Last Updated Date: January 17, 2026
As an award-winning author and longtime blogger for over 10 years, I’ve personally read and analyzed the best novels on my bookshelves that answer this question. While many lists only suggest popular bestsellers, I’ve curated this eclectic collection of books because they because they mirror the jaw-dropping endings, complex characters, and addictive storytelling in The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides:
At a Glance:
The Hidden Gem: Junior Missing by Khristina Chess
The Goodreads Choice Award Winner: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
The #1 New York Times Bestseller: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
#1 - Junior Missing by Khristina Chess - A Masterclass in Sizzling Pacing
Why This Hidden Gem Delivers the Same Claustrophobic Atmosphere as The Silent Patient
Fans of Alex Michaelides’ dark obsession themes will recognize the same intoxicating tension in this thriller. The kidnapping aspect in Junior Missing mirrors the chilling plot that made The Silent Patient a bestseller.
One-sentence summary for Junior Missing by Khristina Chess: A runaway teen is drawn into an intoxicating relationship with an older man who takes her in—and won’t let her go!
The Taste Test
“He called me the most willing kidnapping victim in history. I’d invited him to my house, he’d said. I’d climbed into the car. I’d packed a bag. And a parakeet.” ― Khristina Chess from Junior Missing
My Verdict: Why Chess’ Chilling Themes of Dark Romance Make This a Seductive Beach Read
This intense, thought-provoking, and morally-complex novel depicts how someone can be so easily manipulated and hurt in a toxic relationship. What makes Junior Missing so special is the slow-boil depiction of how Grace’s forbidden attraction turns into a trap.
The story starts as sixteen-year-old Grace Keegan, darling of the child pageant world with a bright future, is missing. At first, police assume she ran away. But when they find her abandoned phone along the highway, the truth becomes far more terrifying.
Khristina Chess is a powerful and fresh voice in fiction today. Readers who love novels with intense chemistry and unsettling seduction won’t be able to put Junior Missing down.
What Other Readers Are Saying about Junior Missing
“I actually found myself, on my feet and pacing as I reached the conclusion.” ― Mamadukes, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Junior Missing is 5/5 stars based on its outstanding pacing and atmospheric tension.
#2 - The God of the Woods by Liz Moore - The Perfect Blend of Mystery and Unpredictable Storytelling
Why The God of the Woods Delivers the Same Danger, Mystery, and Buried Secrets As The Silent Patient
One-sentence summary for The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: After a girl in summer camp goes missing, dark family secrets become revealed.
The Taste Test
“When lost, sit down and yell.”—Liz Moore from God of the Woods
My Verdict: What I Loved (and What Fell Flat) in Moore’s Complex Narrative
The Bad: I liked The God of the Woods but struggled with a few "technical" things. In my printed copy, the paragraph breaks were wrong, which doesn't seem like a bad thing, but I was often confused about who was speaking because both speakers were on the same line, or the same speaker broke across two lines. It was very strange and kept knocking me out of the reading magic. Also, there are many, many separate viewpoint characters, and there are dates at the top of each character's chapter that I never figured out. I'm sure they meant something.
The Good: Still, The God of the Woods is a good story and worth hanging on past the first 60 pages. From early on, I thought I knew what happened, but I didn't. Not quite. This book was the winner of the Goodreads Choice Award (2024) for Readers Favorite Mystery & Thriller.
What Other Readers Are Saying About The God of the Woods
“This book!!!!! Such a slooowwww moving story, but the storytelling was done so well!!!” — Sara, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The God of the Woods is 4/5 stars based on its unexpected conclusion to the mystery.
#3 - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - The Best “Unreliable Narrator” You Haven’t Read Yet
Why this Roller Coaster Plot with Unreliable Narrators Delivers the Same “What Did I Just Read?” Vibe as The Silent Patient
Released in 2015, this older bestseller has everything you want in a psychological thriller like The Housemaid.
One-sentence summary for The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: An alcoholic divorcee becomes obsessed with a couple and becomes entangled in an investigation.
