Best Suspense Fantasy Books

1

Burn for Me

By Ilona Andrews

Rated 4.29 out of 5 stars, based on 75,095 reviews. 4.29 · 75,095 reviews

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews introduces Nevada Baylor, a private investigator in a magically stratified Houston who is forced to accept a case that amounts to a death sentence: apprehending a Prime fire mage capable of mass destruction. When Nevada i…

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews introduces Nevada Baylor, a private investigator in a magically stratified Houston who is forced to accept a case that amounts to a death sentence: apprehending a Prime fire mage capable of mass destruction. When Nevada is abducted by Connor “Mad” Rogan, a powerful and feared Prime with his own agenda, she is pushed into an uneasy partnership that tests her ethics, abilities, and self-control. As they track a dangerous suspect through an urban landscape shaped by hereditary magic and ruthless politics, Nevada must balance her role as detective with the growing, volatile attraction between them. The novel blends urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and action-driven suspense around a strong female lead navigating power, desire, and survival.

Book 1 of Hidden Legacy series

Fantasy Magic Action Adult Romance Urban Fantasy Paranormal Female Protagonist Suspense Detective Strong Female Lead

Purchase on Amazon

2

The Red Collar

By M. Kato

Rated 4.29 out of 5 stars, based on 644 reviews. 4.29 · 644 reviews

The Red Collar by M. Kato introduces Chief Inspector Hayashi Teruo, a demanding Tokyo homicide detective whose career is on the line if his latest partner transfer fails. Miyazaki Shinji, eager to leave his past in Hiroshima behind, brings an unusual…

The Red Collar by M. Kato introduces Chief Inspector Hayashi Teruo, a demanding Tokyo homicide detective whose career is on the line if his latest partner transfer fails. Miyazaki Shinji, eager to leave his past in Hiroshima behind, brings an unusual advantage to the Tokyo MPD: he can communicate with the ghosts of murder victims, giving their new cases a distinctly paranormal edge. Their first investigation together centers on a series of killings linked by a weapon resembling a dog’s collar, drawing them into a complex pattern of crime, secrets, and restless spirits. As professional respect turns into an intense romantic and sexual relationship between these two men, hidden truths and Shinji’s evasions threaten both their work as detectives and their fragile bond.

Book 1 of Tokyo MPD Mysteries series

Adult Romance Supernatural LGBTQ Gay Male Protagonist Crime Ghosts Spicy Suspense Detective

Purchase on Amazon

3

The Rose and the Thorn

By Katherine Macdonald

Rated 4.28 out of 5 stars, based on 697 reviews. 4.28 · 697 reviews

In The Rose and the Thorn, Katherine Macdonald offers a darkly atmospheric fantasy romance that reimagines a classic fairy tale with a Gothic edge. When a storm drives young Rose into an abandoned fae domain, she becomes bound to a secluded castle an…

In The Rose and the Thorn, Katherine Macdonald offers a darkly atmospheric fantasy romance that reimagines a classic fairy tale with a Gothic edge. When a storm drives young Rose into an abandoned fae domain, she becomes bound to a secluded castle and its only inhabitant, a secretive talking beast she names Thorn. As Rose’s uneasy coexistence with Thorn deepens into an unexpected bond, the castle itself begins to transform, even as a far more sinister presence stirs in its hidden corners. To break the curse and survive the monsters that haunt both the corridors and her own memories, this strong-willed heroine must confront long-buried fears in a world of magic, suspense, and dangerous enchantment.

Book 1 of The Rose and the Thorn series

Fantasy Magic Romance Monsters Young Adult Fae Female Protagonist Gothic Suspense Fairy Tales Strong Female Lead

Purchase on Amazon

4

Bluegrass Undercover

By Kathleen Brooks

Rated 4.28 out of 5 stars, based on 10,061 reviews. 4.28 · 10,061 reviews

Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks returns to the small Kentucky town of Keeneston with a blend of contemporary romance, mystery, and suspense. Cade Davies, a retired Army Ranger trying to dodge his matchmaking family and neighbors, is reluctant…

Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks returns to the small Kentucky town of Keeneston with a blend of contemporary romance, mystery, and suspense. Cade Davies, a retired Army Ranger trying to dodge his matchmaking family and neighbors, is reluctantly intrigued by Annie Blake, a new arrival who seems unimpressed by his reputation. Annie, a DEA agent working undercover to expose a drug operation targeting local high school athletes, intends to stay unnoticed but quickly becomes the focus of town gossip and speculation. As Cade and Annie are pushed together by Keeneston’s meddling residents, they must balance growing attraction with the risks of an active investigation and the threat of more teens being harmed.

