Those who enjoyed the book or movie version ofGone Girlmay be looking for similar thrillers to scratch that itch.
They’re in luck, as this particularly literary subgenre is, if anything, overstuffed.
They feature some of the same intensity and subversive revelations that made Flynn’s masterpiece a generation-defining standout.
Image via 20th Century Studios
Jacob Finch Bonner, once a promising novelist, now teaches at a third-rate MFA program.
The book becomes an instant success, but Jake soon receives death threats.
He tries to make sense of the situation as the danger rapidly escalates.
“Ruth Warehas penned several juicy bestsellers, the most notable beingThe Woman in Cabin 10.
It’s about travel journalist Lo Blacklock, who secures a dream assignment aboard a luxury yacht.
The book thrives on expert pacing.
Image via Celadon Books
The tension builds steadily, and the stakes climb with each passing page.
The yacht setting adds some flavor, and also becomes incredibly claustrophobic as the tension reaches a fever pitch.
The main character is possibly a little one-dimensional, but the plot is engaging enough to compensate.
Image via Simon & Schuster
The Netflix adaptation starringKeira KnightleyandGuy Pearceisset for releaselater this year.
But as champagne flows, old secrets resurface.
Each chapter offers a different perspective, revealing personal grudges, hidden agendas, and past traumas.
Image via Harper Collins/William Morrow
A body is discovered after a storm, putting everyone on high alert.
Her efforts earned her the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery and Thrillers.
Foley’s follow-up mystery,The Paris Apartment, is also worth checking out.
Image via Riverhead
Thismega-bestseller turned filmstarringEmily Bluntcenters on a woman named Rachel Watson, whose life is in shambles.
One day, she witnesses something shocking involving the woman she calls Jess.
While the movie version is a mixed bag,the book hits hard.
6’Behind Closed Doors' (2016)
by B.A.
Paris
“The perfect marriage?
Or the perfect lie?”
Image via St. Martin’s Press
To outsiders, Jack and Grace Angel are the epitome of a perfect couple.
But, in truth, Grace is a prisoner, controlled and manipulated by Jack.
The only downside is the somewhat limited way the book depicts Jack.
Image via Broadway Books
He’s basically just a villain, more of a plot gear than a three-dimensional person.
We never really get a sense of how his dark psyche operates.
“Sharp ObjectswasGone GirlauthorGillian Flynn’s debut novel.
While not as ambitious as some of her later works,it still packs a considerable punch.
The main character is Camille Preaker, a journalist with a troubled past.
As Camille investigates the crimes, she finds eerie similarities between the victims and her painful childhood.
Image via Penguin Publishing
The book conjures up an immersive Southern Gothic atmosphere.
The town of Wind Gap is well-drawn and populated with a cast of unsettling characters.
The writing is sharp, and the major figures are all psychologically realistic.
In 2018, the novel became an acclaimed HBO miniseries starring the ever-reliableAmy Adams.
The novel follows three womenMadeline, Celeste, and Janewhose seemingly unrelated lives become deeply entangled.
Thats all there is to it.
Image via Thomas & Mercer
Laura thrives on control, playing god in the lives of total strangers.
She is calculating, persuasive, and chillingly ordinary.
The cat-and-mouse game between her and Ryan becomes very compelling.
Image via Riverhead Books
But as the novel progresses,it becomes clear that there are two sides to every relationship.
The novel’s admirers includeBarack Obama, who named ithis favorite book of the year back in 2015.
1’The Silent Patient' (2019)
by Alex Michaelides
“We all have secrets.
Image via Celadon Books
We all tell lies just to survive.”
Claiming the top spot on this list isThe Silent Patient, the debut work by screenwriter-turned-authorAlex Michaelides.
Prose-wise, the book isclean and accessible, keeping the story in focus.
Overall,The Silent Patientisa great slow burn, functioning as both a thriller and a character study.
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