Book recs: Witty Thrillers

[Anonymous]

Hi All. I'm looking for book recs. I love the wry tone, well-written, off-beat novels of Kevin Wilson, Frederick Backman, Maria Semple, Miranda July (I know these are authors that don't always get named together). But I am also in the mood for a fast-paced, thriller-type novel. Any recommendations for thrill-esque work that also has a quirky, offbeat, dark humor to it?

Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh.

[Anonymous]

You might like the Slough House novels, by Mick Herron.

[Anonymous]

I judt finished The Award by Matthew Pearl and it sounds like what you want.

[Anonymous]

Carl Hiasson. Some of the funniest books ever.

You can read the openings of many of his books on his site; 5-10 pages will give you a sense of whether it appeals to you.

E.g., https://carlhiaasen.com/books/skinny-dip/

[Anonymous]

I haven't loved Harlan Coben books, but I really enjoyed HOME and the character Win, who is witty and wry.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson and the others in the same series. Implausible, but pretty fast-paced and very amusing.

[Anonymous]

The Maid!

[Anonymous]

Gone Girl is dryly funny

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for all of these suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Best Offer Wins, by Marisa Kashino.

Local author (used to write for Washingtonian), first novel. Fun DC-area details.

On the surface it's about a couple dealing with the insanely competitive Bethesda real estate market. But the pace and tone are set by the main character, and she's A LOT. (Think Bernadette but maybe funnier and edgier?)

I'm only about halfway through, but so far, this part of the NY Times Book Review nails it:

"By Page 64, a striving publicist named Margo Miyake has trespassed onto the property of her unlisted-but-soon-to-be-for-sale dream house; stalked one of its owners, Jack Lombardi, at a hot yoga class; and presented herself as a kindly role model for Jack’s adoptive daughter, Penny, who is Chinese American — all in a feral attempt to score the fully renovated 1940s colonial before it hits the market.

More than ill-behaved, Margo is unhinged and unapologetic — picture Amy Dunne of “Gone Girl” as a client on “House Hunters.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Maid!

I didn't find this witty or thrilling. It's a grown up version of Amelia Bedelia with a murder.

[Anonymous]

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

[Anonymous]

Grady Hendrix's books are great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best Offer Wins, by Marisa Kashino.

Local author (used to write for Washingtonian), first novel. Fun DC-area details.

On the surface it's about a couple dealing with the insanely competitive Bethesda real estate market. But the pace and tone are set by the main character, and she's A LOT. (Think Bernadette but maybe funnier and edgier?)

I'm only about halfway through, but so far, this part of the NY Times Book Review nails it:

"By Page 64, a striving publicist named Margo Miyake has trespassed onto the property of her unlisted-but-soon-to-be-for-sale dream house; stalked one of its owners, Jack Lombardi, at a hot yoga class; and presented herself as a kindly role model for Jack’s adoptive daughter, Penny, who is Chinese American — all in a feral attempt to score the fully renovated 1940s colonial before it hits the market.

More than ill-behaved, Margo is unhinged and unapologetic — picture Amy Dunne of “Gone Girl” as a client on “House Hunters.”

Yes I loved this! Read alikes I loved are Julie is Dead, All the Other Mothers Hate Me, and Yellow Face.