Book 1 of Bluegrass Brothers series

Action Romance Military Fiction Contemporary Female Protagonist Crime Suspense Drugs

Purchase on Amazon

5

Under the Midnight Cloak

By S.Y. Thompson

Rated 4.27 out of 5 stars, based on 336 reviews. 4.27 · 336 reviews

Under the Midnight Cloak by S.Y. Thompson follows Lee Grayson, a skeptical New York nature photographer who retreats to the remote town of Harmon in the Adirondack Mountains after inheriting her great aunt’s estate. The quiet community proves unsettl…

Under the Midnight Cloak by S.Y. Thompson follows Lee Grayson, a skeptical New York nature photographer who retreats to the remote town of Harmon in the Adirondack Mountains after inheriting her great aunt’s estate. The quiet community proves unsettling, and Lee soon learns from park ranger Jamison Kessler that a series of brutal killings is haunting the area. As Lee uncovers her late aunt’s hidden role in this insular town and awakens to her own unusual abilities, she is drawn into both a dangerous investigation and an unexpected lesbian romance with Jamison. When the non-human killer targets Lee, convinced she holds the key to a cure, she must confront the paranormal truths about Harmon, Jamison, and herself in this queer urban fantasy with strong shapeshifter and LGBT themes.

Book 1 of Under series

Romance Monsters Shapeshifters Mystery LGBTQ Queer Paranormal Lesbian Female Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

6

NoX

By Adrienne Wilder

Rated 4.26 out of 5 stars, based on 3,265 reviews. 4.26 · 3,265 reviews

NoX by Adrienne Wilder blends urban fantasy, science fiction, and dark paranormal romance around Luca Suarez, a man targeted by impossible creatures. His only protector is a mysterious, amnesiac stranger marked with the tattoo “NoX,” who knows three…

NoX by Adrienne Wilder blends urban fantasy, science fiction, and dark paranormal romance around Luca Suarez, a man targeted by impossible creatures. His only protector is a mysterious, amnesiac stranger marked with the tattoo “NoX,” who knows three facts: the monsters are called Anubis, his memory loss will not last, and he was sent by Koda, Luca’s brother who died five years earlier. As Nox’s memories return, they reveal a reality that challenges everything Luca believes about his family and the nature of these shapeshifters. The growing attraction between Luca and Nox offers both solace and danger in this gay M/M romance, where survival depends on resisting desires that could prove fatal.

Book 1 of Wolves Incarnate series

Romance Science Fiction Monsters Shapeshifters LGBTQ Paranormal Gay Male Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

7

A Girl Named Calamity

By Danielle Lori

Rated 4.24 out of 5 stars, based on 603 reviews. 4.24 · 603 reviews

A Girl Named Calamity by Danielle Lori follows a sheltered farm girl in the magic-ruled land of Alyria, where men hold power and women are expected to stay in their place. When she discovers she may be the catalyst for Alyria’s downfall, she is force…

A Girl Named Calamity by Danielle Lori follows a sheltered farm girl in the magic-ruled land of Alyria, where men hold power and women are expected to stay in their place. When she discovers she may be the catalyst for Alyria’s downfall, she is forced into a dangerous journey that tests her limited understanding of magic, desire, and her own strength. Assigned an escort she neither fully trusts nor can easily abandon, she navigates an uneasy, slow-burn dynamic that blends enemies-to-lovers tension with dark humor and suspense. This young adult fantasy includes paranormal elements, blood, violence, profanity, some sexual content, and concludes on a cliffhanger.

Book 1 of Alyria series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Humor Romance Epic Fantasy Enemies To Lovers Female Protagonist Suspense Slow Burn

Purchase on Amazon

8

Lock and Key

By Evangeline Anderson

Rated 4.24 out of 5 stars, based on 657 reviews. 4.24 · 657 reviews

Lock and Key by Evangeline Anderson follows a young woman whose life at the supernatural Nocturne Academy is upended when she buys a strange, key-shaped necklace that refuses to come off. The matching lock belongs to Griffin Darkheart, a sharp-tongue…

Lock and Key by Evangeline Anderson follows a young woman whose life at the supernatural Nocturne Academy is upended when she buys a strange, key-shaped necklace that refuses to come off. The matching lock belongs to Griffin Darkheart, a sharp-tongued Nocturne student under censure for undisclosed offenses, whose presence complicates her already precarious situation. Surrounded by vampires, witches, fae, were-dragons, and other magical factions, she must navigate academy politics, forbidden Blood Magic, and growing romantic tension while trying to stay alive long enough to graduate. Blending fantasy action, paranormal romance, and academy intrigue, the story centers on a strong female protagonist caught in a dangerous web of secrets and power.

