#romantic thrillers

[marydublinauthor]

✨ Meet the Authors ✨

Hi there! We’re co-author duo Mary Dublin and Anne Kendsley. We’re lucky enough to also call each other best friends! We’ve been friends/writing together for over 10 years now (where did the time go??). Our upcoming project is a unique romantic thriller, The Restoration Program — releasing July 1, 2023!

✍🏻What we like to write about:

We love to write about strong, complex, and memorable characters. We think it’s important to write flawed protagonists and villains with a clear set of values. You’ll find the following genres and tropes in our novels: enemies to lovers, height different romance, grumpy x sunshine, forbidden love, fairies + monsters + hunters, dystopian society, science fiction, urban fantasy, diverse representation, LGBTQA+, romantic thrillers, and more!

🌸🌲When we’re not writing

We love to travel together! One of our favorite trips were hiking the Rocky oMountains in Estes Park, Colorado, and to visit the prehistoric spring, Devil’s Den in Florida. Being in nature always brings a surplus of relaxation and inspiration for both of us!

📚📖 Favorite books?

Some of Mary’s favorites:

The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, UGLIES, ACOTAR, You by Caroline Kepner, the Hunger Games

Some of Anne’s favorites:

The Giver, The Hunger Games, Six of Crows, The House in the Cerulean Sea, Defy the Night

🍿🎥 Favorite Movies:

Some of Mary’s favorites:

The Dark Knight Trilogy, Phantom of the Opera, V for Vendetta, Bullet Train, Pride and Prejudice

Some of Anne’s favorites:

Midsommar, The Cabin in the Woods, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Zombieland, Knives Out

🌸We welcome questions! Please feel free to email or DM us. 🌸 @kendsleyauthor @bittykimmy13

[flyintobooks]

Top 20 Mystery Romance Books to Add to Your Must-Read List

Choosing the perfect book to dive into can be a challenge, especially when you’re seeking the ideal mix of romance and mystery. Whether you’re looking for a thrilling suspense plot, a heart-pounding romance, or both, finding the best mystery romance books can feel like a daunting task. To make this decision easier, I decided to gather feedback directly from readers themselves. Read on to find…

[thecatsreaderslibrary]

Happy To Share Our Award-Winning Author Elizabeth Upton's New Post of Rave Reviews For Her Novel "The Shaman and The Mafia". . .

Are you up for reading an exciting, and gripping mystery-suspense?My title “The Shaman and The Mafia” is garnishing high praise from readers, book reviewers, and even editorial reviewers like the readers at Reader Views. Happy to share more… “The Shaman and the Mafia” from the title alone is not a storyline I would usually pick, but I am glad I took the chance because it paid off. The events in…

[nat111love]

MY FAULT: LONDON (2025)

[ifredactedbureau]

Redacted: Ground Zero

IF inspired by Contro (2019), SCP Foundation, X-files

Demo: PROLOGUE

In the aftermath of World War II, a classified mission pulls you into the shadowy remnants of a conflict no one dares to acknowledge. Whispers of rogue Nazi scientists and reality-warping experiments have surfaced, threatening to plunge Europe—and perhaps the world—into chaos once more. As an MI5 field agent, you’re tasked with uncovering the truth buried beneath layers of secrecy, lies, and betrayal.

Every lead points toward Projekt Schwarzfeld and the catastrophic events of Threshold Zero, a forgotten chapter of the war that defies explanation. But some secrets were never meant to be unearthed. As you navigate a labyrinth of conspiracy, forbidden technology, and fractured reality, you’ll confront forces that question the limits of human understanding—and the cost of wielding power beyond comprehension.

Redacted: Ground Zero is a story of espionage, moral dilemmas, and the unraveling of truths hidden in the shadows of history. Will you rise to the challenge, or will the truth consume you?

• Master anomalies and adapt your skills. Harness strange, reality-defying abilities tied to anomalies—whether it’s manipulating probability, stepping through dimensions, or stabilizing reality itself. Unlock and refine these abilities as you uncover their true potential.. • Investigate a fractured world. Explore sites of catastrophic anomalies, from the eerie remnants of Threshold Zero in the Bavarian Alps to the clandestine Red Academy in Siberia. Encounter twisted phenomena, uncover hidden truths, and decide what to do with what you find. • Make critical, world-altering choices. Will you prioritize saving your team, containing anomalies, or acquiring forbidden knowledge for the Bureau? Each decision changes the relationships you build, the missions you undertake, and the fate of Baseline Reality. • Face enemies born of anomaly experimentation. Encounter Die Gebrochenen—the Fractured—twisted results of Nazi experiments with anomalies. Face other rogue forces, like defectors, rival nations, or anomaly-enhanced mercenaries seeking control of forbidden power. • Navigate a morally gray world. Decide where your loyalty lies—with the Bureau, with humanity, or with yourself. Will you uphold the fragile stability of reality or risk everything for greater power and knowledge? • Fall in love—or not. Form deep connections with up to four romantic options, from an idealistic scientist to a cynical spy. Your choices in love will offer new strengths—or dangerous distractions—in the face of looming threats.

