It’s been a while since I wrote an entry on my highly-recommended books. I know a lot of people now no longer read books or list “reading” as their hobby but I still do and now that another eid holiday is here, I’m attached to my Kindle once again. You don’t know how much I value reading and how much my Kindle has helped me cope with some of the most challenging moments in my life. Whenever I’m sad or bored or agitated, reading has kept me busy; reading has kept me company. Before our Indochina trip earlier this year, I thought I lost my Kindle in our province; I panicked and separation anxiety kicked in. Was it OA? It’s just that way for me.
My favorite book genre has got to be thrillers, whether that be mystery, suspense, legal, paranormal, etc. Thriller is a vast genre with lots of types underneath it. One thing is very pronounced in every thriller novel: it keeps readers on the “edge of their seats”. They’re action-packed and riveting. The plot is filled with twists and turns and ultimately builds towards a climax. I love a good guessing game while reading and predicting who the antagonist is. My love for thrillers started with my father and uncles who are all fans of this genre. I used to read novels by Sidney Sheldon which my father brought back from Saudi Arabia in the 90s. My uncles have shelves of books in our house in the province (La Union). That’s where I discovered some of the authors in this list.
It’s very important for me to be glued on the first book so I know if I should pick up the rest of the published sequels. That’s when I know if the author goes in my favorite list. I have five all-time favorite best-selling thriller authors right now. They’re multi-awarded and also their books are always #1 and best-sellers! I’m up to date with their stand-alone novels and their book series. If you’re long-time thriller books fans like me, I’m sure they’re pretty high up in your list also. So for those who are new to this genre, here are my highly-recommended writers:
Who doesn’t know David Baldacci? He’s one of the most popular thriller writers and at a good reason. He’s soooo good! I remember reading his first novel, Absolute Power, which was published in 1995 and I was hooked! It tells the story of a fictional American president and his Secret Service agents. His way of writing is very relatable. I can see the sequence of actions in my head. His storytelling is seriously captivating. From then on, I’ve read his book series featuring characters that are remarkable and memorable. The Camel Club Series is one of my favorites; it’s emotional and riveting. I also love Amos Decker, King & Maxwell, John Puller and Wil Robie. Recently, he dabbles into the young adult fantasy with the Vega Jane series. It’s quite a different feel but I like reading it too as YAF is one of my favorite genres too.
MUST-READ: The Camel Club (2005), Zero Day (2011), The Forgotten (2012), The Hit (2013), Memory Man (2015)
WAIT FOR IT: Long Road To Mercy
Gahd I love Myron Bolitar! He is the protagonist of Harlan Coben’s main book series. While on vacation in the Philippines, I picked up a book from one of the shelves in our house in La Union. It Deal Breaker, the first Myron Bolitar novel. I was so engrossed with the paunchy, witty lines, the entertaining plot and the interesting characters that go in and out the novel that by the time I left for Saudi Arabia, I have read most of the books in the Myron Bolitar series. They’re funny! Harlan Coben has a way of pulling me in to his books and I can’t let go until I finish them in one seating. I was sad when he penned the last Myron Bolitar novel, Live Wire, in 2011 but he continued on to an off-shoot series starring Myron’s nephew Mickey Bolitar. Also, Myron and Win came back in the novel Home in 2016. I was ecstatic! Can’t wait for the next novels.
MUST-READ: Play Dead (1990), Live Wire (2011), Shelter (2011), Stay Close (2012), Home (2016)
WAIT FOR IT: Don’t Let Go
Daniel Silva is a great writer for the espionage thriller genre. Ahhh the great Gabriel Allon, master spy and now the director of one of the biggest intelligence units in the world. This is a series that I didn’t read chronologically. I started with Portrait of a Spy in 2011 and I read some of the books in the series after without going through the sequence. It was a few books after when I decided to start from the very first one, The Kill Artist, which was published in 2000. Silva’s Gabriel Allon series is filled with colorful characters that I found myself knowing them, feeling for them, aching for them… it’s that almost real for me. Somewhere in this world is Gabriel Allon and his fellow spies. It’s an amazing world to be lost in. I also learned much on the history and current events of the Middle East (and other countries) from his books. Get into it, folks!
MUST-READ: The English Assassin (2002), Prince of Fire (2005), The Rembrandt Affair (2010), The Black Widow (2016), The Other Woman (2018)
READ NOW: The Other Woman
Michael Connelly is a writer of detective novels and crime fiction. I’m obsessed with both his Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller series. I especially like the novels that feature the half-brothers together. Connelly has been writing about Harry Bosch since 1992 and I hope he writes more because his novels are powerful and engaging. You’d think he’ll lost his charm and skill as a writer after the nth novel but no. His novels are consistently good! They never lose their tension and suspense. Harry Bosch remains as solid as ever. He is one of the greatest characters in a novel. The Lincoln Lawyer, on the other hand, is a great legal thriller featuring Mickey Haller. He’s a really funny character. Connelly’s books are immensely satisfying to read.
MUST-READ: The Black Echo (1992), A Darkness More Than Night (2001), The Lincoln Lawyer (2005), The Wrong Side of Goodbye (2016), Two Kinds of Truth (2017)
WAIT FOR IT: Dark Sacred Night
5. John Grisham
Again, who doesn’t know John Grisham? Master of the legal thriller genre. Being a lawyer, he knows what he’s writing about. I haven’t read all his books though. I found his books a diverse kind and I just pick those that I think I might like. Surprise surprise, I actually read his Theodore Boons series more than the other series he has of recurring characters. I also read his stand-alone novels. With Grisham’s books, it’s all about the message. I can feel his feelings, convictions, and beliefs resonating in the pages. He has some books that have heartbreaking endings that’s why I tend to not read them all the time; I don’t get proper closure, haha. But all in all, John Grisham is one of the best authors ever.
MUST-READ: A Time to Kill (1989), The Pelican Brief (1992), The Partner (1997), The Last Juror (2004), Sycamore Row (2013)
WAIT FOR IT: The Reckoning
You might be wondering why I didn’t include Sidney Sheldon and Dan Brown here. They’re also in my favorite list but I haven’t read any of their books for years. Except Dan Brown’s The Original which is his recent release. Anyway, if you have other thriller authors you want to recommend, please let me know in the comment section. I’m excited for new releases opf my favorite authors! Do you love reading? Tell me you do so we can both gush about what we like and dislike when it comes to this realm of diverse genre and various characters.
