Here are 100 books that The Last House on Needless Street fans have personally recommended if you like
The Last House on Needless Street.
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I have been fascinated with peopleâs minds since probably my second psychology class in college. It was when I heard a professor say that all creatives were crazy. I argued that one with her. You donât have to be creative to be crazy; trust me on this, I was right. Yes, many gifted people are borderline, and there really are savants in this world, but I truly believe they are rare. So, I have studied and been up close and personal with people who have psychological issues. Iâve also met some fascinating people who have managed to become successful. Others, not so much.
This book didnât start out in the usual way. That in itself grabbed my attention. Itâs a thriller, so I expect the first paragraph at least to pull me in. It didnât grab me the way most do; it slowly sucked me in until I found myself not wanting to put it down.
The two main characters seemed to be at odds. One wanting to help and one refusing to speak. I donât understand not trying to find answers that keep me silent. It must be the curiosity that kept me reading. Because the woman could speak. At least she could at one time. Either it was something traumatic, or it was just plain stubbornness. Or was I missing the entire point? Always an option.Â
"An unforgettableâand Hollywood-boundânew thriller... A mix of Hitchcockian suspense, Agatha Christie plotting, and Greek tragedy." âEntertainment Weekly
The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a womanâs act of violence against her husbandâand of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.
Alicia Berensonâs life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of Londonâs most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him fiveâŚ
Artist Nilda Ricci could use a stroke of luck. She seems to get it when she inherits a shadowy Victorian, built by an architect whose houses were said to influence the mindâsupposedly, in beneficial ways. At first, Nildaâs new home delivers, with the help of its longtime housekeeper. And NildaâŚ
Iâm drawn to stories about the human experience in the throes of extreme situations. When I was younger, I lived on a military base. I remember hearing snippets of life through the walls of our duplex, seeing things through open windows in our cul de sac. Of course, it wasnât all sinister, but I was impacted. Secrets and how people cope with trauma are a common theme throughout my work, and I seek out stories with them as a focus. Books that deep-dive into characters and their lives will always make the top of my list!
Sarah Langan tells you the story of a crime on Maple Street in layers, peeling back the lives of the residents there. While it may seem like a regular suburb, nothing is quite as it seems. Secrets are almost the lifeblood of the street. With news snippets, dissertations, and articles, along with the traditional narrative, the novel immerses the reader into the world Sarah Langan created. But the most impressive part is how trapped the temperature, the very environment itself, makes you feel. Unable to escape that, even the fairly benign secrets of Maple Street feel heavy.
Named by Goodreads as One of the Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2021
"A modern-day Crucible....Beneath the surface of a suburban utopia, madness lurks." -Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish
"A sinkhole opens on Maple Street, and gossip turns the suburban utopia toxic. A taut teachable moment about neighbors turning on neighbors." -People
"One of the creepiest, most unnerving deconstructions of American suburbia I've ever read. Langan cuts to the heart of upper middle class lives like a skilled surgeon." -NPR
Celeste Ng's enthralling dissection of suburbia meets Shirley Jackson's creeping dread in this propulsive literaryâŚ
Neighbors. Weâve all got âem, right? We believe weâre the good ones, and we pray we donât live next door to the bad ones⌠but sometimes itâs inevitable that we share our property lines with those ill-suited for neighborly behavior. Horror books about bad neighbors are the perfect window into our own communities. We can peer into the lives of others without worry of getting caught. We can tiptoe through their rooms and rummage through their drawers⌠Who knows what we might find. Are they witches? Serial killers? Devil worshippers? Only their dirty laundry will tell.
So few books give me chills, but I could feel my temperature downright drop the deeper into this graphic novel I went. Certainly not for the weak-hearted, or stomached for that matter, Powell and Schechter plunge into one of the most depraved characters of the Midwest⌠none other than Ed Gein himself. There is an odd beauty to the madness at display here. It just goes to show you never know whatâs going on behind the closed doors of your next-door neighbors.