The Taste Test
“There’s nothing so painful, so corrosive, as suspicion.” ― Paula Hawkins from The Girl on the Train
My Expert Take: Why the Twisty Plot Left Me Dizzy
The Girl on the Train has unreliable narrators as well as a twisty and confusing plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. Things definitely aren’t what they seem to be. The mystery keeps the pages turning.
What, exactly, did Rachel see that day on the train?
Reading this book, I was all over the place with my feelings about it, and that was a good thing—exactly what I was looking for!
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Girl on the Train
This is a fast read because you get very wrapped up in the story and characters and most will have trouble putting it down. ― Suzzie, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The Girl on the Train is 4/5 stars based on its twisty plot and unreliable narrators.
#4 - The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell - An Unsettling Look at Dark Family Dynamics
Why This Mind-Bending Novel Is Like The Silent Patient
Readers who loved the shocking and intense storytelling in The Silent Patient will love the compelling characters and great plotting in The Family Upstairs.
One-sentence summary for The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell: Three characters share unexpectedly intertwined lives and memories of growing up in a mansion under strange circumstances.
The Taste Test
“It's very strange, looking back, how accepting children can be of the oddest scenarios.” ― Lisa Jewell from The Family Upstairs
The Highs and Lows: Why I Couldn’t Put This Slow-Burn Thriller Down
It took me a while to get into The Family Upstairs because there are multiple viewpoint characters, and two of them start with "L": Libby and Lucy. This kind of thing trips me up, especially when I'm getting to know characters AND time/place is moving around.
After getting past that and delving into the plot, The Family Upstairs is a wild, bizarre, creepy thriller that kept me hooked until the very end. I was surprised by several plot twists. This novel is my second Lisa Jewell, and I liked it as much as the first, so I'll be delving more into her backlist.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Family Upstairs
“The Family Upstairs is a compulsively readable psychological thriller that features multiple storylines, three POV’s, an unreliable narrator, a sociopath, several mysteries, many murders, a crazy cult, a sick obsession, and much more! Needless to say, there’s a whole lot going on.” ― Meredith, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The Family Upstairs is 5/5 stars based on its bizarre and creepy storytelling.
#5 - Never Lie by Freida McFadden - A Claustrophobic “Locked-In” Mystery with High Stakes
How Never Lie Delivers Sympathetic But Unreliable Narrators Like Those in The Silent Patient
One-sentence summary for Never Lie by Freida McFadden: Newlyweds trapped in a snowstorm inside the abandoned home of a missing psychiatrist discover hidden tapes that expose murder and deception.
The Taste Test
“I believe that any human being is capable of terrible things if you push them hard enough.” ― Freida McFadden from Never Lie
The Breakdown: Why the Prose Style Stood Out to Me
McFadden has a unique writing voice that makes her protagonists seem a little "off." The setting seemed a little contrived, but it didn't hurt the novel in the least. The story is simple enough: After a snowstorm traps newlyweds Tricia and Ethan in a deserted house, Tricia finds herself invested in the mystery surrounding the previous owner's disappearance.
Yes, this is how all horror movies begin.
Never Lie is my third Freida McFadden novel, and it didn't disappoint. The story is compelling, and I was surprised by the various plot twists.
What Other Readers Are Saying about Never Lie
“Edge of your seat suspense! A captivating psychological thriller that has twists and turns galore. I thought I had it figured out but I was so wrong.” ― Anovelqueen, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Never Lie is 5/5 stars based on its “locked inside” trope.
#6 - Verity by Colleen Hoover - A Jaw-Dropping Twist that Rivals The Silent Patient
Why Verity Echoes the Complex Romance and Psychological Tension in The Silent Patient
Colleen Hoover’s mega bestselling novel portrays a dark and complex romance like the one found in Alex Michaelides’ bestseller.
One-sentence summary for Verity by Colleen Hoover: A struggling writer takes an unusual job and discovers disturbing information that puts her in danger.
The Taste Test
"Some families are lucky enough to never experience a single tragedy. But then there are those families that seem to have tragedies waiting on the back burner. What can go wrong, goes wrong. And then gets worse."—Colleen Hoover from Verity
Why I Rated Verity as a 5-Star Read for Thriller Fans
Five stars!!
