13 Page-Turners You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

Sometimes, you need a book that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go until the final page. These are the kinds of novels that keep you reading long past your bedtime, making “just one more chapter” feel like an empty promise. From thrillers to mysteries and everything in between, here are 13 page-turners guaranteed to keep you hooked until the very end.

1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Image Credit: Riverhead Books

If unreliable narrators are your thing, buckle up. The Girl on the Train is a fast-paced psychological thriller where no one, not even the protagonist, seems trustworthy. Rachel takes the same train every day, fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple she watches from her window. But when the woman goes missing, Rachel becomes entangled in a dangerous investigation. It’s full of twists, secrets, and characters who’ll make you question everything you thought you knew.

2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

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No list of page-turners would be complete without Gone Girl. Flynn’s tale of a marriage gone sour is dark, twisted, and absolutely gripping. When Amy Dunne goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, her husband Nick becomes the prime suspect. But nothing is as it seems. The alternating perspectives between Nick and Amy build the tension until the shocking conclusion leaves you reeling. Trust me, this one will keep you guessing until the very last page.

3. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

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Alicia Berenson, a celebrated artist, shoots her husband five times—and then never speaks another word. Her silence turns her into a mystery, one that psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes obsessed with solving. As Theo digs deeper into Alicia’s past, secrets unfold that will leave you questioning who the real victim is. With its short chapters and taut writing, The Silent Patient is an addictive psychological thriller you won’t be able to put down.

4. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

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At first glance, Big Little Lies seems like a story about suburban moms and schoolyard drama. But underneath the gossip and yoga classes, there’s a murder mystery waiting to unravel. Moriarty skillfully weaves together the lives of three women, all connected by dark secrets and a school trivia night gone horribly wrong. The mix of humor, suspense, and sharp social commentary makes it a book that’s both entertaining and unputdownable.

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5. The Night Manager by John le Carré

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Spies, arms dealers, and undercover intrigue—The Night Manager has it all. This gripping espionage novel follows Jonathan Pine, a former British soldier turned hotel night manager, who is recruited to infiltrate the inner circle of an international arms dealer. Le Carré’s writing is sharp, and the plot twists come fast and furious. If you’re a fan of international thrillers with high stakes, this one will keep you glued to the page.

6. Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

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Imagine waking up every day with no memory of who you are or what’s happened in your life. That’s Christine’s reality in Before I Go to Sleep. She suffers from a form of amnesia that erases her memories each night. As she tries to piece together her life with the help of her journal and a doctor, she begins to suspect the people closest to her might be hiding dangerous secrets. The twists in this book will leave you breathless and questioning reality right alongside Christine.

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7. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

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Love it or hate it, The Da Vinci Code is the definition of a page-turner. Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor of symbology, gets swept into a high-stakes conspiracy involving secret societies, religious mysteries, and cryptic codes hidden in famous works of art. From Paris to London, the chase to uncover the truth never lets up. With its blend of historical intrigue and nonstop action, it’s easy to see why this book became a global phenomenon.

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8. The Martian by Andy Weir

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Stranded on Mars with only his wits and a few supplies, astronaut Mark Watney must figure out how to survive alone on a planet that’s trying to kill him. The Martian is a nail-biting survival story full of humor, tension, and science. Watney’s resourcefulness and snarky commentary make this a surprisingly light-hearted read despite the dire circumstances. If you enjoy stories of human ingenuity and survival against the odds, this is the page-turner for you.

9. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

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In Shutter Island, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is sent to a remote island to investigate the disappearance of a patient from a mental hospital. But nothing is as it seems on this fog-shrouded island, and soon Daniels is questioning his own sanity. Lehane’s atmospheric writing builds an intense, psychological thriller that will have you second-guessing every clue. It’s a haunting, eerie read that’s hard to put down once you start.

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10. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

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Jason Dessen is a physicist living an ordinary life—until he’s kidnapped and wakes up in a world where his life is completely different. Dark Matter is a sci-fi thriller that explores alternate realities, quantum physics, and the choices that shape our lives. The plot is mind-bending, but Crouch keeps the pacing tight and the stakes high. If you’re looking for a high-octane read with a brain-twisting concept, this one will keep you riveted.

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11. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

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Part mystery, part family saga, and part corporate thriller, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander as they dig into a decades-old disappearance. Larsson’s novel is packed with twists, complex characters, and a slow-burn mystery that ramps up into an explosive conclusion. Salander, with her fierce independence and unconventional methods, makes this one of the most memorable page-turners out there.

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12. The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton

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A scandal rocks a high school, and The Rehearsal plays out like a modern-day Greek tragedy. The novel blurs the lines between reality and performance as the aftermath of the scandal is reenacted by a drama troupe. Catton’s sharp, experimental style keeps the reader engaged, and the book’s structure adds to the suspense as the truth slowly unfolds. This is a page-turner that’s as much about style as it is about plot.

13. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

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In The Woman in Cabin 10, travel journalist Lo Blacklock embarks on a luxury cruise only to witness what she believes is a murder. But when everyone insists that no one is missing, Lo starts to doubt her own sanity. The novel’s claustrophobic setting and growing paranoia make for a gripping psychological thriller. Ware’s pacing is relentless, and the plot twists keep coming, making this a book you won’t want to put down until the mystery is solved.

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