Books like ‘Take Your Breath Away’ by Linwood Barclay
Without wishing to uncover everything, in Barclay’s 2022 novel, Take Your Breath Away a man believes his wife is dead, only to discover she is alive and at the center of a dangerous plot. Barclay is a master of the ‘suburban man in over his head’ thriller, and the multi-point of view structure.
Here are some other novels in a similar vein that might be of interest:
The Match by Harlan Coben (2022) – a DNA search is the catalyst for a high-stakes thriller, exploring themes of identity and belonging, and pitting an outsider against a dangerous, hidden organization. Coben’s brand is synonymous with this genre and target audience.
The Last Flight by Julie Clark (2020) – this fast paced and plot driven thriller features two female protagonists caught in a web of danger, relying on their wits to survive. It encompasses themes of escape, secret identities, and being hunted by a powerful figure.
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2021) – the plot centers on a secret from the past coming back to haunt the protagonist. It explores themes of identity, theft, and the desperate measures people take to protect themselves.
I Will Follow by Diarmaid Condon (2023) – gritty, tense, and grounded amateur sleuth/everyday person thriller. There is violence, but it is impactful rather than gratuitous. The writing style is plot-driven and propulsive, with converging points of view building suspense effectively throughout the book. It is a classic ‘fish out of water’ or ‘amateur sleuth’ novel. And, as it so happens, you’re on his website.