Books: Psychological Thriller Books

Psychological thrillers are one of my favourite genres to read and perfect for the spooky season. If you too like fast paced, tension and suspense mixed with complex characters and mind games then this is a genre you might want to delve into.

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What is a psychological thriller book?

"Psychological thrillers are a popular subgenre of thriller books that focuses on the psychological and emotional aspects of suspense and tension. These novels often delve into the minds of characters, exploring their fears, obsessions, and inner turmoil." - You can find more in-depth information about the psychological thriller genre in the post Book Genre Spotlight: Psychological Thrillers by 48 Hour Books

Are psychological thrillers good for you?

"While psychological thrillers might not be everyone’s cup of tea, they offer unique benefits for those who enjoy them. From stress relief and improved empathy to enhanced brain function and emotional payoff, these books do more than entertain; they contribute to our mental and emotional health in unexpected ways." - You can find more information about the benefits of reading psychological thrillers in the post Is reading psychological thrillers good for you? by Rob Kaufman

Psychological Thrillers On My TBR

The Jealous Wife by James Caine

Amazon - Goodreads

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C6T1J1D7
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Twisted Thriller Books 
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 31, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages

She wants my husband.

The Lies That Bind Us by Molly Black

Amazon - Goodreads

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D35ZJ485
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 3, 2024
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 243 pages

Taking on a summer job as a nanny on an isolated island estate should seem like paradise—but Lily Harris is about to discover that nearly every person on this island harbors deadly secrets.

Strapped for cash, Lily agrees to nanny three children of the wealthy Caldwell family. She finds the kids odd but charming, and sparks fly instantly between her and their summer tutor Julian.

But unnerving experiences lead Lily to believe there is more to the Caldwell’s island than meets the eye. Is her traumatic past and unresolved guilt making her overly protective of those she cares for?

Or is it something more sinister?

Lily will have to find out quickly, as hurricane season approaches and her last chance to escape becomes impossible….

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C3RK3JNW
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Joffe Books psychological thrillers and crime
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 6, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 310 pages

AN UNPUTDOWNABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER WITH A BREATHTAKING TWIST.

Your husband’s dead. He’s never coming back. So why is he on a dating site asking you to go out with him?

Then

Linda has it all: a gorgeous home, a devoted husband, two loving daughters. But she throws it all away to chase an impossible dream.

Now

Linda is alone and penniless, living in a shabby rented flat. With nothing to lose, she signs up to a dating app for the over 50s. But the one man who responds to her profile, a man calling himself Tony Fortin, is not who he says he is.

Linda recognises him immediately. He’s Marcus, her second husband.

But that’s impossible. Marcus died eight months ago. He drowned off the coast of Corfu.

As Linda digs deeper, she discovers that the man she married second time around had been keeping secrets from her. Very dark secrets.

Now the one person who can help her is the person who has every reason not to get involved.

Her first husband.

AN EXHILARATING BLEND OF DOMESTIC SUSPENSE AND NAIL-BITING TENSION WITH A SHATTERING FINAL TWIST.

Perfect for fans of Patricia MacDonald, Lisa Jewell, Shalini Boland, T.M. Logan and Clare Mackintosh.

The Patients List by James Caine

Amazon - Goodreads

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B5P5ZZK7
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Twisted Thriller Books 
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 9, 2022
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 228 pages
• 
  

The new patient whispered a list of names. One by one they're each dying.

Rina Kent was the new hot shot psychiatrist at Holy Saints ward. She also recently married the love of her life, who's also a doctor at the same hospital. Rina felt on top of the world, until one of her patients committed suicide.

Rina knows it was her fault.

A year later, her marriage has already gone down in flames. All she has left is her patients, but she's lost her confidence to help them.

When a suicidal teenaged girl comes to her ward, Rina sees a second chance to help the patient she couldn't save. The new girl won't say a word to anyone though and Rina's colleagues already feel she's a lost cause.

She begins to wonder if her peers are right, when one night the girl shyly walks up to Rina and whispers a list of names.

What Rina can't understand is why the last name she says is her ex-husband's.

James Caine, the author of The In-Laws, and The Girl Outside, offers another psychological thriller novel with many twists and turns that you will not know what to believe or who to trust.

The Winter Break Project by Lulie Roberts

Amazon - Goodreads

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CR44MPSH
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pie Publishing Company 
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 27, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 195 pages

Secret tunnels. Taxidermized cats. Disappearing children. A simple college assignment leads to dark places in this page-turning thriller.

Sophomore journalism student Anne Dodd chooses to spend winter break with her eccentric aunts in a Victorian house on the edge of Lake Michigan. When Anne decides to do her winter break journalism project about a local child gone missing, she expects it to be an easy task. She’ll interview the cute cop in charge of the case and write an article. But the more Anne dives into the missing child’s story, the more she learns about her own family’s secret past.

