These psychological thriller books with a twist have dark secrets. Are you brave enough to discover what they are?
This booklist of 11 spine-tingling novels includes books that have readers obsessed, like Verity by Colleen Hoover and The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. And discover why readers can’t put down Reese’s Book Club Pick, We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz.
Plus, check out these twisty thriller books.
- Instant New York Times Bestseller Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney is full of unexpected plot twists and turns.
- Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn is getting a ton of buzz for its unique cast of characters.
Finally, scroll to the bottom for a free excerpt from my recently released novel, Until Next Sunday.
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What are the best Psychological Thriller Books with a Twist to read this Fall?
If you liked the unputdownable mystery The It Girl by Ruth Ware featured in the Mystery Books to Keep You Guessing booklist, you’ll want to get your hands on these psychological thriller books with a twist!
Verity by Colleen Hoover
As a struggling writer, Lowen Ashleigh has landed her dream job of working for Jeremy Crawford, the husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford. Lowen needs to complete the remaining books in Verity’s series. Recently, Verity sustained injuries so severe she’s unable to work.
But this dream job becomes a nightmare when Lowen discovers Verity’s unfinished autobiography, which she never intended anyone to read. As Lowen develops feelings for Jeremy, she debates whether to show him the horrifying truths his wife has written.
Readers and reviewers are raving about this sexy psychological thriller. Who’s lying? Who’s telling the truth? There’s only one way to find out – read it!
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather for a lavish wedding. Everything about the ceremony and festivities seems fit for a celebrity. But simmering under the flow of well-wishes lies pettiness, jealousy, and resentment.
As the celebrations continue, unfortunate events begin to unravel this seemingly perfect reception. Just as it seems it can’t get any worse, the evening is abruptly cut short by a dead body. Is it one of the wedding guests?
Fans of Agatha Christie will enjoy this murder mystery written with the same spirit as her classics.
Lucey Foley also has a 2020 release, The Paris Apartment, which I featured on my booklist Mystery Books to Keep You Guessing.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Alicia Berenson seemed to have a perfect life as a famous painter and married to a popular fashion photographer. Together, they lived in a gorgeous home in London.
Perfect. That is, until one night, her husband Gabriel comes in late, and Alica shoots him in the face five times.
She never speaks again.
Criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber is determined to get Alicia to talk. The twist? Theo’s search for answers and the truth from Alicia leads him down a dark path.
I have so many questions about The Silent Patient. Why won’t she talk? Why did she shoot her husband? Was it over an affair? What’s the deal with the psychotherapist?
No wonder this one is getting so many glowing reviews!
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
Emily and her best friend, Kristen, are on an amazing once-in-a-lifetime trip to Chile. But on the last night, Emily returns to find Kristen standing in a horrific scene.
She tells Emily that the cute backpacker she brought back to their room attacked her. So, she killed him in self-defense.
Here’s the creepy part – the same scene happened last year on their trip together. Was it a coincidence or something more sinister?
When they return home to Wisconsin, Emily begins to question Kristen. Soon Emily faces a truth that could threaten her freedom – and her life!
Clear your schedule for this novel! It has so many twists and turns you won’t want to put it down.
The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan
Georgina’s seven-year-old son tells her about the New Granny he’s met while playing in the park.
Georgina reminds herself that it’s perfectly normal for her young son to have an imaginary friend. And with Georgina’s mother’s recent death, it seems appropriate that her son would be coping with the loss of his grandmom.
Still, Georgina admits something is oddly off about his stories. She can’t pinpoint why but Georgina has an unsettling feeling that New Granny isn’t imaginary.
This one looks so spine-tingling good! And it promises to keep you guessing to the last page – I love it when an author can pull that off.
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
When Daisy Darker decides to attend her grandmother’s 80th birthday party, she may not be aware that she’s in for a killer time (pun intended!).
Daisy’s grandmother lives in an old gothic house on a tidal island that gets cut off from land when the tide comes in.
At midnight during a violent storm, Daisy’s grandmother is found dead. An hour later, another family member mysteriously perishes.
Trapped on the island until the tide goes out, the Darker family must face down their secrets and reveal which one of them is the killer.
You wanted psychological thriller books with a twist. Well, this novel is 100% guaranteed to have several riveting plot twists! How can I be so confident? Author Alice Feeney is known as the “Queen of Twists.”
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie are sixty years old and ready to retire. Oh yeah, and one more thing, they’ve all worked for a network of elite assassins.
