Books
The 15 best psychological thrillers
Do you love a psychological thriller, like Silence of the Lambs or Gone Girl? Us too. There’s nothing more gripping than a story where the character questions everything (and everyone) around them, while desperately clinging to their sanity. It’s why we love the work of authors such as Lisa Jewell and Stephen King. But they’re not the only ones writing books that will keep you hooked. The following is our round-up of the best psychological thriller books.
The People Next Door by Tony Parsons
The People Next Door by Tony Parsons
When Lana and Roman move to the countryside for a fresh start, they think they’re living in paradise. But when Lana discovers their home’s previous occupants died in mysterious circumstances, she can’t help but wonder: are their lives at risk? This gripping thriller from Tony Parsons is hard to put down.
Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson
Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson
Every time Christine goes to sleep, she wakes up with no memory of her identity. And every morning, the man beside her explains that he is her husband and that she had a terrible accident that destroyed her ability to make new memories. But is he telling the whole truth? This unnerving novel inspired a film starring Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth.
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
If you loved Gone Girl, you’ll love this domestic thriller. Millicent and her husband have been happily married for 15 years. Their secret to marital bliss? A shared interest in seducing lone women – and murdering them. But as their body count increases, they must go to more extreme lengths not to get caught…
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
25 years ago, in a large Chelsea house, a happy baby sat in her cot. Downstairs, three dead bodies had been decomposing in the kitchen for days. Who had been looking after the baby – and where did they go? Lisa Jewell is an expert in dark psychological thrillers, and The Family Upstairs is no exception.
The Brighton Mermaid by Dorothy Koomson
The Brighton Mermaid by Dorothy Koomson
When teenagers Nell and Jude find a dead body washed up on the beach, they call her the “Brighton mermaid”. Less than a month later, Jude disappears. Now, an adult Nell must find out what happened to the Brighton mermaid – and her best friend. This fast-paced ‘whodunnit’ is a truly gripping read.
The Whispers by Heidi Perks
The Whispers by Heidi Perks
When Anna doesn’t show up at the school gates, the morning after a night with her friends, her best friend Grace is suspicious – she knows Anna would never leave her husband and son. As the days pass, and she is confirmed as missing, Grace launches her own investigation. But it seems everyone is keeping secrets – even the mums at the school gates. This brilliant thriller has a big twist you won’t see coming.
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
No list of psychological thrillers would be complete without The Silence of the Lambs. For anyone who hasn’t read it (or seen the iconic 1991 film), it’s about an FBI trainee who enlists the help of a cannibalistic murderer, Hannibal Lecter, to help her track down a serial killer. This race-against-time novel introduces one of the most horrifying (and fascinating) characters of all time.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Paul Hawkins’ first thriller became a word-of-mouth sensation, selling 23 million copies. The plot follows Rachel, a troubled woman who lives her life vicariously through the couple she watches from her commuter train window. Until, one day, she witnesses something terrible – and must take action. This novel has plenty of shocking twists and will keep you guessing until the end.
Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan
Dear Amy by Helen Callaghan
A local girl has been missing for weeks when agony aunt Margot Lewis receives a letter from a woman who claims to have been kidnapped. The letter is signed by a girl who went missing more than 20 years ago. As more letters arrive, Margot must figure out if these missing cases could be linked.
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
U.S Marshal Teddy Daniels is sent to Shutter Island, home of a notorious hospital for the criminally insane, to find a patient who has gone missing. His investigation uncovers a web of corruption and tests the limits of his own sanity. Shutter Island is a timeless thriller you’ll return to again and again.
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall
From Mike’s perspective, he and his wife Verity have the perfect life together. From his wife’s perspective, Mike is dangerously unhinged and unable to accept that their relationship is over. This psychological suspense novel is about the line between desire and obsession. Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl, calls it “one of the most disturbing thrillers I’ve read in years.”
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith
When Guy and Charles meet on a train, they’re just strangers. Then Charles proposes a fatal pact – he will kill Guy’s wife in exchange for Guy killing Charles’ father. Soon, Guy becomes trapped in a sinister world where he must either kill or be killed. Patricia Highsmith’s explosive debut shines a light on the darker side of human nature.
Misery by Stephen King
Misery by Stephen King
Following a car crash, bestselling novelist Paul is taken in by Annie – who claims to be his “biggest fan”. But things take a sinister turn when she discovers Paul is planning to kill off her favourite character. Annie’s demands on Paul escalate as she keeps him hostage in her isolated cabin. Misery is Stephen King’s most suspenseful piece of work.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The young narrator knows very little about her new husband but she learns a great deal about his first wife, Rebecca, who died under mysterious circumstances. The young woman becomes obsessed with this absent figure, causing her to lose her grip on reality. This classic novel of desire, obsession and manipulation is a must-read.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Nick and Amy have a strained marriage. So, when she disappears, and a series of clues point to him, he is the number one suspect. But the truth behind her disappearance is even more shocking than anyone could have guessed. This twisty novel revolutionised the domestic thriller genre, and the characters will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.
Have we missed any must-read psychological thrillers? Let us know in the comments below.
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