Book 1 of Nocturne Academy series

Fantasy Magic Action Romance Shapeshifters Young Adult Fae Paranormal Witches Female Protagonist Academy Suspense Strong Female Lead

Purchase on Amazon

9

SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay!

By Adam Vex, Ariana Nash

Rated 4.23 out of 5 stars, based on 2,935 reviews. 4.23 · 2,935 reviews

SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! by Adam Vex and Ariana Nash introduces an urban fantasy world where a supposedly ordinary human named Adam runs a supernatural hotel alongside a lust demon with a scandalous past and a billionaire vampire wi…

SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay! by Adam Vex and Ariana Nash introduces an urban fantasy world where a supposedly ordinary human named Adam runs a supernatural hotel alongside a lust demon with a scandalous past and a billionaire vampire with dubious ethics. Their new venture, the SOS Hotel, is meant to shelter magical beings stranded after a tear in the veil closed, but the project quickly becomes entangled with unexplained murders, missing humans, and pressure from a ruthless property developer. As threats escalate, Adam’s own secrets and survival are tied to the hotel’s success, blending paranormal intrigue, queer romance, and morally gray alliances. Readers should note that SOS Hotel includes potentially uncomfortable content, with full warnings available on the author’s website.

Book 1 of SOS Hotel series

Demons Romance Urban Fantasy Mystery Supernatural Vampires LGBTQ Gay Male Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

10

Requiem for Immortals

By Lee Winter

Rated 4.23 out of 5 stars, based on 4,796 reviews. 4.23 · 4,796 reviews

Requiem for Immortals by Lee Winter follows Natalya Tsvetnenko, a renowned Melbourne cellist whose public life in the concert hall conceals her work as a meticulous contract killer in Australia’s criminal underworld. Her latest assignment targets an…

Requiem for Immortals by Lee Winter follows Natalya Tsvetnenko, a renowned Melbourne cellist whose public life in the concert hall conceals her work as a meticulous contract killer in Australia’s criminal underworld. Her latest assignment targets an apparently unremarkable woman, a choice that unsettles Natalya and gradually disrupts her disciplined detachment. As she observes and then interacts with her intended victim, professional obligation collides with unexpected attraction, creating a tense blend of crime, romance, and moral uncertainty. Set against the backdrop of Melbourne’s elite music scene and its darker streets, this lesbian mystery-thriller explores power, control, and the risks of emotional awakening.

Book 1 of The Law Game series

Romance Dark LGBTQ Queer Thriller Lesbian Enemies To Lovers Assassins Female Protagonist Crime Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

11

Second Nature

By Jae

Rated 4.22 out of 5 stars, based on 2,920 reviews. 4.22 · 2,920 reviews

Second Nature by Jae is an urban fantasy romance that brings together a skeptical writer and a secretive shape-shifter in contemporary settings. Jorie Price, a reclusive novelist, treats the paranormal worlds in her lesbian romances as pure invention…

Second Nature by Jae is an urban fantasy romance that brings together a skeptical writer and a secretive shape-shifter in contemporary settings. Jorie Price, a reclusive novelist, treats the paranormal worlds in her lesbian romances as pure invention, unaware that her latest manuscript mirrors hidden realities. Griffin Westmore, a Saru operative tasked with protecting the anonymity of shape-shifters, is ordered to assess the danger posed by Jorie’s book and, if required, eliminate both the work and its author. As Griffin infiltrates Jorie’s life under false pretenses, professional duty collides with unexpected attraction, creating a tense blend of queer romance, moral conflict, and paranormal intrigue.

Book 1 of Shape-Shifter series

Romance Shapeshifters Supernatural LGBTQ Queer Lesbian Assassins Female Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

12

Seven

By Adrienne Wilder

Rated 4.21 out of 5 stars, based on 1,226 reviews. 4.21 · 1,226 reviews

Seven by Adrienne Wilder blends contemporary gay romance with paranormal suspense and science fiction elements. After losing his job, Chase Sarim is stuck in a rundown apartment, where his strange new neighbor, who calls himself Seven, seems to predi…

Seven by Adrienne Wilder blends contemporary gay romance with paranormal suspense and science fiction elements. After losing his job, Chase Sarim is stuck in a rundown apartment, where his strange new neighbor, who calls himself Seven, seems to predict his words and actions and speaks cryptically about others known only by numbers. Seven is a fugitive from a place called Sub-Floor, where his precognitive abilities were exploited, and he believes attachment is a liability that can get people killed. As their connection deepens, they become entangled in the dangerous ambitions of Dr. David Stone, whose obsession with uncovering Seven’s secret power exposes a world of abuse, control, and corruption that neither man can safely ignore.

