I’m planning to start reading books for the first time, and I’m trying to choose between:
The Girl on the Train,
Gone Girl, and
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Since I’m a beginner, I want something that’s engaging and not too difficult to follow.
Which one would you recommend for a first-time reader, and why? Also, if you have any other beginner-friendly thriller/mystery recommendations, I’d love to hear them!
Thanks in advance!
by jhaatkabaall
5 Comments
Anything Freida McFadden or Lisa Jewel if you’re a beginner
I found *The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* to be a little dense and slow. Are you open to young adult books? Those tend to be easier to follow with exciting plots.
I’d go with the Girl on the Train first. Then Gone Girl and then Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. They are all excellent books. Dragon Tattoo is a series and if you like it, you can continue from there.
Tell me about yourself. Seriously. Reading isn’t about checking off lists or reading books just because others say they’re important. It’s about finding stories that connect with you personally. Writing is art, and art is deeply personal. The best books make you feel like the author is speaking directly to you – about something you care about, something that resonates. So, who are you? What do you love? What sparks your curiosity? Tell me a little about you, and I’ll suggest books that might make you think, feel, and keep coming back for more.
Gone Girl is an excellent novel. Great dialogue, but I don’t want to say much else because spoilers suck but spoilers in a thriller/mystery are particularly nefarious.
I haven’t read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and try as I might, I couldn’t get through Girl on the Train.
If you’re looking for thrillers and mysteries, Denis Lehane has a great P.I. series you can check out. You may have heard of one of them, since it was turned into an award winning movie. My husband is a huge fan of the series, and recently begged me to read Darkness Take My Hand. It was very good, particularly in its genre. Much like Gillian Flynn, Lehane is a master of dialogue.