Thrill Ride
A fiction collection
The frum thriller genre is steeped in its tropes and the subject of metaphors and jokes. But behind those stacks of thick books that may seem alike is tight action, compelling suspense, and human characters in impossible situations that keep readers of all ages engaged. Today’s collection pulls from all corners of the frum thriller universe, bringing you a diverse group of reads that will challenge your impression of what a thriller can do. (For more action-based reads, see this collection.)
Eyewitness, Rachel Schorr - Under the pen of Rachel Schorr, thrillers become human. A long-ago failed mission leaves indelible scars on a close-knit unit of friends. Now a sophisticated cover-up lies ready to be deployed, spinning a web of accusations that threaten to incriminate Ariel forever. As the true perpetrator corrupts relationships and intentions, the noose tightens around Ariel, leaving him defenseless. The psychological twists leave the reader reeling through deception and corruption and there’s no guessing the ending until the final showdown.
The Gordian Knot, Yair Weinstock - On a quiet kibbutz, a mysterious survivor torpedoes a long-awaited celebration. When his secrets finally come out, he becomes a pariah in the eyes of his neighbors. The magic of Yair Weinstock’s thrillers is their scope throughout history, weaving a story through time and place. Between Berlin of the 30s, the camps, and the War of Independence, the reader is taken through a lifetime of rivalry and guilt. Years later, it is up to two distant grandsons to rescue their grandfather from a lifetime of haunted dreams and retrieve a mysterious will that has the answers to the nation’s threats.
Mind Games, Shuli Mensh - Nina’s once vibrant life has grown cold, with a distant marriage and strained relationships with her daughters. When Alex’s long-buried past shows up at his door, he’s compelled to stand by his longtime mentor in one last mission, starring his own quiet hospital. But there are roles to play, and Alex’s competing loyalties throw him into danger. Whisked away to safety, can this be Nina’s chance for a fresh start and renewed connection? Depth and emotion meet gripping action for a touching and thoughtful cross-genre novel.
The Shadows, Nachman Seltzer - Not content with one small human story, Nachman Seltzer’s thrillers take on the world. A Russian oligarch initiates his son into his organization's global conspiracy, but Mikhail's experience within The Yeshiva's sacred halls redefines his role in the family's sinister legacy. Gadi is giving his former army hero one last chance, planting insurance policies around the world, when they start exploding unexpectedly. The Shadows will remind readers of the grand conspiracies and ambitious and shocking storyline of Yair Weinstock’s Blackout and Sender Zeyv’s Ten Lost.
Jamilla, Rachel Berger - When her brother learns his whole life is a lie, Yaffa is thrown into turmoil as the stability that keeps her strong for those around her slips away. Unexpected reprieve comes from her Arab cousin, until she learns his intentions are not as sincere as presented. But her rejection of his advances comes too late, and she’s pulled into a sinister NGO plot that threatens the safety of her future and family. An intriguing premise against a very-contemporary setting plus the wit and drama of Rachel Berger create a fresh and compelling thriller read for all ages.
The Spiders Web, Chaim Eliav - In Brazil of the 1960’s, Jairo’s close friend meets a sudden death. The Nazi-style funeral is shocking, the family’s insistence on shutting down all investigation perplexing, but the anonymous threats he begins to receive are the most baffling of all. Determined to find out the truth behind his late friend’s shady lifestyle and the internal reawakening his death has brought within him, Jairo and his detective friend pursue the loose ends. But as anonymous actors seek to stop him at all costs, Jairo is left to wonder where the real mystery lies: with the perpetrator or the victim?
Fingerprint, Chaim Greenbaum - Brokenhearted at their father’s sudden passing, an unsuspecting family sits Shiva. Surprising visitors leave hints to a broader picture, sending a desperate son and his reluctant brother on a search for the real story. But peeling back the layers of their father’s facade only raises more questions, as the people they trust spin up different versions of the tale. Was their whole childhood a lie? Revisiting characters from The Will, Fingerprint presents a mind-bending journey and an impossible question.
Don’t Look Back, Brocha Rosman - Fun and suspenseful, a beloved YA author ventures into her first mystery. Peri’s witnessed a murder, throwing the entire family’s safety out the window in one swoop. Their only option is to restart their lives under the protection of the Witness Protection Program, but that’s easier said than done. Leaving their family and friends behind abruptly, the family attempts to start fresh in a brand new community. But as their old community searches for them, new neighbors wonder at their suspicious evasiveness, and criminals eager for revenge close in, their crucial anonymity is at risk of discovery.
The Most Wanted List, Eli Shekhter - In the war-torn jungles of Zaire, Reuven Rotterman is forced into a bewildering nightmare after his partner's abduction, pursued by two ruthless factions for reasons he can't fathom. He embarks on the arduous journey to safety with his longtime guide, Abula, but as they navigate the primitive landscape, he learns there’s more to Abula’s loyalties than he knew. Monitored by intelligence agencies worldwide, Reuven’s journey unknowingly reaches the heart of a decades-old feud that will shape the future of this weary country.
The Movement, Ruthie Pearlman - The Collin and Leora series of crime thrillers wraps Ruthie Pearlman’s spooky and enthralling mysteries in adult packaging. When a frail girl enters the Golders Green Police Department to confess a murder, tough cop Colin Sommers doesn’t believe her. But investigating the story leads them to frightening clues and zombie families, forcing them to keep digging into the mysterious cult. When a young girl is suddenly abducted and suspected to be held by the cult, Leora Sommers is ready to jump in and save her: can her undercover disguise keep her safe despite the mind control sucking her in?
Coming soon: More of your book requests, answered! Email your detailed book requests to frumbooks@substack.com.