What Makes a Killer Thriller?

What Makes a Killer Thriller?

The New York Times Book Review recently released its list of the 50 best thrillers of the 21st century. To put it together, the team asked almost 300 authors and other experts to vote for the best heart-thumping, page-turning, white knuckle reads published since 2000. In this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” Natalie Kitroeff talks with the Times thrillers columnist, Sarah Lyall, about how the list came together. Then, Natalie speaks with one of the greatest thriller writers of this century — with four books featured on the list — the author Tana French. On Today’s Episode: Sarah Lyall [https://www.nytimes.com/by/sarah-lyall] writes a monthly thrillers column for The New York Times. Tana French [https://tanafrench.com/] is the author of many best-selling books, including “In the Woods,” “The Searcher,” “The Likeness” and “The Witch Elm.” Background Reading: The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/books/best-thriller-books-21st-century.html] Photo credit: Naila Ruechel Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Charming, Amusing, Surprisingly Low-Confidence Matthew Rhys

The “Widow’s Bay” star on his two Emmy nominations, his penchant for going dark and his wobbly self-esteem. * Thoughts? Email us at theinterview@nytimes.com * Watch our show on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheInterviewPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@theinterviewpodcast] * For transcripts and more, visit: nytimes.com/theinterview [https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-interview] Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Secret Spy Network Feeding Russia’s War Machine

Ukraine is running desperately low on interceptor missiles, leaving its cities and people nearly defenseless against Russian missile and drone attacks. How Russia has been able to sustain those attacks has been a mystery — until now. Today, Jane Bradley, a Britain-based investigative reporter for The New York Times, explains her investigation into the spy network that has allowed the Kremlin to keep this war going. Guest: Jane Bradley [https://www.nytimes.com/by/jane-bradley], a Britain-based investigative reporter for The New York Times. Background reading:  * A Russian spy who used the Aeroflot office in Tokyo to smuggle high-tech weapon components into Russia has left Japan [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/world/asia/russian-spy-flees-japan.html] after a Times report. * Operating out of a Tokyo high-rise, a military intelligence unit takes advantage of Japan’s weak espionage laws [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/world/asia/russia-spies-japan-war-drones-electronics.html] to find the high-tech equipment that Russia needs to wage war. Photo: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are The Democratic Socialists Winning or Losing?

This week, Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist running for governor in Wisconsin, suffered an upset after a double-digit lead in the polls. Last week, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive, pulled off a stunning victory in Michigan against his well-funded opponent. Nate Cohn, the chief political analyst for The New York Times, makes sense of what happened in Wisconsin and Michigan, and what it might tell us about the future of the Democratic Party. Guest: Nate Cohn [https://www.nytimes.com/by/nate-cohn], the chief political analyst for The New York Times. Background reading:  * Dr. El-Sayed’s triumph against an establishment-backed candidate in Michigan was a big win for the left [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/upshot/democrats-michigan-progressives-left.html]. * Ms. Hong’s defeat in Wisconsin defied expectations [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/12/us/elections/david-crowley-wisconsin-governors-primary.html] and may have shown that the democratic socialist wave cannot reach beyond urban centers. Photo: Nick Hagen for The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All the President’s Planes

When President Trump left Turkey, the White House said publicly that he was boarding the old Air Force One — but that plane was a decoy. In a highly elaborate escape plan prompted by a credible Iranian threat, Trump was secretly moved through a catering cart to a military aircraft, leaving passengers unknowingly flying on the decoy plane. Today, Maggie Haberman, a White House correspondent for The New York Times, details the operation’s risks and what it reveals about how seriously the administration views the danger to the president. Guest: Maggie Haberman [https://www.nytimes.com/by/maggie-haberman], a White House correspondent for The New York Times. Background reading:  * President Trump hid in an airport catering container and was transported to a military jet [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/politics/trump-plane-ruse.html] for a secret flight out of country. Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily [http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily]. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.