20 Best Romantic Thriller Books to Make Your Heart Pound

Lila Anderson is the only survivor of a tragic car crash. Her memories of the night are hazy, but she has a feeling the crash wasn't an accident—and she might still be in danger.

Jack Foley lost his sister Stephanie in the same car crash, and initially, he lashes out at Lila, blaming her for Stephanie's death. But soon Jack and Lila find themselves working together to find out what really happened that night.

Forensic scientist Caity Cassidy and FBI profiler Special Agent Atticus Spenser are used to butting heads in and out of the court room. But when a brutal attack leaves the defendant in a current court case dead—and almost kills Caity in the process—their usual squabbles need to take a back seat.

MMA fighter knows Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young, and waiting was the right thing to do. Now, her grandfather's legacy has forced them back together. And this time, he won't be letting her go.

“A steamy storyline loaded with romance and danger . . . Anyone . . . whether a fan of the MMA or not . . . who enjoys camaraderie of like and unlike people, intrigue, steamy sex and danger will love this book.” —Fresh Fiction

Anthropologist Kate Lockwood is fascinated by a burial ground on Grant Mason's property. Though she wants to respect his wishes to leave the dead buried, she soon begins to suspect that Grant is hiding something. 

When danger looms, Kate wants to trust Grant. But even as her heart tells her he's the one, something is holding her back.

Author Olivia Rossi has had writers' block since tragedy struck two years earlier. So when her agent offers her the chance to borrow her apartment in Paris, she jumps at the opoortunity. What she doesn't expect is to enter a fling with James. Before she knows it, Olivia is in over her head…but the deeper she falls, the more she suspects there's something James isn't telling her.

Harry Booth became a thief at just nine years old, stealing from the rich in order to provide for himself and his ailing mother. Now an adult, he never broke the habit, though he has developed a code of honor and an admirable skillset.

Harry has never let himself get attached to anyone—until he meets Miranda. But his world is dangerous, and he's not sure if he's stronger enough to change his ways for her.

A pair of investigative journalists uncover the truth — and their feelings for one another — in this addictive ride from accomplished romantic thriller author Sally Beauman. One teenage girl is dead. Another is missing. Everyone assumes the case is clear-cut, the tragic result of a night of debauched teen partying. 

But reporter Rowland McGuire and his colleague Lindsay Drummond sense more is at play, and unearth a tangled web of greed, dark secrets, and power. The closer they come to unraveling the truth, the closer Rowland and Lindsay get to each other...and to a killer prepared to strike again. 

Edgar-Allen Church has just been released from prison after spending five years behind bars for assault. Now he's ready to live a straight life—at least, legally. While he's getting back on his feet, Church is leaning on his friend Miller, who has always been there for him, except in the way he craves most.

Miller has long lived in denial of his feelings for Church, though he may finally be willing to take a risk. Unfortunately, Church's criminal past is putting even more pressure on their budding romance.

Mira Patel has everything, except romance. Unfortunately for her matchmaker, she's turned down every partner suggested to her, including Naveen Desai.

Naveen is intrigued by Mira—and he was surprised to see her again when she strode into his office to settle her aunt's affairs. However, when they suddenly find themselves kidnapped, they;ll have to figure out how to work together if they want to stay alive.

The novel that took Booktok by storm, Verity is a romantic thriller that feels a lot like Daphne du Maurier's classic gothic romance, Rebecca. 

Verity Crawford is a famous author who has fallen into a coma, and cannot finish her bestselling series. Verity's husband Jeremy hires Lowen Ashleigh is finish the series on her behalf, and invites her to their home so she can read Verity's notes. But it quickly becomes clear that not all is right in the Crawford home.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a romantic thriller book filled with seduction and deception. When Liz Connor’s mother, Betty, appears to be missing, her family is contacted by the FBI. The family is shocked to learn Betty has been apprehended, and her real name is Sarah Jane Maynard. Sarah is apparently a wanted criminal who is responsible for a double homicide. The family falls apart and Sarah refuses to offer any sort of answers for her years-long deception. 

When Liz begins to suspect there’s more to the story, she is offered help from two strangers, the charming Michael Gallagher and the burly private investigator, Caleb Adams. As Liz digs deeper into the case, she unknowingly falls into a passionate romance...and a deadly trap.

