10 Romantic Thriller Books That Will Get Your Heart Rate Running

Get ready for crime-solving duos with blistering chemistry.

Nothing beats an exciting thriller. Twisted criminals, determined sleuths and a race against time provide an addictive reading experience every time. But why not turn the tension up a notch? Romantic thrillers raise the stakes even higher by introducing a love interest. In these riveting romantic thriller books, like-minded sleuths fight crime - and their undeniable attraction to each other.

The Deadly Travelers

by Dorothy Eden

Think of this as an equally thrilling precursor to The Girl on the Train, with Hitchcockian undertones. Originally published in 1959,revolves around The Deadly Travelers around the search for a missing girl. Kate Tempest was hired to escort seven-year-old Francesca across Europe, but the child appears to have disappeared into thin air after boarding the Paris Express. Kate's discovery of Francesca's favorite doll on board confirms that she did catch the train, but fellow passengers deny ever seeing the girl. Even the authorities don't seem to be concerned, suggesting that Kate is suffering from paranoid delusions. Facing skepticism from all sides, Kate embarks on a desperate quest that throws her into the arms of a dark-eyed stranger ... but can she really afford to trust someone?

See Also: The Best Crime Fiction Books of 2020

The Brimstone Wedding

By Ruth Rendell

Jenny Warner has taken on a new job: caring for the elderly in an English country house that has been converted into a nursing home. Most of her patients don't even know who or where they are, but a woman named Stella is bright, elegant and very intriguing. The two women start an intimate friendship, and although they are separated by age and class, they turn out to have more in common than they thought. Jenny confesses her extramarital relationship to Stella, who in turn reveals fragments of a fascinating life turned upside down by romantic obsession and an illegal affair. It soon becomes clear that Stella has some skeletons in her closet. The only question is whether Jenny will heed her warning.

  Exposure

By Susan Andersen

Emma Sands, just arrived in Port Flannery, Washington, has fled the horrors of the Big Easy with her two-year-old daughter in tow. She enjoys their relative anonymity and rents a room in a boarding house while trying to figure out what to do next. This beautiful woman and her mysterious past pique the interest of Port Flannery Sheriff Elvis Donnelly, herself a hermit who lives in the same guesthouse. Elvis tries to gain Emma's trust so he can learn what is causing her paranoia and keep everything at bay. But even the veteran six-foot police officer is no match for the danger Emma has stalked all the way from New Orleans to the West Coast.

Betrayed

by Sharon Sala

This is the first of two Sharon Sala books on this list, and for good reason. Sala is the bestselling author of more than 100 books on romance and suspense, an eight-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award (presented by Romance Writers of America), and a five-time winner of the Career Achievement Award Romantic Times magazine. This lecture takes place in the Louisiana Bayou, where Logan Conway grew up - a place that feeds her nightmares even as an adult. It was here that her brother was murdered ten years ago, and Logan has worked hard to return and unravel the mystery of his death. Her good friend Wade Garrett has arrived to help her, but neither expected to be targeted by a killer on the loose, whose brutal outbursts only escalate in intensity the closer they get to solving the murder.

You Think You Know Me

By Clare Chase

Freelance journalist Anna Morris wants to make a career out of writing, but she's struggling to get a full-time appearance. An invitation to a prominent art gallery opening seems like the perfect opportunity to connect and maybe even find a celebrity willing to do an interview. Instead, she spends the night chatting with the handsome and charming Max Conran, who claims to be the brother of a celebrated art dealer. But Anna soon learns that fraud isn't just for the art world, and Max isn't who he says he is. Despite repeated warnings from friends, Anna can't help but get swept up in Max's web of lies and deceit. It will be a great story - if she lives to tell it.

Blood Brothers

By Michael Schiefelbein

It's a revenge plot 15 years in the making: After a childhood spent in dilapidated orphanages, Juan Ramón is ready to take revenge on the man who ordered the brutal murders of his parents. He will make Martin Esteban's demise even more painful by going after the person he loves most in this world: his son. Bernardo Esteban has left a sinful life and has just fulfilled his dream of becoming a priest. But he didn't expect the temptation to walk through the monastery doors in the thin form of Juan Ramón. Juan Ramón, for his part, planned to use Bernardo as a pawn in his plan for revenge, but when he feels any emotion rising at the meeting with the young priest, he realizes he may have to rethink everything.

Waiting for Willa

By Dorothy Eden

Two cousins ​​promise that if they ever get in trouble, they will send a letter to the other signed with their first names. It's a silly childhood promise that Grace had almost completely forgotten in the years that followed. But her heart beats when she receives a seemingly innocent letter from Willa, signed 'Wilhelmina'. When repeated attempts to contact Willa go unanswered, Grace heads to Stockholm to find out if her cousin is still alive - and if her mysterious husband, Gustav, has anything to do with her disappearance. Famed Gothic novelist Dorothy Eden will get your heart racing in this twisty romantic thriller book set in 1960s Sweden.