âIt is fantastic! Not only is Eric Powell's art on point, but Harold Schechter introduces some new ideas about Ed Gein that have never been heard.â - THE LAST PODCAST ON THE LEFT
âA natural choice for true-crime fans.ââBOOKLIST
âAs extensively researched as the Alan Moore/Eddie Campbell Jack the Ripper graphic novel From Hell, âDid You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?â is a masterpiece of the form, standing as the best possible dramatization of Ed Gein's tale in any medium.ââBLOODY DISGUSTING
âThis is a new true crime comics essential.ââSYFY WIRE
Artist Nilda Ricci could use a stroke of luck. She seems to get it when she inherits a shadowy Victorian, built by an architect whose houses were said to influence the mindâsupposedly, in beneficial ways. At first, Nildaâs new home delivers, with the help of its longtime housekeeper. And NildaâŚ
Neighbors. Weâve all got âem, right? We believe weâre the good ones, and we pray we donât live next door to the bad ones⌠but sometimes itâs inevitable that we share our property lines with those ill-suited for neighborly behavior. Horror books about bad neighbors are the perfect window into our own communities. We can peer into the lives of others without worry of getting caught. We can tiptoe through their rooms and rummage through their drawers⌠Who knows what we might find. Are they witches? Serial killers? Devil worshippers? Only their dirty laundry will tell.
Samsonâs one and only novel, The Auctioneer is a wonderfully unnerving tale of how a community can find itself completely hollowed out in a matter of a single devilâs bargain. Predating Stephen Kingâs Needful Things, this book is a literary garotte that slowly closes around the readerâs throat. The paranoia is palpable in these pages, believe me.Â
One of the finest and best-selling horror novels of the 1970s returns at last to chill a new generation of readers
In the isolated farming community of Harlowe, New Hampshire, where life has changed little over the past several decades, John Moore and his wife Mim work the land that has been in his family for generations. But from the moment the charismatic Perly Dunsmore arrives in town and starts soliciting donations for his auctions, things begin slowly and insidiously to change in Harlowe. As the auctioneer carries out his terrible, inscrutable plan, the Moores and their neighbors will findâŚ
Neighbors. Weâve all got âem, right? We believe weâre the good ones, and we pray we donât live next door to the bad ones⌠but sometimes itâs inevitable that we share our property lines with those ill-suited for neighborly behavior. Horror books about bad neighbors are the perfect window into our own communities. We can peer into the lives of others without worry of getting caught. We can tiptoe through their rooms and rummage through their drawers⌠Who knows what we might find. Are they witches? Serial killers? Devil worshippers? Only their dirty laundry will tell.
A bewitching book from beginning to end. Harrison knows how to blend her horror with humor, along with an added dash of pathos to make her characters feel achingly real and relatable. What would you do if you moved to a new town, only to discover your neighbor just-so-happened to be a witch? Fair warning to those afraid of spiders: This book is crawling with the little homewreckers.
A darkly funny, frightening novel about a young woman learning how to take what she wants from a witch who may be too good to be true, from the author of The Return.  All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. Sheâs stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.âŚ
I have been fascinated with peopleâs minds since probably my second psychology class in college. It was when I heard a professor say that all creatives were crazy. I argued that one with her. You donât have to be creative to be crazy; trust me on this, I was right. Yes, many gifted people are borderline, and there really are savants in this world, but I truly believe they are rare. So, I have studied and been up close and personal with people who have psychological issues. Iâve also met some fascinating people who have managed to become successful. Others, not so much.
Oh the tangled webs we weave, when first we attempt to deceive. The book was recommended by my granddaughter. I had no idea what to expect. I was dumbfounded at some of the things that happened and the excuses for them. How does a famous author get her life so twisted up? I was beginning to think I was glad I never knew people like this. When I realized I did know people this twisted for other reasons.
I dare you to put this one down. I am now looking forward to reading more by Colleen Hoover. Had it not been recommended to me, Iâd have missed out on a great read. Because, in truth, we all know someone devious and diabolical.Â
The book is a page-turner; you canât put it down. I love it when a writer pulls me right into the pages like I am standing in theâŚ
OVER 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD - THE NO.1 BESTSELLER AND TIKTOK SENSATION, FROM THE AUTHOR OF IT ENDS WITH US Are you ready to stay up all night? Rebecca meets Gone Girl in this shocking, unpredictable thriller with a twist that will leave you reeling . . .
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
My love of all things to do with the human mind and behaviour led me to study for a psychology degree and it was then I also became interested in criminology. When I landed my dream job in a male prison, working with offenders on rehabilitation programmes, these interests intensified. I read a huge number of psychological thrillers â as well as writing seven of them â and find it exciting trying to come up with fresh plots and brilliantly devious twists! I hope you enjoy reading my selection on this list as much as I did.
