The 92 best thrillers by women

Lust, Caution holds a firm place in the canon of modern Chinese literature, regarded as one of Eileen Chang's most psychologically penetrating works. Its stature was significantly amplified internationally following Ang Lee's acclaimed 2007 film adaptation, which drew global attention to Chang's fiction and cemented the novella's place among essential works of twentieth-century Chinese literature.

The Secret History is widely assigned in university courses on contemporary American fiction, creative writing, and the campus novel. While it has not reached the universal curriculum status of mid-century classics, its presence in syllabi across English-speaking universities is substantial. Wikipedia covers the novel in 20+ languages, reflecting broad international readership.

Gold Dagger winner. Launched one of crime fiction's most acclaimed series.

The Goldfinch is a Pulitzer Prize winner (2014) and a major bestseller, but it has not achieved the kind of sustained pedagogical presence associated with canonical American fiction. It rarely appears on university literature syllabi and sparked notable critical debate — including a prominent New York Review of Books dismissal by James Wood — that clouded its status as a serious literary achievement. It is widely read and culturally prominent, but not yet settled into the canon in the way of, say, Beloved or The Corrections.

Taught in British postmodernism and women's fiction courses, and appears on specialized reading lists for existential and experimental fiction. TIME magazine included it on their All-TIME 100 novels list. Not as ubiquitous on syllabi as Spark's 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,' but recognized as a canonical text in postwar British fiction.

'The Birds' is among the most recognized short stories in 20th-century British fiction, secured in the cultural consciousness by Hitchcock's 1963 film adaptation. The story appears regularly on British school syllabi and in anthologies of horror and psychological fiction. The rest of the collection occupies a respected but secondary position — 'The Apple Tree' and 'Kiss Me Again, Stranger' appear in some anthologies, but du Maurier's short fiction as a whole holds a lower academic profile than her novels. The collection does not feature on many university core reading lists outside British literature survey courses.

No Open Syllabus or Wikipedia data is available in the database, but Highsmith's debut novel is recognized as a foundational text of American psychological crime fiction. It appears occasionally in university courses on crime writing and 20th-century American literature, though it lacks the broad curricular presence of canonical literary novels. Its Hitchcock adaptation (1951) has kept it in cultural circulation for over seven decades.

In the stark, snow-covered landscape of 1960s Boston, Eileen Dunlop toils away in a boys' prison, her life a monotony of loneliness and desperation. But when a new coworker, the charming and mysterious Rebecca, arrives on the scene, Eileen's dull routine is upended. As their fascination with each other grows, Eileen becomes embroiled in a dark and sinister plot that threatens to consume her. Ottessa Moshfegh's writing is a slow-burning fire, building tension and unease with each passing page. Her prose is spare, yet evocative, capturing the bleakness and desperation of Eileen's world. As the story unfolds, themes of obsession, class, and the oppressive nature of societal expectations emerge, casting a dark and unflinching gaze on the human psyche. This book is for readers who appreciate a gripping, psychological mystery that eschews easy answers and instead plunges into the complexities of the human condition. Be prepared for a haunting, atmospheric narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its shortlisting for the 2016 Booker Prize, Eileen has already garnered critical acclaim for its unflinching and suspenseful storytelling. As a work of literary suspense, Eileen is a must-read for fans of the genre. Moshfegh's unique voice and perspective bring a fresh urgency to the mystery genre, making this a compelling choice for readers looking for a thought-provoking and deeply unsettling read.

Too recent for syllabi. The Luminaries—Catton's Booker winner—is more likely to be taught. Birnam Wood is her follow-up, not yet established independently in academic contexts.

Already a cultural touchstone — 'Gone Girl' is shorthand for domestic thriller with an unreliable narrator.