Best Dark Fiction Books December 2024

An Anonymous Girl

Jessica Farris stumbles into a psychology study for easy money, but finds herself caught in a web of deceit and manipulation. As the mysterious Dr. Shields pushes her boundaries, Jess begins to question reality and her own morality. With each twisted turn, she’s drawn deeper into a dangerous game where trust is a luxury she can’t afford. This gripping psychological thriller will leave you breathless, questioning who’s really pulling the strings in this masterful dance of deception.

The Wife Between Us

Vanessa thought she had it all—a perfect marriage, a luxurious lifestyle, and a doting husband. But when Richard leaves her for a younger woman, her world shatters. Obsessed with her replacement, Vanessa spirals into a web of jealousy and deceit. As she unravels the truth about her past and Richard’s new fiancée, nothing is as it seems. With each twist, readers will question their assumptions, caught in a psychological thriller that blurs the lines between victim and villain. Trust no one, not even yourself, in this heart-pounding tale of love, betrayal, and revenge.

Believe Me

Claire Wright, a struggling British actress in New York, takes on a new role: entrapping married men for suspicious wives. It’s just acting, until she’s hired to seduce Patrick Fogler, a charming psychologist suspected of murdering his wife. As Claire delves deeper into Patrick’s world, the line between reality and performance blurs. With each twist, she questions who’s manipulating whom. A gripping psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the final curtain call.

Before I Go to Sleep

Christine wakes each morning with no memory, her mind wiped clean by a mysterious accident. Guided by a journal she keeps, she pieces together her life daily, uncovering unsettling truths about her husband and past. As fragments of memory return, Christine realizes she’s caught in a web of lies and must unravel the truth before it’s too late. This gripping psychological thriller explores identity, trust, and the fragility of memory, keeping readers on edge until the shocking finale.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway

Hal receives a mysterious letter about an inheritance, but she knows it’s a mistake. Desperate for money, she decides to play along, traveling to the eerie Trepassen House. As she unravels the family’s dark secrets, Hal realizes she’s in over her head. With each revelation, the danger grows. Ware’s atmospheric writing kept me on edge, feeling the chill of the old mansion and the weight of long-buried truths. A gripping mystery that had me questioning everything until the very end.

The Girl from Widow Hills

Arden Maynor’s childhood trauma haunts her still. At six, she sleepwalked during a storm and vanished for days, captivating the nation. Now, she’s reinvented herself as Olivia, desperate to escape her past. But as the 20th anniversary of her rescue approaches, unsettling events force her to confront long-buried memories. When she stumbles upon a corpse outside her home, Olivia fears her nightmares are becoming reality. With gripping suspense and unexpected twists, this psychological thriller explores the blurred lines between memory and truth.

The Last House Guest

Littleport, Maine, a town of stark economic contrasts, harbors dark secrets beneath its picturesque facade. Avery Greer, a local, and Sadie Loman, a wealthy summer resident, forge an unlikely friendship that defies social boundaries. But when Sadie’s body is found on the beach, ruled a suicide, Avery’s world shatters. Haunted by doubts and determined to uncover the truth, she delves into the town’s murky past, uncovering a web of lies that threatens to unravel everything she thought she knew about her friend, her town, and herself.

All Is Not Forgotten

Haunting and provocative, “All Is Not Forgotten” delves into the aftermath of a brutal assault on a teenage girl in a small Connecticut town. As her parents opt for a controversial memory-erasing treatment, the family grapples with unforeseen consequences. Walker masterfully weaves a complex psychological thriller, exploring the fragility of memory and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love. With each page, readers are drawn deeper into a web of secrets, lies, and moral dilemmas that will leave them questioning the nature of truth and justice.

Emma in the Night

Emma’s disappearance three years ago left her family shattered. Now, she’s suddenly returned, but her sister Cass is still missing. As forensic psychologist Dr. Winter delves into Emma’s fractured memories, she uncovers a web of lies and manipulation. Emma’s account doesn’t add up, and her mother’s narcissism casts a long shadow. With each revelation, the truth becomes more elusive, and the stakes higher. This gripping psychological thriller keeps you guessing until the very end, exploring the complexities of family dynamics and the lengths we go to protect those we love.

The Night Before

Rosie Cooke is haunted by a night she can’t remember. Desperate to uncover the truth, she retraces her steps, piecing together fragmented memories of a party gone wrong. As she delves deeper, dark secrets emerge, threatening everything she thought she knew. With each revelation, Rosie questions her own sanity and the motives of those closest to her. Walker’s gripping narrative keeps you guessing until the very end, blending psychological suspense with raw emotion. A chilling exploration of memory, trust, and the shadows that lurk in our minds.