I love a good mystery-thriller novel and psychological thrillers books are probably my favorite within that genre. There’s just something uniquely delightful about those twisty plotlines and the multitude of suspicious characters that populate this genre. Psychological thrillers are also the perfect pairing for a full-bodied glass of red wine.
This list of the Best Psychological Thriller Books of All Time is ordered reverse chronologically by publication year.
This list is based on a combination of a) my opinion, b) my friends’ opinions, c) reviews I’ve read, d) online ratings.
Hope you find something to read here that will keep you on your toes! And please don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you’d like to suggest a book to add to this list!
The Housemaid (2022) Freida McFadden
What It's About:
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Push (2021) Ashley Audrain
What It's About:
See the
Full Summary and Review of The Push (2021)
Publication Date: January 5, 2021
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Guest List (2020) Lucy Foley
What It's About:
See the
Full Summary and Review of The Guest List (2020)
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
out of 5 on Goodreads
Home Before Dark (2020) Riley Sager
What It's About:
See the
Full Summary and Review of Home Before Dark (2020)
Publication Date: June 30, 2020
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Sun Down Motel (2020)
What It's About:
Publication Date: Not Available
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Silent Patient (2019) Alex Michaelides
What It's About:
See the
Full Summary and Review of The Silent Patient (2019)
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Last Time I Lied (2018) Riley Sager
What It's About:
Publication Date: July 3, 2018
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Death of Mrs. Westaway (2018) Ruth Ware
What It's About:
Publication Date: May 29, 2018
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Broken Girls (2018) Simone St. James
What It's About:
Publication Date: March 20, 2018
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Wife Between Us (2018) Greer Hendricks
What It's About:
See the
Full Summary and Review of The Wife Between Us (2018)
Publication Date: January 9, 2018
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Good Daughter (2017) Karin Slaughter
What It's About:
Publication Date: August 8, 2017
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Last Mrs. Parrish (2017) Liv Constantine
What It's About:
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
out of 5 on Goodreads
Stillhouse Lake (2017) Rachel Caine
What It's About:
Publication Date: July 1, 2017
out of 5 on Goodreads
Sometimes I Lie (2017) Alice Feeney
What It's About:
Publication Date: February 18, 2024
out of 5 on Goodreads
Behind Closed Doors (2016) B.A. Paris
What It's About:
Publication Date: August 9, 2016
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Dry (2016) Jane Harper
What It's About:
Publication Date: January 10, 2017
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Girl on the Train (2015) Paula Hawkins
What It's About:
Publication Date: February 18, 2024
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Kind Worth Killing (2015) Peter Swanson
What It's About:
Publication Date: February 3, 2015
out of 5 on Goodreads
Pretty Girls (2015) Karin Slaughter
What It's About:
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
out of 5 on Goodreads
Big Little Lies (2014) Liane Moriarty
What It's About:
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
out of 5 on Goodreads
I Let You Go (2014) C. Mackintosh
What It's About:
Publication Date: February 18, 2024
out of 5 on Goodreads
In the Blood (2014) Lisa Unger
What It's About:
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
out of 5 on Goodreads
Gone Girl (2012) Gillian Flynn
What It's About:
Publication Date: April 22, 2014
out of 5 on Goodreads
Defending Jacob (2012) William Landay
What It's About:
Publication Date: April 21, 2020
out of 5 on Goodreads
Before I Go To Sleep (2011) S. J. Watson
What It's About:
Publication Date: June 14, 2011
out of 5 on Goodreads
Dark Places (2009) Gillian Flynn
What It's About:
Publication Date: May 5, 2009
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Likeness (2008) Tana French
What It's About:
Publication Date: May 26, 2009
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Snowman (2007) Jo Nesbo
What It's About:
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
out of 5 on Goodreads
In the Woods (2007) Tana French
What It's About:
Publication Date: May 17, 2007
out of 5 on Goodreads
Into the Darkest Corner (2007) Elizabeth Haynes
What It's About:
Publication Date: January 2, 2013
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2006) Stieg Larsson
What It's About:
Publication Date: July 28, 2009
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005) Stieg Larsson
What It's About:
Publication Date: June 23, 2009
out of 5 on Goodreads
Shutter Island (2003) Dennis Lehane
What It's About:
Publication Date: August 25, 2009
out of 5 on Goodreads
Gone for Good (2002) Harlan Coben
What It's About:
Publication Date: March 4, 2003
out of 5 on Goodreads
Mystic River (2001) Dennis Lehane
What It's About:
Publication Date: January 5, 2021
out of 5 on Goodreads
Kiss the Girls (1995) James Patterson
What It's About:
Publication Date: February 17, 1996
out of 5 on Goodreads
Along Came a Spider (1993) James Patterson
What It's About:
Publication Date: August 1, 2003
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Secret History (1992) Donna Tartt
What It's About:
Publication Date: September 11, 1992
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Silence of the Lambs (1988) Thomas Harris
What It's About:
Publication Date: July 31, 2002
out of 5 on Goodreads
Misery (1987) Stephen King
What It's About:
Publication Date: February 28, 2017
out of 5 on Goodreads
We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962) Shirley Jackson
What It's About:
Publication Date: October 31, 2006
out of 5 on Goodreads
Strangers on a Train (1950)
What It's About:
Publication Date: Not Available
out of 5 on Goodreads
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955) Patricia Highsmith
What It's About:
Publication Date: June 17, 2008
out of 5 on Goodreads
And Then There Were None (1939) Agatha Christie
What It's About:
Publication Date: May 3, 2004
out of 5 on Goodreads
Great list!
thank you! :)