The most recommended new psychological thriller books

Who picked these books? Meet our 131 experts.

131 authors created a book list connected to new psychological thriller, and here are their favorite new psychological thriller books.
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What type of new psychological thriller book?

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Book cover of Truly, Darkly, Deeply

Niki Mackay Author Of The Due Date

From my list on thrillers with unreliable narrators.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have written nine crime novels, mostly psychological thrillers, but some blend procedural and PI elements and two are gangland stories. I went to the BRIT school in the 90’s and studied Drama and English Literature at University. I always think that my Performing Arts background gave me a great tool kit for ‘getting into character’ which is useful for writing. I also have an MA in journalism but I definitely prefer fiction to fact. I love the immediacy of first person prose and I am a sucker for an unreliable narrator.

Niki's book list on thrillers with unreliable narrators

Niki Mackay Why did Niki love this book?

This story is told from the perspective of a serial killer's stepdaughter, Sophie, and I swallowed it in two sittings.

Matty Melgren, Sophie’s stepfather, is dying and wants to meet. He’s in prison and his imminent death takes Sophie right back to her childhood. The story is told from Sophie’s perspective as a twelve-year-old observing the breakdown of her mother and Matty’s relationship and as an adult debating how much she wants answers and what they might cost her.

I loved the dual timeline and thought it was a really fresh way to approach a serial killer novel. 

By Victoria Selman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Truly, Darkly, Deeply as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

**THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**

'Victoria Selman is an exciting and powerfully fresh voice' Patricia Cornwell

Twelve-year-old Sophie and her mother, Amelia-Rose, move to London from Massachusetts where they meet the charismatic Matty Melgren, who quickly becomes an intrinsic part of their lives. But as the relationship between the two adults fractures, a serial killer begins targeting young women with a striking resemblance to Amelia-Rose.

When Matty is eventually sent down for multiple murder, questions remain as to his guilt -- questions which ultimately destroy both women. Nearly twenty years later, Sophie receives a letter from Battlemouth Prison informing her…


Book cover of Eastbound

Yvonne Osborne Author Of Let Evening Come

From Yvonne's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Organic Gardener Environmentalist Reader Traveler Birder

Yvonne's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Yvonne Osborne Why did Yvonne love this book?

I loved the setting (Trans Siberian Train) the drama, and originality.

By Maylis De Kerangal, Jessica Moore (translator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Eastbound as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

** SELECTED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES AS 1 OF THE 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR **

** INCLUDED ON THE NEW YORKER'S BEST BOOKS OF 2023 **

“At The New York Times Book Review, I think it's fair to say we were dazzled by the way the author creates . . . a miniature masterpiece of narrative tension and compression” – Emily Eakin, "The Book Review" podcast

In this gripping tale, a Russian conscript and a French woman cross paths on the Trans-Siberian railroad, each fleeing to the east for their own reasons

Perfect for fans of Maggie…


Book cover of Wrong Place Wrong Time

Greta Boris Author Of The Cliff House

From Greta's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Greta's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Greta Boris Why did Greta love this book?

This was time travel at its best. The book began with a crime. The main character travels back through time and makes discoveries that finally enable her to prevent the tragedy from happening. The nature of time and one's understanding of their personal history were explored in a thought provoking way that never slowed down the plot.

By Gillian McAllister,

Why should I read it?

11 authors picked Wrong Place Wrong Time as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

CAN YOU STOP A MURDER WHEN IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED?

'Perfection, every word, every moment. One of the best books I've ever read' LISA JEWELL
'Ingenious. A book to blow your mind and break your heart' ERIN KELLY
'Extraordinary' HARRIET TYCE
'I am totally in awe. This is one story I will not forget' HEIDI PERKS
'Genre-bending and totally original. A tour de force!' CLAIRE DOUGLAS

PRE-ORDER THE BOOK EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT
_________

It's every parent's nightmare.

Your happy, funny, innocent son commits a terrible crime: murdering a complete stranger.

