8 Thrillers by Black Authors You Won’t Want to Put Down
If you love a good thriller—the kind that keeps you flipping pages way past bedtime—you’re in for a treat. These 8 thrillers by Black authors serve up everything from dark academia secrets to Southern crime sagas, high-stakes competitions, and eerie small-town mysteries. Whether you’re in the mood for psychological twists, fast-paced action, or a chilling atmosphere, these books deliver.
From bestselling authors like S.A. Cosby and Tiffany D. Jackson to rising stars shaking up the genre, this list has something for every thriller fan.
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Thrillers by Black Authors
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
A financial genius returns home to find his family drowning in danger after his reckless younger brother gets tangled with criminals. As he tries to buy their way out, he realizes that money won’t be enough—only his skills and a willingness to burn everything down will keep them alive. Inspired by The Godfather, this Southern crime thriller blends family drama with deadly ambition.
Grab this book on Amazon: King of Ashes
Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Two ambitious Black students at an elite academy become targets of an anonymous texter determined to ruin their futures. As secrets are exposed and the threats escalate, what started as a cruel game turns into a fight for survival. With nods to Gossip Girl and Get Out, this dark academia thriller is packed with twists and razor-sharp social commentary.
Grab this book on Amazon: Ace of Spades
All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris
A high-powered lawyer finds her boss dead—and instead of calling 911, she walks away. But when she’s promoted to replace him, the whispers start. Now caught between corporate corruption and her own buried secrets, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect herself and the people she loves. A legal thriller with sharp twists and How to Get Away with Murder energy.
Grab this book on Amazon: All Her Little Secrets
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
A Black scholarship student loses her Ivy League future after a single misstep. Her only shot at redemption? A high-stakes competition run by the rich and powerful. But as the challenges turn deadly, she realizes winning might not just be about ambition—it might be about survival. A cutthroat thriller for fans of The Hunger Games and Squid Game.
Grab this book on Amazon: Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
We Don’t Swim Here by Vincent Tirado
A town full of secrets. A lake no one dares to swim in. A girl who asks too many questions. When Bronwyn arrives in Hillwoods, she’s told to stay away from the water—but the warnings feel more like a threat. As she digs deeper into the town’s past, she realizes the danger isn’t just in the legends—it’s lurking beneath the surface.
Grab this book on Amazon: We Don’t Swim Here
Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson
A summer on Martha’s Vineyard should be paradise, but when a local teen turns up dead, the town is in chaos. Was it an accident? A shark attack? Or something much worse? With everyone pointing fingers, an outsider is the only one asking the right questions. But uncovering the truth might make her the next target.
Grab this book on Amazon: Blood in the Water
Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams
A journalist’s picture-perfect life is crumbling, but when her ex-best friend vanishes from a lakeside cottage, she can’t ignore the mystery. The more she digs, the more she realizes the town—and its people—are hiding something sinister. But some secrets aren’t meant to be uncovered, and the price of the truth might just be her life.
Grab this book on Amazon: Whispers of the Lake
In Deadly Company by L.S. Stratton
A former assistant agrees to consult on a Hollywood film about her late, billionaire boss’s death—but the movie is rewriting her story, and the past won’t stay buried. Haunted by the truth, she starts asking the wrong questions. And when accidents on set turn deadly, she realizes someone wants to make sure she never tells her side of what really happened.
Grab this book on Amazon: In Deadly Company
From cutthroat elite schools to deep family secrets and eerie town legends, these thrillers by Black authors prove that suspense comes in many forms. Whether you want a crime-filled Southern epic or a psychological thriller that will leave you questioning everything, there’s a book here for you.
Have you read any of these? Which ones are you adding to your TBR? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe for more mystery and thriller recommendations!
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