Booking It–Thrillers. What’s your take? Back to Blog
I received my December 08 issue of RT over the weekend (sweet! I can pick out Christmas gifts for myself), and the issue featured an article on the rise of “thrillers.”
Now, I’m interested in learning exactly what folks think a “thriller” is. In the article, Katherine Neville distinguished a thriller from a regular mystery by “explaining that in a mystery the chief concern is how to find a killer, while in a thriller it’s how to stop one.” Interesting. It seems that with thrillers, the focus is more on preventing the violent action (terrorist attack, bombing, assassination, etc) and the protagonists are racing against the clock–I figure this makes most thrillers very, very fast paced.
Ahem, this is the part where I admit that I haven’t read a lot of thrillers. Yes, I have been trying to expand my reading areas, but, off the top of my head, I can’t name the last thriller I read. Since I’m me :-), I’d say that I would most definitely enjoy some romantic thrillers–and if anyone has some great recommendations, I would love to add them to my Christmas-buy list. So, share away!!
And, hey, do you agree with that definition of thrillers?
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I love the definition. I think it’s true for some books but not all of them. A thriller is a book that keeps me on edge the whole time I’m reading it. Sometimes I’m so nervous I have to put it down!
Since so many thrillers involve psycho serial killers, there’s always a backlog of murders. Sometime during the book the heroine or hero (usually the heroine) becomes a target. I guess that’s what she meant by her definition.
I guess I agree with the definition even though I generally lump mysteries and thrillers into the same thing usually. I read mysteries/thrillers before paranormals and romance so I know a ton of great authors.
Greg Iles – True Evil
Allison Brennan (she’s actually romantic suspense but I think she’s more heavy on the suspense than romance. I’m reading Playing Dead right now but my absolute favorite by her is Fear No Evil. Very scary stuff!)
Tess Gerritsen – all of her books, love her!
Harlan Coben- mysteries with some humor (my favorites are No Second Chance, Gone For Good, and Tell Noone)
Oh I just reread your post and you said ROMANTIC THRILLERS! Ohhhh. Well most of those aren’t. They’re straight up thrillers. I would recommend Cynthia Eden, she’s really great! LOL 🙂 SERIOUSLY!
Lol Rachael!! 😀 Hmm – I like a good thriller now and again but I don’t think I have come across anything that I would categorize as a ‘romantic thriller’ – and I have been racking my brain cell!! Sometimes they do have a relationship happening but it’s very much secondary to the thrills. I like David Morrell – Desperate Measures, Covenent of the Flame, Extreme Denial.
I love thrillers. I like Allison Brennan, too. I also like Karen Rose and Debra Webb.
I second Karen Rose. Kay Hooper’s FBI series could count as Romantic Thriller.
I’d say that the J.D. Robb Eve Dallas and Roarke books can be counted as Romantic Thrillers as well.
Hi, Edie! “A thriller is a book that keeps me on edge the whole time I’m reading it.” That’s the way I always defined it, too!
Hey, Rachel! LOL–I’ll take all your suggestions, lady! Romantic thrillers or not! And thank you for the very lovely compliment. 🙂
Ah, Jane! I am so glad you mentioned Allison Brennan. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about her books. Must try them!
Hey, Brandy! I *think* that I have read one of Kay Hooper’s FBI books. I’ll make it a goal to read more, b/c I love Kay Hooper’s work. I became her fan back in the Loveswept days. And JD Robb–love ’em. Love ’em. But it has been too long since I read about Eve. When things slow down after Halloween, I’ll have to see where I left off with those books and play catch-up.
Oh I agree with Karen Rose too! She’s great!
Salvation in Death, the latest J.D. Robb releases November 4th! *G*