What are the top romantic suspense novels?

Well, 'Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris has elements of romantic suspense in a very dark way. The relationship between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter has a strange allure. 'Rebecca' by Daphne du Maurier is a classic. The mystery surrounding the first wife, Rebecca, and the new bride's relationship with her husband Max is full of suspense and has a touch of romance. And 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt, with its group of students and a dark secret, has some romantic undertones within the suspenseful plot.

The settings in these top 100 romantic suspense novels also play a crucial role. They can be used to enhance the mood of both the romance and the suspense. A spooky old mansion in a novel might be the place where a couple falls in love while also being the site of a mystery or a series of unexplained events. Authors use the environment to build tension. For example, in many of these novels set in small towns, the close - knit community can both be a place for a romantic connection to develop and a place where secrets are hard to keep, leading to the suspense. Also, the pacing is often carefully crafted. There are moments of slow - building tension as the relationship develops, and then sudden bursts of action and revelation when it comes to the suspense elements.

'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins is also a great one. The narrator, who has a drinking problem and memory gaps, witnesses something mysterious from the train window. Her unreliable narration adds to the suspense, while there is also a romantic sub - plot intertwined with the mystery.

Some of the well - known ones are 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It's a thrilling tale of a marriage gone wrong with lots of twists. Another could be 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins, which keeps you on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds with elements of mystery and a touch of romance. And 'Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris also has a strange kind of romantic suspense as Clarice Starling has a complex relationship with Hannibal Lecter while trying to solve the mystery.

Some of the top selling ones are 'The Kiss Quotient' by Helen Hoang. It combines a heartwarming romance with elements of suspense as the characters navigate their relationship while dealing with personal and family issues that keep you on edge.

Most of them usually have a complex relationship at the core. For example, in 'Gone Girl', the relationship between the husband and wife is full of secrets and deceptions. This makes the romantic aspect very intense and also ties in with the suspense as you try to figure out the truth about their relationship.

One common theme is trust. In many top rated romantic suspense novels, the characters have to learn to trust each other in the midst of dangerous and uncertain situations. For example, in 'The Kiss Quotient', the two main characters have to trust each other's intentions as they explore their relationship while facing family pressures. Another theme is secrecy. There are often secrets that one or both of the characters are keeping, which adds to the suspense. In 'Gone Girl', the secrets between the husband and wife are at the heart of the mystery. Also, the theme of redemption can be found. A character might be trying to redeem themselves in the eyes of their love interest while also dealing with the suspenseful situation around them.

Sure. 'Dark Places' by Gillian Flynn is a good example. It combines a dark family history with a budding romantic relationship. As the protagonist delves into the mystery of her family's past, she also forms an unexpected bond with someone, and the story is filled with suspense as she uncovers the truth.

Sure. 'Verity' by Colleen Hoover is a great one. It has a unique plot with a writer hired to finish another writer's series and discovers some dark secrets, all while there's a romantic tension between the main characters. 'Long Black Veil' by Jennifer Finney Boylan. The story of friends and the mystery surrounding their past is filled with suspense and has a romantic angle. 'The Wife Between Us' by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is also a top pick. It has a complex web of relationships and lots of suspense, along with a romantic element.

Let me expand a bit more on some. 'Gone Girl' really plays with the idea of how well we know our partners. The twists and turns in the story keep you guessing. 'The Girl on the Train' uses the perspectives of different characters to build the suspense around a possible murder. 'Before I Go to Sleep' makes you feel the protagonist's confusion as she tries to piece together her life each day, and there's a love interest involved in her search for answers. These novels all blend romance and suspense in unique ways.