You don't know who. You don't know why. You…


The Vixen Amber Halloway

By Carol LaHines,

Book cover of The Vixen Amber Halloway

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Carol LaHines Author Of Distant Flickers: Stories of Identity & Loss

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

The anthology form unites diverse voices around a common theme—in the case of Distant Flickers, identity and loss. The stories in the anthology explore intense personal relationships—of mother and child, old lovers, etc. Some of the stories are in the moment and some recounted with the perspective of time, some are fable-like, some formal, and others more colloquial. Reading them the reader is struck by the variety of approaches a writer might take to a subject. The device of the contributor’s notes enables the reader to see the story behind the story and how life informs art—life furnishing the raw material or day residue of the story.  

Carol's book list on themed anthologies

What is my book about?

Ophelia, a professor of Dante, is stricken when she discovers that her husband Andy has been cheating on her with a winsome colleague. What follows is Ophelia’s figurative descent into hell as she obsessively tracks her subjects, performs surveillance in her beat-up Volvo, and moves into the property next door to Amber’s, which has gone into foreclosure.

She spies on the lovers, growing more and more estranged from reality. Andy’s betrayal reawakens the earlier trauma of abandonment by her mother at the age of eight. When Andy and Amber become engaged, Ophelia snaps. The story is a jailhouse confessional, a…

The Vixen Amber Halloway

By Carol LaHines,

What is this book about?

Ophelia, a professor of Dante, is stricken when she discovers that her husband Andy has been cheating on her with a winsome colleague. What follows is Ophelia's figurative descent into hell as she obsessively tracks her subjects, performs surveillance in her beat-up Volvo, and moves into the property next door to Amber's, which has gone into foreclosure. She spies on the lovers, growing more and more estranged from reality. Andy's betrayal reawakens the earlier trauma of abandonment by her mother at the age of eight. When Andy and Amber become engaged, Ophelia snaps. The story is a jailhouse confessional, a…


Book cover of Like Sapphire Blue

Bryony Best Author Of The Girl from Pompey: Bloodshed in the Hampshire Cabin

From my list on thrillers that aren't predictable or snail-paced.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have a wealth of knowledge and experience for living through tragic situations from my young adult life. I have overcome a traumatic childhood, alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental health. I find psychology fascinating; I have personally had many attempts by others to take my life. I have survived violent attacks, stalkers, and abuse. I love thriller books that have psychology embedded alongside many life lessons.  

Bryony's book list on thrillers that aren't predictable or snail-paced

Bryony Best Why did Bryony love this book?

This book is a coming of age, thriller book that blew me away. I had no idea what the book was about when I read it and I did not even know which genre it was.

The storyline flicks between the past and present with the present chapters giving you a sneak peek into a troubled relationship between a lesbian couple. The past chapters are full of unanswered questions, heartache, and some truly shocking experiences.

The book is gripping and deep, it feels like you are inside the MCs mind. The traumatic life experiences she is forced to go through alongside becoming an adult is probably fascinating to others. I felt I could identify with many of the experiences so I enjoyed reading it for a comforting reason. The shocking ending is truly beautiful and satisfying.

By Marisa Billions,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Like Sapphire Blue as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“Your eyes are amazing. I’ve never seen a blue like that.”

Emma Landry is tough, independent, beautiful, and smart. Being an outcast unable to identify with her classmates, she was willing to do whatever it takes to climb her way out of poverty.

“What color would you say they are?”

Like Sapphire Blue

Having never known a mother’s love, her father “Bear”, raised her on the wrong side of the tracks in a wealthy town.

When success beckons, the woman she’s been in love with is, finally, within her grasp. Life is now worth living and loving.

That is, until…


Book cover of The House of Mirrors

Nick Quantrill Author Of Sound of the Sinners

From Nick's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Crime writer Football North of England Psychological thriller Espionage

Nick's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Nick Quantrill Why did Nick love this book?

Sometimes I love a book because it’s firmly within the area of my reading taste, sometimes a book surprises me. I read Erin’s book ahead of interviewing her at a book festival and from the first page, I was blown away. ‘The House of Mirrors’ is a story of buried secrets and the lies we tell ourselves to maintain the world we’ve built. Flitting between the present day and the 1990s, Alice, our protagonist, is a wonderful creation and the entire novel is built around her somewhat skewed and damaged world view. Infused with lovely Gothic overtones, the first chapter is enough to pull any reader in.

