This Collider feature rounds up thriller novels the writer felt were destined to be masterpieces from their opening pages, arguing that the best thrillers hook readers immediately through shocking openings, unexpected twists, or premises that upend expectations from the outset. The list spans genres including crime, mystery, science fiction and conspiracy, highlighting how a strong start builds momentum that sustains reader engagement through to the end.

Among the titles discussed are Kōtarō Isaka's "Three Assassins" (the English translation of "Grasshopper"), which opens with a sudden death that redirects its revenge plot; Blake Crouch's "Dark Matter", which begins with a disorienting abduction before exploring parallel realities; and Liane Moriarty's "The Husband's Secret", which slowly builds tension around a letter with devastating consequences for three interconnected women. The full list totals eight books, each praised for how effectively its early chapters set up the tension and intrigue that follow.