Love Interests

Charlie Hayes (he/him or she/her) : The Bold Truth-Seeker “The truth isn’t pretty, it isn’t safe, and it sure as hell isn’t kind—but if I don’t drag it into the light, who will?” • A resourceful American journalist working undercover to investigate Nazi remnants and their experiments. • Bold, witty, and fiercely independent, Charlie thrives on uncovering the truth, often bending the rules to get the story. Their adventurous spirit hides a vulnerability stemming from personal losses during the war.

Theo Adler (he/him): The Haunted Genius “Knowledge doesn’t absolve you of guilt—it sharpens it, until every answer feels like a blade at your throat.” •A German defector and former scientist of Projekt Schwarzfeld. Now a reluctant informant for the Bureau. •Quiet, intelligent, and burdened by guilt, Theo is a man trying to atone for his past. His insights into anomalies are invaluable, but he struggles with his identity and the weight of his actions during the war

Eleanor “Ellie” Blackwood (she/her): The Steadfast Operative “You don’t look back in this line of work—not at the enemy, not at your mistakes, and definitely not at the people you couldn’t save.” • A British SOE operative and expert infiltrator now reassigned to the Bureau’s task force. • Calm, disciplined, and focused, Ellie is a consummate professional. Beneath her composed exterior lies a fierce loyalty to those she trusts and a fear of failure that drives her to overextend herself.

Damien Laurent (he/they): The Enigmatic Opportunist “Morality is a luxury for those who’ve never had to bargain with the devil—and I’ve shaken his hand more times than I care to count.” • A French art dealer with connections to the black market and underground resistance networks. • Charismatic, flirtatious, and morally ambiguous, Damien is a master of navigating high society and shady dealings. They keep their true intentions hidden behind charm and wit

[ratatatastic]

Vanha Kauppahalli date: en full, a 2 minute 50 second masterpiece...

Primetime Panthers | 11.6.24 (x)

[lokittystuckinatree]

Out of every single relationship in the Whoniverse, whatever the Doctor and the Master have going on just hits different. Like a rock. I’m sure everyone feels this way about their fave Doctor ship, but my experience is that once you go Thoschei, you cannot go back. Given the narrative symmetry, character foiling, interwoven parallels, tragically dramatic irony, frustratingly unspeakable ambiguous romance that defies traditional ship canonization in the true chaotic spirit of Doctor Who, and a unique backstory setup that allows the characters to have history that other individuals cannot match, while fate (and the format of the show) pushes them together over and over again indefinitely, without hope of lasting reconnection lest the setup break, the Doctor and Master’s codependent anti-soulmate life or death partnership arguably (narratively) cheapens every other pairing beyond comparison. Their tragedy never leaves you. (And keeps you up at night)

[nepacala]

[moviesmoodboards]

Crimson Peak (2015) dir. Guillermo del Toro

[skrawnymollusk]

✨ New Spicy Romance Thriller ✨

📖 Title: Afraid of the Dark

💉 In Berlin’s shadowy underworld, Silas Quinn—a man as charming as he is ruthless—works for the city’s most notorious drug lord. When he crosses paths with Dr. Wren Sutton, her quiet life unravels in an instant.

Once a celebrated CIA field agent, Wren left the high-stakes world of espionage behind after a disastrous mission left her scarred both physically and mentally. Turning to alcohol as a crutch, she buried her past in exchange for a quieter existence as a military surgeon.

But when Silas discovers her skills, he sees an opportunity too valuable to ignore. Forced to supply the cartel with her medical expertise, Wren is thrust into a dangerous spiral where refusal isn’t an option—not when the lives of her friends, colleagues, and the remnants of her career are on the line.

Caught between her haunted past and Silas’ dark demands, Wren must summon the strength to navigate the chaos.

Can she break free, or will the collision of her past and present trap her forever in his criminal empire?

🌌 This is for you if you love:

🔸 Gritty, complex characters with dark pasts

🔸 High-stakes tension and morally gray dynamics

🔸 A thrilling blend of danger, romance, and suspense

🔥 Step into the darkness—will Wren escape, or will the shadows claim her?

#AfraidOfTheDark #DarkRomance #RomanticThriller #MorallyGrayCharacters #RomanceWithEdge #IndieAuthor #ThrillerReads

[thecatsreaderslibrary]

The John Callahan Series - Sales Book Blitz and Giveaway For Author Elizabeth Upton. . .

