Reader's Digest

They say everyone has a novel inside them, waiting to get out… so what’s yours? We recently posed that question to the Reader’s Digest Community – that if you were sitting down to write the ultimate gripping thriller, what would be the title of your future best-seller? Here then are the ten best fake thrillers that should be real.

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The Dreadful Hunt for Dawn

The Dreadful Hunt for Dawn
Reader's Digest

The Dreadful Hunt for Dawn, the Girl with the Maximum Ice Dagger Eyes – By Rob Preece

Judge’s comment: “What I love about this title is that Rob has combined elements of several blockbustery-sounding thrillers to come up with one all-encompassing super-thriller. It’s clearly a page-turner, and possibly even its own franchise in the making. Two thumbs up.”

The Seven Deadly Bins

The Seven Deadly Bins
Reader's Digest

The Seven Deadly Bins – By Kaye Armitage … is about a psychopathic garbo who maims and murders his victims before disposing of them in bins around the city, before ‘discovering’ the remains himself!

Judge’s comment: “Strong points for an excellent pun based on a highly resonant and familiar-sounding existing title. Actually a very decent plot too!”

Sometimes They Die

Sometimes They Die
Reader's Digest

Sometimes They DieBy Andrew Wilson… is about an accountant who accidently kills people for money.

Judge’s comment: “Compelling title, backed by an oddly specific (if confusing) premise that makes me think Andrew could be hiding something.”

Murder on the 8.30 stopping-all-stations City Loop

Murder on the 8.30 stopping-all-stations City Loop
Reader's Digest

Murder on the 8.30 stopping-all-stations City LoopBy Keith Harkin

Judge’s comment: “All aboard for this heart-stopping, thrill-a-minute ride.”

The Girl that Jumped From a Plane but Never Hit the Ground

The Girl that Jumped From a Plane but Never Hit the Ground
Reader's Digest

The Girl that Jumped From a Plane but Never Hit the GroundBy Johanna Rees

Judge’s comment: “This title is the book equivalent of click-bait. How could you NOT read it? Who is this girl? How did she avoid hitting the ground? I must know.”

Don't Ever Read This Book

Don't Ever Read This Book
Reader's Digest

Don’t Ever Read This BookBy Debra Moody… because I know temptation will make you want to read my book.

Judge’s comment: “I see what you did there, Debra. Very meta. Well played indeed. There’s clearly a reason why author Lee Child said that women are better at this genre than men.”

My Father, My Son – The Paradox Project

My Father, My Son – The Paradox Project
Reader's Digest

My Father, My Son – The Paradox ProjectBy Robert Nicolle

Judge’s comment: “Just the right amount of intrigue to draw the reader in. Could be in the time travel genre. Could involve cloning. Might have religious overtones. I don’t know, but I want to.”

The Day She Woke Up Dead

The Day She Woke Up Dead
Reader's Digest

The Day She Woke Up DeadBy Maria Pennisi… If I saw that title I’d read it!

Judge’s comment: “So would I, Maria. So would I.”

Invitation to the Forest of Insanity

Invitation to the Forest of Insanity
Reader's Digest

Invitation to the Forest of Insanity: a deep dark mysterious look into the deep dark depths of the unknown with twists and turns in the dark of the night – By Julie Morgan

Judge’s comment: “Two thoughts. Firstly: Julie deals in subtlety, and that’s why I’m her number one fan. Secondly: did we forget to put a word limit on the entries? Our bad.”

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