Phyllis A. Whitney is well known in the world of historical romance, and for good reason. Dream of Orchids follows Laurel York, whose father Clifton left their family without a single word when she was just a child. Bitter and abandoned, Laurel went on to live most of her life resenting her father, a successful author. However, when one of her father’s partners shows up to her store with an orchid in hand, urging her to come with him to work things out with her father, Laurel reluctantly agrees. 

She takes a trip to her estranged father’s estate, where she is coldly greeted by Clifton and meets two creepy stepsisters. Everyone is very unwelcoming of Laurel’s presence, except the attractive Marcus O’Neill. Now stuck inside a spooky mansion, Laurel is determined to learn the truth of her father’s secrets. But answers might come at a fatal cost. 

Up-and-coming NBC reporter Kelly Douglas has landed the assignment which will finally make her career: a profile of the famous Napa valley Rutledge Estate winery. It proves harder than Kelly expected to separate the personal from the professional when she meets attractive winery manager Sam Rutledge...and when she learns that a figure from her past is using the assignment to get close to her. 

Kelly's estranged father, Len, is part-owner of the winery, and has nothing but sour grapes for the Rutledges and his long-lost daughter. When a body is found in the vineyard, Kelly's suspicions immediately fall on her father, but she'll soon learn that the vines of deceit which cover the esteemed winery are more tangled than she ever expected. 

Widowed music teacher Abigail Mayfield was hopeful that her stalker wouldn't follow her to Texas, but sure enough, he manages to break into her new home. But Abigail is done hiding, and with a little help from sheriff Noah Galloway, she may no longer have to.

This tragic romantic thriller from New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala is sure to stir some deep emotions in readers. Pregnant and homeless, China Brown wanders the streets hoping for a break. Sadly, she witnesses the murder of a celebrity photographer, and the killer attempts to butcher China as well. China does survive the attack, but she loses her unborn child in the process. 

Traumatized and filled with grief, China finds solace in Detective Ben English, a force of stability and calm during this troubling time. Ben promises China that he will bring her attacker to justice, and she believes and trusts him. With each interaction they have, the two grow closer. But little to their knowledge, the killer is also lurking right around the corner, waiting to finish the job.

The first installment in Eileen Goudge’s Cypress Bay Mystery series will hook you. After four years of sobriety, scoring an amazing boyfriend, and dealing with the trauma of being abandoned by her mother as a child, Tish Ballard can finally say she’s happy. However, Tish’s moment of peace is shattered when she receives a mysterious trunk filled with bones and roses from an anonymous sender. Tish suddenly begins to question whether or not her mother actually left her, or if she met her end by an unknown killer. 

When police investigate the crime, Tish butts heads with the incredibly attractive Spence Breedlove, a former high school crush. Now caught in an investigation, Tish decides to take matters into her own hands — and she doesn't mind the attention she gets from Steve along the way. 

No one in Florida seems to care when successful lawyer Marnie Newcastle disappears for several days. Only Samantha Miller, one of Marnie’s college friends, knows something is up. Marnie is known for having romantic affairs for several days on end, but Samantha becomes suspicious when Marnie talks about moving into her dream home, and not about some guy. 

As Samantha sniffs around for any clues, she accidentally uncovers many closeted skeletons that Marnie kept well-hidden. Not only that, she also starts to fall for one of Marnie’s old flames, a rock star who might be hiding more than he’s letting on. This New York Times bestseller will keep readers guessing as Samantha tries to find her friend. 

Undercover DEA agent Grace Young finds herself underwater—literally—when she's forced to jump ship during an investigation. After she's saved by her ex-husband, Coast Guard swimmer Dakota Young, she needs to ask him one more favor: to pretend to be her current husband so she can finish her mission. 

When Samantha Rogers is accused of murdering her estranged husband, she takes her son and flees. But though she starts over in Smuggler's Cove, working for the handsome John Wagner in exchange for room and board, the real killer is still on her trail.

Romantic thriller readers will devour this deadly tale of passion and mystery. The story follows Kate Beckett, an advocate for missing children who is still haunted by the kidnapping and murder of her younger brother. After the family tragedy Kate broke the heart of the first boy she ever loved, Tommy Ibarra. Ever since that day, Tommy has never forgotten Kate, and has never loved anyone the same way he loved her. Now adults, the two must come together to help solve the case of a missing teenage girl. Tommy is an expert in high-tech security and offers to help Kate find some clues that will lead to the missing teenager. Despite his efforts to keep things strictly professional, Tommy finds himself falling for Kate again. As the two work together, not only does an old romance rekindle, but the duo find themselves in an exhilarating race against time and a killer.