Father Callahan is forced back into dangerous filth, corruption, and crime. Can he remain a celibate priest, or will he abandon the life of faith for more sensual pleasures? Will he stay a good man or return to the dark criminal life he once knew so well?”  At Home Among SinnersThe John Callahan Series Book 1by Elizabeth UptonGenre: Romantic Mystery Thriller  ​John Callahan is a good man with a…

[abyzoudev]

Heartbreaker: Episode 1 [Alpha] Teaser Trailer

Take back the girl who belonged to you... by ANY means necessary.

Heartbreaker is a dark yuri psychological-thriller visual novel made in a retro style.

In this story, you play as Tanta Aiko, a 20-year-old college student in the small town of Sanseto, Osaka, 1996. Having lived her whole life with an all-consuming depression that left her reality dark & grey, Tanta's world filled with light & colour for the first time when she met the love of her life, Yūki Sakura.

However, it seems other girls have their eyes on Tanta's beloved Kouhai too... ...and there is NOTHING she won't do to get them out of the picture.

Will you sabotage Kouhai and your rivals' budding relationships? Stalk your rivals and murder them? Befriend them to earn their trust? Something... more extreme? In Heartbreaker, it's up to you.

The game is currently on -25% sale until August 31st, only $1.50 for the uncensored alpha build! (The censored build is free.)

Download the game here: https://abyzoudev.itch.io/heartbreaker-vn

The game features pixel art gameplay, illustrated cutscenes, voice acting, an original soundtrack, and multiple endings (in this build, five).

[berry-loves-yandere]

"𝐼'𝓂 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓅 𝓎𝑜𝓊!" pt.2

Warnings: kidnapping, abuse, obsessive behaviours, possessive behaviours, unhealthy mindset, manipulation, The Grabber

(Y/N) had been saving multiple boys from the basement but was unable to help them escape because the Grabber had upped security in the house to make sure that none of the boys ever escaped.

(Y/N) managed to sneak the boys some food (mainly her own meals) and in return they told her about the world outside of the house they were all trapped in.

When she saved the most recent victim, Robin, however, the Grabber gave her a strict warning after beating her.

"If you take the next boy out of this basement, I'll fucking kill you! Do you hear me?!" Was his threat and it lingered in (Y/N)'s mind.

(Y/N) was terrified of this, even though she was almost always on the brink of death due to lack of food and the heavy amount of beatings.

But to be able to protect the other boys, she knew she couldn't hide away the next one, it would be the end of her life and in turn, the end of the rest of the boys’ lives.

But she had an idea about how to help the boy.

She found some old walkie talkies and hid one in the basement and kept the other in the secret room with the other boys so they could give the next boy advice.

Once the next boy was in the basement, the Grabber's brother came to visit, so (Y/N) was locked in her room, since she too, was a kidnapped child.

(Y/N) was becoming very weak and it took a lot of effort to move.

So while she was locked in her room, the Grabber would barely come to see her and deliver food.

He only did that early in the morning then never came back until the next morning, so that gave (Y/N) time to talk to the boys.

They were her first friends and the only connection she had to the outside world.

She had no idea what life outside of the Grabber’s house was like, so everything they told her made her so curious to what the outside world was like.

Bruce and Robin were her favourite friends since they were always nice to her and told her about everything in detail.

Bruce found it a bit funny even that she liked fairytales so much and would often tell her that she was like Rapunzel, beautiful not knowing what the outside world was like.

This made (Y/N) smile since she didn’t feel beautiful, especially with all of her bruises and scars but Rapunzel was supposed to be a beautiful princess despite being held captive.

But then (Y/N) noticed something after a few days, the Grabber came into her room more frequently with more meals, which made her think that the person downstairs left already.

But because (Y/N) was giving the boys almost all of her food, she became weaker and weaker until she could barely give the boys food anymore.

By using the walkie talkie, the boys were able to communicate with the new victim, Finney.

They gave him advice on how to escape and Finney managed to get out the door and start running but he then was captured again.

Luckily, by using the advice from the rest of the boys, after Finney was recaptured, he managed to kill the Grabber and leave the house.

The police entered the house after Finney came out and began getting checked on by professionals.

The boys had heard the snap of the Grabber's neck through the walkie talkie, so they exited the secret room, knowing it was safe to do so.

But (Y/N) wasn't able to move due to injuries and extreme hunger.

Vance carried her out as they all quickly left the house and encountered the police, who recognized them as the missing boys.

They didn't know who (Y/N) was but she was loaded into an ambulance and driven to the hospital.

She was kept there for quite some time to recover since she had severe injuries and was extremely malnourished.

