A Reading List for Fans of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
There’s nothing like a good serial killer thriller. Whether you’re a fan of Thomas Harris’ book or the infamous movie adaptation, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is one of the classic serial killer stories. Now, I love a good re-read (or re-watch!) as much as the next person, but when you’re ready for a new serial killer thriller, below are an assortment of my favorite recommendations!
Read on for my recommended reads for fans of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS!
THE FOURTH MONKEY by JD Barker
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 6/27/17
The ultimate cinematic serial killer thriller, THE FOURTH MONKEY is over-the-top, dark and twisted fun. THE FOURTH MONKEY turns the serial killer story on its head: the book actually begins with the killer’s death. Barker injects a new energy into the serial killer thriller -- readers will love following along as the main detective investigating his crimes begins to piece together his actions… and discovers that he might have kidnapped his next victim before his death. The killer is kept alive in the story by the discovery of his journal, chronicling his life from his shocking (and twisted) childhood to his equally frightening adulthood. THE FOURTH MONKEY seems made for the big screen.
THE THIRST by Jo Nesbo
Knopf; 5/9/17
My all-time favorite author has a new series installment out this year, and it’s killer. (Pun intended.) In THE THIRST, damaged detective Harry Hole faces off against a vicious serial killer who’s hunting women in Oslo - and using Tinder to find his victims. Nesbo is a master at writing psychologically-astute, gritty, addictive thrillers, and THE THIRST is a worthy installment in his internationally bestselling series. While readers who have read through the series will understand the character backstories better than newcomers, THE THIRST can be read as a standalone! PLUS: The Harry Hole series has a number of fantastic serial killer thrillers throughout the series. I also highly recommend THE SNOWMAN (my personal favorite!) and THE DEVIL’S STAR.
EENY MEENY by MJ Arlidge
Berkley; 6/2/15
A strong female lead meets a disturbing serial killer in this entertaining, binge-worthy series launch from MJ Arlidge. The entire DI Helen Grace series is fantastic - this particular series really does get better as it goes! In EENY MEENY, readers meet Helen Grace -- a detective inspector who is tasked with tracking down a killer targeting her town. This killer kidnaps pairs of people -- and forces the two of them to choose who will live and who will die. Think Saw meets Criminal Minds: it’s a completely addictive and entertaining book, launching an equally addictive series!
IRENE by Pierre Lemaitre
MacLehose Press; 11/3/15
French fiction with a dark side. Lemaitre’s Camille Verhoeven series is a brilliant blend of gorgeous writing, quirky characters, and dark, sometimes shockingly violent crime fiction. Readers are introduced to Camille, a detective whose diminutive stature is offset by his larger-than-life personality. When a vicious killer strikes his city, Camille recognizes that the crimes might be inspired by literature, and sets out to solve the case. IRENE is often brutally violent, but it also has an elegance to it that's trademark Lemaitre. If you've read his brilliant thriller BLOOD WEDDING, you'll recognize his beautiful prose and masterful storytelling in IRENE.
RAGDOLL by Daniel Cole
Ecco Books; 4/4/17
RAGDOLL is a sharply-written and intelligent serial killer thriller following a detective who’s tasked with solving the case of a brutal - and bizarre - murder: a body is found, but it appears that it’s been constructed from the severed limbs of a number of bodies. To make matters worse, the detective discovers that the killer has left behind a list of names of his future victims… and the detective’s name is last on the list. RAGDOLL is dark, gritty, and masterfully written, with characters that are volatile and engagingly human.
PLUS: More "If You Like That, Read This" Recommendations
Check out previous "If You Like That, Read This" posts on CBTB -- click below for recommendations based on popular crime fiction titles!
Home ownership feel like a distant dream? Zillow listings have you convinced you’ll be renting for the rest of your life? The woman at the heart of Carissa Orlando’s debut The September House feels your pain—and she’s prepared to put up with a lot if it means she and her husband can finally have a place to call their own. In this case, that might just mean living in a house that’s haunted. Playful and irreverent, spine-tingling and spooky, The September House puts a fresh spin on the classic haunted house story, delivering an immersive tale about the secrets lurking within one building’s walls, and within the lives of its inhabitants.