Book 1 of The Others Project series

Romance Science Fiction Supernatural LGBTQ Thriller Contemporary Gay Male Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

13

The Mysterious Benedict Society

By Trenton Lee Stewart

Rated 4.20 out of 5 stars, based on 176,902 reviews. 4.20 · 176,902 reviews

In The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart introduces four unusually gifted children who pass a strange series of intelligence and logic tests advertised in a newspaper. Chosen by the enigmatic Mr. Benedict, they form a small team and ar…

In The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart introduces four unusually gifted children who pass a strange series of intelligence and logic tests advertised in a newspaper. Chosen by the enigmatic Mr. Benedict, they form a small team and are sent undercover to the isolated Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, a school whose lack of rules conceals something far more troubling than strict teachers or difficult exams. As they navigate secret passages, coded messages, and psychological manipulation, the boys and girls must rely on their distinct strengths and quick thinking to uncover a hidden threat. Blending mystery, light science fiction elements, and adventure, this young adult novel follows strong child protagonists facing escalating suspense in an academic setting.

Book 1 of The Mysterious Benedict Society series

Fantasy Adventure Science Fiction Young Adult Mystery Childrens Strong Protagonist Female Protagonist Academy Male Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

14

The Finder

By J.E. Lorin

Rated 4.19 out of 5 stars, based on 1,532 reviews. 4.19 · 1,532 reviews

The Finder by J.E. Lorin follows August Goodson, a young man with an uncanny paranormal ability to locate missing people, whether dead or alive. Now in his mid-twenties and working with the police in a contemporary urban setting, August navigates unr…

The Finder by J.E. Lorin follows August Goodson, a young man with an uncanny paranormal ability to locate missing people, whether dead or alive. Now in his mid-twenties and working with the police in a contemporary urban setting, August navigates unresolved heartbreak over his ex, Dante, and an unspoken attraction to Detective Luke Williams, who believes himself straight. As a serial killer targets victims who resemble August in unsettling ways, his involvement in the investigation shifts from professional to personal. The novel blends urban fantasy, gay romance, and crime suspense as August’s gift becomes both his greatest asset and a potential threat to his survival.

Book 1 of The Finder series

Romance Mystery Supernatural LGBTQ Horror Contemporary Gay Male Protagonist Crime Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

15

Hell & High Water

By Charlie Cochet

Rated 4.19 out of 5 stars, based on 13,473 reviews. 4.19 · 13,473 reviews

Hell & High Water by Charlie Cochet introduces homicide detective Dexter J. Daley, whose career implodes after he testifies against his corrupt partner and becomes a media target. Instead of losing his badge, Dex is transferred to the THIRDS, a milit…

Hell & High Water by Charlie Cochet introduces homicide detective Dexter J. Daley, whose career implodes after he testifies against his corrupt partner and becomes a media target. Instead of losing his badge, Dex is transferred to the THIRDS, a militarized law-enforcement unit where humans work alongside Therian shapeshifters in a tense urban setting. Assigned to a new team under jaguar Therian leader Sloane Brodie, Dex must navigate hostility, prejudice, and strict paramilitary protocols while investigating the murders of prominent HumaniTherian activists. Balancing paranormal crime procedural elements with slow-building gay romance, the novel blends urban fantasy, mystery, and military fiction as Dex struggles to earn his place in a wary, close-knit squad.

Book 1 of THIRDS series

Romance Urban Fantasy Shapeshifters Military Fiction Supernatural LGBTQ Gay Male Protagonist Crime Suspense Detective

Purchase on Amazon

16

The Wolf at the Door

By Charlie Adhara

Rated 4.18 out of 5 stars, based on 13,583 reviews. 4.18 · 13,583 reviews

The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara introduces FBI-adjacent agent Cooper Dayton, whose near-fatal encounter with a werewolf forces him into the secretive Bureau of Special Investigations. Assigned to a string of unusual deaths, Cooper is partnered…

The Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara introduces FBI-adjacent agent Cooper Dayton, whose near-fatal encounter with a werewolf forces him into the secretive Bureau of Special Investigations. Assigned to a string of unusual deaths, Cooper is partnered with Oliver Park, a werewolf operative from The Trust, an organization meant to regulate and represent shifters. As they track a killer whose methods unsettle both human and paranormal authorities, Cooper’s ingrained distrust of werewolves clashes with his growing attraction to Park. The novel blends urban fantasy, gay romance, and procedural mystery, following two reluctant partners whose professional alliance and personal connection are tested by rising tensions and an increasingly dangerous case.