The boys who she saved often came to visit and Robin brought Finney along to meet her once.

The boys, that were kidnapped before Finney, thought of (Y/N) as their saviour and soon Finney thought of her that way too because if she hadn't intervened, then all of them would be dead.

She was making a slow recovery as the police tried to locate her parents.

But they were struggling to find her parents since (Y/N) had no recollection of her last name or her parents, she didn’t even know if (Y/N) was her actual name since it was the name the Grabber called her.

Since she managed to recover before the police found her parents, Griffin’s mother, Ms.Stagg, volunteered to take care of (Y/N) in the meantime since she noticed how attached Griffin was to (Y/N).

Griffin and (Y/N) developed a strong, sibling-like bond and (Y/N) was very protective of the small boy.

But with (Y/N) living with Griffin, he did his best to make sure that (Y/N) wouldn’t hang out with the other boys she saved, and that he could brag about all the fun things he did with (Y/N).

Like building a pillow fort together, how she would read him stories, giving him piggy back rides and how when he said he had a nightmare, she would let him cuddle with her until he fell asleep.

The other boys were very pissed off by this, they wanted to be around (Y/N) so badly, they wanted to joke and laugh with her, talk to her about their stresses, make her happy but Griffin was amazing at restricting their interactions.

(Y/N) was honestly just happy to be out of the Grabber’s house and having the feeling of a family.

The other boys thought that maybe when the police found (Y/N)’s parents, they could have more interactions with her since she’d be around Griffin a lot less.

But those hopes were shattered because it turned out that when the police were looking through the Grabber’s house, they found two bodies, two adult bodies.

They managed to recently connect the dots and figure out that these were (Y/N)’s parents.

As it turns out, the Grabber had become so attached to (Y/N) that he wanted to make sure that she never had anything to go back to, therefore he killed her parents, so he could be her only parental figure, so she really would think that he was her dad.

(Y/N) would’ve been more upset had she known her parents but it was still distressing news.

Ms.Stagg took initiative to adopt (Y/N) since she was growing to love the girl like the daughter she never had.

Griffin made sure to brag about how (Y/N) was now officially his sister and basically did his best to piss off the others with how much he was bragging.

They decided to secretly find ways to meet up and hang out with (Y/N).

They set up little ‘shifts’ where one boy would distract Griffin and the others could hang out with (Y/N).

Bruce and Finney taught her how to play baseball, or at least brought her to their games.

Vance made her watch him play pinball at the Grab ‘n’ Go as he beat his records, then would buy some kind of candy for her with the pocket change he had.

Robin would take (Y/N) to the drive in movie theatre to watch horror movies, especially if she was terrified by them, because it would give Robin an excuse to cuddle (Y/N).

Billy would take her on early morning bike rides with him as he did his paper route.

But Griffin soon found out about what the boys were doing and was furious.

He didn’t want to share his older sister!

She saved him first!

She talked to him first!

No one else should be around her besides his mom and himself!

After he found out, he would throw a tantrum every time that one of the boys tried to get him away from (Y/N) then smirk at the boy as he walked away with her.

Griffin attachment to (Y/N) was like a toddler with their favourite toy, never ever wanting to it go.

This made the others frustrated but luckily for them, Finney is a genius.

He decided to approach (Y/N) and start talking to her while Griffin was around.

Griffin whined and complained but his efforts to get (Y/N) away from Finney failed.

She would instead scold Griffin, and tell him that she was talking to someone and that they would hangout later.

Once the rest of the boys witnessed this, they began using the same strategy angering Griffin to an extreme.

Griffin then began ignoring (Y/N), pretending she didn’t exist, in an attempt to get her attention back on him.

But the boys kept (Y/N) so distracted that she didn’t even notice, which made Griffin extremely upset.

The boys just loved her big and beautiful smile, something they barely saw while she was trapped in the Grabber’s house.

Eventually, Griffin's attempt of getting (Y/N)’s attention began working, causing the others to spend less time with her as she was trying to rebuild her relationship with her younger brother.

Vance eventually got the idea that instead of sneaking around behind Griffin's back or hanging out with (Y/N) in front of him, why not become allies with Griffin?

If Griffin liked him enough, then Vance would be allowed to hang out or even ask out (Y/N).

Vance never, ever told the others about this because if it worked, then he could have (Y/N) all to himself even though he did technically need to share with Griffin.

It was all a big competition for (Y/N)’s affections but who would win this contest?

The end?

[friend-or-fo]

good GOD taron

[vintageplume]

Hedy Lamarr with co-stars Sigurd Gurie and Charles Boyer in 1938 for the romance thriller 'Algiers'

[v1tfrma]

I literally never ever post men, but I love Grey Worm too much to not post him ❤️