Best Psychological Thriller Books
The best psychological thriller books will have your heart pounding from the beginning of the book until the end. Every fall Kirsten and I dive into thrillers with abandon. I wanted to make sure that I picked out the best books so that you do not have to guess which book to read next.
Have you ever wondered what makes a psychological thriller such a compelling read? I have found that a lot of psychological thrillers often have unreliable narrators as well. When you don’t know what to believe, you will feel the story’s tension. This fun post also fulfills a prompt for the Winter 2025 Reading Challenge.
Psychological thrillers will usually have complex plots that twist and turn with no clear ending. These are the books that are the most fun to read. There may or may not be a mystery component to the book. If you are looking for the most popular thrillers, we also have a post of this year’s most popular thrillers!
These are the best psychological thriller books Kirsten and I have personally read. We divided them into subgenres so that you will have an easier time picking your next book!
The Best Psychological Thrillers
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre of psychological thrillers. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
Best New Psychological Thriller
Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak – Click here to read the review and see more great books in the category
Best Popular Psychological Thriller
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – Click here to read the review and see more great books in the category
Best Psychological Suspense Thriller
The Push by Ashley Audrain – Click here to read the review and see more great books in the category
Best Dark Psychological Thriller
The Therapist by B. A Paris – Click here to read the review and see more great books in the category
Best Psychological Mystery Thriller
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh – Click here to read the review and see more great books in the category
Best Domestic Psychological Thriller
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendrix and Sarah Pekkanan – Click here to read the review and see more great books in the category
Best Young Adult Psychological Thriller
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus – Click here to read the review and see more great books in the category
*Best Psychological Thriller Books Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Best New Psychological Thriller Books
The Last One at the Wedding
Author: Jason Rekulak
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Are you looking for an epic mystery-thriller that will keep you invested until the last page? Jason Rekulak’s newest novel DELIVERED.
Frank has not spoken to his daughter, Maggie, in three years and is shocked when she calls to invite him to her wedding. When he arrives at the private estate where the wedding will take place with his sister and her foster child, Frank discovers Maggie is marrying billionaire heir, Aiden Gardner.
The family is not friendly, Maggie has no time for him, and Frank gets suspicious when he realizes that Aiden is suspected of having something to do with a missing woman. When a fellow wedding guest winds up dead, Frank goes on the hunt to figure out what secrets are being kept from him in a bid to save his daughter.
Why Kirsten loves it
Frank is an everyman way over his head with the antics of the 1%. While he strives to help his daughter in a bid to repair their relationship, he is met with a myriad of scenarios he can’t wrap his head around as he is thwarted at every turn. His outsider looking in perspective was an exceptional narrative tool and as he uncovered each secret, I was every bit as shocked as he was. At the 70% mark my mind literally looked like this – 🤯. I DEVOURED it and you will too.
Find this book in: Wedding Novels / Best New Thrillers of 2024/ Best Psychological Thriller Books / Giftable Books / Best Books of 2024
Plot
This is such a great thriller that will keep you on your toes. Amanda and Wendy meet for drinks after attending a support group for grieving parents. They devise the perfect plan to get revenge on the men who ruined their lives. They will each kill the person the other wants dead.
Meanwhile, Ruth has suffered a trauma of her own and is trying, unsuccessfully to get her life together. What starts off as a slower-paced story, sets the stage for a fast-paced, unexpected thriller.
Why Jackie loves it
As the stories of the women come together, the brilliant plot development becomes evident and I could not put it down. I listened to this one on a road trip and it made the time fly by #gifted
Find this book in: Beach Reads 2024 / Best New Thrillers 2024 / Serial Killer Thriller Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books
Middle of the Night
Author: Riley Sager
Year: 2024
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range:16+
Plot
Ethan Marsh’s best friend Billy disappeared 13 years ago while they were camping in Ethan’s backyard. Now, years later Ethan is still plagued with memories from that night. He cannot remember anything and even worse, he is seeing signs of Billy everywhere. Who could be playing such a terrible prank?
As Ethan tries to remember what happened that night, he becomes more convinced that Billy’s ghost is trying to give him clues.
Why Jackie loves it
I have read and ranked all of Riley Sager’s books so you know that I jumped at the chance to read this book.
Find this book in: Riley Sager Books Ranked / Best Psychological Thriller Books
Popular Psychological Thrillers
The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides
Year: 2019
Genre: Thriller
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This popular thriller book was Michaelides’s debut novel and sold over 65 million copies for good reason. This psychological thriller sucked me in immediately – a woman murders her husband and then doesn’t say a word for 10 years.