By Erin Kelly,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The House of Mirrors as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'A bold, beautiful, sexy, full-throttle thriller: immaculately constructed and rich with detail, it is a gorgeous, creepy Gothic story for our times' NICCI FRENCH
'The queen of psychological gothic reigns' GILLIAN McALLISTER
'Literary crime novel is justified here' SUNDAY TIMES
'Mysteries galore ... properly chilling' OBSERVER

One of them has killed before.
One of them will kill again.

In the sweltering summer of 1997, straight-laced, straight-A student Karen met Biba - a bohemian and impossibly glamorous aspiring actress. A few months later, two people were dead and another had been sent to prison.

Having stood by Rex as he served…


Book cover of I Could Live Here Forever

Daisy Alpert Florin Author Of My Last Innocent Year

From Daisy's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Novelist Mother Reader Feminist

Daisy's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Daisy Alpert Florin Why did Daisy love this book?

I Could Live Here Forever tells the story of a relationship between an aspiring writer and a heroin addict.

Hanna Halperin writes beautifully about loneliness and family, grief and abandonment, and the ways we use love to fill holes in ourselves that can maybe never be filled. 

The story is gripping and sad, but never manipulative or maudlin. I loved Halperin’s clear, straightforward style and the realistic way she presented the ripple effects of addiction. 

By Hanna Halperin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Could Live Here Forever as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A BELLETRIST BOOK CLUB PICK

“Halperin’s radiant second novel walks the fine line between the longing for couplehood and the torture of codependency. . . . Let the rapturous intimacy and gut-churning ups and downs begin!” —Leigh Haber, The New York Times Book Review

By the award-winning author of Something Wild, a gripping portrait of a tumultuous, consuming relationship between a young woman and a recovering addict

When Leah Kempler meets Charlie Nelson in line at the grocery store, their attraction is immediate and intense. Charlie, with his big feelings and grand proclamations of love, captivates her completely. But there…


Book cover of The Lies I Tell

Angela Lam Author Of No Amends

From my list on sociopaths and liars.

Why am I passionate about this?

Why am I an expert on recommending books about sociopaths and liars? I unknowingly shared a life with one for five years. Shattered, I grappled with the aftermath of deception. How could I have been duped for so long? Through therapy and reading, I discovered many smart, compassionate people fall hard for the charismatic charm and convincing stories sociopaths tell to get whatever it is they want from whomever they want it. Without a conscious and incapable of feeling, they often latch onto someone with high morals and emotional intelligence in the hopes of learning how to mirror those attributes only to destroy the ones who love them the most.

Angela's book list on sociopaths and liars

Angela Lam Why did Angela love this book?

Sure, you could say con artist Meg Williams, or any of the aliases this woman goes by, is a vigilante, determined to right the wrongs done to her by society through the many lies she tells. Or you could see her as a sociopathic opportunist.

Kara Roberts is out to catch Williams and bring her to justice for being instrumental in both destroying Roberts’ career and her personal life. But once Roberts gets close to Williams, she falters…and falls under her spell. See a pattern yet? Yep, that’s right. The sociopath always charms the victim.

While the book skews toward a Machiavellian “the ends justify the means” philosophy, the characters are duplicitous and amoral at best, sociopathic and self-serving at worst.

By Julie Clark,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Lies I Tell as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Julie Clark has done it again...taking you straight into the collision course of two dynamic, complicated women." -Laura Dave, #1 New York Times bestselling author

From the instant New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight!

She's back.

Meg Williams. Maggie Littleton. Melody Wilde. Different names for the same person, depending on the town, depending on the job. She's a con artist who erases herself to become whoever you need her to be-a college student. A life coach. A real estate agent. Nothing about her is real. She slides alongside you and tells you exactly what you need to…


Book cover of The Shallows

Catherine Yardley Author Of Ember

From Catherine's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Obsessive reader Tea drinker Foodie Cat person Cocktail drinker

Catherine's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Catherine Yardley Why did Catherine love this book?

