Thriller novels are one of the most popular genres of fiction, and for good reason. They keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager to find out what happens next and how the protagonists will overcome the dangers and obstacles they face. Thriller novels often involve crimes, mysteries, suspense, twists, and surprises that keep the readers guessing until the end.

But how do you write a gripping thriller novel that captivates your audience and keeps them hooked? In this blog post, we will analyze a sample piece of a thriller novel and see what makes it effective and engaging. We will use the piece as a starting point to create a story outline and discuss some tips and techniques for writing a successful thriller novel.

The sample piece we will use is this:

She lost him in a single moment... she let her five-year-old son out of her sight for the briefest moment and he seemingly vanished into thin air.

Traumatized by the disappearance of her son, Rachel Reynolds will do anything to find him. The boy's sudden, mysterious disappearance from a crowded playground makes front page news and Special Agent Max Lawson takes the case, certain that this is no ordinary abduction; the kidnapper’s pathological need for control and punishment for perceived wrongs is too great. On the trail of vicious kidnappers, Lawson learns the chilling truth of Rachel’s past . . .

She also might have murdered her ex-husband.

Or at least, that’s what the police and her own family want everyone to think: that she is a violent, unpredictable monster. She’s never stood up for herself, but she’s determined to do it now—even if proving her innocence means taking on anyone attacking her children. When her life is threatened—not by the ones who stole her son, but by her own family—Rachel begins questioning everything she thought she knew about those in her life. About herself. About her family.

When Agent Lawson uncovers a horrifying secret at the center of a nasty family war, he knows that the family is hiding something that just might get him killed. Lawson finds himself in a personal crisis at work and at home-as he becomes emotionally involved with the missing boy’s mother, but the case becomes all-consuming as they learn the mastermind behind Kyle’s abduction is plotting one, last, horrific crime- against all who stand in the way.

as they are drawn deeper into a maze of lies, secrets, and deadly choices, overwhelmed by tragedy and betrayal, Rachel uncovers a shocking truth: that the acts of violence that shattered her life were a long time in the making and the trail of lies, blame and guilt which follow —are a long way from over.

This piece is an example of a synopsis or a blurb for a thriller novel. It summarizes the main plot points and introduces the main characters and their conflicts. It also sets up the tone, mood, and genre of the story. Let's see how it does that.

First of all, it starts with a hook: "She lost him in a single moment..." This sentence immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them curious about what happened. Who is she? Who did she lose? How did she lose him? Why did it happen? The hook also establishes the main premise of the story: a mother's desperate search for her missing son.

Next, it introduces the main characters: Rachel Reynolds, the mother; Kyle Reynolds, the son; Max Lawson, the agent; Kyle\s father and stepmother, the family and the kidnappers. It also gives some background information about them: Rachel's past as a possible murderer; Kyle's disappearance from a playground; Lawson's expertise in abduction cases; the families bitterness, the father and his jealous wife and the kidnapper's motives and methods. These details help to flesh out the characters and make them more realistic and relatable.

Then, it raises the stakes: Rachel's life is threatened by her own family; Lawson's life is endangered by a family secret; Kyle's life is in danger from a ruthless kidnapper. The stakes are what make the readers care about what happens to the characters and what drives them to take action. The higher the stakes, the more tension and suspense there is in the story.

Finally, it promises twists and surprises: Rachel discovers a shocking truth about her past; Lawson uncovers a horrifying secret about the family; Kyle's abduction is part of a bigger plot. The twists and surprises are what keep the readers guessing and interested in how the story will unfold. They also add complexity and depth to the story.

Now that we have analyzed the sample piece, let's use it as a basis to create an outline for our story. An outline is a tool that helps us organize our ideas and plan our story structure. It can be as detailed or as simple as we want it to be.

Join me next time in showing how to outline your novel!

I began my publishing journey in 2015 when The Hand of Destiny and Curse of The Hellhounds first found their way into print with covers I had created in photoshop. The world of independent publishing back then would be barely recognizable to those entering it now.

Over the last seven years, I’ve evolved from a self-published author into an independent publisher of several and by no means “bestselling” series, but I do have a favorable number of sales. I’ve rose at 5:30am every morning to write a twelve-hour day. I’ve published six books- 3 each in two series and have more on the way-with quite a few in different genres. And I will have four audiobooks in The Craelis Chronicles and The Claire Thomas Paranormal Murder Mysteries for Audible listeners to enjoy, releasing very soon!

I am contemplating YouTube videos and podcasts, too.

I’m one of many independent authors making a good living publishing their own work, and I count myself blessed to be successful at my chosen career.

This all means so much to me, this wonderful path that I chose to follow seven years before, has allowed me to reach you, my dearest readers, without whom none of this would even be possible, and to reach you directly, giving me the opportunity to communicate with you. Readers have been able to ask me questions about my novels— What inspired it? what other works or authors does it compare to? Will they like my novels if they like the other one? What other mystery/crime thriller authors do I read?