Book 1 of Big Bad Wolf series

Romance Shapeshifters Mystery Supernatural LGBTQ Werewolves Gay Male Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

17

Fugitive Mate

By Anastasia Wilde

Rated 4.17 out of 5 stars, based on 2,981 reviews. 4.17 · 2,981 reviews

Fugitive Mate by Anastasia Wilde blends urban fantasy and adult paranormal romance in a fast-paced, contemporary setting. Emma Wilkes is fleeing a criminal ex-boyfriend, carrying his incriminating laptop, when a tense stop at a roadside bar leads her…

Fugitive Mate by Anastasia Wilde blends urban fantasy and adult paranormal romance in a fast-paced, contemporary setting. Emma Wilkes is fleeing a criminal ex-boyfriend, carrying his incriminating laptop, when a tense stop at a roadside bar leads her to pose as the date of a stranger to evade hired killers. That stranger is Jace Monroe, an alpha werewolf under pressure to secure a true mate or forfeit his pack and territory, whose instincts insist Emma is the bond he needs. After one charged night ends with Emma stealing his motorcycle and disappearing, Jace is determined to track her through danger, secrets, and shifting loyalties to uncover whether she is a skilled liar or the mate who could save them both.

Book 1 of Silverlake Shifters series

Action Adult Romance Shapeshifters Werewolves Female Protagonist Spicy Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

18

Not Dead Yet

By Jenn Burke

Rated 4.17 out of 5 stars, based on 2,825 reviews. 4.17 · 2,825 reviews

Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke introduces Wes Cooper, an immortal “not-ghost” who slips between the living world and a spectral otherplane, using his unusual magic to recover stolen property in a modern urban setting. When he stumbles across a genuine mu…

Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke introduces Wes Cooper, an immortal “not-ghost” who slips between the living world and a spectral otherplane, using his unusual magic to recover stolen property in a modern urban setting. When he stumbles across a genuine murder for the first time, his work collides with official police business and with Detective Hudson Rojas, the ex-boyfriend who once walked out of his life. Their uneasy partnership to solve the case pulls them into a paranormal mystery involving ghosts, danger, and buried secrets, while rekindling a complicated romance between two men with decades of history. The novel blends urban fantasy, gay romance, and supernatural investigation, with vampires and other paranormal elements shaping both the stakes and the emotional tension.

Book 1 of Not Dead Yet series

Romance Supernatural Vampires Gay Male Protagonist Ghosts Suspense Detective

Purchase on Amazon

19

The Witchwood Knot

By Olivia Atwater

Rated 4.16 out of 5 stars, based on 5,982 reviews. 4.16 · 5,982 reviews

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is a darkly atmospheric fantasy set in a magically altered Victorian England, where governess Winifred Hall discovers that her difficult young charge has been replaced by an uncanny wooden double. Convinced that t…

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater is a darkly atmospheric fantasy set in a magically altered Victorian England, where governess Winifred Hall discovers that her difficult young charge has been replaced by an uncanny wooden double. Convinced that the real child has been taken by the Fair Folk, Winnie must navigate the sprawling, supernatural corridors of Witchwood Manor without the support of its skeptical master. As she ventures deeper into the manor’s hidden realms, she forms an uneasy alliance with Mr. Quincy, a faerie butler whose polished manners conceal disturbing secrets. Blending gothic suspense, fae magic, slow-burn romance, and mystery, the novel follows a sharp-minded female protagonist forced to weigh wit against trust in a house that seems determined to deceive her.

Book 1 of Victorian Faerie Tales series

Fantasy Magic Adult Romance Mystery Supernatural Historical Fiction Fae Female Protagonist Gothic Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

20

Beneath a Rising Moon

By Keri Arthur

Rated 4.13 out of 5 stars, based on 3,163 reviews. 4.13 · 3,163 reviews

In Beneath a Rising Moon, Keri Arthur sets a sensual paranormal mystery within a werewolf reservation where pack politics and desire collide. Neva Grant, desperate to uncover who attacked her twin sister and left her near death, agrees to infiltrate…

In Beneath a Rising Moon, Keri Arthur sets a sensual paranormal mystery within a werewolf reservation where pack politics and desire collide. Neva Grant, desperate to uncover who attacked her twin sister and left her near death, agrees to infiltrate the powerful Sinclair pack by becoming the chosen partner of Duncan Sinclair, a dominant wolf known for his many lovers. Their arrangement, meant as a calculated seduction to expose a possible killer, quickly turns into an intense connection that neither fully controls. As suspicion tightens around the pack and the attacker grows more dangerous, Neva and Duncan must balance raw attraction with hard choices about loyalty, trust, and survival in an unforgiving supernatural world.

