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If you’re the kind of reader who loves a heart-pounding mystery and a swoony romance, romantic suspense books are basically catnip. These stories bring the best of both worlds: high-stakes danger, dark secrets, protective heroes, and heroines who don’t back down—even when everything’s on the line.
From FBI thrillers and serial killer manhunts to mafia romances and small-town secrets, romantic suspense books come in all flavors—but they always deliver adrenaline, intensity, and unforgettable chemistry.
In this list, I’ve rounded up some of the best romantic suspense books to get your heart racing. Whether you’re into slow-burn danger, morally gray love interests, or couples who fall in love while everything around them is falling apart, there’s something here for you. Expect danger. Expect steam. Expect to be obsessed.
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh thinks she’s scored the gig of a lifetime—finishing a bestselling author’s series while the author, Verity Crawford, recovers from an accident. But inside Verity’s office, Lowen finds a secret autobiography filled with chilling confessions… and starts to wonder if Verity is faking everything.
Verity is a twisted, obsessive psychological thriller that keeps you second-guessing until the very last page. The romance is toxic, the suspense is razor-sharp—and it’s one of the most unforgettable romantic suspense books you’ll ever read.
Tropes: Unreliable narrator, forbidden attraction, psychological thriller
Perfect for fans of: Gone Girl and morally messy romances
Secret Service by Tal Bauer
Secret Service agent Reese Theriot is trained to protect the President—not fall for him. But from the moment he meets Brennan Walker, their chemistry is undeniable. Falling for the most powerful man in the world could destroy both their careers—and maybe cost them their lives.
A heart-pounding MM political thriller, Secret Service is packed with forbidden romance, high-stakes action, and emotional depth. If you love romantic suspense books that mix danger and desire, don’t miss this one.
Tropes: Forbidden romance, protector/protectee, political intrigue
Perfect for fans of: Scandal and slow-burn MM romance
The Witness by Nora Roberts
After witnessing a double homicide, Elizabeth Finch disappears—reinventing herself as Abigail Lowery, a tech-savvy recluse hiding in the Ozarks. But when local sheriff Brooks Gleason comes nosing around, he unravels more than just small-town gossip—and puts both of them in the crosshairs of a deadly past.
The Witness delivers a slow-burning romance wrapped in secrets, danger, and emotional tension. One of Nora Roberts’ most gripping romantic suspense books.
Tropes: Witness protection, grumpy/sunshine, small-town mystery
Perfect for fans of: Quietly fierce heroines and grounded romantic thrillers
Don’t Look Now by Mary Burton
When a serial killer resurfaces in Austin, detective Jordan Poe fears it’s the same man who attacked her sister. But after an on-the-job injury, she’s forced to work with Texas Ranger Carter Spencer—and becomes the killer’s next target.
Dark and suspenseful, Don’t Look Now is a standalone romantic thriller that’s heavy on mystery and light on romance. It’s sharp, chilling, and full of red herrings.
Tropes: Forced partnership, personal stakes, serial killer mystery
Perfect for fans of: Karen Rose and gritty procedural thrillers
The Risk by S.T. Abby
FBI profiler Logan Bennett is hunting a ruthless serial killer. What he doesn’t know? He’s dating her. Lana Myers is out for revenge, one brutal murder at a time—and Logan is the only thing threatening her mission.
This unhinged, binge-worthy series kicks off with The Risk, a romantic suspense book that flips every expectation on its head. You’ll question your morals—and root for the villain.
Tropes: Serial killer heroine, forbidden love, morally gray romance
Perfect for fans of: Dexter and dark romance with bite
Tinderbox by Rachel Grant
Archaeologist Morgan Adler uncovers a dangerous secret in the Horn of Africa—one that lands her in the crosshairs of a violent warlord. Her only hope? Green Beret Pax Blanchard, who’s definitely not thrilled to be her bodyguard.
With scorching chemistry and relentless danger, Tinderbox is a globe-trotting, high-octane romantic suspense book that blends military thrills with steamy romance.
Tropes: Military protector, opposites attract, forced proximity
Perfect for fans of: Romantic adventures and alpha heroes who melt
Breaking Point by Pamela Clare
When journalist Natalie Benoit is kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, survival feels hopeless—until she meets fellow captive Zach McBride, a U.S. Marshal betrayed and left to rot. Together, they stage a daring escape, but their fight for freedom has only just begun.
Set against the scorching deserts of Northern Mexico, Breaking Point is a gritty, adrenaline-fueled romantic suspense that blends action, danger, and slow-burn chemistry to perfection.
Tropes: Forced proximity, military hero, enemies-on-the-run
Perfect for fans of: Pamela Clare’s I-Team series and survival thrillers
Unforgiven by Rebecca Zanetti
Gemma is hiding from a dangerous past with her daughter in tow. Jethro, a broody Brit with MI6 secrets, is hiding too. When their paths collide at a DC university, sparks fly—but secrets resurface, and someone from Jethro’s past wants revenge.
Fast-paced, twisty, and full of romantic tension, Unforgiven is one of Rebecca Zanetti’s best romantic suspense books. It’s got the heat, the action, and all the emotional payoff.
