8 Political Thriller Books To Read While You Wait For ‘Paradise’ Season 2

political thriller books to read after paradise

I've been telling everyone I know that the Paradiseending will prompt two emotions: anxiety and impatience for Season 2. Knowing we won't see Agent Xavier Collins and company back in action until 2026 (via Deadline), I've been frantically searching for political thriller books to read. I shouldn't want to raise my blood pressure about such an explosive first season, but I apparently can't get enough of plots that make me clutch my invisible pearls. I have an idea though!

I'll share the best picks you should read while you set up a group chat for us to trade theories in. Ready, set, go!

Add these political thriller books to your growing March TBR pile

Amazon

The First Lady by James Patterson & Brendan Dubois

Similar to Agent Xavier Collins in Paradise, Sally Grissom leads the Presidential Protection team and is at the top of her game. It's precisely the reason she's on high alert when the head of state requests a private meeting with her. What she learns shocks her because there's not a rule book for what to do when the First Lady vanishes. Plus, she's charged with keeping things under wraps in light of misconduct that's affecting the White House.
Those who are aware of the situation aren't immediately alarmed when it looks like the First Lady needs time to heal and reset from what's taken place. But their relief is short-lived when someone demands payment with a piece of her body attached to it...

Amazon

In Sheep's Clothing by L.D. Beyer

Sometimes the head of state has to make difficult decisions that will disappoint people no matter what he chooses. It's something President Cal from Paradise was all too familiar with. However, In Sheep's Clothing reveals a terrible decision that has disastrous affects. This puts Vice President David Kendall in the president's shoes, but he's not ready for how difficult the job is.
Then there's Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter and his trauma. He still hasn't made peace with the former president's untimely death when he's plunged into the same situation again.

Amazon

Deep State by Chris Hauty

President Richard Monroe's known for his outrageous views that are contributing to the tension in Washington, DC. Matters are complicated even further when the chief of staff is discovered without a pulse and someone's unconvinced it was "his time to go." This thrusts politics under a spotlight and reveals how far some people are willing to go in order for things to go their way in the Deep State.

Amazon

Beyond Reasonable Doubtby Keera Duggan

Jenna Berstein used to be a celebrated CEO of a popular biotech company, but her image is sullied when she's accused of a terrible crime. Turning to Keera Duggan, she places her utmost trust in the attorney who has a tendency to solve even the toughest cases. But Jenna isn't just a client, she's also Keera's friend and the latter knows Jenna's not incapable of doing questionable things. Keera remembers how her father cleared Jenna's name in a murder case involving her biotech company's lead scientist so she's hesitant to help someone she knows isn't trustworthy.
However, the catch is Keera's convinced Jenna is being honest about what took place. With nothing other than a clouded intuitive hunch, Keera's about to find out what happens when you're in danger of getting things wrong.

Amazon

Wolf Trap by Connor Sullivan

Where else could CIA agents train to become flawless at their jobs other than the Special Activities Center? They know how to navigate the murkiest territories and routinely train to sharpen their ruthless skills. It's unsurprising the U.S. government pretends they don't know this unit exists. However, like Batman, agents receive orders to protect Americans. But it's former Ground Branch paramilitary officer who will face his greatest test.

Amazon

When Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams

Law clerk Avery Keene is on her way to the top as she assists Justice Howard Wynn, but is horrified when his health is put in jeopardy. Not only is she weighed down by family drama, she now has to deal with more responsibilities given to her by her supervisor. With him out the office, Avery starts discovering what he was up to prior to being rushed to the hospital. Not only was Justice Wynn looking into a biotech medical merger, he was also seeking answers related to conspiracy. Only Avery's able to finish what he started, but the truth comes with a hefty price.

Amazon

The Terminal List by Jack Carr

When Lieutenant Commander James Reese loses his team in a botched assignment, he thinks he'll still look forward to his family's presence. But forces take their lives before he has a chance to reunite with them and it sends Reece down a conspiracy hole he's unprepared for. Only his rigorous training and experience will help him seek the constant revenge he seeks.

