Books
8 new psychological thrillers for 2026
There’s nothing like a spine-tingling psychological thriller to keep you reading until the early hours. This year, some of our favourite authors are back with gripping new stories filled with shocking twists, unsettling paranoia, and dark secrets waiting to be uncovered. From domestic suspense to high-stakes quests for survival, here are eight must-read psychological thrillers that will have you hooked. Which one will you pick up first?
Best psychological thriller books published this year
The Family Friend by Claire Douglas
The Family Friend by Claire Douglas
This new psychological thriller from the author of The New Neighbours ticks all the boxes: it has an intriguing premise, a clever didn’t-see-that-coming plot, and believable characters. When Imogen finds out she’s been left a house in a will by a woman named Dorothea – someone she’s not seen for 16 years – she’s confused. Then she discovers of a box with her own name on it and quickly realises the house isn’t just an inheritance but a message from Dorothea to investigate her death.
It Ends Here by Heidi Perks
It Ends Here by Heidi Perks
The calls come early one morning: five people are being held in a café on the Isle of Wight. Concerned relatives rush to the scene, where it soon becomes clear that the police don’t which of them is the hostage-taker and which are the victims. The mystery around the identity of the perpetrator is undeniably gripping, but it is the emotions of the hostages’ families that make this thriller so compelling.
Such a Nice Girl by Andrea Mara
Such a Nice Girl by Andrea Mara
The author of All Her Fault (now a TV series starring Sarah Snook) is back with another high-concept thriller that will keep readers glued to the page. Two best friends believe one of their adult daughters has tried to kill the other – both are missing and neither mother knows who is the victim, and who the perpetrator. The action kicks off from the first page and Mara keeps ramping up the tension right up to the jaw-dropping final twist.
Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena
Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena
This new thriller from the queen of the dysfunctional family drama takes the phrase ‘partners in crime’ to new levels – think Mr & Mrs Smith on steroids. Ted and Jill love their elegant Brooklyn brownstone and when the lifestyle they’ve become accustomed to looks to be in danger after a bad investment, they plot to kill a family member to inherit the money they need to hang on to it. With characters you’ll love to hate and red herrings galore, this smart, suspenseful thriller is made for reading in one sitting.
Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra
Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra
Tracy Sierra’s debut Nightwatching was a masterclass in suspense, and her new thriller is just as tense. Set against an unsettling backdrop of snow-buried mountains, the story takes place on a father/son ski weekend where everything seems to go wrong. Twelve-year-old Zach has been taught survival skills by his late mother – and he will need to use everything he’s learned if he is to escape alive. This is a tense, claustrophobic survival thriller that oozes with unease.
The Other You by Carys Green
The Other You by Carys Green
The new thriller is a chilling, thought-provoking read about the dark side of domestic life. Elena is struggling with the demands and stresses of new parenthood so, when her mother-in-law suggests getting a clone from More You, it seems like the perfect solution. But while having Nellie in their home is a definite help, things turn sinister when she starts speaking and acting just like Elena. As thought-provoking as it is gripping, this is one of those books you fly through but will think about long after you’ve finished.
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino
This darkly funny thriller will be deeply relatable to anyone who has experienced the frustrations of house-hunting in recent years. Margo and her husband have lost out on 11 properties, so when she finds her dream home, she is prepared to do whatever it takes to get it – and we really mean whatever. It’s been described as Gone Girl meets Selling Sunset and there’s definitely something of Amy Dunne in Margo’s unhinged behaviour, although this is a funnier read. The TV rights have already been bought, with Suzanne Heathcote of Killing Eve (season 3) fame writing the script.
The Exes by Leodora Darlington
The Exes by Leodora Darlington
When Natalie meets James, she thinks she’s found ‘the one’ and can finally move on from her disastrous past, which includes trauma, family estrangement and three dead ex-boyfriends. Then, one night after an argument with James, she comes to from a blackout and there’s a knife in her hand… But is Natalie a cold-blooded killer or is there something else going on? The Exes is a superbly entertaining read with mind-bending twists that keep coming until you’re not sure where you stand.
Have we missed any books off our list? Let us know in the comments below…
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Sorry I have to disagree with the “only child” idea. I’m the oldest of four girls and would class myself as a “reader”.
I love these emails. Always useful for discovering must read books.
I too have read all of the above books, and I usually devour 3 plus books a week. I rely on Dead Good to tell me in advance what to buy, and to recommend to friends. Once when buying a book, an older lady said to me “show me a reader and i will show you an only child”, and i think she was possible right!
I have read most of the books above. I loved the Shari Lapena which I thought one of her best, the Lisa Jewell and the Cara Hunter. I love it when authors write books in different formats like podcasts etc.
The Trap is on my TBR so I look forward to reading it next year.