# Ann Patchett's Thriller Picks Keep You Up All Night

> Ann Patchett's four crime thrillers will hook you until midnight.
- Title: Ann Patchett's Thriller Picks Keep You Up All Night | Shortify
- Summary: Ann Patchett's four crime thrillers will hook you until midnight. Ann Patchett recommends four crime thrillers: Raymond Chandler's 'The Long Goodbye' and…
- Keywords: ann patchett, raymond chandler, colson whitehead, harlem shuffle, the long goodbye, pulitzer prize, crime thriller, book recommendations, fall reading, nashville, Ann, Patchett's
- Source: Woman's World — https://womansworld.com/entertainment/books/ann-patchett-recommends-4-fast-paced-crime-thrillers-to-read-next
- Author: Lisa Maxbauer
- Published: 2026-10-06T18:47:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ann patchett, raymond chandler, colson whitehead, harlem shuffle, the long goodbye, pulitzer prize, crime thriller, book recommendations, fall reading, nashville
## Ann Patchett's Thriller Picks
Bestselling author Ann Patchett recommends four crime thrillers to keep you up all night reading.

> I love these books so passionately!
## Raymond Chandler's 'The Long Goodbye'
Ann Patchett calls Raymond Chandler's 'The Long Goodbye' her favorite book from the Philip Marlowe series, praising its storytelling and historical significance.

> I’m not a spy-novel, thriller-novel, detective-novel person in general, but I have read all of Raymond Chandler and The Long Goodbye, which is in the Philip Marlowe series, is my very favorite
## Chandler's Literary Legacy
Patchett notes Chandler's work rivals Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, and Faulkner in literary importance.

> When we think about the canonical literature from this period, we think about Faulkner, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck. And it’s always been a mystery to me why we don’t think of Chandler in that group because he’s every bit as good.
## Chandler's Storytelling
Patchett highlights Chandler's ability to move a story along with his famous line: 'If things are going slow, bring in a man with a gun.'

> Nobody knows how to move a story along better. You know the famous line that Chandler said: 'If things are going slow, bring in a man with a gun.' Let me tell you, it works!
## Colson Whitehead's Trilogy
Ann Patchett praises Colson Whitehead's 'Harlem Shuffle' trilogy for its beautiful writing and thriller propulsion.

> I love Colson Whitehead’s writing. I think nobody touches him. He is the genius of our age.
## Harlem Shuffle Plot
The first book in Whitehead's trilogy follows Ray Carney, a furniture store owner in 1960s Harlem who gets mixed up selling stolen goods.

> A guy named Ray Carney owns a furniture store. His dad was a crook, and Ray is mostly a straight businessman.
## Harlem Shuffle's Appeal
Patchett describes Whitehead's books as thrilling with beautiful writing that makes readers stay up all night reading.

> This is what happens in these books: Part of your brain is saying this is an unbelievable thriller. There’s a guy with a gun, or there’s a guy holding another guy out the window. I have to stay up all night and read this book.
## Crook Manifesto Plot
The second book follows Ray Carney in the 1970s as he tries to get tickets to a Jackson Five concert for his daughter.

> Same characters in the 70s, Now Ray is trying to get tickets to a very hot Jackson Five concert for his daughter.
## Cool Machine Plot
The third book in Whitehead's trilogy takes place in 1980s New York, where Ray must save his cousin's son from violent forces.

> With his last heist behind him, Ray wants to enjoy a calm, safe life with his family. But the former criminal must come out of retirement to save his cousin’s son from powerful violent forces in the city.
## Reading Order
Patchett says reading the trilogy in order 'the pleasure only builds' but the books work as standalone stories.

> If you read the 'Harlem' trilogy in order, Patchett says 'the pleasure only builds!'
## Key takeaway

Ann Patchett recommends four crime thrillers: Raymond Chandler's 'The Long Goodbye' and Colson Whitehead's 'Harlem Shuffle' trilogy for readers seeking fast-paced stories.