Best Psychological Thriller Novels 2025: Top 15 Reviewed
Explore the best psychological thriller novels that keep you guessing, each offering suspense, drama, and mind-bending twists.
Get ready to have your mind twisted and your nerves tingled with the best psychological thriller novels. We’ve put together a list that will make your heart race and keep you guessing until the very last page. Whether it’s a mind-bending plot twist or characters so complex that they could give our Aunt Mildred a run for her money at a family reunion, we look for stories that grip us and refuse to let go. We promise a thrilling ride through the pages of these books without ever letting on what’s coming next. So grab your favorite reading chair and get ready for some sleepless nights.
On this list:
15 Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Twisted tale of marriage gone haywire. We couldn’t put it down thanks to the mind-bending plot twists and turns.
14 The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
A train-ride mystery that made us think twice before eavesdropping. Characters so alive, they nearly jump off the page.
13 Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Dark and gritty; a family mystery. Reading it felt like scratching an itch, a bit uncomfortable but ultimately rewarding.
12 Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
Amnesia meets mystery in this gripping novel. We stayed up all night trying to remember who done it first.
11 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This one’s quiet on words but loud on shocks. Kept us guessing until the mind-blowing end.
10 The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
Agoraphobia adds a layer of suspense. We felt like we were trapped inside our own minds alongside the protagonist.
9 Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
What goes on behind the closed doors of a seemingly perfect marriage? We were engrossed by the keeping-up-the-appearances tension.
8 The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
A dinner party gone wrong. We loved the neighborly drama and secrets that unfold.
7 I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll
One train trip sets off a suspenseful chain of events. We enjoyed the varied perspectives keeping us guessing.
6 Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
A school trivia night with a deadly twist. We found the characters and their intertwining lives captivating.
5 In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
A bachelorette weekend in the woods turns sinister. We were drawn into its eerie atmosphere.
4 The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson
Airplane gossip turns deadly. We got lost in the cleverness and unpredictability.
3 The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
Family secrets unfold in this intense thriller. We admired the strong characters and riveting plot.
2 My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
A couple with killer hobbies. This one hooked us with its unique twist on domestic thrillers.
1 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
We’ve awarded this as the best psychological thriller novel because it ticks all the boxes: gripping, unpredictable, and utterly immersive. The intricate tale of Alicia, a painter who shoots her husband and then stops speaking, kept us turning pages late into the night. The narrative interweaves her story with that of her therapist, Theo, adding layers of intrigue and suspense. The cherry on top? A plot twist that left us reeling and rethinking everything. It’s the kind of book that had us debating with friends long after we closed it, and that’s what we want in the best psychological thriller novels.
