There’s still a long way to go, but the thriller genre’s seen some progress over the past few years. While queer characters were often delegated to be throwaway victims — if they were mentioned at all — more and more thrillers feature queer protagonists written by LGBTQ authors. These nine LGBTQ thrillers are the sort that are perfect for nights that you want to spend hours past bedtime glued to a book. They’re compelling, twisty, and (best of all) gloriously queer. To help you find the perfect book for your TBR list, I’ve separated these recommendations by young adult and adult fiction reads. Both sections feature thrillers set in the real world as well as some with fantastical or paranormal elements.
The Best LGBTQ YA Thrillers
The Best Queer Adult Thrillers
Looking for more thriller recommendations? Check out these truly chilling historical thrillers. But Matt never fit in with his family’s expectations of him, and he’s tired of keeping his true self hidden. Luckily, he becomes fast friends with Jason — a boy with dark family secrets of his own. When they begin to fall for each other, however, their love must transcend the inherent danger it puts them in.
