HBO has been churning out content left and right, and at the top of your must-watch list should be The Flight Attendant [1], a series based on Chris Bohjalian's thriller of the same name. With a second season confirmed, we've been scrambling to get our thriller fix while we anxiously wait for more details. For those who've already read The Flight Attendant — if you haven't, consider this a kindly PSA to do so — we recommend taking a look at our The Flight Attendant-inspired TBR list. Many of these reads centre on travel, psychological suspense [2], dark comedy, and the verdict of innocent until proven guilty. Fasten your seatbelts, place folding trays in their full upright and locked positions, and enjoy the ride; it's about to be a gripping one.
While You Were Sleeping
Fans of The Flight Attendant will love Kathryn Croft's While You Were Sleeping [3], which opens with a similar premise: a woman wakes up in unfamiliar bedroom next to her neighbour, who is presumably dead. Tara Logan has no idea what happened the night prior nor who killed Lee Jacobs. Cops soon turn to Tara for questions and answers and with her own family in a downward spiral, it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
You Can't Catch Me
We're back at the airport in Catherine McKenzie's You Can't Catch Me [4], a revengeful tale of cult survivor Jessica Williams. Her horrifying past may be behind her, but things go array when Jessica encounters another Jessica Williams at the airport bar. Both woman have the same name and birthday. Seven days later, when Jessica's bank account turns up empty and her identity stolen, she realises maybe it wasn't a funny coincidence after all.
Something in The Water
If you're craving a book filled with shocking twists and turns and with a splash of adventure, then look no further than Catherine Steadman's Something in The Water [5]. While on their destination honeymoon, newlyweds Erin and Mark comes across a heavy duffle bag off the coast of Bora Bora and what's inside is far from a golden treasure. Similar to The Flight Attendant, this couple will quickly understand how one impromptu decision can result in a horrible chain reaction.
The Other Mrs.
Excited about their new and quiet life in Maine, the Foust family packs up their busy life in Chicago to only move next door to a crime scene: Morgan Baines, their now-dead neighbour. Similar to Cassie Bowden, Mrs. Sadie Foust knows little to nothing about this dead stranger yet finds herself smack dab in the middle of the investigation. Now's your chance to read The Other Mrs. [6] by Mary Kubica before it hits Netflix!
Sharp Objects
In Sharp Objects [7], Camille Preaker, a functioning alcoholic (sound familiar?) and journalist, is assigned to cover the horrifying death of two young females. Forced to revisit her hometown, Camille, who up until recently was in a psych hospital, is reacquainted with her estranged and neurotic mother. As more evidence comes to the surface, Camille must separate the present from her dark past. Since publication, Gillian Flynn's psychological thriller has been adapted into a very successful HBO series starring Amy Adams. [8]
Pretty Guilty Women
Four women travel to California for a coastal wedding and when someone turns up dead, they each confess to the murder. Kate is absorbed with money; Lulu has enough ex-husbands to make a football team; Emily's most committed relationship is with the bottle; and Ginger is desperately trying to keep her family in a solid unit. So, who did it? And why is each woman determined to prove it was them? Gina Lamanna intertwines the lives of four female characters in this addicting and thrilling read, Pretty Guilty Women [9].
The Girl From Widow Hills
In The Girl From Widow Hills [10] by Megan Miranda, readers will find that both protagonists share a few commonalities, like finding themselves as the prime suspect in a murder case, for example. Olivia, previously known as Arden Mayor, suffered serious childhood trauma as a young girl and is lucky to be alive. Two decades later and with a newly restored identity, she finally feels like she's doing okay, that is until she stumbles across a corpse in her backyard . . . while sleepwalking.
The Girl on The Train
An overlying theme in Bohjalian's novel is Cassie's relationship with alcohol, which is also a pertinent storyline for Rachel in The Girl on The Train [11]. With a bottle of liquor in hand, Rachel takes the same train passing the same scenery, houses, and suburbia families every day. One day on her commute, she witnesses a catastrophic event and is unable to sequester it to herself. Now a major motion picture, Paula Hawkins weaves a compelling and downright frightening story that will leave you with goosebumps.
Whisper Network
We love a story that centres around strong female characters, which is exactly why we're recommending Whisper Network [12], a chilling read that examines four businesswomen who find themselves in the middle of the #MeToo movement. Chandler Baker's writing is raw, real, unfiltered, and will pose many eye-opening questions for your book club.
Before The Fall
Before The Fall [13] by The New York Times bestselling author Noah Hawley follows Scott Burroughs and a four-year-old boy, sole-survivors of a private jet crash that left nine (very affluent) others dead. Now an orphan, the young boy is the heir to his family's estates and riches and the only person he can somewhat trust is Scott, a stranger who helped keep him alive during the scariest moment of his life. Was it just a coincidence that only the wealthy, influential people died on the crash? Is this all Scott's doing, and if not, who's responsible?
Kill, Sleep, Repeat
Chartered planes, a picture-perfect family, a lurking secret admirer, Kill, Sleep, Repeat [14] is far more twisted than your classic domestic thriller. A trained assassin, Charlotte Jones loves her job and she's extremely good at it; but when a freak accident puts her identity in jeopardy, Charolette realises she and those around her are in grave danger. Britney King is also the author of The Social Affair and HER.
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife
In Ashley Winstead's forthcoming dark thriller, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife [15], six friends reunite for what is sure to be an epic college reunion; however, things start to go array when the death of a former classmate and friend resurfaces. Written in dual timelines, readers will quickly uncover these character's deepest secrets to figure out who killed Heather Shelby 10 years ago.
Woman on The Edge
Unlike our previous protagonist, Morgan Kincaid in Woman on The Edge [16] can't help but continuously insert herself in the middle of an open murder investigation, despite how many times her attorney advises her otherwise. Samantha Bailey's debut novel follows two women who couldn't be more different yet equally as lost.
Dear Edward
Ann Napolitano's coming-of-age story follows Edward Adler, who's life exponentially changes when the plane he's on crashes mid-flight. Dear Edward [17] is a change of pace compared to the other thrillers on this list but like Cassie, Edward's life is now tied to his fellow passengers and the sky.
The Last Flight
Cassie and The Last Flight [18]'s Claire Cook have something in common: a chance to disappear and flee the scene. Except for Claire, it means running away to Oakland and taking over another woman's identity after the news of her presumed death makes headlines on television. Julie Clark's fast-paced, action-packed thriller will leave your jaw dropped until the very last page.