Perhaps you know that feeling? Your head is bursting and your eyes are dry from reading so much, but you just can’t put that book down! One of my favorite things to do is to nestle in bed with a cup of tea on the side, and a psychological thriller that will keep me hooked!
Here are of some of my favorite psychological thrillers that will keep you hooked until the end. I’ve also included their scores from good reads so you know what you are in for when you decide to give one of these books a go!
1. Verity, by Colleen Hoover
4.31
Lowen Ashleigh gets the opportunity of a lifetime when Jeremy Crawford hires her to complete his wife Verity’s series of popular books. Verity, a famous author, is unable to do the job herself due to an unfortunate accident.
When Lowen goes through Verity’s office hoping to find some material to help her get started, she finds Verity’s unfinished autobiography full of disturbing admissions.
At first Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, but when she starts to develop romantic feelings for him, she thinks he could benefit from learning the truth about his wife.
Bone-chilling, dark, horrifying, brilliant, unputdownable are but a few words that have been used to describe Verity. You won’t want to sleep once you’ve got your hands on this psychological thriller!
2. The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides
4.18
Famous painter Alicia Berenson, has the perfect life. She lives with her popular photographer husband in a grand house in one of London’s wealthiest neighborhoods. One night when her husband returns home after a photoshoot, she shoots him five times in the face.
After that Alicia refuses to talk or give any sort of explanation. The case grips the public imagination.
Criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber is obsessed with Alicia’s case. He is determined to learn the truth and find out what happened that night.
The Silent Patient is a slow burn psychological thriller with a jaw dropping reveal in the end!
3. The Stepdaughter, by Georgina Cross
4.18
Vanessa’s stepdaughter (a champion swimmer) goes missing from the backyard pool. At the same time the neighbor’s house goes up in flames. What is the connection?
Vanessa’s husband Tripp has questions, and so do the police. Why did Vanessa not warn her stepdaughter to get out of the pool the moment she smelled fire coming from the neighbors’ house. Is she actually an evil step mother?
Vanessa has questions too after she finds surprising messages on Mia’s phone from her husband Tripp.
And then there are the neighbors. What do they know?
The Stepdaughter is told from multiple points of view. It is a fast paced psychological thriller that will keep you guessing all the way!
4. The Secret History, by Donna Tartt
4.11
Inspired by their classes in the Ancient Greek studies program, six eccentric students at an elite college in New England engage in a lifestyle of unconventional thinking that goes beyond the margins of everyday morality.
The story is told by Richard Papen (the latest edition to the group) who reflects on the sequence of events that led up to killing their fellow student Bunny.
The Secret History is a slow paced (somewhat rambling on at places) mesmerizing read from start to finish!
The gruesome acts of these students will chill you to the bone!
5. Jar of Hearts, by Jennifer Hillier
4.07
Geo, Angela Wong and Kaiser Brody are best friends in high school. One night after a party Angela vanishes without a trace.
Flash forward 14 years later: Kaiser has become a detective and Geo has a successful career, but then she loses everything when Angela’s remains are found in the woods behind her house.
Calvin James (Geo’s psychopathic ex-boyfriend from high school) is on trial for the murder of Angela and strangling four other woman, and he is sentenced for life.
As part of a plea deal, Geo is sentenced to 5 years for her role in Angela’s death. But Kaiser feels there is much more to the story, especially when new strangled victims keep showing up…
Full of lies and secrets, Jar of Hearts is a disturbing psychological thriller which will keep you guessing until its surprising end!
6. Into the Darkest Corner, by Elizabeth Haynes
4.07
What makes a woman check her front door, windows and drawers several times a day for hours on end, just so she can feel safe?
We meet OCD Cathy: afraid of every sound she hears, barely sleeping, passing out from fear and not trusting anyone—not even the police!
Four years ago she feel in love with Lee; the man of her dreams. He was handsome and charming—everything a woman would want in a man. Until he wasn’t!
Lee ends up in Prison for brutally attacking and abusing Cathy.
But now, four years later, Lee is released from prison and Cathy’s traumatic life is about to get worse…
Into the Darkest Corner is one of those books that makes you hold your breath for the poor main character. This book is scary and hits close to home, because a story like this could happen to any woman!
7. The Perfect Family, by Shalini Boland
4.07
Gemma and Robert Balentine have a perfect life with their two little daughters, Katie and Emma.
One morning while Gemma gets ready for work, her youngest daughter, six year old Katie, mysteriously disappears from the house (only to be found by Gemma’s mother- in- law, Diane, a few streets away).
Sigh of relief. Story over!
But this is just the beginning…
Gemma blames herself for Katie’s disappearance. If she wasn’t so busy, she would have been there to properly supervise Katie. She would also have more time to spend with Emma who is becoming increasingly more difficult to handle at home and at school.
On Diane’s insistence, Gemma hires a live-in nanny who seems responsible, modest and helpful.
The girls love their new nanny, but instead of life getting easier; things start to fall apart even more.
You’ll want to keep on turning the pages of The Perfect Family to find out what lies behind the chain of sinister events that just keep on coming and coming…
8. The Secret Mother, by Shalini Boland
4.03
Tessa Markham’s twins died at birth, and her husband left her in the aftermath. One day she returns home after visiting the graves of her babies, when she finds a boy in her kitchen.
The boy believes Tessa is his mother, but Tessa has no idea who he is or where he came from!
Tessa calls her ex-husband who informs the police. Soon after, Tessa’s life turns into a nightmare when the public labels her a child abductor.
The press start to harass her, her journalist neighbor is out for a story and the police don’t believe her because she has a questionable past.
The only person who doesn’t think Tessa is crazy is her boss Ben.
But has Tessa in fact lost her mind? And who can we trust in this strange story?
The secret mother is a page turner filled with twists and turns. Be prepared for a thrilling ride!
9. The Woman in The Window, by A.J Finn
3.95
Anna Fox—a psychologist—went through something so traumatic that she is unable to leave her house. She spends her days drinking wine, taking pills to control her anxiety, watching movies and observing her neighbors.
One day while Anna Fox is spying through the window, she sees a terrible thing happening in her neighbors’ house.
Anna is so drugged and confused most of the time that the one has to wonder has she imagined it all?
The woman in the window is packed with suspense. Hang on tight. You won’t see the end coming!
10. Behind Her Eyes, by Sarah Pinborough
3.79
On a rare night out, single mom Louise meets a man in a bar and they hit off immediately. At the end of the night they share a drunken kiss before they part ways.
On Monday when Louise arrives at work, she meets her new boss David who turns out to be the man from the bar. The chemistry is still undeniably there between them.
Louise later runs into Adele, David’s wife, and they start to become friends behind David’s back.
As Louise learns more about Adele, she begins to wonder why Adele is so afraid of David.
Behind Her Eyes is not your usual kind of domestic violence thriller. Keep an open mind and be prepared for a touch of the supernatural. It has a chilling surprise ending that you won’t forget!
Hope you enjoyed this brief overview of my top psychological thrillers up to date. Do you have any personal favorite thrillers you would like to share in the comments? I’m always on the lookout for some new gripping reads to add to my reading list:)
If you enjoyed this post, perhaps you might also like 10 Books Every Woman Should Read before she turns 30
Sincerely,
Elaine
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