Convinced he can help, a psychologist named Theo transfers to the facility where Alice is staying to try to get the real story behind the fateful night of the murder.
Soon, he will become obsessed with Alice and finding out the truth behind the murders.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide Attempt, mental illness
Why Kirsten likes it
This is my first Michaelides book and I can see why this is a bestseller. The story is fast moving and unpredictable and the plot sucked me in immediately.
Find this book in: Unreliable Narrator Books / Best Mystery Books of All Time / Best Psychological Thriller Books
Girl on the Train
Author: Paula Hawkins
Year: 2015
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
Movie Starring Emily Blunt
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Rachel takes the same train every day and peers out the window watching people. She watched two people in particular as they led what appeared to be a perfect life until one day she saw something terrible while watching them.
She reports it to the police but, can they trust a dysfunctional alcoholic? This is a domestic thriller story that will have you questioning who is telling the truth from the beginning until the end. Unreliable narrators like Rachel make the best page-turners! You’ll never know what to believe!
Trigger Warnings
Alcoholism
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a thriller that is unexpected and original. The unreliable narrator is one of my favorite thriller tropes and Hawkins did it to perfection in this book.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved to hate Rachel. She is the perfect unreliable narrator and I never guessed what would happen next.
Find this book in: Books with Stalkers / Domestic Thrillers / Unreliable Narrators / Psychological Thriller Books / British Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
The Woman in the Window: A Novel
Author: A.J. Finn
Year: 2018
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Time Bestseller
Age Range:16+
Plot
If you love old movies, you will adore this book. It is a spin on Hitchcock’s Rear Window and features an agoraphobic narrator who is often unreliable.
Anna Fox lives alone in her house. She is agoraphobic and cannot leave, so she sits at her window and watches everyone in the neighborhood.
When she sees something across the street, she is sure there has been a crime but, what is real and what is imagined? Amy Adams stars in the Netflix adaptation of this book.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love the nod to Hitchcock. It puts a new spin on a classic!
Why Jackie loves it
I love the fact that I was never sure what was real and what was made up. This is a book with an unreliable narrator that I really liked/
Find this book in: Unreliable Narrator Books / Psychological Thriller Books / Books About Mental Illness
Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Year: 2012
Genre: Thriller
More info: #1 New York Times Bestseller
One of Time’s 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is a psychological thriller book that almost everyone had heard of when it became a hit movie. It is the perfect example of what happens when a marriage goes terribly wrong. You will be questioning this book from the first page to the last.
On her fifth wedding anniversary, Amy Dunne mysteriously disappears. At the top of the suspect list is her husband Nick who seems perfect to the outside world. But, Nick and Amy are not who they appear to be.
There are so many twists and turns in this book that is the epitome of a domestic thriller and, if you love unreliable narrator books, this one is right up your alley. You may end up hating the characters, but this is one of the most popular thriller books ever written.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is such a great psychological thriller. I never knew what was going to happen and it kept me turning the pages to see how this thriller would end.
Why Jackie loves it
This is another book where I loved to hate both Nick and Amy. They are both despicable which adds to the fun of this book
Find this book in: Domestic Thriller Books / Best Mystery Books / Unreliable Narrator / Popular Thriller Books / Nonlinear Narrative Novels / Best Psychological Thriller Books
Psychological Suspense Thriller Books
The Push
Author: Ashley Audrain
Year: 2021
Genre: Thriller
More info: January 2021 GMA Book Club Pick
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is a domestic noir that will scare the pants off most mothers. It’s compulsively readable.
Blythe Conner comes from a long line of bad mothers, but she’s determined not to be one. When she has Violet, she struggles to connect with her.
The reader is left wondering if Blythe is a mother who sees the worst in her child or if there is actually something off with Violet; something that even her husband can’t see. There is a reason this domestic thriller was chosen by GMA, it is a crazy good read and will have you on the edge of your seat.
Trigger Warnings
Child death, mental illness
Why Kirsten loves it
This was a crazy domestic thriller that was a compulsive read. I could not put it down. I was never sure if Blythe had become like the bad mothers before her or if Violet was mentally ill. The constant questioning had me turning the pages.
