Jaws (1974) by Peter Benchley is a gripping thriller that spawned the iconic horror film. Set in the fictional seaside town of Amity, the novel follows police chief Martin Brody as he grapples with a monstrous great white shark terrorizing the community. As the attacks escalate, Brody teams up with a grizzled fisherman, Quint, and a marine biologist, Hooper, to hunt the predator—but tensions, secrets, and the shark’s relentless savagery push them to their limits.
Benchley blends pulse-pounding suspense with themes of human greed, nature’s unpredictability, and man versus beast. The book’s darker subplots (including infidelity and mob ties) add complexity, while its visceral shark encounters made beachgoers wary for decades. A cornerstone of creature horror, Jaws remains a masterclass in tension.