Colleen Hoover is a mega bestselling author of both adult and young adult fiction. Verity is my personal favorite. The hot (hot, hot) romance was definitely a big part of the appeal, but the spicy sex wasn’t the only part. This is more than a romance novel. I loved the twisty, dark, and disorienting plot that kept me guessing until the very end. In this novel, the characters aren’t who they seem to be, and that multi-dimensional layer was the aspect that made Verity so wonderful for me.
In fact, all Colleen Hoover’s novels are amazing!
What Other Readers Are Saying about Verity
“Want to know what’s even more shocking than this dark and twisted book?? It’s the fact that one of the most suspenseful stories I have ever read is written by my fave romance author!” — Jessica, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Verity is 5/5 stars because of its mind-bending and unexpected last chapter.
#7 - The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis - A Gripping Exploration of Trauma and the Human Mind
Why This Roller-Coaster Plot Delivers the Same “What Did I Just Read?” Vibe as The Silent Patient?
Released in 2016, this older Goodreads Choice Nominee has everything you want in a twisty thriller like The Silent Patient.
One-sentence summary for The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis: An unflinching, painful, searing, riveting, brutal book about rape and sexual assault that will shock you to the core.
Taste Test
"I am vengeance."― Mindy McGinnis from The Female of the Species
Why I Feel McGinnis’ Cunning Protagonist and Addictive Storytelling Digs Deeper Than Other Bestsellers
I loved this book. Alex Craft is a unique female protagonist, and I had a hard time pinning her down. Sometimes I wanted to label her as a psychopath / sociopath based on her actions and reactions to things, but I don't think that's right.
She is a criminal. It's easy to forget that about her because she makes friends, takes care of kittens, shows compassion to other kids, and falls in love. But she also kills people. So there's that.
This was my third Mindy McGinnis novel, and I'm hooked on her. She writes compelling stories and tough, unflinching characters, and she’s also one of the top authors in my list of the Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited.
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Female of the Species
“5 is not enough, it deserves 10 brutal, brilliant, heart wrenching stars!” ― Nilufer, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for The Female of the Species is 5/5 stars because of its unusual protagonist and plot.
#8 - The Housemaid by Freida McFadden - A High-Stakes “Locked-Room” Thriller
Why The Housemaid Delivers the Same Dark and Unexpected Twist as The Silent Patient
Like Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient, the deeply unsettling ending of The Housemaid was not predictable, and the twisty path to reach the conclusion was not straight.
One-sentence summary for The Housemaid by Freida McFadden: A tense thriller about a woman who takes a housemaid job and gets much more than she bargained for.
The Taste Test
"I'm going to let you out... Just not yet." ― Freida McFadden from The Housemaid
Why I’m Still Thinking about The Mind-Bending Ending of McFadden’s Bestseller
Fast-paced, full of surprises, chilling twist ending, compelling and unexpected characters -- this novel has all that and more!
And that quote—yikes!
The Housemaid kept popping up as recommended reading for me, and since I've been seeing it everywhere, I thought, "Let's see."
I was delighted and entertained. In fact, I will definitely be reading more Freida McFadden novels!
What Other Readers Are Saying about The Housemaid
“This was fantastic. I didn't even try to guess what was really going on because it totally absorbed me. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is superb.” - James, Goodreads Reader
Key takeaway: My rating for Verity is 5/5 stars for this mind-bending and twisted thriller.
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
There are so many other popular titles to recommend:
Layla by Colleen Hoover - A unique premise: a romantic suspense novel that includes a love triangle with a ghost!
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - A psychological thriller about a wife's disappearance, which exposes the secrets of her marriage and spirals into an unexpected twist of manipulation, media spectacle, and revenge..
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Unreliable narrators with dark secrets
Drowning Instinct by Ilsa Bick - A darkly compelling story about a teen who participates in an inappropriate relationship with her teacher.
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston - A mind-bending popcorn thriller with a jaw-dropping twist
The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve - A slowly unraveling mystery that just keeps going…
If you are looking for other books like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, Goodreads also offers a great book list: Readers Who Enjoyed The Silent Patient. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