Tropes: Single mom, second chance, found family, protector romance
Perfect for fans of: Deep Ops series and high-stakes slow burns
In The Waning Light by Loreth Anne White
Two decades after witnessing her sister’s murder, true crime writer Meg Brogan returns to her gloomy hometown to finally uncover the truth. The town is full of secrets, and her ex Blake Sutton might be the only person she can trust.
Eerie, atmospheric, and emotionally gripping, In the Waning Light is a chilling romantic suspense that’ll have you reading with the lights on.
Tropes: Small-town mystery, past trauma, second chance romance
Perfect for fans of: Gothic thrillers and moody coastal settings
Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann
After 22 years in captivity, Oliver Lynch escapes—but the world he returns to is unfamiliar. The one bright spot? Sydney, his childhood best friend who never stopped hoping. As Oliver begins healing, a slow, tender romance blossoms.
Beautifully written and emotionally raw, Lotus is a powerful friends-to-lovers romantic suspense about trauma, resilience, and unconditional love.
Tropes: Childhood friends, trauma recovery, slow burn
Perfect for fans of: Still Beating and heartbreaking healing arcs
Madison Square Murders by C.S. Poe
A body buried in Madison Square Park pulls cold case detective Everett Larkin into a decades-old mystery. Teaming up with laid-back sketch artist Ira Doyle, the two uncover a killer who may still be at large—and grow dangerously close in the process.
With a gripping plot and charming opposites-attract romance, Madison Square Murders is a standout in MM romantic suspense.
Tropes: Cold case, opposites attract, workplace romance
Perfect for fans of: Criminal Minds meets MM romance
The Guarded One by Brittney Sahin
Single mom Sydney’s girls’ trip turns into a covert mission when a grumpy sheriff ropes her into a high-stakes operation. What starts as an unlikely partnership turns into a fiery romance as they navigate danger and desire.
The Guarded One delivers fast-paced thrills, lovable characters, and a sizzling romance—all wrapped in a pulse-pounding plot.
Tropes: Single mom, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine
Perfect for fans of: Small-town suspense and military protectors
Does It Hurt? by H.D. Carlton
Sawyer is on the run and living off one-night stands and false identities. Her latest conquest? Enzo—dangerous, magnetic, and the last man she should trust. Trapped together in a remote lighthouse with secrets surfacing, things get steamy—and deadly.
Does It Hurt? is dark romantic suspense at its most unhinged: sexy, twisted, and completely unputdownable.
Tropes: Forced proximity, antihero romance, enemies-to-lovers
Perfect for fans of: Haunting Adeline and unhinged book boyfriends
Cold As Ice by Toni Anderson
Framed for murder and haunted by her past, Darby turns to the one man she trusts—FBI agent Eban Winters. As danger closes in, their buried feelings ignite, and the serial killer who once stalked Darby may not be finished with her yet.
With sharp writing and edge-of-your-seat suspense, Cold As Ice is a gripping romantic suspense that’ll leave you breathless.
Tropes: Survivor heroine, protector hero, second chance-ish
Perfect for fans of: FBI thrillers with emotional depth
Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry
When small-town police chief Winslow Covington finds a dead body on Griffin Eden’s land, the hookup she wanted to forget becomes her reluctant ally. But someone in town is hiding something—and the killer may have her in their sights.
Murder mystery meets swoony romance in Indigo Ridge, a gripping romantic suspense that blends rugged charm with dark secrets.
Tropes: Small-town mystery, one-night stand, workplace tension
Perfect for fans of: Devney Perry’s Eden series and strong heroines
The Obsession by Nora Roberts
Naomi Bowes exposed her serial killer father as a child—and has spent her life running from his shadow. Now a successful photographer starting fresh in a quiet town, Naomi finds peace… and love. Until women start vanishing again.
Atmospheric, emotional, and thrilling, The Obsession is one of Nora Roberts’ best romantic suspense books—equal parts love story and chilling mystery.
Tropes: New identity, small-town suspense, protector love interest
Perfect for fans of: The Witness and character-driven thrillers
Savaged by Mia Sheridan
Wilderness expert Harper Ward is called in to help solve a murder investigation—and meets Lucas, a mysterious man who’s lived off-grid for years. Branded a “savage” by the town, Lucas holds secrets that could unravel everything Harper thought she knew.
Beautifully atmospheric and haunting, Savaged is a romantic suspense that blends mystery, healing, and slow-burn romance in the wilds of Colorado.
Tropes: Wild man, outsider heroine, small-town mystery
Perfect for fans of: Survivalist romance and emotionally rich plot
Never Stay Gone by Tal Bauer
Texas Ranger Dakota Jennings never wanted to return to Big Bend—or see Shane Carson again. But a mass grave changes everything. As old flames reignite and danger closes in, Dakota and Shane must work together to solve the case—and maybe get a second chance at love.
Never Stay Gone is a breathtaking MM romantic suspense filled with heartbreak, buried secrets, and redemption.
