Suspense/Thriller

Thrillers are dark, engrossing, and suspenseful plot-driven stories. Any novel can generate excitement, suspense, interest, and exhilaration, but because these are the primary goals of the thriller genre, thriller writers have laser-focused expertise in keeping a reader interested. The essential plot elements of a thriller are the element of suspense; a hero who often emerges from the trials they encounter; a sidekick who assists the hero with an alternate skill set, acts as a sounding board, provides emotional support, gets themselves into trouble so the hero must rescue them, and provides comic relief; a villain whose motivations create the crisis for the hero; plot twists that take the reader by surprise and reinvigorate their interest in the story; red herrings that hint at explanations that may not be true and get the reader to believe a false conclusion about the plot; cliffhangers; and an exciting climax

If you like this genre but are interested in stories that are largely told through pictures, remember that the graphic novel format can include ANY genre—not just superhero stories and manga. So be sure to check out that collection as well.