Page-Turners to Screen Stunners: 2025’s Must-Watch Mystery & Thriller Adaptations!
- Connor Drew
- Dec 6, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 9
The world of mystery and thriller book adaptations is buzzing with action, and the streaming giants are leading the charge. Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, and Disney+ are going headfirst into the book-to-screen trend, turning beloved novels into binge-worthy shows and blockbuster films. And let’s not overlook the major film studios, who continue to serve up gripping adaptations of our favorite reads. With so many power players in the entertainment industry vying for literary gold, it feels like every other headline announces another book being optioned for the screen.
That’s why we can’t wait to share our annual round-up of book adaptations with you. This year’s list is packed with pulse-pounding mysteries and edge-of-your-seat thrillers making their way to movies and TV series in 2025 and beyond. From page-turners to screen scorchers, there’s something for every fan of the genre. Ready to update your to-watch (and to-read!) list?
Plot Snapshot After being burglarized, a travel journalist takes an assignment aboard a luxury cruise ship's maiden voyage. But what should have been a dreamy escape turns sinister when she witnesses what looks like a passenger being thrown overboard—only to find that every guest is accounted for. Was it a crime, or is her mind playing tricks on her?
Why We Love It While this book doesn’t pack the same chills as some of Ruth Ware’s darker stories, it still kept us teetering on the edge of suspense. Fans of twisty thrillers will enjoy the blend of an isolated setting, unreliable narrators, and a plot that keeps you second-guessing.
Screen Adaptation Alert Netflix is bringing this gripping tale to life, with Kiera Knightley leading the cast alongside Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham, Art Malik, Gitte Witt, and David Ajala. The release date hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s already shaping up to be a must-watch.
Plot Snapshot When we heard this YA mystery series being likened to The Westing Game, one of our all-time favorite middle-grade mysteries, we knew we had to check it out.
The story kicks off with Avery, a scrappy and resourceful orphan, finding out she’s inherited a billionaire’s fortune from Tobias Hawthorne—a man she’s never even met. Naturally, his family isn’t thrilled and will stop at nothing to uncover why she was chosen. But Avery doesn’t have time to dwell on their schemes; she’s too busy unraveling the riddles and puzzles Hawthorne left behind, with a team of allies she’re not sure she can fully trust. To claim the inheritance, Avery has to play the game—solving clues while figuring out who’s truly on her side.
What We Loved We absolutely tore through this book! It’s the kind of story that grabs you and doesn’t let go, and we’re already itching to dive into the rest of the trilogy. From the clever twists to the unforgettable characters, and that lingering “why” behind it all, it’s everything you want in a mystery series.
Adaptation Buzz Good news for fans! Amazon has picked up the rights to turn this book into a TV series in collaboration with Osprey Productions. With Grainne Godfree at the helm as writer and Jennifer Lynn Barnes as a producer, it’s shaping up to be something special. While the release date is still under wraps, we can’t wait to see this gripping story brought to life on screen.
Plot Snapshot
Jacob, a once-celebrated novelist, is stuck in the creative mud, unable to recapture the spark that made him famous. When his gifted but unpublished student, Evan, tragically passes away, Jacob makes a fateful decision: he takes Evan's extraordinary story as his own. The novel brings him the critical praise he craved, but the ghost of his deception refuses to stay buried. As anonymous threats start rolling in, Jacob finds himself unraveling the dark truths hidden within the very story he claimed as his masterpiece.
Why We Loved It
This thriller by Jean Hanff Korelitz is an absolute page-turner. Even though we pieced together the major twist early on, the journey through Jacob's moral quandary and the book's atmospheric tension kept us hooked. It's not just about the destination—it's the tension and sharp prose along the way that makes this one memorable.
Adaptation Buzz
Fans of high-stakes drama will be thrilled to hear that Hulu is adapting this novel into a series. With Mahershala Ali producing and starring, this promises to be just as gripping on screen as it is on the page.
Plot Snapshot Nella’s apothecary was once a place of healing for women, but after losing her mother and enduring unimaginable grief, it became something much darker—a secret haven where women could seek justice against men who had wronged them. Fast forward to the present, where Caroline is spending her 10th wedding anniversary alone in London, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s betrayal. While mudlarking along the Thames, she stumbles upon an old vial, and her curiosity spirals into an irresistible quest to uncover its mysterious past.
Why We Love It This dual-timeline tale beautifully explores the resilience and strength of women across the ages. It’s the kind of book you’ll devour in one sitting, only to feel a pang of sadness when you reach the final page. Unique, gripping, and deeply satisfying.
Adaptation Buzz While details are scarce, Fox has already snapped up the rights, so we may see this captivating story on screen before too long.
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