What are some good dark thriller novels?

Some of the best dark thriller novels include 'The Shining' by Stephen King. The isolated setting of the Overlook Hotel and the slow descent into madness of the main character, Jack Torrance, creates a really intense and dark atmosphere. 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' by Lionel Shriver is also a great one. It tells the story of a mother trying to come to terms with her son's violent actions in a very dark and thought - provoking way. And 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt, which is set in a group of elite students who get involved in a murder, has a dark and alluring plot.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is also a top - notch dark thriller. It combines mystery, crime, and a unique protagonist. The dark themes of abuse and corruption are explored in a very engaging way.

One characteristic is the sense of isolation. In a dark wood, characters are often cut off from the outside world, like in 'The Ritual'. This makes them more vulnerable. Another is the element of the unknown. The dark wood can hide many secrets and threats, as seen in 'The Darkest Part of the Forest'. Also, there's often a build - up of suspense as the characters move deeper into the wood, not knowing what they will encounter next.

Well, 'The Silence of the Lambs' is a classic in this genre. The psychological cat - and - mouse game between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter is extremely thrilling. 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' by Lionel Shriver is also a remarkable one. It makes you think deeply about parenting and the nature of evil from a psychological perspective. And 'Before I Go to Sleep' by S. J. Watson, which is about a woman with amnesia and the dark secrets that surround her, is very engaging.

Sure. There is 'Into the Woods' which has a dark and mysterious forest as the backdrop for a series of spine - chilling events. The forest in this novel is full of hidden paths, strange noises and things that lurk in the shadows. Additionally, 'The Trees' by Ali Shaw is set in a world where the trees have become something to be feared as they start to move and cause chaos in a rather dark and wooded landscape.

Well, there are several great crime thriller novels. 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote is a classic. It's based on a true crime story and really delves deep into the minds of the killers. Then there's 'The Big Sleep' by Raymond Chandler. His writing style is very noir and his detective, Philip Marlowe, is really cool. Also, 'The Reversal' by Michael Connelly is quite good. It has a great courtroom drama aspect within the crime thriller framework.

One great financial thriller novel is 'The Big Short' by Michael Lewis. It delves into the world of the 2008 financial crisis and how a few individuals saw it coming. Another is 'Liar's Poker' also by Michael Lewis, which gives an insider's view of Wall Street in the 1980s. 'Flash Boys' by Michael Lewis as well is a good one, focusing on high - frequency trading.

Dean Koontz is another popular author. His novels often blend elements of the supernatural with dark thriller plots. For example, in 'Intensity', he creates a tense and thrilling story with a strong female lead facing a terrifying serial killer.

There's 'Before I Go to Sleep' by S. J. Watson. It's a story about a woman with amnesia trying to figure out her past and her relationship, all while there are some menacing elements that make it a thriller. Also, 'The Silent Patient' by Alex Michaelides has elements of a romantic relationship intertwined with a dark mystery about a woman who stops speaking after a tragic event. The exploration of the relationship between the psychologist and the patient adds a romantic - thriller aspect to the story.

Some new psychological thriller novels that have been getting attention are 'Lock Every Door' by Riley Sager. It has a creepy and mysterious apartment building as its setting, which sets a great atmosphere for the psychological thrills. There's also 'The Wife Between Us' by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, which has a lot of unexpected plot twists that keep you guessing until the very end.