Books
New domestic thriller books to keep you up at night
We think of home as a safe place, but a good domestic thriller exposes the danger lurking behind happy family photos. They play on our greatest fear: that the scariest thing imaginable could be on your doorstep. It could even be the person sitting right next to you…
While domestic thrillers have surged in popularity over the last few years, they have a rich history with books such as Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca and, later, A Dark-Adapted Eye by Barbara Vine and The Dark Room by Minette Walters.
This subgenre of crime novels focuses on secrets and psychological tension within intimate relationships, often within a family or marriage, and digs into the dynamics of trust and suspicion. There are often characters just like us – or people we know – in situations that are familiar, and this relatability makes the stories all the more chilling.
You may want to check that your doors and windows are locked before you begin reading our below section of the best domestic thrillers of 2025…
11 new domestic thrillers of 2025
The Bodies by Sam Lloyd
The Bodies by Sam Lloyd
When Joseph Carver wakes up one night to find his son Max washing blood off himself and swearing that what he did was an accident, he helps Max dispose of the body. Unbelievably, the worst is yet to come for Joseph when his son brings home a second body… This dark, unique psychological thriller really revs up the pace to full tilt as it races towards a punchy ending.
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
A small, white lie in a playground ends with Sloane becoming the nanny for the picture-perfect Lockhart family. From the outside, Jay and Violet have it all: wealth, status, and a great lifestyle. But as Sloane inserts herself deeper into their lives, it becomes clear she’s not the only one keeping secrets. Sloane is a brilliant character – a compulsive liar who is as untrustworthy as they come but who also has a vulnerable side and is just looking to belong. Fans of Frieda McFadden will love this stylish page-turner.
What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena
What Have You Done? By Shari Lapena
Nothing ever happens in the sleepy town of Fairhill, Vermont, where everyone knows everyone and the only entertainment for teenagers is telling ghost stories in the old graveyard. Then one morning, teenager Diana Brewer is found dead in a hayfield. With a long list of potential suspects, red herrings aplenty and a ghostly presence watching over it all, this is a fast-paced mystery made for reading in one sitting.
Believe by S. M. Govett
Believe by S. M. Govett
This police procedural hooks you in from the first page. Ten years ago, Natalie was assaulted by her boss, and when he walked free, she fell apart. Now, her husband is accused of the same crime, and a body has turned up in the woods near their home… Woven into her story is that of DI Stratton who is investigating the case. She’s still healing from her sister’s disappearance when she was 16 and has vowed to help other vulnerable girls. This intricately plotted thriller has the perfect balance of tension and investigative grit.
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
It’s Camilla’s first day back at work after maternity leave and her nerves are jangled. When she hears that a hostage situation is happening nearby, the last thing she expects is that her husband is involved – or that he’s the gunman… A thriller that genuinely pulls the rug from under your feet is a rarity but the latest from McAllister manages it. This is a nail-biter from start to finish.
Someone is Lying by Heidi Perks
Someone is Lying by Heidi Perks
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: Jess’ 17-year-old daughter Issie goes missing while travelling around Europe with her older boyfriend, Dylan. When the police won’t help, Jess takes matters into her own hands and travels to Portugal to find her daughter – but this is not a missing girl story. Weaving together recordings from a true crime podcast and the dual perspectives of Jess and Dylan’s mother Kay, this is a brilliantly tangled novel that wrong-foots the reader at every turn.
The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas
The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas
When Lena overhears a conversation between her seemingly lovely new neighbours, the Morgans, she becomes suspicious they might be planning a crime. Her friends and family tell she’s got it wrong, but it becomes an obsession for Lena to find out what’s going on. With believable characters, lots of action and tension that’s almost unbearable, this is one of those thrillers you’ll accidentally devour in one go.
To Love a Liar by L. V. Matthews
To Love A Liar by LV Matthews
Chris Fletcher is an undercover policeman who is lying low while he awaits the verdict of an inquest into his ex-lover’s death. His wife Jill has always stood by him, despite the secrets he has kept from her over the 20-plus years they’ve been married. When she goes missing, Chris is under further suspicion. We love a thriller than does something unexpected, and this taut, pacy read delivers surprises all the way to the end.
Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara
Someone In The Attic by Andrea Mara
This book starts with a bang: Anya is relaxing in her bath when she hears a noise upstairs. Thirty seconds later, someone drops from her attic door and she’s dead. Meanwhile, across town, Julia sees a video online of a man climbing out of an attic – and realises it was filmed inside her own house. Why would a stranger break in? Unless it’s not a stranger after all… Mara does a great job of creating an atmosphere of dread in this addictive thriller – you might want to leave the lights on while reading this one!
The Cleaner by Mary Watson
The Cleaner by Mary Watson
If you love dark and twisty thrillers, this is for you. After a seemingly chance encounter, Esmie accepts a job as a cleaner at The Woodlands, a mansion house in a posh neighbourhood in a small Irish university town. But does she have a sinister ulterior motive for being there? The author does a beautiful job of ramping up the tension, chapter by chapter, until you’re reading through your fingers.
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
Soon to be a Netflix film starring Blake Lively, this genuinely terrifying tale gets under the skin in a way that will haunt you long after you’ve finished it. Eve and Charlie can’t believe their luck when they buy their dream house for a bargain price. Then one night there’s a knock on the door: the father of the family on the doorstep claims to have lived in the house as a boy and asks to look around. What should be a short visit turns into a nightmare stay after a snowstorm blocks them all in – and that’s when strange things start happening around the house…
What’s your favourite domestic thriller? Let us know in the comments below…
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