Lisa Jewell picks her favourite thrillers of all time
Lisa Jewell is a writer who needs no introduction. Her thrillers are constantly in the Sunday Times bestseller list, and we can see why they are so popular: each is brimming with page-turning suspense, unique characters and shocking plot twists.
Everyone knows that to be a good writer you need to be a good reader – and Jewell is a prolific reader. When we asked her to choose her favourite crime novels of all time, she sent over a list of 16 books! The list is below, including a line from Jewell on why she loves each book, and the novel that first inspired her to write thrillers.
The Lemon Grove by Helen Walsh
“A steamy, in both senses, Mallorca-set thriller which is so exquisitely written you feel like you’re there on the terraces of the villa watching the dark drama unfold. Intoxicating and thrilling.”
Jenn and her husband Greg visit Mallorca every summer. But this year, Greg’s daughter and her boyfriend, Nathan, disturb the equilibrium. Jenn finds herself drawn to Nathan, and soon her desire becomes obsession – with fatal consequences.
Disturbance by Marianne Kavanagh
“My favourite trope in the genre is ‘letting the wrong person in’ and this is as good as it gets; creepy and unnerving in spades.”
Sara is a lonely, isolated woman who lives in a quaint English village with her bad-tempered workaholic husband and two children. But a blossoming friendship with local girl Katie opens up her world – until a terrible accident gets the neighbours talking.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
“The OG, and not just a brilliant thriller, but also an exquisite dissection of modern relations. The explorations of the “Cool Girl” stereotype were seminal at the time, and the novel is still a timeless classic in the genre.”
When Amy disappears, the evidence points to her husband Nick: neighbours claim she feared him, his behaviour is strange, and he’s keeping secrets from the police. But the truth is even more shocking, in this explosive psychological thriller.
Read more: 100 best crime books of all time
The Hidden Girl by Louise Millar
“A big house in the countryside, a snowstorm, weird neighbours and strange noises overhead. It’s part domestic noir and part folk horror and I loved it.”
Hannah and Will moved to a small village, hoping it would help their chances at adoption. But when a snowstorm keeps Will in London, and there are strange noises in her home, Hannah gets the feeling she is unwelcome in the neighbourhood…
Lie With Me by Sabine Durrant
“A brilliant twist on the ‘letting the wrong person in’ trope. The protagonist here is the wrong person, but he gets more than he bargained for when he interlopes on a Greek family holiday.”
Paul wants the finer things in life, but he’s broke, homeless and reliant on the generosity of friends and family. When he bumps into an old friend, he tells a few white lies and ends up on a family holiday with him and his wife. But by the time Paul’s lies catch up with him, he realises it’s too late…
Sleep With Me by Joanna Briscoe
“Another interloper, this time a wispy girl at a dinner party who inserts herself between a perfect couple, seemingly hell-bent on destroying them. Spare and creepy, with a clever backstory.”
Happily married couple Richard and Leila attend a dinner party, where they meet a mousy woman called Sylvie. There’s more to the quiet girl than meets the eye – and she gradually seduces Richard and causes Leila to question everything.
After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell
“Not strictly a crime novel, but it has the essence and structure of a thriller, matched with O’Farrell’s peerless literary grace and elegance. This was the book that made me want to write thrillers.”
Alice takes a train from London to Scotland to visit her family. But when she arrives, she sees something so shocking it causes her to leave immediately. Hours later, Alice is in a coma, following a potential suicide attempt. As she drifts in and out of consciousness, Alice’s story gradually unfurls.
The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean
“Small but deadly. I barely breathed for the duration. One of the tensest, most exciting books I’ve ever read.”
A woman who has been kept captive on a farm for seven years plans her escape. But a new arrival complicates matters. Can she save herself, her unborn child, and the latest victim, or will she stay trapped on the farm forever?
Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty
“A chilling study of a passionate extra-marital affair that destroys everything in its path, with a brilliant, tour de force twist at the very end.”
Yvonne was a successful scientist and married mother-of-two. Now, she stands in the witness box, accused of murder. As she faces hostile questioning, she reflects on the tumultuous affair that landed her there.