Tropes: Second chance, forced proximity, law enforcement
Perfect for fans of: Brokeback Mountain with a mystery twist
Flock by Kate Stewart
To claim her inheritance, Cecelia moves to Triple Falls and steps into a world of secrets, seduction, and lies. Drawn to Sean and the enigmatic Ravenhood, her summer turns into something unforgettable—and dangerous.
MFM romantic suspense meets cult-classic storytelling in Flock, the addictive start to a twisty, genre-bending trilogy.
Tropes: MFM romance, secret society, forbidden love
Perfect for fans of: Wild rides, emotional wreckage, and dark romance
The Last Move by Mary Burton
FBI profiler Kate Hayden is pulled into a murder case that echoes the work of a killer she already caught. Paired with detective Theo Mazur, Kate races to uncover the truth—before the next victim falls.
The Last Move is a pulse-pounding romantic suspense packed with smart twists, tense partnerships, and serial killer chills.
Tropes: Criminal profiler, reluctant partners, cold case connection
Perfect for fans of: Procedural thrillers with slow-burn romance
You Can Run by Rebecca Zanetti
FBI agent Laurel Snow is used to analyzing killers—not surviving them. When a brutal murder case brings her to snowy Washington, she teams up with gruff tracker Huck Rivers and faces not only the harsh wilderness—but the secrets surrounding her own family.
You Can Run is an icy, thrilling romantic suspense with high-stakes danger and a slow-building connection.
Tropes: Survival romance, FBI procedural, fish-out-of-water
Perfect for fans of: Criminal Minds and snowy small-town suspense
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
After a night out goes wrong, Cora wakes up chained in a basement—right next to Dean, her sister’s cocky fiancé. What starts as a shared nightmare turns into an unexpected connection as they fight to survive together. But escaping the basement is only the beginning. Some scars go deeper than they seem.
Still Beating is a dark, emotional romantic suspense that explores trauma, healing, and love in the most unexpected places.
Tropes: Forced proximity, trauma bonding, enemies-to-lovers
Perfect for fans of: Gritty, gut-punch romances that linger long after the final page
Out of Love by Jewel E. Ann
College student Livvy Knight is looking for freedom—and finds it in the broody, mysterious Slade Wylder. But Slade has secrets that could change everything, and Livvy is about to find herself deeper than she ever planned.
Out of Love is a steamy, suspenseful college romance full of mystery, heat, and haunting pasts.
Tropes: Opposites attract, protector romance, college setting
Perfect for fans of: Jewel E. Ann’s Jack & Jill series and emotional thrillers
Catch Me If You Can by Christina C Jones
FBI agent Marcus Calloway’s latest case? Catching the elusive jewel thief known as Black Swan. But when he crosses paths with the clever and seductive Naomi Prescott, their cat-and-mouse chase turns into something deeper—and far more dangerous.
Catch Me If You Can is a fun, flirty romantic suspense with charm, wit, and sizzling chemistry.
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, lawman & thief, reluctant allies
Perfect for fans of: Mr. & Mrs. Smith energy and Black love stories
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
After a whirlwind romance, a young woman marries the brooding Maxim de Winter and moves into his estate, Manderley. But the shadow of his late wife Rebecca still haunts the halls—and soon, the new Mrs. de Winter begins to unravel a chilling mystery.
Rebecca is the original gothic romantic suspense—eerie, elegant, and utterly timeless.
Tropes: Haunted house, dead wife mystery, insecure heroine
Perfect for fans of: Atmospheric thrillers and gothic slow burns
The Drowned Girls by Loreth Anne White
Detective Angie Pallorino sees a disturbing pattern in a new string of murders—each victim marked with a cross, just like the unsolved cases that still haunt her. To make matters worse, her new partner is the stranger she slept with the night before.
As the body count rises, Angie and Maddocks must put personal tension aside to stop a killer before he strikes again.
Dark, gritty, and emotionally charged, The Drowned Girls is a must-read romantic suspense with a fierce heroine and a twisty, high-stakes case.
Tropes: One-night stand, serial killer, forced partnership
Perfect for fans of: Gritty procedurals and flawed, fearless heroines
A Dark Lure by Loreth Anne White
After surviving a brutal attack by a notorious serial killer, Sara Baker vanished—only to reemerge years later as Olivia West, hiding out on a secluded ranch. But when a new string of murders echoes the past, Olivia is forced to face the nightmare she thought she left behind.
Gripping, emotional, and chillingly atmospheric, A Dark Lure is a standout romantic suspense full of dark secrets, psychological tension, and slow-burn redemption.
Tropes: Trauma recovery, hidden identity, second chance at life
Perfect for fans of: Deep psychological thrillers and survival-driven romance
Dirty Girls by Lily White
Years ago, a girl was murdered—and Soren Callahan took the fall. Now he’s out, and the killings have started again. For Olive Reid, senior at Winter Ridge Prep, Soren is a walking red flag. But when the school’s former kingpin sets his sights on her, Olive is pulled into a dangerous game she might not survive.
Dark, twisted, and full of secrets, Dirty Girls is a bully romance-meets-whodunit that will keep you guessing until the final page.
Tropes: Bully romance, murder mystery, high school elite
Perfect for fans of: Dark academia, morally gray love interests, and suspenseful teen thrillers