The Best Books with Plot Twists
What is the difference between thriller and horror?
According to Neil Chase Film, "horror is focused on eliciting a feeling of fear in the viewer or reader, while thrillers are designed to generate suspense and excitement." It's safe to assume that the genres overlap and that's where some of the best thriller/horror movies come in.What defines a psychological thriller?
The psychological thriller subgenre is separate from the rest of the thriller and horror genres by its commitment to exploring the darkest parts of the human mind and pushing the unreliable narrator and a psychologically tormented character.What books have good plot twists?
Here are the best psychological book thrillers with mind-bending twists that will completely reframe everything:Gone Girl
By Gillian FlynnThis rollercoaster of a thriller is known for its twist that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The book's intricately woven plot will leave you guessing until the very end.
Behind Her Eyes
By Sarah PinboroughThis thriller reinvents the modern love triangle and has a twist that is practically impossible to guess. The genre shift adds an extra layer of surprise and will leave readers in awe.
Shutter Island
By Dennis LehaneSet in a mental institution, Shutter Island is a is a gripping and atmospheric psychological thriller where nothing is quite what it seems. It carries the reader into a nightmare world of madness, mind control, and CIA Cold War paranoia.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
By Agatha ChristieChristie’s third Poirot novel made her a household name. Consistently ranked among Christie’s best works, in 2013 it was voted as the best crime novel ever written by the 600-member Crime Writers’ Association of the United Kingdom.
House of Leaves
By Mark Z. DanielewskiThis unique and unsettling novel combines horror and mystery elements in a mind-bending narrative. The book's unconventional structure and intricate layers will challenge your perception of reality.
Ender's Game
By Orson Scott CardThis science fiction classic surprises readers with its unexpected twists and turns. The book is full of strategic maneuvers and thought-provoking revelations that will leave you questioning everything.
Piranesi
By Susanna ClarkeThis beautiful and startling novel takes readers on a journey through a surreal and mysterious labyrinth.
Fingersmith
By Sarah WatersSet in Victorian England and following and orphaned thief, this gripping and atmospheric novel is known for its multiple twists and turns. As the plot unravels, you'll be left stunned by the unexpected revelations.
The Silent Patient
By Alex MichaelidesA shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.
The Fifth Season
By N. K. JemisinAt the end of the world, a woman must hide her secret power and find her kidnapped daughter in this twisted Hugo Award winning fantasy novel of power, oppression, and revolution.