Between navigating a budding romance and chasing the trail of two missing children, one from her past and one from her present- Anne soon ends up over her head. Can she make it out unscathed, or will this winter break prove to be the one that changes her forever?

The Honesty Index by NJ Barker 

Amazon - Goodreads

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CPZ1F77Y
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 10, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 426 pages
• 
  

If Trent had never agreed to play, his friends would be safe...

PREPARE TO BE GRIPPED BY THIS INTRIGUING, PULSE-RAISING THRILLER FROM DEBUT AUTHOR NJ BARKER.

Trent Ryder's life was shattered by the fire that killed his parents and younger brother. The cause was never found, and the mystery has haunted him ever since. Now in his twenties, he and his old school friends receive a chilling invitation to a game—one that promises to finally reveal the truth behind the blaze.

But there's a catch. The game knows their darkest secrets. If they refuse to play or dare to lie, those secrets will be exposed to the world. Each friend must endure five questions and five pleas, and with every round, Trent inches closer to uncovering the answer he's been seeking. Yet the price for this truth is steep—brutal honesty about the past.

Can Trent stop the game before it destroys them all?

Are you ready to play?

The Honesty Index is a gripping psychological thriller from debut author NJ Barker, perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Harlan Coben and Robert Enright.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CCK48ZGW
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Apple Loft Press 
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 260 pages
• 
  

Rachel Brown plays Doctor Elouise Sparks in the popular TV series 'Emergency'. Though successful in her career, Rachel has just learned that her chance of conception is small, and she is devastated by the information.

That’s when Mikey Bell takes Rachel from her home to a remote mountain cottage. But Mikey’s motive isn’t ‘normal’. He has a strange request. The good news is that if Rachel can deliver by Christmas Day, he’ll let her go.

But someone else in the cottage is not on the same page as Mikey. This person has different designs for Rachel, and the bad news is that this No.1 Fan has no intention of ever letting her leave.

The Nanny's Secret by SL Harker

Amazon - Goodreads

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CFC1YKY1
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 6, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 205 pages

She's in your home. And she's lying to you...

When Audrey hires the immaculate Holly Goodwin as her family's live-in nanny, she's convinced she's found the perfect fit. But as Holly grows closer to Audrey's son and husband, Audrey can’t quell the jealousy brewing beneath her composed exterior.

Then Audrey is the victim of online targeting. A terrible, photoshopped image goes viral, putting her business in jeopardy. Angry death threats flood her inbox. Even her floral shop is vandalized. And it all began when Holly Goodwin came into her life…

As trust fractures within the home, Audrey must confront her deepest fears to protect her family. She finds herself asking, who is Holly Goodwin? And what exactly is she hiding?

The Perfect Life by Amanda Traylor

Amazon - Goodreads

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BKC2ST42
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Florence & Reynolds 
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 17, 2022
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
• 
  

"One part Hitchcock, one part Desperate Housewives! The Perfect Life is a twisty domestic thriller you'll binge in one go!"

Violet Hale has everything a poor girl from the wrong side of San Francisco could ever dream of—a handsome husband from old money, a spectacular home in the hottest suburb, and a booming career at one of the top tech companies in the Bay Area.

She was even a Bay Area Times 30-Under-30 as the first female executive at Cloud Tech—the hottest start-up in San Francisco.

Too bad it's all a lie.

Too bad she's utterly miserable.

When an enigmatic executive at her company tempts Violet into a torrid affair, she finally feels alive for the first time in years. But they're playing with fire, their careers and people's lives.

When a mysterious stalker threatens to expose her secrets—both past and present—how far will Violet go to protect her perfect life?

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZ65856T
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ SOS Communications 
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 6, 2023
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages

She’s used to cleaning houses and getting down in the grime. But the dirt she just dug up could kill.

Miranda Diggs longs for absolution. But when she tries to purge bad memories and accidentally sends a motel up in flames, the regret-filled young woman seeks peace by checking into a mysterious remote resort. Driven by insatiable curiosity and venturing beyond “No Trespassing” signs, she’s horrified after stepping into a rundown barn that the doors slam shut… and lock.

Seeking a way out, Miranda pries open a trapdoor and follows the tunnel beneath into an eerie game that seems to know all her closest-held secrets. And as the trials morph from subtle emotional prods into life-or-death situations, her fight against the ever-closing walls threatens to become fatal.

Will her phobias push her mind past the point of no return?

Cabin Eight is the tense third book in The Millersville thriller series. If you like startling twists, dark conspiracies, and explorations of the dangers of technology, then you’ll love this gritty search for survival.

You might also like: Book Review: The Girl Before by JP Delaney

What is your favourite psychological thriller book? What do you like about this genre?