Butterfly

By Sharon Sala

China Brown, pregnant and homeless, is already lucky, but she faces a much worse fate to wait. When she accidentally witnesses the murder of a famous photographer, the killer also tries to eliminate China. Although she survives the attack, her unborn child is not so lucky. While dealing with her grief, she meets Detective Ben English. Immediately attracted to China, Ben vows to track down her attacker. But as Ben and China grow closer together, they unwittingly grow closer to a murderer. A chilling story with a plot twist you won't see coming, Butterfly is written by veteran romantic suspense writer and New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala.

Tangle of Lies

By Patricia Potter

When her father calls to tell her that her mother is missing, Liz Connor fears the worst and goes to the police station. She gets the shock of her life when she is confronted by FBI agents, who tell her that her mother is not missing - she is in jail for a murder she committed 30 years ago. Liz doesn't want to believe in her mother's guilt and starts her own investigation to clear Betty's name. A mysterious fire and terrifying kidnapping convince her that someone is after the Connor family and will do anything to stop Betty from talking. Robust Boston PI Caleb Adams enters Liz's life to offer his help, and she can't help but accept it. But Caleb is hiding a dark secret - a secret that can turn the whole thing upside down.

Somewhere the Sea

by Amanda James

Beyond A woman's dark past comes back to haunt her in this poignant romantic thriller book. In recent years, Karen Ainsworth's fear has turned into paralyzing agoraphobia. When the Ainsworths are given the opportunity to move to an idyllic Cornish village, Tristan encourages his wife to take the plunge, believing the change of scenery will benefit her mental health. However, once they arrive in their new home, a terrifying network of blackmail and betrayal begins to shut them down. Will Karen and Tristan strengthen their bond and rediscover everything they love about each other, or fall prey to the outsider who threatens to destroy their marriage and their lives?

Tall, dark and deadly

By Heather Graham The

beautiful and successful lawyer Marnie Newcastle has no shortage of lovers. So if someone doesn't hear from her for a few days, most people assume she's on one of her romps with a new beauty. Only Samantha, Marnie's neighbor and college girlfriend, suspects something is wrong. As the days progress since Marnie's last sighting, Samantha digs deeper into the mystery and realizes how many motives and suspects there are. As Samantha tracks down Marnie's countless ex-lovers and struggles against a growing attraction to Marnie's ex-rock star, a killer stalks the Florida swamps ... one who won't hesitate to beat anyone in his path. Readers seduced by Graham's steamy mystery should visit Down in New Orleans next .

Dream of Orchids

By Phyllis A. Whitney,

Laurel York, the owner of a Long Island bookstore, was abandoned by her father Clifton York when she was a child. When Clifton's colleague Marcus shows up at her door, Laurel drives morbid curiosity to follow him to the Key West house where her father lives. There she meets her icy father and two distant stepsisters. As Laurel moves closer to Marcus, the only person who seems to want her there, she begins to question the circumstances surrounding her stepmother's bizarre death. But the more she sniffs, the more she wishes she had heeded her late mother's warning, "Something's terribly wrong in that house ..."

The Dark Bones

By Loreth Anne White

A tragedy forces Detective Rebecca North to do something she swore she would never do - return to her hometown in the countryside. But when she gets a call from the police that her father has died of an apparent suicide, she knows something isn't right and must investigate for herself. Her research brings her back into the arms of Ash Haugen, the man she left behind. Ash tries to prove his worth by helping Rebecca track down clues, which lead them to a 12-year-old girl who may have witnessed Noah North's death. But can they convince the terrified girl to talk? And can Rebecca trust the first man who broke her heart? A second chance romance wrapped in a gripping tale of suspense, The Dark Bones will keep you hooked from the very first page.

Don't lie to me

After Willow Rose's

divorce and career switch, former FBI profiler Eva Rae Thomas returns to her hometown with her kids, promising she's done police work for good. But Eve doesn't keep her promise long. When confronted with a case that strikes too close to home, she can't help but stick her nose in her nose. She is soon involved in a full-fledged investigation. The case is alarming: a 12-year-old girl - a local surfing prodigy - disappeared from the Girl Scout camp, and her lifeless body was found three months later. When a senator's son is kidnapped and his parents receive a disturbing video, Eva fears the killer is preparing to strike again. Eva teams up with the local police, led by her old flame Matt Miller, to try to catch a murderer before it's too late. With many twists and turns, this romantic thriller book is not to be missed.

Her Final Word

by Mary Burton

A true crime podcast sensation turns deadly in this riveting romantic thriller book. 14 years ago, Kaitlin Roe was the only witness to her cousin's kidnapping. Now she's leading a podcast on the unsolved case in an effort to shut down her family and end her survivor's guilt. But things take a dark turn when a person of interest Kaitlin interviewed on the podcast is found stabbed to death. Kaitlin brought a murderer out of hiding? She pairs up with Detective John Adler to dig into the past, before becoming a victim herself.