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Mid Year Book Reviews: Psychological Thrillers

Something in the water

A psychological thriller is defined as a story that emphasizes the delusional or unstable mental states of its characters.  An unreliable narrator is a given in this type of book.  Almost always there is a surprise ending you don't see coming.  Ever since Daphne DeMaurier's Rebecca (and probably before!), authors have been writing psychological thrillers.  Examples of this genre are Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, Defending Jacob, Shutter Island, and We Need to Talk About Kevin–all great reads.  I enjoy a good psychological thriller and have a good number that I have read recently.

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman is a my recent favorite of this type of novel.  I have reviewed it recently so I won't go into too much detail, except to say that the audio version is superb.  It is narrated by the author, who was an actress on the tv series Downton Abbey.  A young couple on their honeymoon discover a sunken treasure which causes all sorts of problems for them when the bad guys decide they want it back.

The woman in the window

The Woman in the WIndow by A.J. Finn has an atmosphere straight out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.  Anna, the main character, has agoraphobia so bad she hasn't left her home in months.  She has her groceries and other necessities (wine and prescription drugs) delivered, and spends her time watching Film Noir movies and looking out the window spying on her neighbors.  And then she sees something troubling…Should she report it to the police?  Hmm, it's complicated.

Then she was gone

Laurel is trying to put her life back together ten years after her beloved seventeen year old daughter disappeared.  She meets a guy she really likes in a cafe and once they get to know each other, he takes her home to meet his kids.  And his nine year old youngest girl is a dead ringer for Laurel's missing daughter.  If you like a page turner that will keep you up until you get to the end, you might enjoy Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell.

The lying game

You can count on just about anything Ruth Ware writes being a good book, and The Lying Game is no exception.  Four English boarding school girls form a firm friendship in their youth.  They are inseparable and become notorious for the outrageous lies they tell.  All grown up now, they each receive the text message they hope will never come–and the past has come back to haunt them big time.  Very atmospheric, and full of twists.  

Two girls down

I had not ready anything by Louisa Luna before, but after Two Girls Down, I will be looking for more from her.  When two young girls disappear from a shopping mall, their devastated mother hires Alice Vega, a bounty hunter, to find them.  Alice partners up with down and out former cop Max Caplan.  These two form an unlikely partnership that will leave you wishing for a series featuring them.  In this book they follow false leads, cold trails and lying witnesses.  Great female protagonist in this one.  She reminded me a bit of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  This book is more of a thriller than a psychological thriller, but I am including it in this review.  

Two more books in this genre that I read, but didn't enjoy as much were The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, and Lies She Told by Cate Holahan.  

 

18 responses to “Mid Year Book Reviews: Psychological Thrillers”

  4. Oh, you know me and this type book. Last one I read was “The Shining” so that tells you how long ago that was. I read it straight through, all the lights on in the house and finished it at 3am that long ago morning. Then couldn’t go to s
    sleep for having tachycardia (fast heart beat). DH wasn’t pleased I made him stay up with me either … 🙂
    Hugs!

  5. Oh, you know me and this type book. Last one I read was “The Shining” so that tells you how long ago that was. I read it straight through, all the lights on in the house and finished it at 3am that long ago morning. Then couldn’t go to s
    sleep for having tachycardia (fast heart beat). DH wasn’t pleased I made him stay up with me either … 🙂
    Hugs!

  6. Oh, you know me and this type book. Last one I read was “The Shining” so that tells you how long ago that was. I read it straight through, all the lights on in the house and finished it at 3am that long ago morning. Then couldn’t go to s
    sleep for having tachycardia (fast heart beat). DH wasn’t pleased I made him stay up with me either … 🙂
    Hugs!

  10. when it’s Sy Fy, I can read it, but if it seems real……I would do the same Barbara, lights on, husband up and with me and would probably never sleep again……even the Shinning gets me…….so No, I won’t read these, or watch a movie like them…….thanks Nicole. Enjoy them yourself, :>) gloria g. Wellborn, FL

  11. when it’s Sy Fy, I can read it, but if it seems real……I would do the same Barbara, lights on, husband up and with me and would probably never sleep again……even the Shinning gets me…….so No, I won’t read these, or watch a movie like them…….thanks Nicole. Enjoy them yourself, :>) gloria g. Wellborn, FL

  12. when it’s Sy Fy, I can read it, but if it seems real……I would do the same Barbara, lights on, husband up and with me and would probably never sleep again……even the Shinning gets me…….so No, I won’t read these, or watch a movie like them…….thanks Nicole. Enjoy them yourself, :>) gloria g. Wellborn, FL

  16. I just put all of those on hold at my library! Where do you get your suggestions on what to read?? Sometimes I have the hardest time finding books I like.

  17. I just put all of those on hold at my library! Where do you get your suggestions on what to read?? Sometimes I have the hardest time finding books I like.

  18. I just put all of those on hold at my library! Where do you get your suggestions on what to read?? Sometimes I have the hardest time finding books I like.