Few things are better than reading a great book that’s also quick to reach its ending. A long, detailed, winding book has its own benefits and charms, and some of the all-time works in literary history are well beyond 1000 pages. Yet, sometimes, all you want is a short and sweet story that takes only a couple of days to finish.
If you’re on the hunt for a great thriller story that you can start on a Saturday morning and end on a Sunday night, you’re in luck, because there are more than a few great options. From certified classics of the genre to newer stories full of mystery and danger, these are three great thriller books that you can finish over a weekend. So sit back, find yourself a comfortable spot, and get ready to spend some time with these gripping stories.
‘And Then There Were None’ (1939)
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Image via Collins Crime Club</figure>
Let’s begin with a proper classic, shall we? Agatha Christie is the legendary author behind some of literature’s greatest and most timeless mystery novels, from Murder on the Orient Express to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. However, none of her novels is as celebrated, well-known, or re-readable as And Then There Were None. The plot centers on ten strangers invited to a secluded island by a mysterious host. There, each one is accused of committing a previous murder, and when each one starts dying, the survivors realize the killer is among them.
The word “classic” is overused, but it truly applies here. And Then There Were None is a foundational entry in the thriller, crime, and mystery genres, the quintessential whodunit, and a pillar of 20th-century literature, not to mention the best-selling mystery novel of all time. More to the point, it’s an incredible piece of narrative, endlessly compelling and incredibly entertaining, to the point where its 272 pages go by in a flash. Christie is among history’s best writers, and her ability to craft addictive mysteries is on full display here; her web of complexities makes it genuinely hard to anticipate the twists and the killer’s identity. A true page-turner, And Then There Were None is so good that you might even finish it in one day.
‘Confessions’ (2008)
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Image via Hachette UK</figure>
Moving on to the 21st century, we have one of the most disturbing and unforgettable thriller books ever written. It’s even more impressive to consider it was Kanae Minato‘s debut novel. Confessions follows middle school teacher Yuko Moriguchi, who is grieving the death of her four-year-old daughter, Manami, in what was ruled an accident. Yuko soon realizes three of her students are behind Manami’s death and decides to carry out a sinister revenge plot, delivering one final lesson to her students before quitting.
Confessions is among the most chilling thrillers of the 21st century. Minato opts for a straightforward approach that is equal parts gripping and stomach-churning, especially in Yuko’s now-iconic confession. The book adopts a truly neutral stance on the nature of justice and morality; nearly every character walks a line between “good” and “evil,” not only the student killers but also those around them and Yuko herself. Through the two student characters and the teacher willing to descend into the depths of darkness to avenge her daughter, Minato questions the dynamic between teenagers and adults, and showcases how neglect and generational misunderstanding can lead to tragedy.
‘My Sister, the Serial Killer’ (2018)
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Image via Doubleday</figure>
Lastly, we have another relatively new book that is on its way to becoming a modern classic. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, My Sister, the Serial Killer tells the story of Korede, a young nurse whose sister, Ayoola, constantly kills her boyfriends, claiming it was self-defense. Thus, Korede must help clean the crime scenes and dispose of the bodies. Things change when Ayoola sets her sights on Tade, a handsome doctor with whom Korede has been in love for a long time. Now, Korede must grapple not only with her jealousy and hurt but with the fear that Ayoola will kill Tade next.
My Sister, the Serial Killer is one of the best thrillers you can read. At only 240 pages, the story moves along at a brisk pace, arriving at a harrowing conclusion that is both profoundly bleak and in tone with the overall story. Author Oyinkan Braithwaite focuses on themes of family loyalty, duty, and the deep sense of responsibility so many feel towards their family members, even when their choices are destructive and actively dangerous. Yet, My Sister, the Serial Killer is also quite funny, with a macabre, dark humor that makes a decidedly sinister story that much more addictive.
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