Is there anything worse than arriving at the airport with a sensible two hours to spare before your flight departs, only to hear an announcement that said flight is delayed? At moments like these, it can feel hard not to get frustrated or disheartened, but this is where some careful planning and preparation can come in handy. Pack a few thrilling, suspenseful novels in your carry-on, and the time you spend waiting in the departures lounge will fly by. Here are three thrilling suggestions.
The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Many people know the basic plot line of this novel thanks to the film starring Matt Damon, but reading it is a whole new experience. Highsmith expertly develops the tension and dread as her novel progresses, and it’s impossible to feel bored as Ripley involves himself in ever more complicated cons. With this novel in hand, even a delay of several hours will feel like a breeze.
The Shining by Stephen King
If your tastes veer more towards horror and the Gothic, then Stephen King’s most famous novel is for you. Again, it’s likely that most readers will come to The Shining with a sense of the plot thanks to Kubrick’s film—although it is worth noting that Kubrick changed many elements of the novel to fit his vision of the film, and King famously hated the resulting movie. Packed with tension, thrills, and suspense, you’ll not want to put this novel down once you start reading it.
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
The author of The Birds certainly knew a thing or two about gripping a reader with plots full of dread and suspense. What starts out as a potential love story quickly becomes something more dreadful and dangerous, as a young wealthy bachelor welcomes his guardian’s widow into his home. Filled with stunning descriptions of the beautiful Cornish countryside and coastline, this novel is wonderfully sad, poignant, and suspenseful.