The foursome agrees to an all-expenses-paid vacation to celebrate their retirement. However, rather than festivities, they’re flung into a kill-or-be-killed situation.
With each of them marked for death by the same organization that employed them, the women must rely on their experience and expertise as well as each other to survive.
Yes, I’ll concede that this novel better fits a booklist of espionage thrillers rather than psychological thriller books with a twist. Yet, I couldn’t resist adding it. Why? Buzzfeed summed it up best, “This Golden Girls meets James Bond thriller is a journey you want to be part of.”
Imposter by Bradeigh Godfrey
The untimely death of their parents pulled apart once close sisters Lilian and Rosie. But now, older sister Rosie has reached out to Lilian.
Driving down a snowy road, Rosie begins to share something important with Lilian. She doesn’t get far when out of nowhere, a car rams the side of their vehicle. The resulting traumatic brain injuries leave Rosie unable to communicate.
As Lilian learns more about her sister’s past, she becomes more and more aware that the car that collided with them wasn’t an accident. And that they’re still in danger.
Buckle up for this read! According to the reviews, you’re in for a fast-paced, twisty, page-turning ride.
Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz
Alice Lee may be dead, but her story isn’t over.
Ruby Jones came to New York looking to find a fresh start. What she found was Alice Lee’s body floating in the Hudson River.
Alice is sure Ruby is the key to solving the mystery of her death. Ruby is determined to forget the upsetting scene of the dead body, yet she can’t stop thinking about Alice.
This book has a unique mix of thriller and a heartwarming friendship beyond the grave. It’s worth checking out for the emotional grip it may have on you.
The Prisoner by B.A. Paris
Amelie has made a new life for herself in London after losing her parents as a child in Paris. When she marries billionaire Ned Hawthorne, she becomes swept up in a glamorous world.
Then, she wakes in an unknown, dark room.
Imprisoned, Amelie has no idea the identity of her captors or why they have taken her. And she has no idea why she feels safer as a prisoner than with her husband.
Be prepared to be held captive by this mysterious psychological thriller about a family with deadly intentions.
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger
Hannah was thrilled when her brother set up a weekend getaway with their spouses and another couple to a secluded luxury cabin for her birthday.
However, a deadly storm is threatening. The hosts of the rental won’t leave them alone. The personal chef hired for the weekend reveals the house’s creepy history. And the other couple may be friends, but how well do they know them?
It seems this “getaway” may be something Hannah wants to get away from. If only she weren’t locked in!
This psychological thriller seems perfect for a dark and stormy night.
FREE Excerpt: UNTIL NEXT SUNDAY by Audry Fryer
Although Until Next Sunday is a beautiful historical romance novel, it’s not without dark moments. In 1921, fearing she had contracted tuberculosis, Rosina must spend the next months living in a sanitarium far from home. It is not a welcoming place.
September 8, 1921
Rush Hospital, Malvern, PA
My Dearest John,
I am writing to let you know my health is well. Otherwise, I am very confused. I don’t know where I am. I feel as if I’m in a cemetery. I have no one who loves me. I’m abandoned by everybody, and I do nothing but cry. It is useless that I am here, away from everyone. There are times I feel like poisoning myself. I don’t know what to do. Here, I have to deal with so many wicked people…
September 11, 1921
Rush Hospital for Consumption and Allied Diseases, Malvern, PA
A few days ago, the trip from Philadelphia had taken me well over an hour. The rush of being freed from my hospital room had lifted my mood. It had felt as if I were on an adventure.
Once we exited the city, an early-morning fog shrouded my view of the passing scenery. When I arrived at the small, one-room station in Malvern, it seemed like another world. Rows of buildings and the constant rumble of automobiles were now replaced with the misty outline of trees and the repetitive call of crows. Even the scent in the air, a mixture of dew and decaying leaves, reminded me I was far from everything familiar.
The fog grew denser as my taxi traversed the curves of the country road. The stark stone construction of the sanitorium remained obscured until we were fully upon it. The grounds were dotted with large trees and neatly manicured shrubbery. As we climbed the concrete steps to the front door, the nurse accompanying me did not speak. The clacking of our shoes created jarring vibrations in the silence.
I shivered as I stepped inside the foyer of the sanitarium. The damp chill of the room cut through my light summer dress, so I wrapped my arms tightly across my chest. The nursing staff did not smile or make eye contact. A woman who I presumed to be a patient stared at me with a blank expression. I turned toward the heavy front doors, as if to leave with the same nurse who had brought me. Instead, the door slammed closed with a solid bang that shook the framed paintings of countryside scenes on the bleak gray walls.