Amazon

Code Red by Vince Flynn

Mitch Rapp is indebted to crime lord Damian Losa and has no choice but to respond when he's beckoned. According to Losa, there's fierce competition that will wipe out his illegal business and he'd rather not see that happen.
Rapp is assigned to infiltrate Syria to find out their secret, but is taken aback when he sees the hand the Russians are playing in this potential shakeup. Understanding how much this will affect more than Losa, Rapp makes the choice to stop them before they can start distributing their manufactured product. But this could start a bloody war that would devastate more than the United States with zero implications Rapp and his team will have a successful mission.

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You weren’t the only one tearing up during90-minute finale of The White Lotus. Season 3 of Mike White’s series has officially concluded, with viewers left shocked, heartbroken, and all-around emotional. And it turns out, the cast felt the same (warning:lots of spoilers ahead).

In preparation for the series' end, Max took over the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village, California, to create a Thailand-inspired White Lotus wellness oasis. The retreat included cooking and mixology classes with Ketel One Vodka and Tanqueray Gin, meditation sessions, and a moving panel discussion (hosted by Queer Eye’s Tan France) with the ensemble after they, too, watched the finale for the first time.

During the cast’s Q&A, we got the tea on how Aimee Lou Wood truly felt about her character’s death, plus Patrick Schwarzenegger’s initial reaction to the explosive ending.

Scroll to see The White Lotuscast's reaction to that heartbreaking season 3 finale...

HBO

The White Lotus Cast's Reactions to Chelsea and Rick’s Death

As audience members know, Chelsea and Rick were the characters that met a gruesome end.

Wood said of her character’s death, “For about two weeks before we shot it, I felt super weird. It was this odd, ominous thing that was just hanging over us.” Her character is a casualty of an intense gunfight ignited by her boyfriend Rick (played by Walton Goggins), who attempted to save her by carrying her to safety. “And then it was the hottest day ever. Walton had to carry me so many times, and it was so hard.

In that time, Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) achieves his vindication by shooting Rick in the back. “Chelsea doesn’t know what’s going to happen to her,” Wood said, adding that the scene “looked exactly how it felt, which was really strange.” There’s a final, dark shot of Chelsea dead, faced down in the pond and Rick faced up, mimicking a Yin and Yang symbol.

HBO

Meanwhile, Thapthimthong felt like his character’s actions were “justified.”

Thapthimthong said, “At first, I felt like, ‘I don’t want to shoot him in the back.’ I wish he would turn around and have a little gunfight with me so we can have a little action scene. But we had a discussion with Mike, and I remember he said, ‘Trust me,’ it will be justified. I feel like it really was.” Gaitok then goes on to receive the promotion he’s always wanted, so you can say things worked out for him.

HBO

Patrick Schwarzenegger, who arguably conveyed the biggest character arc in Saxon Ratliff, built a spiritual connection with Chelsea that translated IRL.

Schwarzenegger told France, “I knew something happened to Chelsea, but I didn’t know the extent of everything. It’s this really surreal weird feeling right now of just spending so much time with all of these cast members and then watching someone die. I don’t know how to describe it. You feel like something really happened.” We did too, Patrick, we did too.

As Aimee Lou Wood said on the panel, “There’s a lot in that episode that made me f---ing sob.” And we couldn’t think of a more perfect way to describe the series ending.

Other Can’t Miss Cast Quotes From The 'The White Lotus' Finale Panel:

HBO

Patrick Schwarzenegger (Saxon Ratliff)

“I think once it happened with Chelsea, I started crying in the theater. I looked over at Charlotte [Le Bon] — it was an emotional moment.”

HBO

Sarah Catherine Cook (Piper Ratliff)

“I was like, ‘Wow everyone in this episode really came to some enlightenment, and she’s trying to get enlightened the whole time.’ Then she’s like, ‘No, I guess I’m spoiled.’ I love that.”

HBO

Sam Nivola (Lochlan Ratliff)

“I've never died in anything before. It was fun to get to do that.”

