A Roundup of Excellent Indie Thriller & Suspense Books
What I've been reading and why you might enjoy it
Ah, March. Around the country signs of spring are, well, springing up. Birds are returning from winter migration. Snow is melting, the sun is shining, and warmer temperatures are coaxing people outdoors.
While we’re still under a good six inches of snow here in Vermont, the thermometer has been spending more time in the 30s and even occasionally the 40s and less in the 0-10 range. I, for one, am extremely grateful for that. I’ll take all signs of spring anywhere I find them.
One of the good things about hibernating for months is the amount of cozy reading one gets to enjoy.
Today, I’ve compiled a list of some excellent thriller and suspense novels that I’ve recently enjoyed and think you will like too.
London Clarke, Gothic Suspense Author
Really, really enjoyed The Night Singers by London Clarke. I've read a few of the author's other novels and this is one of my favorites. The setting, Invisible Island, is spooky and sinister but also beautiful and mysterious.
The Premise: Ghostwriter Callie Rowe has landed on what seems like a dream penning the memoir of her 90s rockstar crush, Riff Fall. But after arriving on a secluded island to pen the manuscript, it soon becomes apparent that there is something dark at play in the mansion, and the island itself.
Why I enjoyed it: The characters are well-developed and the plot ticks along at a quick speed, making it easy to finish the book before you mean to. I was torn between wanting to see what happened next and wanting to savor the experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and am looking forward to more by this author.
Jean Marie Bauhaus, Writes Spooky, Fantastical Fiction
Jean Marie Bauhaus is one of my favorite new authors. Not that she’s a new author, but rather she’s a new-to-me author. And she has a talent for crafting creepy, dread-inducing stories with (mostly) happy endings. Or at least satisfying endings.
I started by reading her serialized novella, Sleep, Dearie, Sleep, via Substack.
I was so impressed with the story I went on to buy not one, not two, but three of her novellas.
I was debating which one to tell you about. Then I thought, why not tell you about them all? Here they are in the order I read them. It’s too hard to choose a favorite, as they were all excellent.
The premise: Terror at Lake Eucha is a sort of HP Lovecraft-inspired, creepy novella that follows a young woman, Melanie, searching for answers about her missing brother.
A year after his disappearance, Melanie and her boyfriend return to the abandoned lakeside carnival site to look for clues. What they find is impossible . . . and yet the only link they have to the truth of what happened.
Why I enjoyed it: I don’t know about you but I find abandoned places incredibly creepy. Old hospitals, asylums, schools—they all unnerve me (in a good way). But abandoned carnival sites are even spookier in some regards.
Maybe it’s because they’re out in the open—you’re completely exposed. But then there are the little buildings and booths where anyone—or anything—could be hiding. Or is it the memory of creepy clowns? Whatever the reason, the setting is perfect for this story. If you enjoy the 90s, abandoned settings, and some unexplained phenomena, you’ll love this one.
The premise: Michael has a great life. Head of the English department at a university his extremely competent assistant keeps him on top of his game at work. At home, he enjoys a quiet and lovely life, happily married to his best friend.
But something changes when Michael is plagued with terrifying visions at night. At least, he thinks they’re visions. What else could they be? Michael’s world starts to crumble as the visions become worse and his sanity is questioned. The Hag offers a horrific peek into the world of the demonic and the lengths someone will go to free himself from its grip.
Why I liked it: You know how some thrillers exploring dark topics like demonic activity tend to glamorize the dark side? That is NOT what this novella does. It maintains clear lines between good and evil.
It also tells one heck of a creepy story that will make your skin crawl and may leave you wanting your childhood nightlight.
The premise: The Witch in the Cellar is campy, creepy, and downright fun, Told in the first person from the viewpoint of an adolescent boy, the story has all the elements to make it a treat: urban legend, 90s nostalgia, and summertime vibes.
“There’s a witch buried in the cellar.” The opening line starts the novella off. Told in a pitch-perfect way by the author, you’re immediately sucked into the life of an 11 or 12-year-old boy and an Oklahoma summer where an approaching tornado isn’t half as frightening as whatever entity is in the storm cellar.
Why I liked it: One of the best things about this novella was the way the author captured the entire essence of childhood. The main character is a kid you probably knew in grade school. Heck, maybe you were him.
Also, there is a lot of great tension that slowly builds throughout the novella. Quick pacing and jump scares kept me turning pages faster than I meant to. The only bad thing was when it ended.
Thrillers & Suspense I’m Currently Reading/Want to Read
Do you ever find that when you sit down to read, you fall asleep? Or you’re too distracted to concentrate? I have a solution if you’re looking for an audiobook-like experience but with a little something extra.
Ryder Hamilton Jones, Paranormal Mystery Author
Westville is a serialized paranormal mystery series that author, Ryder Hamilton Jones began on Substack. Since then, he’s used Kickstarter to fund the audio version of the book(s). You can listen on many podcasting apps like Spotify. This is a paid subscription, but you can listen to the prologue free to get a taste. (The paid subscription is definitely worth it though!)
The premise: Taken from the Substack page: “Westville is a serial paranormal mystery/thriller, where small-town life in rural West Michigan is upended by disappearances, dark secrets, and something lurking in the woods of Kent County.” Think Stephen King meets the X-Files in small-town USA with characters from Stranger Things making appearances (not literally, but the same vibe).
Why I like it: From the atmospheric story, the tension, and the feeling of being immersed directly into the setting, to the sound effects and creepy music accompanying the podcast episodes, there’s a lot here to enjoy.
One thing that’s a bit distracting is the narrators—I think they’re AI and sometimes the lack of inflection and/or mispronunciation of words is a bit distracting. But it’s not enough to keep you from an excellent story.
I also appreciate that the author is a Christian. Even though the story and topics are dark, it’s reassuring to know it won’t go “too dark” or become so disturbing that I’ll have to quit halfway through. There’s a sort of built-in trust that’s reassuring: it might get dark and scary, but it will be okay in the end.
Mary L. Hamilton, Mystery & Suspense Author
I’m really looking forward to reading Dead Air, by Mary L. Hamilton. I recently finished her teen book, Hear No Evil, and enjoyed it. The characters were very realistic, the camp setting was true-to-life, and the story tackled hard subjects thoughtfully. It also shared a Christian message in a non-preachy way which was inspiring.
The premise: In Dead Air, however, Mary is writing for an adult audience. In it, Kit is a frustrated and worried wife. Her husband, Jeff, has been unemployed for a year, and their marriage—and bank account—are headed toward the red.
Then gunshots blast across the radio at the station where Jeff used to work. Kit is seized by fear as she hears her husband’s voice in the dead air following the shots. The tragedy forces Kit to choose between the man she thought she knew and the evidence against her husband.
Supporting Indie Thriller & Suspense Authors
I hope you found this roundup helpful and maybe got a new book or two out of these recommendations. One of my goals this year is to read more indie authors. I’m especially interested in finding more Christian indie authors who don’t write overtly Christian books.
If you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them. Please share authors and/or books in the comments.
Also, if you’re interested in supporting my work as an indie author, I’d be honored to count you among my readers. You can find all my suspense/thriller novels via my website.
The tagline for all my books is, “Suspense that turns pages, not stomachs” and that is something I’m dedicated to. Happy reading!
Saved for later
Thank you so much for the mentions and reviews!