Book 1 of Ripple Creek Werewolf series

Adult Romance Shapeshifters Mystery Supernatural Werewolves Female Protagonist Spicy Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

21

Five Minutes Longer

By Victoria Sue

Rated 4.12 out of 5 stars, based on 3,551 reviews. 4.12 · 3,551 reviews

Five Minutes Longer by Victoria Sue blends urban fantasy, science fiction, and romance in a contemporary setting where enhanced humans are weaponized against terrorism. Finn, whose past includes family trauma, homophobia, and undiagnosed dyslexia, se…

Five Minutes Longer by Victoria Sue blends urban fantasy, science fiction, and romance in a contemporary setting where enhanced humans are weaponized against terrorism. Finn, whose past includes family trauma, homophobia, and undiagnosed dyslexia, sees his hopes of joining the FBI destroyed until he is recruited into an experimental task force. Assigned to partner with a powerful enhanced operative who openly doubts him, Finn must prove his worth while navigating dangerous missions and internal team tensions. As the threat from a lethal terrorist group escalates, the growing emotional connection between the two men becomes as risky as the enemies they face.

Book 1 of Enhanced World series

Action Romance Science Fiction Superheroes LGBTQ Contemporary Gay Male Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

22

All Systems Red

By Martha Wells

Rated 4.11 out of 5 stars, based on 383,436 reviews. 4.11 · 383,436 reviews

All Systems Red by Martha Wells introduces Murderbot, a self-aware security unit assigned to protect a small team of scientists on a remote planet. In a corporate-controlled, spacefaring future where safety is compromised by cost-cutting, this hacked…

All Systems Red by Martha Wells introduces Murderbot, a self-aware security unit assigned to protect a small team of scientists on a remote planet. In a corporate-controlled, spacefaring future where safety is compromised by cost-cutting, this hacked android quietly resents its role and prefers consuming media to interacting with humans. When another nearby expedition abruptly stops transmitting, the mission shifts from routine survey work to a dangerous investigation that exposes hidden threats and corporate negligence. Blending science fiction, mystery, and space opera elements, the novella follows a non-human protagonist whose dry, detached perspective shapes a tense, often darkly humorous narrative about autonomy, responsibility, and artificial intelligence.

Book 1 of The Murderbot Diaries series

Fantasy Adventure Adult Science Fiction Mystery Space Opera Robots Non-human Protagonist Artificial Intelligence Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

23

The Emperor's Edge

By Lindsay Buroker

Rated 4.08 out of 5 stars, based on 16,094 reviews. 4.08 · 16,094 reviews

The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker introduces Amaranthe Lokdon, an imperial law enforcer whose practical skills and stubborn sense of duty are tested when mutilated corpses appear along the waterfront and a suspicious fire masks evidence of ritual…

The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker introduces Amaranthe Lokdon, an imperial law enforcer whose practical skills and stubborn sense of duty are tested when mutilated corpses appear along the waterfront and a suspicious fire masks evidence of ritual killings. As she traces the links between these crimes and a powerful commercial alliance plotting against the emperor, she is ordered to pursue Sicarius, the empire’s most feared assassin, who seems entangled in the same conspiracy. Forced to question her superiors’ motives and her own survival odds, Amaranthe navigates a steampunk-flavored imperial city where magic, political intrigue, and covert warfare intersect. The tone blends fast-paced adventure, mystery, and slow-building romantic tension within an adult fantasy setting.

Book 1 of The Emperor's Edge series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Adult Romance Science Fiction Urban Fantasy Mystery Political Intrigue Assassins Female Protagonist Steampunk Suspense Strong Female Lead

Purchase on Amazon

24

The Great and Secret Show

By Clive Barker

Rated 4.08 out of 5 stars, based on 31,460 reviews. 4.08 · 31,460 reviews

The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker blends dark fantasy, supernatural horror, and psychological suspense in a story where reality and dreamlike realms overlap. When a murder in an Omaha dead letter office triggers strange events, including an i…

The Great and Secret Show by Clive Barker blends dark fantasy, supernatural horror, and psychological suspense in a story where reality and dreamlike realms overlap. When a murder in an Omaha dead letter office triggers strange events, including an impossible lake appearing over the California town of Palomo Grove, hidden forces and godlike powers begin to shape an apocalyptic conflict. As ordinary lives intersect with cosmic designs, young love and human desire unfold against a backdrop of looming war and the breakdown of the familiar world. This first volume in The Art sequence explores the dangerous allure of power, the instability of memory and prophecy, and the thin boundary between the everyday and the mythic.

