Have you ever read a book so good, you wished it will never end? Fortunately, some writers feel the same way. They’re compelled to write stories that span multiple books, featuring some of the most iconic characters of their genre.
And when it comes to a series, the thriller genre has some of the most prolific writers churning their books out. The best of them have works that are always featured in bestseller lists, book club suggestions, and your bookstore’s popular shelves.
Best Thriller Book Series
Thriller is one of those genres that easily blend well with others. As such, you’ll often find science fiction, fantasy, romance, or any other books containing significant thriller elements. From hardboiled to the psychological, here are some of the best thriller book series you’ll ever read.
1. Dublin Murder Squad Series by Tana French
Night approaches and mothers begin calling their children home. However, three don’t answer the call. The police only find one terrified boy in the woods, soaked in blood and unable to remember anything.
Two decades later, a girl is discovered murdered in the same woods. The found boy, Rob Ryan, is now a detective working the case. In seeking answers for today, he must also dive deep into his own personal mystery from so long ago.
2. Claire Dewitt Series by Sara Gran
Claire Dewitt calls herself the world’s greatest private detective. A follower of the esoteric French detective Jacques Silette, Claire’s methodologies represent a new kind of P.I.
When a respected DA goes missing during Hurricane Katrina, she is asked to return to New Orleans and investigate. With a desolate city to scour and her own tumultuous history with it, where does one start combing for clues?
3. Harry Bosch Series by Michael Bosch
LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch stares inside a drainpipe, reliving old nightmares from Vietnam. Inside is the body of a fellow “tunnel rat”, who fought with him through an underground war.
Already a black sheep, his insistence on murder further isolates him from the rest of his colleagues. Soon, he finds himself fighting against enemies from inside and outside the force—all in an effort to solve a murder that turns out to be more than just that.
4. Sam Capra Series by Jeff Abbott
Sam Capra is a CIA agent on the rise, with a beautiful, pregnant wife to boot. While at work, he receives a call from his wife warning him to get out of a building. Moments later, the whole place explodes, killing everyone inside.
As the only survivor, he is branded by the agency as a traitor and murderer. Worse, his wife and child disappear off the face of the earth. Alone and hunted, he must quickly discover who took his family and set him up to take the fall.
5. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
In Stalin’s Soviet Union, the state is everything. All its citizens live free from crime and fear as long they obey the iron fist of the law.
War hero Leo Demidov is a staunch supporter of this system. But when he begins investigating a murder, he finds himself stonewalled from all directions. Soon it’s only him and his wife trying to uncover the secrets of a nation without “crime.”
6. The China Thrillers by Peter May
Beijing detective Li Yan is dedicated to restoring respect to his family, lost during the Cultural Revolution. But the burned corpse found in a city park leaves him troubled and unable to make any headway in the case.
Enter forensic pathologist Margaret Campbell, who left America for a fresh start in life. Together, they find an anomaly that leads to a conspiracy that threatens the lives of millions around them.
7. The Hatching Series by Ezekiel Boone
A river of black consumes a tourist backpacking deep in the Peruvian forest. A plane crashes in Minneapolis and an FBI agent makes a gruesome discovery. The Chinese government “accidentally” drops a nuclear bomb over an isolated region in their own country.
All over the world, everything begins sliding towards destruction. An ancient species as awoken after centuries of dormancy—and it wants out.
8. Kurt Wallander Series by Henning Mankell
An old man lies dead, his tortured wife expiring right before their neighbor’s eyes. But before she dies, she’s able to whisper one word about their attacker: “foreign.”
In charge of the case is Inspector Kurt Wallander, currently beset by a slew of personal problems that threaten to cripple him. Further complications arise as xenophobia disrupts the community as they search for the killer.
9. Harry Hole Series by Jo Nesbo
A Norwegian woman—a minor celebrity back home— lies dead in Sydney. Inspector Harry Hole is dispatched to observe and stay out of the way. Never the type to stay on the sidelines, he is soon drawn deep into the case.
They uncover the work of a killer making his way across the country. And the nearer they are to solving the case, the more they sense that everybody is no longer safe.
10. The Power of the Dog Series by Don Winslow
Art Keller is the straight-edged DEA agent on a crusage against the international drug war. His opponent, Adan Barrera, is the charming heir to a powerful drug empire, El Federación.
Circling around their struggle is a hitman looking for redemption, a hooker with her heart in the right place, and an incoruptible priest. From New York to Mexico, the drug war rages on and on, devouring everyone in its path.
11. Nick Heller Series by Joseph Finder
Nick Heller is the man you call when you need something done. As a powerful investigator, he exposes the secrets that powerful people would prefer hidden.
An attack leaves his sister-in-law in a coma and his brother nowhere to be found. Searching for answers leads him to one of the most powerful corporations in the world—one that won’t hesitate to do anything to keep its secrets.
12. Audrey Harte Series by Kate Kessler
When they were only thirteen, Audrey Harte and her bestfriend Maggie killed Maggie’s abusive father. It’s haunted her ever since. Now she’s returned home after seven years.
Her first night in town ends in a fight with her drunken bestfriend—who later ends up dead. Now she’s not just the prime suspect, but also the next victim as well.
Benefits of Reading Thrillers
There’s a certain appeal to being scared and excited. When it comes to thriller books, the cause may not be real, but conquering those extreme emotions provides catharsis to many readers.
See, reading thrillers is not just for stress relief but also a challenge unto itself. Working through tough scenarios where you’re only given half the answers makes you develop a critical mind. You’re able to pick up on subtle details, check behavioral and moral patterns, and train your reading comprehension.
In this way, thrillers are puzzles used for mental stimulation. Because when you’re presented with a mystery, your human nature takes over and gets you hunting doggedly for a solution.
What is your favorite thriller book series? Share them in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 11 Best Mystery Book Series that Will Keep You Guessing
- 12 Legal Thrillers for Fans of Courtroom Drama
- 21 Best Psychological Thriller Books
- 10 of the Most Popular Thriller Tropes with Examples
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
