100+ Thriller Story Ideas for your next Bestseller in 2025

The Haunting Melody

Leah, a talented pianist, begins experiencing vivid dreams that mirror the death of a composer long forgotten. As she investigates the connection to the music, she enlists Theo, a skeptical journalist investigating stage phenomena, leading them into a thrilling labyrinth of history and ancient crime.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

Smoke and Mirrors

Lucy, a skilled illusionist, realizes one of her tricks might have witnessed a murder in a magic show gone wrong. With her career at stake, she teams up with Ryan, a disgraced magician reviving his career. Together, they grapple with quickened pulses as they unveil the truth about what happened behind the curtain.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Phantom Assassin

Anderson, an ignored cybersecurity analyst for a high-stakes defense firm, discovers a hacker who corrupts data systems leading to lethal consequences. With the help of Nia, a skilled bounty hunter with a hidden agenda, they must work to root out a killer who uses technology as a deadly weapon.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

The Painter’s Grief

Mira, an emotionally scarred painter who works in isolation, processes trauma through her artwork, which starts to predict future crimes. With the cryptic help of Daniel, a compassionate therapist, they connect through artistic interpretations while racing against time to understand her paintings before tragedy strikes.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Last Witness

Jamison, an agoraphobic recluse, accidentally stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong from his window. When he becomes a target for threats and coercion, he allies with Sara, a fierce neighborhood journalist, who brings out his bravery as they work together to expose the criminal underbelly lurking in the shadows.

Hot Meter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Threads of Connection

Brooke, an up-and-coming fashion designer, finds herself caught in a web of conspiracy as her designs are found on a list tied to an unsolved murder. Liam, the charming fashion critic, is brought aboard to help investigate while they navigate the fashion industry’s dark undercurrents.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

The Burden of Secrets

Cora, a child psychologist with a vivid imagination, uncovers a series of disappearances connected to her former patients. When a family comes to her for help, she joins hands with Bryan, an investigative reporter unwillingly drawn into her world, revealing buried secrets that could destroy lives.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Mysterious Heirloom

Jess, a curator at a historical museum, discovers that an ancient heirloom holds clues to a legendary treasure. Teaming with Oscar, a handsome archaeologist with his own motives, they engage in a thrilling race against treasure hunters, unveiling historical secrets entwined with their quest.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

No Good Deed

Amber, a selfless volunteer at a local shelter, unwittingly becomes involved in a mysterious homicide that threatens her life. As she works on uncovering the truth, she collaborates with Jake, a rugged but reluctant detective forced to confront personal demons as they navigate the perilous investigation.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

The Witches of Gravenmoor

Catherine, a skeptical journalist, returns to a town rumored to harbor witches during a local festival. Pushed out of her comfort zone by Tom, an eccentric folklore enthusiast, they uncover a sinister plot intertwined with the town’s secrets, leading to unexpected alliances and darker truths.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

The Empty Room

Margo, a true-crime author nearing a deadline, investigates a seemingly abandoned motel tied to a series of unsolved murders. Her path intertwines with Aiden, a local handyman burdened with his own guilt, and together they explore the depths of darkness while uncovering connections to the past.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Glass Town

Nina, an artist specializing in stained glass, discovers that her latest commission is haunted by a decades-old tragedy. Dexter, a skeptical historian with deep ties to the village, partners with her as they unlock the dark history surrounding the glass, leading to haunting revelations.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

The Unmarked Graves

Jo, a detective with a penchant for cold cases, finds herself embroiled in a mystery when she stumbles across a hidden burial site while on a routine walking trail. Partnering with Kendrick, a local historian, they delve into the dark secrets of the town’s forgotten past while uncovering threats that point directly to the present.

Hot Meter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

The Intercepted Message

Clara, a cryptographer working for the government, intercepts a message with vague threats against an international diplomat. Unbeknownst to her, she has entered into a conspiracy that spans multiple nations. With the help of Nikolai, an enigmatic spy working undercover, they race against time to prevent an unimaginable catastrophe.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Art of Deceit

Freddie, an aspiring young artist, discovers his paintings have been burned in a gallery fire, along with a secret stash of evidence linking the fire to a nefarious art industry. He gets involved with Beatrix, a fierce gallery owner, and together they navigate the dark underbelly of the art world filled with deception and betrayal.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

The Puppet Master

Maia, a puppeteer facing career stagnation, wakes up to find herself at the center of a murder investigation, with puppet strings leading to multiple suspects—all of whom have a personal vendetta. With the help of Evan, a skeptical detective who finds connections in her puppet shows, they uncover dark secrets lurking among the shadows.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

In Shadows We Trust

Tia, a private investigator with a reputation for disappearing cases, takes on a new job involving an annual masquerade—only to find herself tangled up in a murder mystery, rife with illusions. Joining forces with the bold Oliver, a former cop, they uncover the haunting truths hidden behind every mask.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Secret Keeper

Selena, a librarian obsessed with stories and memories, uncovers a diary containing chilling confessions tied to her small town. As she tries to piece together the truth, she finds herself under the influence of Gabriel, a journalist whose determination to unearth scandal leads them into perilous situations.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

Out of Reach

Billie, a skilled climber who dreams of scaling the world’s tallest peaks, stumbles across a hidden message on a mountain expedition abandoned years ago. She partners with Kyle, a seasoned mountaineer hiding his troubled past, and together they decipher coded messages while confronting dangerous forces that want the truth to remain buried.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍

The Kindness Effect

Jesse, a social activist fighting for the justice of the underserved, is targeted after the unveiling of a deep-rooted corruption plot within the local government. With help from Vikram, an undercover journalist with scandalous secrets to hide, they fight against powerful forces hellbent on silencing them.

Hot Meter: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