Book 1 of Book of the Art series

Fantasy Adult Science Fiction Gods Urban Fantasy War Dark Fantasy Supernatural Horror Thriller Apocalyptic Suspense Psychological

Purchase on Amazon

25

Angels' Blood

By Nalini Singh

Rated 4.07 out of 5 stars, based on 98,392 reviews. 4.07 · 98,392 reviews

In Angels' Blood, Nalini Singh opens an urban fantasy world where powerful angels rule over vampires and enforce their own brutal order. Elena Deveraux, a highly skilled vampire hunter, is contracted by the archangel Raphael to track one of his own k…

In Angels' Blood, Nalini Singh opens an urban fantasy world where powerful angels rule over vampires and enforce their own brutal order. Elena Deveraux, a highly skilled vampire hunter, is contracted by the archangel Raphael to track one of his own kind who has turned rogue, drawing her into a series of violent, supernatural crimes. As Elena navigates lethal angelic politics and escalating bloodshed, she must balance her professional instincts with an intense, dangerous attraction to Raphael. The novel blends adult romance, paranormal suspense, and action, anchored by a strong female protagonist confronting both external threats and the cost of surviving among immortals.

Book 1 of Guild Hunter series

Fantasy Action Adult Romance Urban Fantasy Vampires Paranormal Angels Female Protagonist Suspense Violence Strong Female Lead

Purchase on Amazon

26

Paladin's Grace

By T. Kingfisher

Rated 4.05 out of 5 stars, based on 57,004 reviews. 4.05 · 57,004 reviews

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher follows Stephen, a former holy warrior whose god has died, leaving him adrift and clinging to duty as his only purpose. When he crosses paths with Grace, a woman on the run, he is pulled into a failed assassination th…

Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher follows Stephen, a former holy warrior whose god has died, leaving him adrift and clinging to duty as his only purpose. When he crosses paths with Grace, a woman on the run, he is pulled into a failed assassination that exposes a tangle of political intrigue, hidden loyalties, and magical threats. As spies, poisoners, and an elusive murderer close in, Stephen and Grace must decide how much to trust each other while navigating both danger and an unexpected romantic connection. This adult fantasy blends high-stakes mystery, divine magic, and a strong male protagonist wrestling with grief, faith, and the possibility of new hope.

Book 1 of The Saint of Steel series

Fantasy Magic Adult Romance Gods High Fantasy Mystery Assassins Strong Protagonist Male Protagonist Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

27

Seven Years

By Dannika Dark

Rated 4.04 out of 5 stars, based on 20,526 reviews. 4.04 · 20,526 reviews

Seven Years by Dannika Dark opens with Lexi Knight still grieving her brother’s death seven years later, her life upended again when his former best friend, Austin Cole, returns without warning. Once the boy next door and now a hardened, tattooed Shi…

Seven Years by Dannika Dark opens with Lexi Knight still grieving her brother’s death seven years later, her life upended again when his former best friend, Austin Cole, returns without warning. Once the boy next door and now a hardened, tattooed Shifter, Austin carries secrets about her brother and the supernatural world that force Lexi to reconsider everything she believed about her family. As threats from Austin’s past close in, Lexi, her mother, and her sister are drawn into a dangerous conflict involving werewolves and other paranormal forces. Blending urban fantasy with adult romance, the novel explores second chances, long-standing attraction, and the risks of trusting a man who once walked away but may be the only one who can keep them alive.

Book 1 of Seven series

Adult Romance Shapeshifters Supernatural Werewolves Female Protagonist Friends To Lovers Suspense

Purchase on Amazon

28

I Hunt Killers

By Barry Lyga

Rated 4.02 out of 5 stars, based on 43,335 reviews. 4.02 · 43,335 reviews

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga follows Jasper “Jazz” Dent, a seemingly ordinary and charismatic teenager whose childhood was shaped by his father, a notorious serial killer. When a series of murders unsettles the small town of Lobo’s Nod, Jazz uses his…

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga follows Jasper “Jazz” Dent, a seemingly ordinary and charismatic teenager whose childhood was shaped by his father, a notorious serial killer. When a series of murders unsettles the small town of Lobo’s Nod, Jazz uses his unsettling familiarity with criminal behavior to assist the local police, hoping to distance himself from his father’s legacy. As he studies each new crime scene, he is forced to confront the possibility that the instincts that make him useful to the investigation may also reveal something darker within himself. Blending young adult suspense, psychological horror, and crime mystery, the novel focuses on identity, morality, and the fear of inheriting violence.