I loved this book for its pacy story, fantastic characters, and gripping plot. The story is intense, and Holly Craig is a fantastic writer. Every single page is gripping and drives the story forward.

A woman becomes obsessed with the woman next door and befriends her. When her new friend is murdered, her husband insists that they flee. What happens next is a story of survival.

Brilliant. 

By Holly Craig,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Shallows as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"An exhilarating and accomplished action-packed thriller."-B. A. Paris

Her best friend is dead.

Emma and Ariella, neighbours in one of Sydney's most exclusive suburbs, appear to have it all-perfect homes, perfect husbands, perfect lives. But they both know dark secrets lurk beneath the surface and shallow waters can't hide Ariella's. Now she has been found murdered.

Her daughter filmed the killing.

Not knowing what she's filmed, Emma's daughter Kiki innocently uploads footage of Ariella's brutal death. Emma fears the worst-the killer will know what she and Kiki have seen. Their safe suburban lives no longer exist.

Her husband knows more…


Book cover of River of Ashes

Sue Jaskula Author Of Tangled Lies

From my list on romantic suspense with real-life characters.

Why am I passionate about this?

My administrative career covered a mix of legal and hospital work which provided a wealth of real-life scenarios to fuel my own convoluted story ideas. Thrilled to take early retirement and pursue a writing career, I have since published five romantic suspense novels. I strive to produce quality stories on par with the countless amazing romantic suspense authors I have enjoyed since my teen years. Storyline prompts surround us. A dark bunkie, screaming neighbor, or even an oddly shaped bag of garbage can trigger my suspicion. My favorite spot to walk is the peaceful shores of Lake Huron, where my twisted imagination soars, and my best stories come to life.

Sue's book list on romantic suspense with real-life characters

Sue Jaskula Why did Sue love this book?

Young love and late-night high school parties along a riverbank create a classic setting for antics, which seem innocent enough until the dangerous bad boy, star quarterback, son of the town’s most powerful family takes over.

This explicit novel leaves the romance at the start and takes a dark twist with sibling rivalry, hidden family secrets, revenge, and triggers galore. It will have you reading long into the night to see how this party ends and trust me, it will leave a lasting impression.

By Alexandrea Weis, Lucas Astor,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked River of Ashes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Alexandrea Weis is one of the most talented authors around, and in a short time her novels are destined to stand along with authors such as Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Joyce Carol Oates, and Jeffery Deaver." ~The Strand Magazine "A psychological portrait akin to Lord of the Flies." ~Midwest Book Review SOME TRUTHS ARE BETTER KEPT SECRET. SOME SECRETS ARE BETTER OFF DEAD. Along the banks of the Bogue Falaya River, sits the abandoned St. Francis Seminary. Beneath a canopy of oaks, blocked from prying eyes, the teens of St. Benedict High gather here on Fridays. The rest of the…


Book cover of Upgrade

Peter Hogenkamp Author Of The Woman From Death Row

From Peter's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Peter's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Peter Hogenkamp Why did Peter love this book?

I am fascinated with genetics and DNA manipulation, and enjoy learning about it. And that's what is so great about Blake Crouch; he teaches you a ton of cool stuff in the setting of a hard-to-put-down thriller. I think differently after having read this book, and how often do you say that?

By Blake Crouch,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Upgrade as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Upgrade is the mind-bending thriller from Blake Crouch, author of the bestselling Dark Matter and Recursion.

'You are the next step in human evolution . . .'

What if you were capable of more?

Your concentration was better, you could multitask quicker, read faster, memorize more, sleep deeper.

For Logan Ramsay, it's happening. He's beginning to see the world around him, even those he loves the most, in whole new ways.

He knows that it's not natural, that his genes have been hacked. He has been targeted for an upgrade.

Logan's family legacy is one he has been trying to…


Book cover of Truly, Darkly, Deeply
Book cover of Eastbound
Book cover of Wrong Place Wrong Time

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