9 Thriller Books That Would Make Incredible Movie Adaptations

The Family Upstairs By Lisa Jewell

The Family Upstairs is a wild ride best entered with no information, and a movie would undoubtedly grip viewers from start to finish. There's also a sequel, so a film that does well could spawn a series based on Jewell's best-selling hit.

The Family Upstairs cover by Lisa Jewell with the title against a black background and flowers snaking around it

When No One Is Watching By Alyssa Cole

Alyssa Cole's When No One Is Watching tackles the topic of gentrification through its thriller premise, and a movie adaptation could make for a compelling narrative that raises awareness about a real-life issue. When No One Is Watching follows Sydney, who lives in a Brooklyn neighborhood that sees people constantly coming and going. However, when Sydney and her neighbor Theo begin looking more deeply into the area's history, they start to question whether the people leaving are doing so of their own volition. There might be more going on behind the scenes, leading to a sense of fear that's different from most other thriller novels.

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole book cover featuring a blue house with three windows, one of which has a light on

The Writing Retreat By Julia Bartz

The Writing Retreat is a suspenseful and fun — if outlandish — addition to the thriller genre, and a movie adaptation would be just as entertaining. Julia Bartz's book follows five writers who have won the opportunity to attend a writer's retreat at famous author Roza Vallo's estate. The estate itself presents plenty of opportunities for a film to shine, as the setting infuses a bit of horror into Bartz's story. With a tragic history and the possibility of ghosts, the setting will leave viewers just as scared as the characters once people start disappearing. The exploration of toxic friendships, secrets, and ambition also elevate this story, making it ripe for adaptation.

The Writing Retreat Book Cover featuring trees and snow

The Overnight Guest By Heather Gudenkauf

Another thriller novel with an atmospheric backdrop, Heather Gudenkauf's The Overnight Guest would make a perfect movie adaptation to snuggle up with in the dead of winter. The book follows two timelines: one that sees a writer receiving a surprising — and potentially deadly — visit while staying at a remote farmhouse in the midst of a snow storm. The earlier storyline chronicles a tragedy that unfolds around two young girls, with the book eventually bringing both narratives together. Each story has its strengths, and both timelines would hold viewers' interest in a screen adaptation. The storm would also add an element of claustrophobia that's worked for other horror and thriller releases.

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf cover featuring a house in the snow

What Lies In The Woods By Kate Alice Marshall

Clearly inspired by the Slender Man stabbing in 2014, What Lies in the Woods puts a fascinating spin on the true story and explores the whimsy and darkness of childhood. The book follows Naomi, who survived a stabbing as a child, though she doesn't remember the attack. She returns home after the man she sent to prison dies — and starts to question whether he was really responsible. As Naomi digs into her past, she realizes her small town is full of people with secrets and ulterior motives. The multiple twists would make What Lies in the Woods a thrilling screen adaptation, and its eerie childhood flashbacks would be chilling on-screen.

What Lies In The Woods by Kate Alice Marshall book cover over a close-up, blurred version of itself

The Only Survivors By Megan Miranda

Megan Miranda's thrillers are the equivalent of summer blockbusters, and a movie adaptation of 2023's The Only Survivors would prove their ability to fare just as well on-screen. The Only Survivors follows a group of friends who survived an accident when they were teens and are embarking on their annual trip to commemorate it. As they spend time in the Outer Banks, secrets are unearthed, leading to some shocking revelations. The twists present throughout The Only Survivors would land well on-screen, but the accident itself also makes this book more cinematic than Miranda's other works. Flashbacks would paint a truly immersive picture of what these characters did to survive.

Cover of Megan Miranda's The Only Survivors featuring a beach house and sunset

All The Sinners Bleed By S.A. Cosby

Paramount is adapting S.A. Cosby's Razorblade Tears, but the author's 2023 release, All the Sinners Bleed, is an equally strong contender to become a movie. All the Sinners Bleed follows a Black sheriff dealing with a shooting, but the novel goes far beyond its mystery premise. Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in his Virginia county, and his investigation forces him to grapple with the town's dark history and the racism that runs deep within its police force. A movie adaptation of All the Sinners Bleed can start important conversations about real-world problems, expanding the reach of Cosby's commentary beyond readers.

Part of the All the Sinners Bleed cover by S.A. Cosby featuring a tree branch against an orange moon

Eight Perfect Murders By Peter Swanson

Eight Perfect Murders isn't Peter Swanson's best-known thriller, but it's one of the author's books that would translate well on-screen. The novel follows bookseller and blogger Malcolm, who finds himself wrapped up in an FBI case after a killer begins copying his blog post of 'perfect murders' in fiction. It's clear the culprit is trying to send Malcolm a message through each murder, and the mystery surrounding that is enthralling from start to finish. The crimes committed throughout Eight Perfect Murders are eerie enough that a movie adaptation would straddle the line between horror and thriller, and the unique concept would stand out in Hollywood.

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson cover featuring blue title text over a blue background

The It Girl By Ruth Ware

Ruth Ware has a number of thriller novels ripe for adaptation, but The It Girl's atmospheric backdrop makes it an ideal story to bring to the big screen. Centered on a murder that happens while the main character is attending a prestigious college, The It Girl unravels everything leading up to April Clarke-Cliveden's death while also following her roommate, Hannah, years later. The college setting is the highlight of The It Girl, but its compelling cast of characters would also make for a fun cinematic romp. Although the pacing might need to be adjusted for a movie, The It Girl's dark academia vibes and complex characters would certainly land on-screen.

The It Girl By Ruth Ware cover over a close-up of the book cover

Wrong Place Wrong Time By Gillian McAllister

Gillian McAllister's Wrong Place Wrong Time expertly blends a murder mystery with the concept of time travel, resulting in a thriller book like no other. The novel begins when Jen wakes up to witness her son committing a murder outside their house. She's then transported back in time repeatedly, forcing her to put together the pieces of what happened that night, as well as how she can prevent it. The time travel element of this novel would make for a compelling, genre-bending movie adaptation. Unlike many other time travel movies, Wrong Place Wrong Time's sci-fi elements aren't difficult to understand but still bring everything together believably.

The cover for Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister with features a Reese's Book Club circle on it and a house with a clock silhouette in the background