Book 1 of I Hunt Killers series

Young Adult Mystery Horror Thriller Contemporary Male Protagonist Crime Suspense Psychological

Purchase on Amazon

29

The Summoning

By Kelley Armstrong

Rated 4.02 out of 5 stars, based on 176,952 reviews. 4.02 · 176,952 reviews

In The Summoning, Kelley Armstrong introduces Chloe Saunders, a teenager whose ordinary life unravels the day she begins seeing ghosts. After a disturbing incident at school, she is sent to a group home for troubled teens, where the residents and sta…

In The Summoning, Kelley Armstrong introduces Chloe Saunders, a teenager whose ordinary life unravels the day she begins seeing ghosts. After a disturbing incident at school, she is sent to a group home for troubled teens, where the residents and staff seem to be hiding more than personal problems. As Chloe navigates this confined urban setting, she uncovers secrets about the institution, her own emerging supernatural abilities, and the other teens who may also possess paranormal gifts. Blending young adult urban fantasy with elements of mystery, romance, and suspense, the novel follows a strong female protagonist confronting both dangerous magic and the fear that she might be losing her sanity.

Book 1 of Darkest Powers series

Fantasy Magic Romance Urban Fantasy Young Adult Mystery Supernatural Paranormal Werewolves Female Protagonist Ghosts Suspense Strong Female Lead

Purchase on Amazon

30

A Discovery of Witches

By Deborah Harkness

Rated 4.02 out of 5 stars, based on 562,186 reviews. 4.02 · 562,186 reviews

In A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness introduces Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch whose routine research in Oxford’s Bodleian Library uncovers a long-lost alchemical manuscript bound by powerful magic. Her brief contact with the te…

In A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness introduces Diana Bishop, a historian and reluctant witch whose routine research in Oxford’s Bodleian Library uncovers a long-lost alchemical manuscript bound by powerful magic. Her brief contact with the text draws the attention of witches, daemons, and vampires, all determined to control its secrets. Among them is Matthew Clairmont, a centuries-old vampire and scientist whose uneasy alliance with Diana develops into a forbidden romance that challenges entrenched supernatural laws. Blending urban fantasy, paranormal suspense, and a strong romantic thread, the novel follows a capable female protagonist forced to confront her heritage as hidden magical factions close in around her.

Book 1 of All Souls series

Fantasy Magic Romance Urban Fantasy Supernatural Vampires Paranormal Witches Strong Protagonist Female Protagonist Suspense Strong Female Lead

Purchase on Amazon

31

A Winter's Promise

By Christelle Dabos, Hildegarde Serle

Rated 4.01 out of 5 stars, based on 126,101 reviews. 4.01 · 126,101 reviews

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos, translated by Hildegarde Serle, introduces Ophelia, a reserved young woman whose talent for reading the past of objects and traveling through mirrors sets her apart on the ark of Anima. When she is forced into…

A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos, translated by Hildegarde Serle, introduces Ophelia, a reserved young woman whose talent for reading the past of objects and traveling through mirrors sets her apart on the ark of Anima. When she is forced into an arranged marriage with Thorn of the influential Dragon clan, she is uprooted to the distant, politically charged ark of the Pole, where court factions and ancestral powers shape every interaction. As Ophelia navigates this rigid, often hostile ruling class, she must conceal her abilities and identity while uncovering why she has been selected for this alliance. The novel blends high fantasy worldbuilding, subtle steampunk elements, and slow-building romance with an undercurrent of suspense and intricate political intrigue.

Book 1 of La Passe-Miroir series

Fantasy Magic Romance High Fantasy Young Adult Ruling Class Political Intrigue Female Protagonist Steampunk Suspense Strong Female Lead

Purchase on Amazon

Best Suspense Fantasy Books

NSFW

Light Novels, Comics & Manga

LGBTQ+ themes

Protagonist

Burn for Me

The Red Collar

The Rose and the Thorn

Bluegrass Undercover

Under the Midnight Cloak

NoX

A Girl Named Calamity

Lock and Key

SOS Hotel: For a Supernaturally Safe Stay!

Requiem for Immortals

Second Nature

Seven

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Finder

Hell & High Water

The Wolf at the Door

Fugitive Mate

Not Dead Yet

The Witchwood Knot

Beneath a Rising Moon

Five Minutes Longer

All Systems Red

The Emperor's Edge

The Great and Secret Show

Angels' Blood

Paladin's Grace

Seven Years

I Hunt Killers

The Summoning

A Discovery of Witches

A Winter's Promise