Find this book in: Books About Mothers and Motherhood / Psychological Thriller Books / Domestic Noir Books / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Best Books of 2021
The Woman in Cabin 10
Author: Ruth Ware
Year: 2016
Genre: Mystery Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Shortly after being burglarized, a travel journalist boards a small luxury cruise liner to cover its inaugural voyage. When she thinks she sees a passenger thrown overboard – but everyone is still accounted for – she has to decide if what she saw was real or only in her head.
Why Kirsten loves it
This book wasn’t as creepy as some of Ware’s others, but it still kept me on the edge of my seat. You just might want to wait until you are off a boat to read this one! If you love thriller novels, this book is a must-read.
Adaptation Information
Netflix is adapting this book into a movie starring Kiera Knightley. Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham, Art Malik, Gitte Witt, David Ajala and more have recently been cast as well. Release date is TBD
Find this book in: Sailing Novels / Isolation Books / Psychological Thriller Books / Unreliable Narrator Books / Books Becoming Movies
Then She Was Gone
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2018
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Nominated for 2018 Goodreads Choice Award
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter with her whole life ahead of her until she disappeared without a trace. Now, after ten years, her mother cannot stop looking for answers. When she meets a man in a cafe, she thinks she may be able to start a relationship after so many years. But when she meets Floyd’s daughter and she looks just like Ellie, her unanswered questions begin to haunt her.
Trigger Warnings
Kidnapping Child death
Why Jackie loves it
To me, this is by far the creepiest of all of Lisa Jewell’s books. While I did have some idea of what the ending was going to be, I was not prepared for how creepy this thriller book would be. I think the point of this was to take the fear factor up a few notches. This book left me wanting to keep my kids a little closer to home. If you are looking for a creepy thriller, this is a heart-pounding pick.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books / Psychological Thriller Books / The Best Domestic Thriller Books
Dark Psychological Thriller Books
The Therapist
Author: B. A. Paris
Year: 2021
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling author
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Alice and Leo move into a house on “The Circle”, an exclusive gated community. When Alice discovers a hidden drawer containing letters from a woman named Nina, who was a patient of the previous owner—a therapist, she decides to find out more about the therapist who lived there before.
As Alice becomes obsessed with the past, she is met with lies and confusion until she is unsure what is true. It’s the perfect Halloween thriller book!
Why Jackie loves it
I listened to this book and I have to say that I think it added so much to the suspense! I love the way the narrators added to the story.
Find this book in: Halloween Thriller Books / Psychological Thriller Books
Darling Rose Gold
Author: Stephanie Wrobel
Year: 2020
Genre: Thriller
More info: USA Today and Edgar Award-nominated Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Don’t let the gorgeous cover of this book fool you. Darling Rose Gold is a dark and sinister look at a dysfunctional, abusive mother-daughter relationship.
For 18 years, Rose Gold thought that she was always one step away from death but no tests could ever find anything wrong with her. Her mother, Patty Watts goes to jail for 5 years for child abuse and when she gets out, Rose Gold lets Patty move in with her.
Trigger Warnings
Child Abuse
Why Kirsten loves it
I couldn’t put this book down and I can’t give much about the story away without ruining it. If you are a thriller lover, this one is for you.
Find this book in: Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Thriller Books / Books with Colors in the Title / Books about Mental Illness & Mental Health
Plot
Delaney did it again with this heart-racing domestic thriller about newborns that were switched at birth. There were times when my heart was beating so quickly I had to ask people what would happen next.
I was on the edge of my seat for the entire last half of the book and found myself wishing I had medication to calm me down!
Why Kirsten loves it
It was thrilling up until the very last page. This is a perfect book to read or add to your list and one of the best psychological thriller books we have read!
Find this book in: Best Domestic Thriller Books / Ultimate List of Best Thriller Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books
The Perfect Daughter
Author: DJ Palmer
Year: 2021
Genre: thriller
More info: Bestselling Author of The Husband
Age Range: 16+
Plot
When police come to Grace’s door, she is terrified that something has happened to her teenage daughter, Penny. Instead, she finds out her daughter has been arrested for murder.
What follows is a year and a half in a psychiatric facility while Penny awaits her trial and experts try to determine if the multiple personalities are real or a made-up ruse to get away with murder. Because Eve, the protector, has kept Penny and the other personalities away.
Trigger Warnings
Mental illness
Why Kirsten loves it
This thriller is brilliantly crafted and had me guessing until the very end. Thank you to Macmillian Audio for my ALC of this book. It was amazing to listen to as each personality had a distinct voice. If you are looking for books that are psychological thrillers, this is one that I couldn’t put down!