The novel opens with a tragic hit-and-run. Jacobâs mother lets go of his hand for a few seconds â and in that moment, her little boyâs life is cruelly taken. Jenna, reeling from Jacobâs death, moves away for a fresh start, but her past soon catches up with her. This story completely turns on its head following the big twist halfway through the book and it made me go back to the beginning to re-read! At times harrowing, at times uplifting, this story will stay with me.
Don't miss the nail-biting new thriller from Clare Mackintosh - Hostage is out now. ________________
Lose yourself in the sensational debut I Let You Go - the Sunday Times bestseller, number one ebook phenomenon and Richard & Judy Book Club pick.
A tragic accident. It all happened so quickly. She couldn't have prevented it. Could she?
In a split second, Jenna Gray's world descends into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to walk away from everything she knows to start afresh. Desperate to escape, Jenna moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but she isâŚ
For years, I have been a voracious reader of dark psychological thrillers and psychological horror. I read several books every week, and Iâm always overjoyed to be knocked sideways by an ingenious twist in a book. As a doctor, I am captivated by people and fascinated by the depths of the human mind. For me, humans are the scariest monsters of them all. In 2020, I decided to have a pop at writing a jaw-dropper myself, and my book was born. I only hope you donât see that twist coming!
I am partial to a soupçon of the paranormal in my psychological thriller, which I know isnât everyoneâs cup of tea. I was gripped the whole time reading, but although I knew something shocking was coming, I had absolutely no idea what was going on until the final chapters.
The reveal at the end genuinely left me shaking. It is probably my favorite twist of all time. Outstanding.
Don't Trust This Book
Don't Trust These People
Don't Trust Yourself
And whatever you do, DON'T give away that ending...
Louise
Since her husband walked out, Louise has made her son her world, supporting them both with her part-time job. But all that changes when she meets...
David
Young, successful and charming - Louise cannot believe a man like him would look at her twice let alone be attracted to her. But that all comes to a grinding halt when she meets his wife...
Adele
Beautiful, elegant and sweet - Louise's new friend seems perfect in every way. As sheâŚ
I am the author of a number of psychological thrillers including The Perfect Family and The Wrong Twin. I like this genre because it really makes your blood pump. For the most part, these are ordinary people who get caught in extraordinary situations so itâs easy to relate. Once you start reading a really good thriller you canât stop, itâs like riding a roller coaster. It feels exhilarating but itâs totally safe. And the really good ones get you thinking. What would I do in that situation? How would I react?
A child is taken. A family is shattered. But this plays out a little differently than most missing child cases. I definitely did not expect that epic twist. Itâs well written and youâll tear through the pages with the song 99 Red Balloons playing in your head the whole time.
Two girls go missing, decades apart. What would you do if one was your daughter?
Eight-year-old Grace is last seen in a sweetshop. Her mother Emma is living a nightmare. But as her loved ones rally around her, cracks begin to emerge. What are the emails sent between her husband and her sister? Why does her mother take so long to join the search? And is there more to the disappearance of her daughter than meets the eye? Meanwhile, ageing widow Maggie Sharples sees a familiar face in the newspaper. A face that jolts her from the pain of herâŚ
I've been writing for 20 years, and the more I learn about the craft, the less interested I am in big, bombastic thrillers about the end of the world. Now I'm more impressed by books that do a lot with a little. Some talented writers can spin a gripping story out of nothing more than two people in a room (Stephen King's Misery is one of my all-time faves). The domestic noir genre lends itself to this kind of minimalism. Sure, serial killers are scary, but not as scary as the thought that your spouse might not be who they seem.
Christine has a brain injury, which causes her memories to degrade every time she sleeps. She wakes up every morning as a blank slate, and her devoted husband explains who she is and then helps her get through the day. Unbeknownst to him, she starts keeping a journalâand soon realizes that his story about how she was injured is a little different each time.
I'm never in the mood for a thriller with a big twist in the penultimate chapter. I always want one with a big twist at the end of every chapter, and this book absolutely delivers. Is the husband a good guy or a bad guy? I changed my mind a dozen times over the course of this book, expertly manipulated by the author. I read the whole thing aloud to my wife on a long drive, and the time went by in a blink.
