8 Most Exciting Upcoming Thriller TV Shows Based On Books

Thrillers are increasingly being made into TV series, and here are the ones we’re looking forward to most. The genre already boasts excellent shows like Andor, Reacher, and the popular new Netflix series, The Beast In Me. Adaptations of Harlan Coben’s novels are particularly popular right now, meaning thriller fans have plenty to choose from.

Several exciting thriller series based on bestselling books are on the way, and they have the potential to be even better than what’s currently available. These eight adaptations promise captivating characters and fast-paced stories that will be thrilling to watch.

8. A Flicker In The Dark

Stacy Willingham’s debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, became a New York Times bestseller and is being adapted into a movie or TV show. The story centers on Chloe Davis, whose life was shattered when her father was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of six teenage girls. Twenty years later, a new wave of disappearances mirroring the original crimes leads Chloe to wonder if a copycat is at work.

This story is a natural fit for a thrilling TV series. With its dark and realistic setting, plenty of potential suspects, and a protagonist constantly facing danger, it feels tailor-made for the screen. The writing style itself reads like a TV script or movie treatment, making it easily adaptable.

Finally, the writer working on A Flicker In The Dark, Morgan Gould, is a great reason to be enthusiastic. While she’s relatively new, her previous three projects – covering a range of genres – are all excellent.

7. The Last Time I Lied

Riley Sager’s popular 2018 novel, The Last Time I Lied, is being adapted into a TV series for Amazon, where it has been in the works since its release.

The story centers around Emma, who goes back to Camp Nightingale to teach painting and uncover the truth behind the disappearance of three teenage girls. She was a camper at the same camp when they vanished fifteen years prior. Although the project has faced many delays for six years, there’s still good reason to be optimistic about the potential TV series.

Recently, the novel The Last Time I Lied has become popular on BookTok, which could encourage Prime Video to finally start making it into a TV show. The story also fits the current trend of young adult thriller and mystery series. Plus, it shares a similar feel with shows like Pretty Little Liars.

6. The Accomplice

50 Cent, known for his music and acting, has also become a successful author with his popular crime thriller, The Accomplice, which he wrote with Aaron Philip Clark. Fans of suspenseful thrillers, especially those who enjoy a clever game of cat and mouse, will be excited to hear this book is being adapted for the screen.

Desmond Bell, a former Vietnam War veteran and now a skilled thief, stumbles upon a dangerous conspiracy and uses it to blackmail one of the richest families in America. But he’s being hunted by Nia Adams, a Texas-raised ranger originally from New York. As they both dig deeper, Desmond and Nia find themselves threatened by the powerful Duchamp family.

Given 50 Cent’s impressive track record, I’m confident The Accomplice will be a fantastic show. The storyline already feels like a movie, filled with action and shootouts. And with Taraji P. Henson starring and also executive producing, it’s sure to be a hit.

5. Highfire

While most of these books are classic thriller-mysteries, Highfire is delightfully strange and would make a fantastic TV show. It’s a neo-noir detective story about a dragon—who happens to love vodka and Flashdance—living in the Louisiana bayou. He teams up with a teenager, but their work for the local mafia often lands them in hot water.

Originally, Highfire was on Amazon, but it’s now streaming on Paramount+, which is a great move – the show’s quirky style seems much more at home there. It’s a really engaging story, blending humor, action, and genuine emotion. But what’s truly special is the talented team behind it all.

Nicolas Cage, known for his diverse acting roles, is lending his voice to the character of Highfire, a dragon also called Vern. He’s also taking on an executive producer role for the project, alongside Davey Holmes, who previously produced shows like Shameless and Get Shorty.

4. Sam Pope

Robert Enright’s popular Sam Pope series includes 15 novels, with a sixteenth on the way. It’s surprising it took so long, but Avatar Entertainment has finally decided to adapt the books into a TV show.

The series centers around Sam Pope, a former military sniper, who now investigates and fights organized crime after becoming frustrated with the legal system’s failures. The source material offers plenty of stories, meaning the show could run for many seasons—as long as it avoids being canceled after just one, which has happened to many shows on Netflix.

A TV series based on the Sam Pope books has strong potential. It would feel like a blend of the Jack Reacher and Bosch stories. Adding to that, Larry Robinson – a fan of the books – is on board as executive producer.

3. Here One Moment

Nicole Kidman and Bruna Papandrea are collaborating once more with author Liane Moriarty to adapt her 2024 thriller, Here One Moment, into a television series. This marks the fourth time the four of them have worked together on a project.

The story begins with passengers on an ordinary flight. But things become terrifying when a woman claiming to be psychic – known as “The Death Lady” – starts predicting how and when each person on board will die. A month later, the predictions shockingly start coming true, with passengers dying exactly as she foretold.

Nicole Kidman, Bruna Papandrea, and Liane Moriarty have a proven track record with hits like Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, and The Last Anniversary. Given their success, they’re well-equipped to bring the suspense and emotional depth of Here One Moment to the screen, just as the novel delivers.

2. All The Colors Of The Dark

Chris Whitaker’s 2024 novel, All The Colors Of The Dark, is a captivating blend of thriller, romance, mystery, and historical fiction. The story takes place in 1975 and centers on teenagers Patch and Grace, who are kidnapped and held captive in a dark basement by a serial killer. Over the course of 300 days, deprived of light and facing constant danger, they unexpectedly fall in love.

A TV adaptation of the book is just starting to come together, as it was only optioned this year. What’s especially promising is the creative team involved. Sarah Gubbins, who produced the film Shirley and co-executive produced the thriller Black Rabbit, will be the showrunner and writer.

Chris Whitaker is deeply connected to this book, drawing heavily from his own life experiences in its creation, as reported by The New York Times. He wouldn’t easily relinquish the rights, and his decision to both license the story and publicly endorse the team working on it indicates confidence that it will be adapted well.

1. The Guest List

Agatha Christie wrote some of the most popular mystery novels ever, and Lucy Foley’s The Guest List has a similar feel. However, it leans more into suspense and thriller elements than a classic whodunit. Fortunately, a new miniseries coming to Hulu will bring the story to life.

I recently read a fantastic mystery novel set on a small island off the Irish coast. It starts with what seems like a perfect wedding, but quickly turns dark when the groom is murdered! What I loved most was how the story unfolded – everyone at the wedding was trapped on the island with something to hide, and it reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie plot. Every guest had a reason to want him gone, and figuring out who did it kept me guessing until the very end.

Beyond its captivating story, The Guest List is a highly anticipated thriller adaptation thanks to Liz Tigelaar, who will be leading the show. She previously ran the critically acclaimed series Little Fires Everywhere and Tiny Beautiful Things, earning Emmy nominations for both. She’s clearly skilled at turning compelling stories into engaging television, making this adaptation one to watch.

2025-11-21 02:31