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It might be a little juvenile of me, but I always love pairing opposites together – there’s just something so fun about it.
So when I first read a thriller book that was funny, I thought, This is the perfect combination!
In this list, I’ve compiled some of my personal favorite dark comedic thriller books.
These are books that are funny in a dark way – I’m talking about dark humor, lots of politically incorrect jokes, and more – while still keeping that thrilling edge.
So, you’re going to be chilled, but you’re also going to be laughing all the way through.
1. Hit Man by Lawrence Block
Keller is a hitman, which means he’s paid to kill people.
He’s not attached to anyone, and he keeps his life very private.
He travels around, does his job, and leaves without much thought.
But one day, a job goes horribly wrong, and suddenly Keller finds himself responsible for an orphan.
Now, he has to balance his secretive life with caring for this child, which complicates everything.
As Keller tries to manage this new situation, he begins to question whether a life of killing is worth the cost to his happiness.
2. The Partner by John Grisham
Patrick Lanigan once had everything – a great job, a happy family, and a bright future.
But he vanished with $90 million, faked his death, and started a new life in Brazil.
Years later, his former partners finally track him down, determined to get their money back.
But the man they thought was dead isn’t the same person they remember.
As they chase him across the world, secrets and lies come to the surface, and Patrick is forced to confront the past he tried to escape.
3. A Man with One of Those Faces by Caimh McDonnell
Paul Mulchrone is just trying to live a quiet life, but he keeps getting caught up in dangerous situations.
First, someone tries to kill him by accident, and the next time, it’s on purpose.
Now, Paul is on the run, with no one to trust except a nurse who loves crime novels and a tough cop with his own secrets.
Together, they must solve an old crime that still haunts Dublin.
It’s a thrilling, fast-paced story with plenty of humor and twists that will keep you hooked until the end.
4. Country of the Blind by Christopher Brookmyre
When a media mogul is murdered at his mansion, it looks like a simple case of a robbery gone wrong.
But when the robbers escape from prison, things get much more complicated.
Jack Parlabane, a journalist, digs into the story and soon discovers there’s more to the case than meets the eye.
He uncovers a dangerous group of people with power and corruption at the highest levels.
This story is full of suspense, dark humor, and shocking revelations that will make you question what’s really going on.
5. Moist by Mark Haskell Smith
Bob is a lazy guy working at a pathology lab, where he spends most of his time playing games and wasting away.
But when he comes into possession of a severed arm with a strange, erotic tattoo, everything changes.
Suddenly, Bob finds himself in the middle of a wild adventure involving mobsters, backstabbing criminals, and a whole lot of trouble.
As Bob tries to keep hold of the arm, he’s dragged deeper into the dangerous world of crime, with plenty of bizarre and funny moments along the way.
6. The General’s Daughter by Nelson DeMille
Captain Ann Campbell was the pride of the Army, the daughter of a famous general.
But when she’s found dead in a shocking way, the Army is thrown into chaos.
Paul Brenner, an undercover investigator, is put in charge of the case.
As he digs into Ann’s life, he uncovers secrets about her that no one ever knew – secrets that were hidden behind her perfect, soldier’s image.
The deeper Paul goes, the more he realizes how many people were involved in her life, and how dangerous it is to uncover the truth.
7. Dope by Sara Gran
Josephine is a former addict trying to stay clean, but when she’s offered money to find a missing girl, she can’t resist.
The search takes her into New York’s dark underworld, a place she thought she had left behind.
As she gets closer to the truth, she realizes things are much more complicated than they seem, and the danger she thought was in the past might still be a very real part of her life.
This gritty, emotional thriller will take you on a journey through lies, betrayal, and self-discovery.
8. Going Home in the Dark by Dean Koontz
Rebecca, Bobby, Spencer, and Ernie were childhood friends, but after years of being apart, they come back to their small hometown when Ernie falls into a coma.
As they return to Maple Grove, old memories resurface, and they realize that there were dark things they’d forgotten about the place they grew up.
Something strange is going on, and they have to confront their fears from the past before it’s too late.
Koontz’s suspenseful writing will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s really lurking in this seemingly perfect town.
9. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
This classic novel follows a young woman who marries Maxim de Winter, a wealthy widower.
They move to his grand estate, Manderley, but soon the new wife realizes that his late wife, Rebecca, still seems to haunt the place.
Everyone at Manderley speaks of Rebecca with such reverence, and the new Mrs. de Winter begins to feel like she can never live up to the memory of her predecessor.
As she uncovers dark secrets about Rebecca’s life and death, she realizes that some shadows refuse to stay buried.
This suspenseful, gothic romance will leave you hooked with its twists and mystery.
10. All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye by Christopher Brookmyre
Jane Fleming has lived a quiet, uneventful life, but everything changes when she gets caught up in a world of espionage and danger.
She’s not your typical action hero, but in this fast-paced story full of high-stakes action, Jane becomes the unlikely star of a thrilling adventure.
It’s packed with intrigue, violence, and even some humor, as Jane steps outside her comfort zone to face a world she never imagined.
The fun is just beginning, and there’s a lot at stake.
11. Deli Meat by Tom Halford
Effie Pitts is looking for her missing husband, who disappeared while on a trip.
What she doesn’t expect is to stumble upon a series of crimes tied to a mysterious cult in a small town.
The locals have been disappearing for years, and now Effie finds herself in the middle of it all.
She’s determined to find her husband, but the more she digs, the more questions she has.
This gripping, mysterious thriller will keep you guessing as Effie gets closer to the truth.
12. Compromising Positions by Susan Isaacs
Judith Singer is a bored housewife living a quiet life in Long Island, but when a local dentist is murdered, her curiosity gets the best of her.
She begins investigating the case and uncovers secrets about the dentist’s life that no one knew.
As she gets deeper into the mystery, she finds that the people around her might not be as innocent as they seem.
This witty and clever mystery will make you look at suburban life in a whole new way as Judith dives into a case that’s closer to home than she realizes.
If you have any other funny thriller books you’d like me to check out, let me know in the comment section below!
And if you’re looking for even more fantastic thriller recommendations, head over to this page.
To get started, check out this list of the best legal thriller books everyone should read this weekend!