HBO

Leslie Bibb (Kate Bohr)

“I remember when we were filming because the girls were the first ones to shoot our villa, and we all read the scripts and we were like, ‘Oh, our storyline is boring’....I don't think, honestly, we thought that it was going to take off the way it is.”

HBO

Nicholas Duvernay (Zion Lindsey)

“Finally getting even just a little bit of justice for Tanya was amazing. Amazing to finally, over three seasons, give her that closure, essentially."

HBO

Jon Gries (Greg Hunt)

“I think Season 2 surprised me more somehow. But I guess the enormity of the wealth surprised me.”

HBO

Jason Isaacs (Timothy Ratliff)

“I look at my kids I love in real life, these three, and I love them on screen as well. I think there’s more to them. I doubted them, and they will be fine. They just won’t be fine in gigantic houses with huge Tesla trucks.”

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Hailee Steinfeld is no stranger to stealing scenes in movies, but her latest role in Ryan Coogler's Sinners is full of sexy and horrifying moments that'll leave audiences begging for more. Based on clips floating around the internet, the historical horror is set to provide a stage for Hailee's bewitching performance. Perhaps what makes us even more intrigued is how delighted the True Grit actress is about playing a character that'll have viewers talking long after the credits roll.

Scroll to see how Hailee Steinfeld feels about Sinners and learn more about the electrifying new movie!

What is 'Sinners' about?

Warner Bros. Pictures

When twin brothers Smoke and Stack return home for a new beginning, they're initially met with welcome arms. But as daylight turns to dusk and gives way to nightfall, unspeakable horrors expose themselves to the townspeople. Evil not only consumes everything in its path, it also changes Smoke and Stack in ways they could've never prepared for.

It's set in the 1930s South which means we'll get dialect, fashion, music, and more themes from that time period.

Who's Hailee Steinfeld starring as?

Warner Bros. Pictures

Hailee Steinfeld will be starring as Mary, the love interest of Stack. Since not much is known about her outside of that, we're assuming their romance is forbidden. What we do know is Hailee's a fan of her character and the overall themes of Sinners.

According to PEOPLE, the actress shared more of her thoughts in her newsletter Beau Society March 28. She wrote, "...This role is far removed from what I've done, but that's part of what drew me to it! I feel like I'm stepping into my own more and more as I get older, and this role mirrors that."

She also shared that it didn't take much for her to be a part of Sinners. "The minute I heard Ryan Coogler, I was in. Then I read his script and was like, 'Holy s---, this feels like a massive undertaking.' The story is so complex and layered," calling herself "fortunate and honored to even be remotely considered." So, how does Hailee Steinfeld feel about Sinners as a whole?

She says it's "thrilling and sexy and daring and dangerous — with bold representations."

Who else is starring in 'Sinners?'

Warner Bros. Pictures

Besides Hailee Steinfeld, Sinners has a robust cast that'll make the storyline even more rousing. In no particular order, viewers will see:

  • Michael B. Jordan as Smoke/Stack
  • Jack O'Connell as Remmick
  • Omar Benson Miller as Cornbread
  • Li Jun Li as Grace
  • Jayme Lawson as Pearline
  • Wunmi Mosaku as Annie
  • Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim
  • Lola Kirke as Joan
  • Miles Caton as Sammy

When can I watch 'Sinners?'

Warner Bros. Pictures

The Sinners movie debuts April 18, 2025, so start planning your trip to your local theater ASAP!

Watch The Official Trailer For 'Sinners'

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Trigger warning: There's a few jump scares in the Sinners movie trailer that feature bloody moments.

We think the tagline for the film says it best: "You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home," (via Warner Bros. Pictures).

Are you ready to see Hailee Steinfeld take on a new daring role in the Sinners movie? Share your thoughts on Facebook!

Spring is finally doing its thing, and one of our most favorite parts of the weather warming up is all the fun foods we can snack on outside, bring to backyard potlucks, and prep for picnics. Luckily, Aldi’s aisles are stuffed with exciting (and affordable!) finds that’ll definitely elevate your springtime grocery game this year.

