What are the best Paula Hawkins books and their rankings? So, if you’re come this way, you’ve surely heard of Paula Hawkins, right? The queen of psychological thrillers who had us all gripping with The Girl on the Train? If you’re looking to dive into her twisted world, grab your cup of tea (or something stronger), and let’s rank her top books.
This isn’t your typical ranking though but we’re blending entertainment and a good dose of practical guidance. So buckle up, because these books are like a rollercoaster: thrilling, a little unsettling, but oh-so-satisfying.
Before moving ahead, if you are avid reader, you can read our latest Book Blogs Rankings in 2024 by Mr. Book Review.
Top 6 Books of Paula Hawkins
1. The Girl on the Train (2015)
This one is a no-brainer and surely No.1. If you haven’t read it yet, stop everything and fix that. Rachel Watson, the unreliable narrator who watches people’s lives from the window of a train, gets pulled into a mystery that spirals into something much darker than she (or you) ever expected. It’s not just a murder mystery, it’s a psychological deep dive into obsession, memory, and how things aren’t always what they seem. Plus, who doesn’t love a protagonist whose life is falling apart as much as the plot?
Why you’ll love it: It’s a page-turner with more twists than a pretzel. Hawkins nails the storytelling, keeping you tensed until the last page.
Excerpt:
“Rachel catches the same commuter train every morning. She knows it will wait at the same signal each time, overlooking a row of back gardens.”
2. Into the Water (2017)
Now, this one splits readers right down the middle. If The Girl on the Train was a sprint, Into the Water is a slow-burn long story just like a marathon. It’s set in a small town where women keep drowning in the river, but whether they slipped or were pushed is the million-dollar question. There’s a heavier emotional tone here, with a lot of characters’ POVs, which could leave you asking: “Wait, who’s talking again?”
Why you’ll love it: If you’re into layered mysteries with family secrets and an eerie setting, this book will have you hooked. Just be ready to juggle multiple narratives—kind of like a mental Sudoku.
Excerpt:
“A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged”
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3. The Blue Hour (2024)
A famous artist’s husband disappeared 20 years ago. A present-day discovery connects three people and the revelation of hidden secrets. The plot starts, when human bones are found inside one of Vanessa’s sculptures. The story jumps from one point to another smoothely and the tension gets real.
Why you’ll love it: It moves at a slow pace, building tension through the characters. The descriptions of the island and Vanessa’s creative process are something to be remembered.
Excerpt:
“An isolated Scottish island, accessible to the mainland only twelve hours a day. A famous (some might say infamous) artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared after visiting her twenty years ago.”
4. One Minute to Midnight (Amy Silver)
Under her pen name Amy Silver, Hawkins delivered One Minute to Midnight, an emotional drama laced with tension, romance, and regret. Nicole Blake and her friends share a bond that’s survived love, tragedy, and betrayal. But when they meet up years later for a reunion trip to New York, old wounds resurface, bringing unresolved secrets back to the surface. With her trademark tension-building, Hawkins (as Silver) mixes emotional stakes with personal revelations in a way that keeps you turning the pages.
Why you’ll love it: It’s a reunion story with heart, wrapped in a storm of emotions. Expect secrets, internal sources and info, and unresolved feelings leading up to an explosive end.
Excerpt:
“For many years, beginning when she was thirteen, Nicole Blake spent every new year with her three friends: Julian, her first love, Alex, her best friend, and Aidan, her obsession. Together the four had partied hard, suppported each other, and fallen in love.”
5. Confessions of a Reluctant Recessionista (by Amy Silver, aka Hawkins)
Yep, Paula Hawkins wrote this under her pen name, and it’s completely different. Think: rom-com meets quarter-life crisis. Cassie Cavanagh is just trying to survive in style through a recession, but let’s be real—who isn’t? While it’s not a thriller, there’s something refreshing about seeing Hawkins flex her writing muscles in a totally different genre.
Why you’ll love it: If you need a break from high-stakes murder mysteries but still want sharp, witty writing, give this one a go. It’s lighter but has heart—and who doesn’t love a good financial crisis comedy?
Excerpt:
“Cassie Cavanagh has a great job, a great boyfriend and earns enough money to keep her in shiny new shoes and fabulous clothes. What Cassie doesn’t reckon on is being sacked from her job due to the recession.”
6. Guerrilla Learning (Amy Silver) Non – Thriller
We know this isn’t a thriller—so why is it here? Because Paula Hawkins, in her Amy Silver persona, wrote this gem about creative education, and it’s perfect for parents looking to rethink the way their kids learn. It’s practical, empowering, and a total 180 from her usual fare, but it’s proof she can write about anything and make it compelling.
Why you’ll love it: If you’re a parent or educator, it’s a game-changer. No murder, but hey, education is serious business too!
Excerpt:
“Let your daughter read her library books instead of finishing her homework . Ask your eleven-year-old’s beloved third grade teacher to comment on his poetry”
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