And by this, I know that what I write is what you, my readers are looking for to enjoy and share.

You’re opinions matter to me. And I’m immensely grateful that so many of you regularly write to me to share your thoughts on my work and ideas. Happily, I’ve been able to answer all of their questions, as I would love to answer yours.

So, as I look back on the accomplishments of the last seven years, I say this with the utmost heartfelt gratitude to you, my faithful readers-thank you for joining me on this wonderful writing journey. I look forward to many more adventures over the next twenty odd years, and I very much hope you’ll be right there along with me.

Raised in the interior of bush Alaska, I grew up in a household of avid readers of every genre imaginable, the daughter of a mother who always had a book in her hands. My family taught me to read and appreciate the written word and stories from an early age, and this love developed into a pursuit of all things creative — writing, painting, and singing. My love of the Paranormal, Fantasy, Crime Thriller and Mystery genres began at an early age, when every afternoon after finishing chores, I read everything I could get my hands on. Tolkien, Jordan, Asimov, Bradbury, and others like Zane Grey, Louis Lamour, and every Star Trek book ever written. It was my father who bought me a computer as an adult and encouraged me to pursue my dream.

I’ve always been excited by myths and legends, and I grew up looking for the little people and fairies in the forest, and grass, certain that they were watching me from their sacred hiding places. I spent many afternoons walking though the Alaskan woods in the solitude of my own imagination, acting out the books I had read. My dog, always my sidekick on our adventures, as we acted out our favorite scenes.

My love for writing came into its own about the same time I did – as I sought freedom from the fists and brutal narcissistic gaslighting and bullying that I endured for two short years that felt like a lifetime. The years of domestic violence in an earlier marriage had been rough in too many ways. My soul felt as if it were breathing underwater, and I was barely able to escape. I do not view myself as a victim, nor have I ever done so. I am a survivor, and this deeply held belief became paramount to my survival as an individual. My own emotional growth through life has given me much creativity and I quickly regained the vivid imagination from childhood.

I wrote countless manuscripts and stories, inspired by my own experiences and my vivid imagination. I read everything, including the entire set of the Encyclopedia Britannica cover to cover, and I was inspired. I read different exciting genres, I avidly studied and learned philosophy, to embrace the broader belief of spirituality as a whole, and seek a greater understanding of myself and others. From all this, do the vision and stories I write develop and grow.

While seeking this path that ultimately led me toward creating these series and novels, I worked for the city of Anchorage as a driver/supervisor for CSP. I worked with South Tongass Fire Department as a firefighter and EMS first responder, Sold jewelry to tourists in Ketchikan; I worked at as a night auditor clerk at several hotels on the Island. Was a night clerk at Allsups in Texas, and spent a decade as a bronc rider and discovered a deep love of horses and excelled at rebreaking and retraining wayward horses, pulling calves and branding in Montana, Idaho, and Arizona.

Traveled the US rodeoing, before embarking upon my dream of writing full time. Along the way, I got married to the love of my life, raised four cats, three dogs, a daughter and two sons, two step daughters, became a grandmother to two granddaughters and 7 grandsons, and moved my family from the oilfields of Seminole Texas to the lovely quiet of the New Mexico high desert countryside ranch, just beyond Tucumcari and it’s famous Route 66. And here, over the past several years, my writing has slowly evolved, becoming better than before. It’s here in New Mexico that my manuscripts has finally transformed into the books it is now that most closely matches my visions for them.

Ultimately what I have attempted to do in these books is to introduce you to characters in whose future you become truly emotionally invested, characters you want to spent time with — characters who inspire you, motivate you, and at times might even shock you, but whose acquaintance leaves you touched in some way. It is my greatest hope that my characters become as real to you as they are to me. In order to give my characters a rich background that I believe every character needs, into the storylines, I have woven an intricate tapestry of mystery, adventure, thrilling suspense, and humor that I hope will keep even the most detail-oriented reader intrigued. I’ve put some of the wisdom I’ve had the benefit of gaining from others into the story as well, hoping that you may make room for it in your own lives at some point. But I believe, most importantly, I’ve tried to entertain you. I hope that I have succeeded.

How do you discover the eBooks you read?

Browsing! I love reading, especially new authors. I have found several through authors who have followed my Facebook Fan Page. Incredible writers! I have become friends with many. We are very supportive of each other.

Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?

Yes! It was a western romance back in the mid eighties. I was really big into the western thing... I still am. I am an old style cowgirl.

What is your writing process?

