Eight of The Greatest Psychological Thriller and Suspense Books of All Time | Novel Suspects

23 Best Psychological Thriller Books That Will Mess With Your Head | Reedsy Discovery

Psychological thriller books

35 Best Psychological Thriller Books to Read Now -  Suspense Books

Gone Girl

Perdida

10 Best Psychological Thriller Books 

The protagonist, unnamed, and her spouse, Maxim de Winter, are moving from one European hotel to another, cherishing the memories of a beautiful dwelling called Manderley, which was devastated by fire. Reminiscing about the past, the protagonist remembers how she and Maxim met in Monte Carlo. During this period, she was employed as a travel companion for a wealthy American, Mrs. Van Hopper. Maxim was staying in the same hotel and after a short acquaintance, he proposed. Following their marriage, they moved to Manderley, his ancestral home. However, their life was overshadowed by the untimely demise of Maxim's previous wife, Rebecca, who had drowned near the estate. The presence of Rebecca's loyal housekeeper, the eerie Mrs. Danvers, combined with the constant reminders of Rebecca's perfection, fueled the protagonist's feeling of inferiority and her suspicion that Maxim was still attached to Rebecca.

Every year, a fancy-dress ball was organized at Manderley, and as the event approached, the protagonist found herself enthusiastic. However, the celebration ended poorly when Mrs. Danvers tricked her into wearing the same outfit Rebecca had worn at the previous ball. This had a profound effect on Maxim, and the protagonist became convinced that Maxim was still devoted to his deceased wife. The following day, a shipwreck was discovered near the mansion, and divers found Rebecca's sailboat, with her body inside. This led Maxim to confess to his new wife that Rebecca was a manipulative woman, embroiled in numerous affairs and planning to bear another man's child. In a fit of rage, Maxim had shot her and then sunk her boat with her body inside.

The protagonist's knowledge about Rebecca's true character rejuvenates her marriage, although Maxim soon finds himself facing legal issues. The discovery that Rebecca's boat had been tampered with raised suspicions of murder. Rebecca's cousin, Jack Favell, accused Maxim of the crime, leading to an investigation by Colonel Julyan. A visit to a Doctor Baker in London, whom Rebecca had seen on the day of her death, uncovered that Rebecca had been terminally ill with cancer and was infertile, contradicting her claim of pregnancy and providing a possible reason for suicide. As they returned to Manderley after being cleared of the murder charges, they found the mansion ablaze with Mrs. Danvers missing.

Rebecca

A Novel

Una Novela

Misery

"Miseria"

The Silent Patient

El Paciente Silencioso

The Woman in the Window

La Mujer en la Ventana

Big Little Lies

Pequeñas Grandes Mentiras

Sharp Objects

Objetos Cortantes

Home Before Dark

Hogar Antes del Anochecer

My Lovely Wife

Mi Adorable Esposa

Strangers on a Train

Extraños en un tren

The Girl on the Train

La Chica del Tren

Eight disparate individuals receive invitations to make their way to a secluded island off the English coast. Among them are Vera Claythorne, a previous governess who believes she's been employed as a secretary, along with Philip Lombard, an explorer, and William Blore, a former detective, both of whom assume they've been recruited to provide security. Dr. Armstrong anticipates catering to the health needs of the island owner’s wife. The remaining invitees, Emily Brent, General Macarthur, Tony Marston, and Judge Wargrave are under the impression that they are set to reconnect with old acquaintances. 

Upon their arrival, the guests are met by the Rogers, a butler and housekeeper duo, who share that the host, an individual known only as Mr. Owen, won't be present until the following day. A dinner is held, after which a recorded voice accuses each guest of a specific past murder that was never solved. The guests quickly realize that they have all been assembled as part of an odd scheme. The plot thickens as Tony Marston dies due to poisoned whiskey, which bears resemblance to a verse from a nursery rhyme "Ten Little Indians," that is found in every bedroom. As the days pass, more guests die mysteriously. 

The plot reaches its climax as the remaining guests, Vera, Lombard, and Blore, decide to stay outdoors to avoid the unknown killer. Blore is killed by a falling statue, and they find Armstrong's body washed ashore. Vera, believing Lombard to be the murderer, shoots him and proceeds to hang herself in her room. The perplexing mystery is finally solved when a message in a bottle reveals that the late Judge Wargrave was the orchestrator of this macabre sequence of events, in an attempt to punish those guilty of past crimes. With a terminal illness looming, Wargrave chose to go out with a bang and met his end through a self-inflicted gunshot wound, leaving the island strewn with ten lifeless bodies.

20 Best Psychological Thriller Books of All Time

Gone Girl

Rebecca

Misery

A Novel

The Silent Patient

The Woman in the Window

A Novel

Big Little Lies

Sharp Objects

A Novel

Home Before Dark

A Novel

My Lovely Wife

Strangers on a Train

The Girl on the Train

And Then There Were None

The Last Mrs. Parrish

A Novel

One by One

My Sister, the Serial Killer

A Novel

Room

A Novel

Confessions on the 7:45

A Novel

In a Dark, Dark Wood

Shutter Island

Your House Will Pay

A Novel

Sources

What To Read Next

20 Best Psychological Thriller Books of All Time

Gone Girl

Rebecca

Misery

A Novel

The Silent Patient

The Woman in the Window

A Novel

Big Little Lies

Sharp Objects

A Novel

Home Before Dark

A Novel

My Lovely Wife

Strangers on a Train

The Girl on the Train

And Then There Were None

The Last Mrs. Parrish

A Novel

One by One

My Sister, the Serial Killer

A Novel

Room

A Novel

Confessions on the 7:45

A Novel

In a Dark, Dark Wood

Shutter Island

Your House Will Pay

A Novel

Sources

What To Read Next

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