaser: The world is burning – and the only man who can stop it is an exile.
Perfect for: Anyone who loved The Terminal List (show or book)
James Reece is in exile when multiple coordinated terror attacks devastate Western cities. He’s broken, hunted and disillusioned – which makes him exactly the kind of man needed to hunt down the mastermind.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Combines emotional depth with explosive action
- Beautifully detailed tactics and fieldcraft from a former Navy SEAL
- Perfect second step for readers who’ve started the series
11. Capture or Kill – Vince Flynn & Don Bentley
Teaser: A younger Mitch Rapp, a deadly Iranian adversary, and a mission that could reshape the Middle East.
Perfect for: Long-time Rapp fans and new readers curious about the hype
Don Bentley takes the reins of the Mitch Rapp universe, setting this story between Pursuit of Honor and The Last Man. The result is classic Rapp: ruthless, relentless and emotionally grounded.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Essential for fans who’ve grown up with Mitch Rapp
- A surprisingly good point of entry for new readers
- A great “anchor gift” in a thriller-themed present stack
12. The Night Agent – Matthew Quirk
Teaser: One phone call. A conspiracy at the heart of government. A young FBI agent in way over his head.
Perfect for: Fans of the Netflix adaptation and fast, high-stakes political thrillers
Peter Sutherland works a quiet job on a night phone line in the White House – until the phone rings and throws him into a deadly conspiracy.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Instantly accessible premise
- Short, sharp, and impossible to put down
- Great for both avid readers and thriller-curious newcomers
13. The Girl Who Lived – Christopher Greyson
Teaser: She survived the massacre. No one believes what she remembers.
Perfect for: Fans of twisty psychological thrillers
Ten years after a horrific crime, the only surviving victim is still haunted by what she saw – and determined to prove it wasn’t just trauma and imagination. As she digs into the past, someone becomes very invested in shutting her up.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Superb for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train
- Emotional, tense and highly bingeable
- A standalone psychological hit
14. The Snowman – Jo Nesbø
Teaser: The first snowfall means one thing: the killer is back.
Perfect for: Readers who love Scandinavian crime and wintry atmospheres
Detective Harry Hole investigates a series of disappearances tied together by one detail: a sinister snowman left at each scene. Dark, moody and relentless.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Iconic cold-weather crime novel
- Great way into the Harry Hole series
- Perfect for anyone who loves bleak, haunting Nordic noir
15. Eye Kill – Ido Graf
Teaser: When terror, intelligence and obsession collide, there’s no safe place to stand.
Perfect for: Fans of I Am Pilgrim, Homeland, and layered espionage
Eye Kill takes a high-stakes terrorism threat and blends it with psychology, covert operations and deep character work. Graf doesn’t just draw a line between good and evil – he asks uncomfortable questions about what we’re willing to do in the name of safety.
Why it’s a great gift:
- A tense, smart, modern thriller with real emotional heft
- Works brilliantly paired with See Glass as a two-book Ido Graf gift bundle
- Ideal for readers who want their thrillers to make them think as well as sweat
Pull quote:
“Pair See Glass and Eye Kill together and you’ve just created the perfect two-book gift for any serious thriller reader.”
16. The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides
Teaser: She murdered her husband—and then never spoke another word.
Perfect for: Fans of psychological twists and “wait, WHAT?!” endings
Alicia Berenson is a famous painter who kills her husband and then falls completely silent. Years later, a psychotherapist becomes obsessed with understanding why – and unlocking her mind.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Universally devoured and discussed
- Short, tight and twisty
- Great for readers who like big reveals and complex psychology
17. I Am Pilgrim – Terry Hayes
Teaser: One man connects a perfect murder, a stolen identity and a plan to destroy the Western world.
Perfect for: Readers who enjoy big, sprawling, epic thrillers
Pilgrim is a retired intelligence operative dragged back to stop a terrifying bioterrorist plot. The novel travels the world, weaving multiple storylines into a massive, breathtaking finale.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Frequently cited as one of the best thrillers of the 21st century
- Perfect for a long Christmas break or New Year reading binge
- Ideal for readers who want “more than just one night’s entertainment”
18. Killing Floor (Jack Reacher #1) – Lee Child
Teaser: He walks into town for a cup of coffee… and ends up arrested for murder.
Perfect for: Anyone who loves an unstoppable lone-wolf hero
This is the book that introduced Jack Reacher: ex-military policeman, drifter, and walking problem-solver. When he’s wrongly arrested, things go very badly for the real bad guys.
Why it’s a great gift:
- A modern classic; perfect entry point to a huge series
- The TV adaptation has made Reacher more popular than ever
- Great for readers who like their heroes unstoppable, blunt, and weirdly charming
19. The Bourne Identity – Robert Ludlum
Teaser: No memory. A head full of skills. The whole world trying to kill him.
Perfect for: Fans of spy-movie history and classic thrillers
Jason Bourne wakes up with no memory and quickly realises he’s an extremely dangerous man being hunted by people who know more about him than he does.
Why it’s a great gift:
- A foundational espionage thriller
- Deeper and more intricate than the films
- Perfect combo with the Bourne movies for a “page and screen” gift
20. The Hunt for Red October – Tom Clancy
Teaser: A Soviet sub captain, a risky defection, and nuclear tension under the sea.
Perfect for: Military and technical thriller fans
Clancy’s debut follows a high-stakes cat-and-mouse chase between the U.S. Navy and a Soviet submarine commander who may be trying to defect – or start a war.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Classic Cold War tension
- Satisfying technical detail for readers who love hardware and tactics
- Great for dads, uncles, and anyone who loves military history
21. The Hike – Lucy Clarke
Teaser: Four friends. One mountain. Not everyone will make it down.
