FOUR UNDERRATED THRILLERS BY INDIAN AUTHORS YOU SHOULD READ IN 2026

Most booklovers must be familiar with some popular thrillers like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, None of This is True by Lisa Jewel, and Never Lie by Frieda McFadden. In fact, these books fall under the category of the MUST READ thrillers for most bloggers. But what about Indian thrillers? How many people usually recommend Indian thrillers, specially the underrated ones. Not many, because unfortunately many Indian novels in this genre rarely get their time to shine because the international books end up getting all the hype and spotlight. That is why I'd like to recommend four brilliant spine chilling thrillers from four amazing, yet underrated authors you can add to your 2026 TBR list!

1. MY PSYCHO CHARACTER BY PRANAV SOOD (2025)

   This psychological thriller follows the story of Shivam Mehra, an up-and-coming, enthusiastic author who starts exploring crime thrillers after two of his romance novels were rejected by publishers.

   That's when he gives life to a character named Madhav, a man who wears the mask of a diligent police officer for the world but in reality is a ruthless and sadistic serial killer. Most of the chapters in Shivam's book focus on Madhav's murderous 'escapades,' but he did not notice when his writing suddenly blurred the lines between fiction and reality as strange occurrences, including a mysterious break-in, nightmares, accidents and cryptic messages trapping him in a web of murders! This brings up a question: We know authors kill characters all the time, but what if a character escapes the novel to kill the author?

   You can read the complete review here

   2. MUMBAI MAYHEM BY DEV AYAN (2024)

   A dead body drops outside Kamala Mills. Whose dead body? Who dropped it? And why was his face painted violet? Meet Detective Billy Tavde, Sees crime as an opportunity to use his grey cells Deeply roots for that special person And ACP Gaitonde, A rule-following cop in a muddle of police system Faces the biggest challenge at a personal level. Will they be able to find the killer before it’s too late In The City of Dreams? The City of Hopes? The City of Opportunity? Or the city of Mayhem?

   This story follows two detectives who set out to catch a serial killer, it also actively sheds light on the fear of societal judgement, police brutality, and shady journalism. If you have ever been a fan of shows like CID and Crime Patrol, then you are definitely in for a treat with this story!

   You can read the complete review here.

   
   

   3. THE FIFTH HOUR BY RAHUL JAIN (2025)

   What happens when the line between dream and reality blurs and unmasks the ulterior motives of those whom you trusted the most? This is what The Fifth Hour explores through its thrilling narrative riddled with nightmares, paranoia and a dangerous killer on the loose! Rati’s life turns upside down when her longtime boyfriend Ayaan mysteriously disappears during their staycation in Sikkim. She tries to locate him, but surprisingly no one claims to have seen him with her! Now the question stands: was Ayaan ever real, or was everything just a figment of her imagination? Rati refuses to give up and files a police complaint. The man in charge of the case, Inspector Vipin tries to get to the bottom of his case to reclaim his lost glory after being stationed in the remote town of Dzongu, but the journey is far from easy, as he has to grapple with his own inner demons along the way.

   You can read the complete book review here

   
   

   4. THEY WOULD DIE FOR YOU BY ANKESH K PRASAD (2025)

   Oliver, the town's beloved barista, is known for being the nicest guy around. But beneath his warm smile lies a darkness born from a mysterious and troubled past. His twisted sense of "protecting his loved ones" has turned into a deadly obsession. Elizabeth, his best friend since childhood, is finally ready to settle down and is actively searching for someone to date. However, her suitors are unaware that Oliver is watching their every move. His unwavering vigilance ensures that anyone who dares to hurt Elizabeth in any way faces inevitable, lethal consequences.

You can read the complete review here.

I don't know about you all, but it's time for me to get into my cozy blanket to read the next thriller from my TBR list! Will you do the same?