Thriller fiction is a genre similar to horror and mystery, meant to tell suspenseful stories that often involve dangerous or disturbing elements. The purpose of thriller novels is not necessarily to depict gratuitous gore, but intrigue—which might include gore. Thriller novels usually contain action and fast pacing, often with plot twists and secrets that get revealed at the end. They often point out differences between perception and reality, which can amplify suspense. Although this is not always the case, thriller novels have a greater likelihood of ending with a “happy ending” than traditional horror novels because their purpose is to solve a mystery, often fueled by human vice, rather than to showcase villainy for its own sake. Examples of contemporary thriller novels include The Silence of the Lambs (1988), Shutter Island (2003), Room (2010), and Gone Girl (2012).

Many thriller novels follow a traditional plot structure of exposition, the introduction of a problem, rising action, a climax, falling action, and a resolution. In a novel structured like this, it might end after a kidnapped or targeted party is returned home safe.