Perfect for: Readers who enjoy survival, friendship drama and remote-setting mysteries
As four women hike a remote trail, secrets emerge, loyalties fracture, and the mountain becomes as dangerous as the people on it.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Great winter read with a wilderness vibe
- Perfect for fans of The Lying Game or The Sanatorium
- Strong, complex female characters and a tense atmosphere
22. The Defector – Daniel Silva
Teaser: Some enemies don’t stay buried – especially if they have unfinished business.
Perfect for: Readers who loved #2 and want more Gabriel Allon
A very personal enemy resurfaces in this gripping, emotionally charged entry in the Allon series, forcing him to confront his past and the price of loyalty.
Why it’s a great gift:
- A fan favourite in the series
- Intense, emotional and beautifully structured
- Ideal to package with An Inside Job as a Silva two-pack
23. Heat 2 – Michael Mann & Meg Gardiner
Teaser: Before and after the events of Heat, the criminal and the cop define each other’s lives.
Perfect for: Fans of the film Heat and gritty crime sagas
Part prequel, part sequel, Heat 2 dives into the lives of Neil McCauley and Vincent Hanna across years and continents. It reads exactly like a Mann film – stark, stylish, and relentless.
Why it’s a great gift:
- A dream come true for fans of the original movie
- Big, cinematic and epic in scope
- Perfect for film buffs and lovers of LA crime fiction
24. The Power of the Dog – Don Winslow
Teaser: A DEA agent. A cartel kingpin. Decades of bloody war between them.
Perfect for: Readers who like their thrillers big, brutal, and morally complex
This is not light reading: it’s a sweeping, violent, heart-wrenching crime saga that follows the war on drugs from multiple perspectives.
Why it’s a great gift:
- For serious thriller readers who want something powerful and unforgettable
- The first in an extraordinary trilogy
- A brilliant choice for someone who has “read everything”
25. The Poet – Michael Connelly
Teaser: A serial killer hiding behind suicides – and a journalist determined to expose him.
Perfect for: Mystery lovers and fans of journalism-driven thrillers
When his brother, a cop, apparently dies by suicide, reporter Jack McEvoy starts investigating and finds a pattern – and a killer known as “the Poet”.
Why it’s a great gift:
- One of Connelly’s darkest, most gripping stories
- Great for readers who normally live in the crime/mystery aisle
- Standalone, so no commitment to a long series
26. Red Sparrow – Jason Matthews
Teaser: A Russian spy trained in seduction and manipulation meets a principled CIA agent. Sparks – and secrets – fly.
Perfect for: Espionage purists and fans of Russian-American spy games
Dominika Egorova is forced into Russia’s “sparrow” program and trained as an intelligence operative, eventually crossing paths with CIA officer Nate Nash. Authentic tradecraft and food details from Matthews’ CIA career give this a unique flavour.
Why it’s a great gift:
- A gift for anyone hungry for realistic spycraft
- First in a compelling trilogy
- Great match with fans of The Americans or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
27. The Killing Floor Blues – Craig Schaefer
Teaser: Crime, noir, and the kind of antihero who makes terrible decisions irresistibly readable.
Perfect for: Readers who enjoy noir with a twist and morally grey protagonists
Part of the Daniel Faust series, this novel blends crime, corruption and dark undercurrents into a grimy, propulsive thriller. It’s not strictly “straight” crime fiction – there’s a hint of the uncanny at the edges – but it’s gritty, clever and addictive.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Ideal for someone who wants something off the beaten path
- Strong voice and sharp dialogue
- Great for fans of urban noir and morally complicated heroes
28. The Winter Guest – W.C. Ryan
Teaser: A snowbound Irish estate, a murder, and a ghost or two—depending on what you believe.
Perfect for: Fans of historical thrillers with a gothic edge
Set in 1921, against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, this atmospheric novel blends espionage, murder mystery and possible supernatural elements at a grand country house.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Beautifully written and haunting
- Perfect for curling up with on a dark December night
- Great choice for readers who want depth and mood rather than pure adrenaline
29. The Chain – Adrian McKinty
Teaser: Your child is kidnapped. To get them back, you must kidnap someone else’s child.
Perfect for: Fans of terrifying high-concept suspense
The “chain” is a horrifying criminal scheme that forces ordinary parents to become kidnappers to save their own children. Breaking it could mean losing everything.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Brilliant premise executed with ruthless efficiency
- Hugely gripping and easy to pitch
- Great for book clubs and discussion-loving readers
30. Falling – T.J. Newman
Teaser: Land the plane and your family dies. Crash the plane and they live.
Perfect for: Anyone who loves plane-set thrillers and ticking-clock scenarios
A commercial pilot’s family is taken hostage mid-flight. The demand is simple and impossible: crash your plane, or they die. Newman, a former flight attendant, makes every moment feel frighteningly real.
Why it’s a great gift:
- Reads like a blockbuster disaster film in novel form
- Relentless pace from page one
- A crowd-pleasing choice even for light readers
Quick Matching Guide: Who Gets What?
- Action junkie: Dark State, Edge of Honor, Midnight Black, True Believer
- Spy/espionage lover: An Inside Job, Matterhorn, Red Sparrow, Capture or Kill, See Glass
- British humour fan: Slow Horses
- Psychological twist addict: The Silent Patient, The Girl Who Lived, The Chain
- Scandi-noir fan: The Snowman
- Big epic reader: I Am Pilgrim, The Power of the Dog, Heat 2
- Ido Graf sampler: See Glass + Eye Kill as a two-book bundle
Pull quote:
“Pick the right thriller, add a handwritten note inside the cover, and you’re not giving a book — you’re giving a whole other world to disappear into.”
