We all know the blockbusters, but sometimes the best romantic suspense stories fly under the radar. They’re clever, thrilling, and full of heart—just waiting to be discovered.
Here are a few kinds of overlooked gems to seek out:
• Indie treasures: Authors who blend action and romance with fresh twists. My favorites are Veronica Scott, Greta Van der Rol, and S.E. Smith. Each of these authors give suspense a sci-fi twist. And for straight up suspense, Michele Diener (of scifi and fantasy fame) has a suspense mystery series set in the 1960s. It’s very fun.
• Backlist beauties: Older titles that still pack a punch (and a swoon). I call these my comfort reads (I know, suspense and comfort don’t seem like they should go together. 🤣) But I still love to pull out a Mary Stewart, an Elizabeth Cadell (not all her books have suspense in them), and Georgette Heyer—well-known for her Regency Romances—also penned several mystery suspense novels.
• Cross-genre delights: Stories that mix suspense with sci-fi, steampunk, or paranormal. Jayne Castle is very well known for her mix of paranormal and scifi. Alexis Glynn Latner mixes the paranormal into her sci-fi books—not to mention having a lovely way with words. Sharon Lee & Steve Miller also add a bit of woo-woo to their stories. I am particularly fond of their Liaden books.
I have long been fond of suspense (and romance) in my reading, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise when suspense ended up in my writing. My one attempt at writing a straight romance novel quickly went awry when a spy dived through the sunroof of my heroine’s car. (The Spy Who Kissed Me)
My suspenseful sci-fi came later and was also an accident. 😂 What can I say? I commit random acts of writing. It drove my second agent (don’t ask me about my first) crazy and then away. This left me free to continue to commit my own brand of suspense, so I consider it a win.
But note, I also love the romance mixed into my suspense. It’s never just about the thrills—it’s about hearts racing for love and fear. If you’ve found a hidden gem, share it—because word of mouth keeps these stories alive.