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Two women. One dead husband. Get ready for the hottest suspense novel of the new year, now available as an audiobook read by a full cast. Camille Bayliss appears to have the perfect life, complete with her marriage to hotshot lawyer Ben Bayliss. But nothing is as it seems: Camille believes Ben has been hiding dirty secrets, but she can’t find proof because he tracks her every move. Meanwhile, Aubrey Price is haunted by a terrible event in her past, and she’s convinced Ben knows something about it. Together, Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan. But when Ben is found murdered, only one of them has an alibi…
If you want me to read a thriller, tell me it’s got a long-held family secret. Tell me someone is living a lie. I will perk right up. These are the thrillers for nosy people, so if you’re nosy like me, pull up a seat. The more generations a secret can persist, the more dangerous it is and the more devastating it’s going to be when that secret finally comes to light. Those are also the secrets that more people will go to extremes to keep.
Part of why I love thrillers with secrets and lies is that they are only somewhat exaggerated versions of things that happen in real life. I can name multiple people I know whose lives were disrupted entirely by the results of a mail-order DNA analysis. Shakespeare really knew what he was talking about when he said, “The truth will out.”
I’ve picked a really snappy group of thrillers for you, but it’s not all family secrets. Sometimes academics uncover the carefully held secrets of their research subjects. Other times, people need to figure out what’s really going on at their workplaces or college campuses. But if you love an explosive truth, you’re sure to find something among these books that will intrigue you and keep you turning pages until late in the night.
Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb
If you like historical thrillers with a dual timeline, here’s the page turner for you. Professor Bern Hendricks has been called in to help authenticate a piece of music attributed to the famous composer he studies. But in fact, Professor Hendricks discovers this composer stole his music from a Black woman named Josephine Reed. You can follow Josephine’s story while also seeing what a powerful organization will do to keep the professor quiet. This book masterfully evokes the Jazz Age while examining how the effects of racism continue to ripple into the present day.
Who Knows You by Heart by C.J. Farley
Would you take a mysterious but lucrative job if it meant finally paying off some debts? That’s what Octavia Crenshaw did. Eustachian Inc. specializes in audio entertainment, and they pay much better than the nonprofit sector ever did. So what if they have an entire secret floor of their corporate headquarters? When Octavia is pulled into working on a secret project with another coder, she begins to learn things about her employer that she can no longer ignore. If you like thrillers with a touch of romance, this is the one to pick up.
We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry
This thriller blends dysfunctional family secrets with a cold case investigation. After her grandmother passes, Sydney discovers a photograph of a girl who bears a strong resemblance to herself. Turns out, the picture is of Carol, her aunt, who went missing as a girl in the 1960s. As the title suggests, no one talks about Carol. This brings up some significant pain for Sydney, whose obsession with another missing girl case led to a psychotic break. Sydney’s gripping story of navigating past and present trauma is deeply emotional and sure to leave you breathless.
Becoming Marlow Fin by Ellen Won Steil
I will always snap up a book about a celebrity with a mysterious past. In 1995, Isla Baek found an abandoned girl near her family’s cabin. Adopted by the Baek family, Marlow Fin becomes a model and actress. She also becomes all too familiar with the pitfalls of fame and fortune. Marlow’s presence within the Baek family was always fraught, but the family kept its secrets and tragedies close. As Marlow spins her tale in a primetime interview, she reveals one shocking truth after another. If you crave a story with a Gillian Flynn-level dysfunctional family, here’s the book for you.
Do What Godmother Says by L.S. Stratton
Give me a gothic thriller with a creepy painting any day of the week! Here, Shanice is cleaning her grandmother’s house and comes across a portrait that captivates her. Her grandmother tells her to keep the portrait, and that’s when you know things are going to go wrong. Shanice delves into the history of the painting and its artist and begins uncovering a family secret. As she does this, people around her start dying, and Shanice is worried that it’s not a coincidence. This is another book with a dual timeline, spanning both the present day and the Harlem Renaissance.
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown
If you, like me, can’t get enough of collegiate secret society thrillers, be sure to read this one. Maya is heading to her alma mater, Princeton, for her sister’s graduation. Tragically, she learns her sister has turned up dead. Knowing her sister had joined the Sterling Club against her advice, Maya fears that the secret she’s been keeping for years may be the thing that can bring her sister justice. Among other things, this book explores the complexities of sister relationships.
After you’ve unraveled all of these secrets and lies, you’ll surely be hungry for more. Read the best of 2025 mysteries and thrillers, and check out what you can look forward to in 2026. You know we won’t be keeping any of the best books a secret from you.