3 Brilliant Thrillers You Must Read
As the nights draw in and the October chill sets in, nothing beats curling up with a book that keeps you glancing over your shoulder. This month, I’m trading my traditional posts for stories that make my heart race and keep me turning pages well past my bedtime. If you are looking for gripping mysteries, jaw-dropping twists, and pure suspense, you are in the right place. Here are three thrillers I’ve read, loved, and absolutely couldn’t put down.
Sandstorm – Mark Dawson (Dec 2022)
In the city of Cairo, a sandstorm is coming.
Group Fifteen operative and ex-MI6 officer Charlie Cooper is working undercover as a political negotiator. Attending a conference surrounded by diplomats, businessmen and lobbyists, nobody would suspect what he really does for a living. Also in their midst is Aisha, a Saudi activist whose protests against human rights abuses have made her an enemy of her country’s regime.
Author pen pic: Mark Dawson is a British author who studied law at university, then worked as a solicitor in London for a decade. A self-publishing pioneer, he gained massive success by leveraging free promotions and digital marketing strategies on Amazon. He co-hosts a podcast helping other indie authors navigate the publishing industry. He writes the John Milton and Atticus Priest thriller and mystery series. Mark lives in the Salisbury, Wiltshire area.
5* – Superb.
Mark Dawson is the business. His books never fail to hit the mark. Action-packed, great characters, and the start to another mouth-watering series. This is top-notch writing; the action is unrelenting; the tension builds page on page.
On The Run – Kerry J Donovan (Feb 2025)
Ryan Kaine is on the run…
A seemingly routine operation ends in tragedy when eighty-three civilians are killed in an aircraft explosion. Kaine, a highly decorated former Royal Marine, becomes the target of a nationwide manhunt; the police want him on terrorism charges, and a sinister organisation wants him dead.
If you like Lee Child, Jack Lively and Robert Ludlum, you’re going to find the Ryan Kaine series compulsively addictive.
Author pen pic: Kerry was born in Dublin. A citizen of the world, he currently lives with his partner, Margaret, in a bungalow in Nottinghamshire. A former scientific advisor to The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, he helped UK emergency first-responders prepare for chemical attacks in the wake of 9/11. When he’s not writing, he’s riding the countryside on his motorbike, keeping fit by running and swimming, and doing little bits of DIY.
5* – A cracking read
Fast-paced action, with a lengthy list of characters, good and bad. No shortage of ammunition, and the occasional dash of romance. You don’t get nearly 15k reviews unless you’ve delivered a cracking read. This guy keeps knocking it out of the park. Where have you been? Highly recommended.
Absolute Threat – Jack Mars (Mar 2024)
Absolute Threat – Jack Mars (Mar 2024)The first in a ground-breaking new political thriller series. When the President of the United States or his family are threatened, it is up to Jake Mercer, former Marine sniper turned Secret Service agent, to protect them from dangers—both foreign and domestic.
As a lethal militia targets the most powerful man in the world, Jake must thwart their assassination plot and protect the nation’s highest office; even if the mastermind behind it is a shadow from his own past.
Author pen pic: Jack Mars writes political and espionage thrillers that would be sure to send chills down the spine of any reader. What makes the novels so captivating is that he manages to make his theories so convincing, as his stories seem steeped in reality. Tackling some questions that the ordinary westerner would deem out of this world, he successfully makes the reader contemplate the possibilities. For instance, he asks questions such as could jihadists take down the entire US government? Or could some covert group successfully conduct a coup in the US?
5* – Outstanding
A cracking thriller with pinpoint detail and fast-moving action. Once you start reading you can’t stop until the terrifying ending. Jack Mars is a genius. Highly recommended.
Whether you are looking to season up your reading list or just need a book that will completely absorb you, you can’t go wrong with these three. They each brought something totally unique to my bookshelf. Have you read any of these yet, or do you have a go-to thriller recommendation for November? Let me know. I’m always looking to add to my TBR pile! Meanwhile, there are plenty to choose from here.
Another book-related topic soon…
Best wishes
Ted Tayler