11 Must-Read Thriller Books Set in France
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If you’re a fan of thrillers and have a soft spot for France, you’re in for a treat. From the picturesque countryside to the bustling streets of Paris, these 11 must-read thriller books set in France will take you on a heart-pounding journey through suspense, mystery, and dark secrets.
Whether you’re drawn to the charm of a secluded château or the eerie allure of a small village with a past, these novels offer the perfect blend of intrigue and French atmosphere to keep you hooked from start to finish.
Thriller Books Set In France
Here’s a quick look! Covers and descriptions for each are below.
- The Matchmaker by Paul Vidich
- The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis
- The Safe Place by Anna Downes
- A Foreign Country by Charles Cumming
- The Blood of Lorraine by Barbara Corrado Pope
- The French Girl by Lexie Elliott
- The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani
- The Missing Sister by Elle Marr
- After the Crash by Michel Bussi
- The Vacation by T.M. Logan
- The Escape by Ruth Kelly
The Matchmaker by Paul Vidich: Set in post-World War II France, this thriller follows Anne Simpson as she tries to unravel the mysterious disappearance of her husband, a diplomat stationed in Paris. As Anne digs deeper, she discovers a world of espionage, betrayal, and the haunting memories of war.
The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis: Four friends reunite at a luxurious château in Provence, hoping to reconnect after years apart. However, their idyllic getaway takes a dark turn when a murder occurs, revealing long-buried secrets and forcing them to confront their pasts as they try to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.
The Safe Place by Anna Downes: When Emily Proudman is offered a dream job as a live-in caretaker at a secluded estate on the French coast, she jumps at the chance. But as she settles in, she begins to notice that something isn’t right, and the idyllic paradise turns into a sinister trap with dangerous secrets hidden in its walls.
A Foreign Country by Charles Cumming: Amelia Levene, the first female chief of MI6, goes missing just days before she is to take up her post. Ex-spy Thomas Kell is called back into service to find her, leading him to the south of France where he uncovers a deadly secret that could bring down the British government. (Book #1 in the Thomas Kell series)
The Blood of Lorraine by Barbara Corrado Pope: Magistrate Bernard Martin is called to investigate the murder of a Jewish soldier in the Lorraine region of France. As anti-Semitic tensions rise, Martin must navigate a minefield of prejudice and hatred to uncover the truth behind the crime.
The French Girl by Lexie Elliott: Six university friends spend a blissful week together in a French farmhouse, but when their neighbor disappears, their lives are forever changed. A decade later, her body is found, and the group is forced to confront the secrets they buried long ago as suspicion turns inward.
The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani: When Myriam, a French-Moroccan lawyer, decides to return to work, she hires Louise, a seemingly perfect nanny, to care for her two young children. But as Louise becomes more entrenched in their lives, Myriam begins to suspect that something is deeply wrong, leading to a shocking conclusion.
The Missing Sister by Elle Marr: Shayna Darby receives a call that her twin sister, Angela, has disappeared in Paris. Determined to find her, Shayna travels to France, only to discover that her sister’s life was shrouded in mystery, leading her into a dangerous investigation filled with dark secrets and shocking twists.
After the Crash by Michel Bussi: A plane crashes on the Franco-Swiss border, killing all aboard except for a three-month-old girl. Two families, one rich and one poor, claim the child as their own, leading to a complex investigation filled with twists and secrets that culminates in a shocking revelation.
The Vacation by T.M. Logan: Set in the stunning countryside of southern France, a group of friends reunites for a long-awaited vacation. However, the perfect getaway turns sinister as buried secrets, old grudges, and growing suspicions among the group lead to a shocking act of violence, turning their vacation into a nightmare.
The Escape by Ruth Kelly: When struggling influencer couple Adele and Jack are gifted a 17th-century French château by a mysterious benefactor, they see it as the perfect chance to start over and save their relationship. But when Adele suddenly stops posting videos and disappears, her sister Erin travels to France to uncover the unsettling truth behind the château, the local community, and the anonymous investor’s true motives.
Conclusion
I must admit, my own personal TBR list just increased! Some of these are new authors for me, like Ruth Kelly and Michel Bussi. And I can’t wait to dig into these books.
Whether you’re already a fan of French thrillers or just dipping your toes into the genre, these 11 books offer a thrilling escape to the captivating landscapes and hidden secrets of France. Each one will deliver suspense, twists, and characters that will keep you guessing. So, grab one of these gripping reads and let yourself be swept away to a world where danger lurks behind every corner, and the charm of France only adds to the mystery.
Happy reading!