Why Jackie Loves it
This thriller was so well-written. I was impressed by the way Palmer wrote the Dissociative Identity Disorder. I am not an expert in this area at all so I have no idea if this is accurate, but the entire premise made the story compelling and unputdownable
Find this book in:Books about Mental Illness / Best Psychological Thriller Books
Psychological Mystery Books
I Let You Go
Author: Clare Mackintosh
Year: 2016
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
The book begins with a mother’s worst nightmare. Her son slips out of her grip and into the street where he is struck and killed by a car. This happens almost immediately. This was important to me so that it would not be too heart-wrenching.
Now the search is on for the driver of the car. The police are trying to find the driver of the car and are willing to chase any lead to find answers in the horrendous hit-and-run.
Jenna moves to the Welsh coast to escape the loss of her child and her painful past.
Trigger Warnings
Death of a child
Why Jackie loves it
This domestic thriller grabbed me, shook me, and then gently put me down. I was given a ride and wasn’t sure what hit me. This book had a few things that I was not expecting and I loved it. Years after reading it, it is still one of my favorite thrillers I have ever read.
Find this book in: British Mystery Books / Popular Thriller Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books
The Guest List
Author: Lucy Foley
Year: 2020
Genre: Mystery
More info: New York Times Bestseller, June 2020 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I’ve just read THE thriller
Why Kirsten loves it
I’ve become very picky about thrillers recently and this one is hands down my favorite of the year so far. It also made our Best of 2020 list!
Adaptation Information
This story is soon to be a TV series on Hulu. Liz Tigelaar is set to write and produce the show.
Find this book in: Locked Room Mysteries / Books Like People We Meet on Vacation / Best British Mysteries / Books Becoming Movies in 2024 / Best Beach Reads / British Books /Best Psychological Thriller Books
Big Little Lies
Author: Liane Moriarty
Year: 2014
Genre: Thriller Mystery
More info: Emmy and Golden Globe Winning Series
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This book is Liane Moriarty at her finest. It’s all about a group of mothers in a community who share some big lies. Their friendships take center stage, but there is a fair amount of family drama as well in this domestic noir. This is one of the most popular thriller books around.
This novel was recently turned into a show on HBO starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and more. This book has a little bit of everything from ex-husbands and scandals. Sometimes little lies are so much more.
Trigger Warnings
Domestic Abuse
Why Kirsten likes it
Drama, scandal, and murder are in perfect combination in this thriller. There is a reason it is so popular and the adaptation of the show was done really well!
Why Jackie likes it
This is my favorite Liane Moriarty book. It is full of twists and turns but does not feel too ridiculous or long. It was just the right amount of scandal to keep me turning the pages.
Find this book in: Books About Motherhood / Domestic Thriller Books / Best Mystery Books /Best Psychological Thriller Books
Domestic Psychological Thriller Books
The Wife Between Us
Author:Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Year: 2018
Genre: Thriller
More info: Instant New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Everything that you think you know in this book is just an assumption. You can assume that you are wrong. I cannot say much about this book because I do not want to spoil anything but, it is such a perfect domestic thriller.
Warning: do not start it if you don’t have time to finish it. Nellie is so excited about her upcoming wedding that is just days away. She cannot shake the feeling that someone is following her. At first glance, this is a thriller about a jealous ex-wife and the woman who is replacing her.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and question what you think you know! I love that the plot seemed clear and yet I could not shake the feeling I was missing something the entire time. I was definitely on the wrong track.
Why Jackie loves it
The plot seems pretty straightforward when you start reading the book but then there are hints that things are not exactly what they seem to be. I did not understand the full story until the end of this thrilling book and loved every minute.
Find this book in: Unreliable Narrator Books / Popular Thriller Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books / The 20 Best Books of 2018
His and Hers
Author: Alice Feeney
Year: 2020
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
His and Hers is the best psychological thriller I have read this year. There are two sides to every story and this one had me guessing until the last page. I had to go back and re-read.
Anna Andrews works at the BBC and has her dream job as an anchor until she doesn’t and she will do anything to get it back. When she has to return to her hometown to cover murders that are centered around her, nothing could complicate the situation more…..until her ex-husband is the lead investigator.
Oh, and he knows the first victim as well. This book is a puzzle that isn’t complete until the last page.
