The Best Psychological Thriller Books From The 2020s

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If one genre has mastered the art of delivering sleepless nights and nail-biting character arcs to readers, it's got to be thriller. But if you've been there and done that, you may be asking, what's better than a good old-fashioned thriller? A jaw-droppingly good psychological thriller filled with unpredictable twists and turns that continuously keep you guessing.

Psychological thrillers are thrillers with a bit more heightened suspense, often toying with the concept of trust, and a ton of psychological conflict. It's more than uncovering who committed the crime; psychological thrillers take you deep into the characters' minds, the motives behind their crimes, and walk a fine line between reality and perception.

With summer around the corner, it's the perfect time to pick up a chillingly suspenseful read that you won't be able to put down. Whether set in an apartment in Paris or a luxurious penthouse, we're positive these riveting page-turners will have you questioning everything and everyone.

In a 2023 interview for her book, "None of This Is True," Lisa Jewell told PEOPLE, "I wanted to do a stalker novel, a little bit of a Single White Female-y thing because I'd never written about that. But I couldn't find a hook." She added that when it comes to new projects, her inspiration often stems from something small, like a moment in time. This book was no different.

Jewell's inspiration for her story came when she caught a glimpse of a middle-aged man sitting in his apartment. From there, her imagination got to work, and "None of This Is True" was born. Along with her well-known novel, "Then She Was Gone," this book is among the New York Times best sellers getting a movie.

Popular podcaster, Alix Summers, meets birthday twin, Josie Fair, at a pub on the night of her 45th birthday. The encounter feels coincidental until Josie reappears again, hoping to become the subject of Alix's next series. Alix starts to find Josie a bit unsettling, but is intrigued by Josie's claim of big life changes coming her way. The two become more entangled in each other's lives, and Alix can't help but think Josie is hiding something from her — something big. One day, Josie vanishes, and she leaves something dangerous behind. The more Alix digs, the more danger she finds herself in. Will she be able to save herself, her family, and uncover the truth?

The release of "The God of the Woods" took the #BookTok community by storm, and also earned Barack Obama's stamp of approval as it made his summer must-read list, and it's easy to see why. "The God of the Woods" is a chilling thriller set in the Adirondacks in the 1970s, and it's a unique story with some unthinkable plot twists.

Liz Moore told NPR that when she writes mysteries, she wants "to keep people guessing and to have them feel the sensation of surprise, but also to feel satisfied that oh, this could really happen." She said the only way to do this is for her, herself, to not know when she starts writing the story.

In the summer of 1975, a teenage girl goes missing, but she's not just any teenage girl. She's Barbara Van Laar, and her wealthy family owns the camp from which she disappeared. The disturbing nature of her disappearance is deepened by the fact that her older brother vanished at the same camp 14 years prior. The whole town is shaken up, and an investigation ensues. Naturally, the deeper it goes, the more secrets of the Van Laar family and those employed by them begin to surface. Told through a multi-person perspective, this story will keep you guessing from the very beginning.

Freida McFadden knows how to write a good thriller. Her psychological thriller, "The Teacher," took the Kindle charts by storm upon its release, and if you loved that, get your hands on "The Housemaid's Secret," the second book of the Housemaid series. With over a million reviews, the book maintains a 4.21-star average on Goodreads, with one reviewer saying, "Dare I say I liked this book more than The Housemaid?! Once again, McFadden delivered with some mindless entertainment ... I was kept turning the pages, and not seeing all the different twists coming ..."

Millie Calloway has a past she wants to keep buried, so when she lands a job as a housemaid for the wealthy Garrick family, she's grateful to be able to lay low and hold down a job. Everything is sound and perfect until Millie starts suspecting that something is seriously wrong inside the penthouse, especially with Mrs. Garrick, who remains out of sight. After hearing and seeing some unsettling things, curiosity gets the best of her, thus prompting her investigation. She opens a door, and what she sees inside will change everything. Now, Millie is determined to protect Mrs. Garrick and get the truth out. But how far is she willing to go?

Ashley Audrain's debut novel, "The Push," tackles the dark side of motherhood that's often not discussed. Audrain told Literary Vault that she got the idea for the book after having her first child. She shared, "I was so interested in writing about motherhood, and the expectations of society on mothers to feel and be a certain way. The character of Blythe came to me then, and I began writing scene by scene in whatever time I had while home with a young baby." The book has been praised for its originality and poetic prose, with one Amazon reviewer saying, "This is one of the best books I've read in a very long time." "The Push" was also a thriller and mystery pick from the Good Morning America book club in 2021.

Blythe Connor wanted to be the mother she never had. But with her firstborn, Violet, things are easier said than done. She always senses something is deeply off about her child and that she doesn't act like other children. She voices her concerns to her husband, Fox, who continues to brush off her comments, making her question her sanity. When Blythe gives birth to her second child, Sam, she's instantly drawn to him and makes the connection she has long yearned for. But a life-altering event shatters Blythe's world, and she must accept some painful realities. Will she find the strength to confront her truths and protect her beloved family?

Lucy Foley got the idea for "The Paris Apartment" while finishing up a draft of "The Guest List" in an apartment in Paris. She told Parade that she loved the atmosphere of the place and she felt like "there was a story to be told there and I wanted to tell it." Similar to "The Guest List," this book is also told in a multi-person perspective, and Foley said she loves giving the readers a chance "to see inside these characters' heads, understand their motivations, see things play out from their point of view — even the less likable among them."

The book was praised by many for its clever, unexpected cliff-hangers. One Amazon reviewer said, "The major twists do not come when you expect leaving you coasting when you anticipate a cliff, and without footing when you thought you were just connecting minor points. It's expertly done making this unputdownable! I loved every minute."

In search of something new, Jess heads to Paris and hopes she can stay with her half-brother, Ben. She arrives at his upscale apartment only to find him missing. Now, Jess must dig into his disappearance, and the more digging she does, the more red flags. Everyone in the building is a suspect at this point, and they all seem to be hiding something. Instead of a fresh start, Jess must get to the bottom of her brother's disappearance.

The first thing we prioritized when putting this list together was variety. We didn't want readers to think, "Oh, great, another murder mystery." We always hope to bring our readers something new that represents diverse voices. We veered away from the typical formulaic murder mysteries and sought out psychological thrillers that played with structure, explored unexpected settings, and offered something beyond the regular ol' whodunnit. That's why we loved Lucy Foley's layered, multi-person perspective storytelling about an amateur sleuth's investigation into her brother's disappearance and a strange Paris apartment. And we knew our readers would love Ashley Audrain's fresh, darker take on the journey of motherhood.

Of course, we also vetted Goodreads and Amazon reviews to gauge the consensus on our favorite picks. We wanted to ensure the list was full of stories that received a general stamp of approval from all kinds of readers. To make the list, each book had to have received at least a 4-star rating by 40% or more of Goodreads reviewers.