17 psychological thriller books to read like The Silent Patient


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I devour psychological thriller books with twisted ends.

The kind that keep you guessing until the final page. I love it when the shocking reveals towards the end stay with you long after you've closed the book.

One such twisty read is "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides. It hooked me with its mind-blowing plot and unexpected twists. 

If you're looking for good books to read like "The Silent Patient," you're in the right place. I've made a list of psychological thrillers that have the same level of suspense, mystery, or mind-bending twists. 

Let's get to them.

Unique Book Recommendations to help you find your next read

Books just like The Silent Patient


The Guest List by Lucy Foley

“If I can’t move heaven, then I shall raise hell.”

A wedding party. A remote island. 150 guests. Each with a secret. Each with a motive to murder. A storm. A killer among the guests.

It has a fascinating build-up and multiple perspectives resembling the narrative of "The Silent Patient."


The Woman In The Window by A. J. Finn

Dark. Twisted. Shocking.

Anna Fox, a psychiatrist herself, hasn’t stepped out of her house for ten months. It is her habit to watch her neighbors from her window facing the park. Russell’s, her new neighbors have just moved in. Anna sees her own once happy but now separated family in the Russells. Until one day, she hears a scream and watches something happen that nobody was supposed to see. But being a loner and a wine addict that she is, no one is ready to believe her. Circumstances reach a point where Anna begins to doubt herself.

Having an unreliable narrator and a web of secrets, "The Woman in the Window" gives a similar psychological thrill.


The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Haunting. Bone-chilling.

A house with dark secrets. Three families are living in the house entangled in those secrets.

This book’s exhaustive plot and shocking family secrets resemble the twists and turns in "The Silent Patient."


The Turn of the Key Ruth Ware

Cleverly written. Compelling.

A job that sounds perfect. A live-in nanny, with a more than a good salary.

The modern gothic feel and the sense of creeping dread in "The Turn of the Key" make it a must-read for fans of "The Silent Patient."


Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Thought-provoking and yet a Guessing game that will keep you hooked.

Honestly, this book is more of a mystery. But this novel shares the eerie storytelling and detailed character studies found in "The Silent Patient."


Behind Closed Doors by B.A.Paris

Fast-paced. It will play with your emotions.

What is a perfect marriage? A marriage like the one Jack and Grace have.

But Is everything really as perfect as it looks?

The book had a claustrophobic atmosphere to it. Just like the tense, psychological thrills of "The Silent Patient."



Twisted books like The Silent Patient


Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Stories of psych hospitals are my favorite.

Because the variety of grey shades of human nature that you see in this kind of setup beats every other atmosphere. It is sinister, spooky, cold, and has so many stories.

Both books delve into dark pasts and mental trauma, with twists that keep readers guessing until the very end.


The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins

Alcoholics.

How can you ever trust them? Because it is hard to be sure whether what they’re saying is in a state of clear, rational thinking. Or the fantasy of a lucid imagination when drunk.

The unreliable narrator and constant suspense, make "The Girl on The Train" a similarly gripping and twisty narrative.


My Dark Vanessa by Elizabeth Russell

Powerful. Explosive.

What if I told you a fiction story about a love relationship between a teacher and his 15-year-old student, Vanessa? Would you be interested? Jump to 17 years later, and another student files a sexual abuse complaint against the same teacher. What would you think about what happened 17 years back?

This book shares the dark, psychological depth and tangled character mapping found in "The Silent Patient."


Verity by Colleen Hoover

Romantic thriller.

Lowen, a hired ghostwriter, has a secret about the autobiography contents she wasn't supposed to read. And now her growing fondness for Jeremy will make a fascinating read. It will keep your nerves twisted until the very end.

Both novels use unreliable narrators and reveal shocking secrets. It made my reading experience gripping and unpredictable.


An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks

Dangerous and spooky.

I loved the spooky cover of this book. What do we look for in a book? I love real-life fading into the background while giving in to the influence the author creates. This story will help you achieve just that.

Like "The Silent Patient," this book has mental manipulation and unexpected twists, keeping you on the edge of your seat.


Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

The classic of all Thrillers.

The beauty of this book is you might love it or hate it. But you will read it till the end.

It has the brooding atmosphere and the mental tension similar to the mysterious elements of "The Silent Patient."


Millie, a young woman with a troubled past is looking for work. She takes a job as a housemaid for the super-rich Winchester family.

This novel’s dark secrets and unexpected twists line up exactly like the suspenseful nature of "The Silent Patient."



Good books like The Silent Patient


Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

Christine Lucas suffers from amnesia. She wakes up every day with no memory of her past. She relies on her husband and her journal to piece together her life. But as she uncovers disturbing truths, she begins to question everything and everyone around her.

Both books have main characters with memory issues. It creates a sense of suspense and uncertainty throughout the story.


The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

This novel follows the tangled lives of a seemingly perfect ex-wife, a young fiancée, and the charming man they both love.

With its plot twists and mental tricks, this book offers a similarly thrilling experience to "The Silent Patient."


My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

A normal suburban couple keeps their marriage alive by teaming up to commit murders.

The dark, twisted narrative and shocking reveals in this book are similar to the psychological drama in "The Silent Patient."


I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

This book is weird in the best way. It’s short and you keep thinking you want more, but it comes with a terrific end. This novel’s disturbing atmosphere and mental density make it a great pick. Perfect for those who loved the mind-bending aspects of "The Silent Patient."


I’ve listed 17 books of all different authors so that you can explore newer writing styles and newer contemporary authors.

Even if you read at a leisurely pace of one book every month, you should be set for at least a year. But I can guarantee you the books' plot and pace will have you finishing them in no time, and you’ll be back asking for more.

And I’ll be ready with a new list by newer authors and better plots. 

Happy Reading!


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