Why Jackie loves it
Every one of Alice Feeney’s books has me questioning what I know and going back to re-read parts of the book. Only then do I know what Feeney has been planning from the very beginning and in hindsight, it clear.
Find this book in: Best Psychological Thriller Books/ Best Books of 2020
Rebecca
Author: Daphne Du Maurier
Year: 1938
Genre: Thriller
More info: National Book Award Winner, 1938
Anthony Award Winner, 2000
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The OG psychological thriller book, Rebecca is a book set in Cornwall that will leave you checking behind you when you walk down a dark hallway.
The new Mrs. de Winter is haunted by her husband’s first wife, Rebecca. The deceit will have you second-guessing everything you read while you yell at the pages. It is a chilling novel about a naive second wife discovering the truth behind the wife who came before her.
The Netflix book adaptation stars Lily James and it reignited this popular thriller book’s success. If you have not read this book, it is a perfect book for fall.
Why Kirsten loves it
One of the most acclaimed psychological thriller authors, Daphne Du Maurier is at her best in this chilling psychological thriller. Everything about this gothic thriller will make you feel a little bit uncomfortable. I love Du Maurier and I have read this classic more than once.
Why Jackie loves it
I was at least 50 pages into this book when I called Kirsten and asked if I would ever learn the new Mrs. De Winter’s name. The fact that the main character remains nameless throughout the book adds to the thrill of the book. It is a classic that everyone should read at least once.
Find this book in: Best Mystery Novels / Popular Thriller Books / Unreliable Narrator Books / Best Classic Books / British Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books
The Last Mrs. Parrish
Author: Liv Constantine
Year: 2017
Genre: Thriller
More info: December 2017 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I found this stalker book to be enjoyable if only because of the plotting of Amber Patterson. I adored being in the head of the villain.
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this popular thriller book because it was a Reese Witherspoon pick AND because I heard wonderful things about it. I had read another thriller in January so I completely predicted what was going to happen in this book. As with all thrillers, especially domestic thrillers, when the element of surprise is missing, it’s not as good a read. Still, if you are looking for a very readable psychological thriller book, this is a great pick.
Find this book in: Best Psychological Thriller Books / Best Domestic Thriller Books/ Popular Thriller Books
Psychological Thriller Books for Young Adults
One of Us is Lying
Author: Karen M. McManus
Year: 2017
Genre: YA Thriller
More info: Named one of the ten best books of the year by Entertainment Weekly
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
This YA locked room mystery is one of my favorites on the list. It is the breakfast club meets murder and I am obsessed. The Brain, the Beauty, the Criminal, The Athlete, and the Outcast are all in detention together. Only, Simon, the outcast is dead before he can leave the room.
With everyone holding onto secrets and everyone with a motive, can you figure out who did it?
Why Jackie loves it
This is a mystery and psychological thriller wrapped up in one. This is one book where you will not guess the ending.
Find this book in: Best Psychological Thriller Books /Locked Room Mysteries to Die For / Best Mystery Books of All Time
Plot
Hello Dark Academia. Centered around Devon and Chiamaka, the only black students at an elite private school, this is one wild thriller. After being chosen by prefects on the first day of their senior year, Devon and Chiamaka quickly become the targets of the mysterious Aces – a dangerous gossip girl-type character out to ruin their lives.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I was on pins and needles as this thriller unraveled, addressing systemic racism in private institutions in the process.
Find this book in: Books Set in High School / Dark Academia Novels / Stalker Books / Psychological Thriller Books / Fun Books for Teens / Best Books of 2021
Plot
At a prestigious private school in New England, a group of kids known as “The Players” rule the school. They get top grades, get into the best schools, and rule the social scene. But when one of the girls in the group is murdered, her best friend Jill begins to investigate who the real murderer is and just how dark their privileged world is.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a book that will make you think about what privilege means and the lengths people will take to get what they want. I read it in one sitting because the story drew me in. I couldn’t go to sleep until it was done!
Find this book in: Books About Secret Societies / Best Mystery Books / Best Psychological Thriller Books / Books Set in High School / Fun Books for Teens
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Psychological Thriller Book?
The best psychological thriller books will usually have complex plots that twist and turn with no clear ending. These are the books that are the most fun to read. There may or may not be a mystery component to the book. We believe that a book can be a psychological thriller and a mystery simultaneously. These are often our favorite thrillers.
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Epilogue
What is your favorite psychological thriller book? Is it on my list? I would love to hear what books I should add to my TBR.