From sweet snacks (hello, sandwich cookies and Easter candy) to savory dinner bites (mmm, frozen pizza), these 10 new Aldi offerings are not to be missed this April. Plenty of ‘em are limited-time teams, too, so make sure to head to your closest Aldi store ASAP!

Scroll on for the best Aldi finds under $10 to add to your cart this April!

Aldi

Bake Shop Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

Oh em gee. These soft sandwich cookies remind us exactly of the Trader Joe's gingerbread dessert that went viral last year, but spring-ified – and we need 3 packs right now. Stuffed with a generous amount of cream cheese filling, the two chewy carrot cake-flavored cookies in this find suit it up to be the perfect spring snack for Easter Sunday and beyond. Plus, it's just $5 for a dozen!

Aldi

Merci European Chocolate Easter Assortment

Fancy European chocolates for Easter? Well, duh! This medley of individually-wrapped, stick-shaped chocolates from Merci highlight delicious flavors like coffee and cream, hazelnut almond, marzipan, and more for a nice lil' treat. Shop it for just $6!

Aldi

Specially Selected Mac & Cheese Pesto Pasta

While your typical frozen mac can be pretty basic, this $2.45 pesto-infused option in Aldi's frozen meal section is anything but. It highlights the luxe flavor notes of garlic and basil, alongside plenty of melty cheese. You can also find these shells in other varieties like Truffle Porcini Mushroom and Smoked Gouda this spring – yum!

Aldi

Emporium Selection Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese

It's giving bougie. It's giving decadent. It's giving unique! This $4 log of goat cheese is marinated in a wonderful blueberry-vanilla coating that lends it to a sweeter flavor – one that pairs extremely well with more savory crackers and salty prosciutto (or any other charcuterie meat you adore) for spring snackin'.

Aldi

Fremont Fish Market Oven Crispy Popcorn Shrimp

The fact that this crispy popcorn shrimp can be ready to eat within literal minutes already has us sold, but the fact that it's also only $6 really seals the deal. This heat-and-eat Aldi find would be perfect for a little outdoor at-home happy hour moment this spring, served alongside some homemade tartar sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon. We're drooling already!

Aldi

Breakfast Best Protein Buttermilk & Vanilla Waffles

You can mention protein once in conversation, and we're going crazy. That's why these new $4 protein-packed frozen waffles from Aldi have us reeling! One serving delivers 12 grams of protein in the form of a deliciously sweet waffle that you could easily enjoy for breakfast or as a stunning midnight snack to hit your personal protein goals!

Aldi

Bake Shop Banana Nut Muffins

Ugh, we are in dire need for a muffin right now. We'll definitely be running to Aldi as soon as humanly possible to add this $4 quartet of banana nut muffins to our cart! Big and bodacious, each one packs in a moist muffin base dotted with flavors of good ol' 'nana and some walnuts for crunch.

Aldi

Mama Cozzi's Thin & Crispy Spinach & Feta Pizza

This $5 find has spinach on it, so it's gotta be healthy, right?! Jokes aside, this frozen pizza topped with greens and feta is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner when you just can't stand to cook anything super intricate this spring. It definitely delivers on seasonal flavors, too, drenched in a lighter white garlic sauce in place of the more-expected marinara.

Aldi

Breakfast Best Chocolate Hazelnut Mini Stuffed Pancakes

Shut up. Shut up! Stuffed pancakes?! Aldi, you're killing it. These $4 mini-sized pancakes are filled with a chocolate-hazelnut spread – reminiscent of your classic Nutella – that qualifies them as a tasty bite for both breakfast and dessert.

Aldi

Sundae Shoppe Dairy Free Lemon Blueberry Sorbet

Lemon and blueberry is a stunning flavor combo come springtime, and the fact that it comes ready to eat in a refreshing sorbet form for $4 from Aldi is just insane. We'll be stocking up to enjoy this one all season long!

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