Ideas come to me in the shower, the car, at the restaurant. I am a napkin scribbler. Outline, outline, outline. I then Facebook message/ chat with my daughter or one of my sisters and read each chapter to them. They give me incredible feedback. I also upload a pdf of my manuscript to an audio reader and listen. It's amazing what you can find wrong when listening! I work 15 hours a day in my home office, 4am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. I do take holidays off. After publishing, I take a week or two off, then schedule for tours and appearance requests or such before starting another book.

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?

Star trek novels. My elder sister, Sallie, collected the entire series. Trouble with Tribbles. I fell in love with the Harlequin romances. My mother was a big reader and we all became the family buried up to our noses in books.

How do you approach cover design?

By pulling out my hair! I do my own artwork. Sometimes the covers are horrid to me. I have been known to change them after a time. I will be hiring a professional next round.\

What are your five favorite books, and why? Star trek Trouble with Tribbles, Nora Roberts Montana Sky, Blue Smoke, Louie Lamour's Connager, Gone With The Wind, Vera Cowie's Fortune. I reread them many times over, what can I say?

What do you read for pleasure?

Mystery, murder and mayhem. Crime thrillers. Anything to do with the South West. I adore Paranormal. I am addicted to crime thrillers, that's my thing. I also love a good romance!

What is your e-reading device of choice?

My iPhone. Sometimes my laptop.

Describe your desk:

Huge desk, two computers, laptop, cell, files, coffee cup. A big widow for distraction with a beautiful view of the New Mexico desert. A pretty vase of colorful sweet lavender flowers....so many plants everywhere! I have an office right down the hall from the kitchen and this is where I work from day in and day out.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?

I grew up in Interior Alaska. I spent many cold harsh winters reading and writing. My entire family are avid readers.

When did you first start writing?

In third grade. More seriously in my freshmen year. I had a wonderful teacher from Montana, Gary Jacobsen. He really encouraged me. He thought my stories were great. There is nothing like having the genuine support of a teacher behind you. My Uncle John has been my cheerleader and he a great moral booster when I start lagging.

What's the story behind your latest book?

You mean books. I always have two under the gun at the same time. MYTH book 2 is a continuation of Claire Thomas' sleuthing and this time, the Alaskan mythical Otter-man, the Kushtaka is believed to be running around Ketchikan killing people. The second book in the CRAELIS CHRONICLES, Dark Soul, is The fallout of evil after Lucero is sent packing back into his own dimension. Eden never lasts for long, for this is not human nature, there must always be a balance of good and evil, light and dark. Evil grows within Selene, Luna's daughter, and she must face difficult choices, either giving into the pull of evil or fighting it...

What motivated you to become an indie author?

Just fell in love with my kindle... and I love writing complex mysteries. I also wanted to read the kind of books I write. What is the greatest joy of writing for you?

I love seeing my stories come to life. I love knowing others enjoy the stories I tell. It's my life's blood- I can't imagine doing anything else.

How has Amazon contributed to your success?

They have been great. Extremely easy to work with. The whole setup is simple.

What do your fans mean to you?

My fan's are the most important to me. I value their opinions and suggestions. My fans come first. Too many authors forget that without their fans, they would be null. I'm a fan myself of other author's work. I love hearing from my readers and they bring so much to my writing. Interaction with my readers is very grounding and rewarding. I enjoy reader's comments and feedback, and I try to respond to each reader as quickly as possible.

What are you working on next?

Several stand lone crime thrillers: NEVER LET GO, EDGE of NIGHT and HOUR of THE WOLF. a new cozy series, THE TILLY BISHOP MYSTERIES. And a Murder Mystery Series set in the American Southwest. I have close ties to many in Arizona and New Mexico. The legends and stories are gripping and wonderful. But I will continue writing many stories with Alaska as the backdrop.

Who are your favorite authors? Irish Winters, Nora Roberts, Barbara Cartland, Agatha Christy, Tom Clancy, John Grisham.

What inspires you to get out of bed each day?

Finishing my book! I'm a total bullheaded workaholic.. once I start, I can't stop till it's finished!

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?

I usually go to local Texas/ New Mexico book signings and accept invitations to library and bookstores appearance requests. Traveling to Mexico, Montana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Alaska to visit family. When I am not traveling to Santa Fe or Albuquerque (or anywhere else) I hang out at home, on my small ranch. I'm really a homebody.

My idea of heaven is a hot cup of Irish coffee on my front porch as the sun comes up with my dogs and cats on a warm summer morning. I love the summer southwest nights, too. I also adore a steaming cup of hot cocoa (with Marshmallows!) curled up in front of the fireplace with a delicious crime thriller or mystery on a chilly winters day.

I drink a lot of hot cups of tea on the front porch in spring, summer and fall. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons. I really enjoy working on my ranch with the animals and gardening. I live on a small ranch in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Upon moving here, I immediately fell in love with this quaint little community, every one is super friendly and genuinely kind.

Another thing I absolutely love about Tucumcari, is that Route 66 runs right through it. It's the best place to live!