Books
19 must-read books for Big Little Lies fans
Were you gripped by Sky Atlantic’s brilliant crime drama, Big Little Lies? You’re not alone.
Based on the book by Liane Moriarty and starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley in the lead roles, Big Little Lies has proved itself to be seriously addictive – but what is it about the show, aside from the first rate acting and stellar soundtrack, that makes it so compelling?
When we first meet Madeline, Celeste and Jane they look like they have it all: perfect families, perfect homes, perfect lives – but this is, of course, far from the case. Despite the fact that they seem to be living the domestic dream, each one has a dark, closely-guarded secret. In a neighbourhood full of ambitious, aspirational personalities, jealousies and rivalries thrive, and after an incident in the school playground the whispers and rumours become vicious and spiteful, and the truths blur into lies.
Big Little Lies is domestic suspense at its very best: it takes seemingly ordinary people, puts them in an extraordinary situation, pushing them to their limits, and then lets the chaos unfold in front of our eyes. From the very beginning, we know something terrible has happened. We don’t know the identities of either the victim or the culprit, but the intrigue builds when we’re drip-fed reactions from other members of the community. The desperate need to find out what happens next, reveal the deeply buried secrets and uncover the answers to our questions consistently leaves us wanting more when the credits roll. We feed on the juicy secrets and lies of the characters, while rejoicing in the fact that we’re not in the same dire situation ourselves.
If this is what you love in your fiction, then you’re in luck. We’ve picked out 19 of the best domestic psychological thriller books, packed with dark, sinister secrets buried in the past and hidden behind closed doors. How many have you read?
19 domestic thriller books like Big Little Lies
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
From the author of Big Little Lies comes Apples Never Fall – a tale that again takes us behind the closed doors of seemingly tranquil suburbia. Liane Moriarty is a true expert when it comes to picking holes in so-called ‘perfect’ lives and using brilliant twists and turns that will keep you firmly planted on the edge of your seat. When Joy Delaney vanishes – no note, no calls, her bike missing – it’s natural that tongues will start to wag. Because the closer the family, the bigger the lies…
Apples Never Fall is now a BBC One drama. Here’s everything you need to know about the show.
Message Deleted by K L Slater
Message Deleted by K L Slater
A gripping psychological thriller that delves into the dark side of social media and its impact on personal relationships, Message Deleted follows friends Saffy and Leona, and the aftermath of the disappearance of Leona and her daughter. A candid exploration of trust, deception, and the consequences of our digital footprints, Message Deleted is full of unexpected twists and turns and an expertly woven plot that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Every Last Suspect by Nicola Moriarty
Every Last Suspect by Nicola Moriarty
As Harriet Osman lies dying from a wound to the back of the head, she tries to figure out who could have done this to her. Her husband? Her part-time lover? A mum from the school gates? Or someone less obvious? In this fast-past thriller from the other Moriarty sister, suspense and intrigue combine with the hidden motives of a tight-knit community to deliver a propulsive whodunnit that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain
Four suburban families living in an affluent neighbourhood have their lives changed forever when the unthinkable happens. What follows is an unsettling story that explores the complexities of motherhood, friendship, and the secrets that lie behind closed doors. Audrain’s keen insight into human emotions and relationships creates a gripping narrative that delves deep into the lives of its characters. With her skilful storytelling and suspenseful plot, Audrain examines what is lost when good people make unthinkable choices.
What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena
What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena
Following the success of Lapena’s previous novel, Everyone Here Is Lying, What Have You Done? is a gripping psychological thriller set in sleepy Vermont, where Diana Brewer is discovered dead in a hayfield by a local farmer. Crafted with a suspenseful narrative, and filled with unexpected twists, this novel explores the complexities of a seemingly perfect family shattered by a shocking crime. If you enjoy tightly woven thrillers with simmering tension, this one’s for you.
The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters
The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters
From the outside, it looks like Nicole has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a stunning home in the heart of Lagos, and a glamorous group of expat friends. But after a boat trip, she disappears without a trace.
Frustrated by the police’s lack of progress, her aunt Claudine flies to Nigeria and takes matters into her own hands. But as she investigates what happened, Claudine learns the uncomfortable truth about her niece’s life. Like Big Little Lies, Vanessa Walters’ novel addresses the sometimes huge gap between appearances and reality.
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
You never know what’s happening on the other side of the wall – and no book illustrates this better than Shari Lapena’s debut psychological thriller.
When Anne and Marco’s baby girl is taken from their home while they’re at a dinner party next door, suspicion initially falls on the child’s parents. They’re clearly hiding something – both from the police and from each other. What follows is a twisty, suspenseful tale of secrets, lies and betrayal that examines the dark underbelly of the ‘perfect’ suburban life and makes you question how much you can trust everyone around you.
No One Saw A Thing by Andrea Mara
No One Saw a Thing by Andrea Mara
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. Sive is separated from her two daughters when they jump on a Tube ahead of her, just as the doors close. But when she gets to the next stop, only one of her children is waiting for her. The other is gone.
Unsure if she is simply lost, or if she has been taken, Sive is in a race against time: because the longer the search continues, the less likely it is that her daughter will be found alive. This suspenseful thriller will hook you within the first 15 pages – and it won’t let you go until you’ve reached the end.
The Good Girl by Fiona Neill
The Good Girl by Fiona Neill
No one can believe it when straight A student Romy Field finds herself at the centre of a scandal, least of all her mother Ailsa – who is also the head of her new school. But it soon becomes apparent that Romy isn’t the only member of her family harbouring secrets and her disgrace soon becomes the catalyst for the unravelling of all those around her.
The Good Girl is a dark, compelling and controversial novel about a picture perfect family’s darkest secrets. Packed with tension, you’ll lose yourself in this absorbing read.
Disclaimer by Renée Knight
Disclaimer by Renée Knight
When an intriguing novel appears on Catherine’s bedside table, she curls up and begins to read. But as she turns the pages she is horrified to realise she is a key character, a main player in the book.
This story will reveal her darkest secret – a secret she thought no one else knew, and one that she’s done everything in her power to ensure stays hidden. Catherine’s near idyllic life is about to be shaken to its very core – and nothing will ever be the same again.
Told through multiple viewpoints, this addictive read will keep you guessing right up until the very end.
Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris
Behind Closed Doors by B A Paris
Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth, she has charm and elegance. The two are never apart – and while some might call this true love, others might ask why Grace never answers the phone. Or how she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. And why there are bars on one of the bedroom windows.
Sometimes, the perfect marriage is the perfect lie – and sometimes, behind the facade, it’s a complete nightmare.
The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty
The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty
Joni, Trina, Deb and Eden, four best friends since the first day of school, are now in their thirties and real life – husbands, children, work – has caused them to grow apart. In an attempt to reconnect on their annual trip away, each one writes an anonymous letter, confessing what’s really going on in their life. But some secrets are darker than others and should stay buried – and Joni starts to wonder whether she ever really knew her friends at all.
The Fifth Letter is a twisty page turner about the anger, desire and deceit that bubble away just under the surface of seemingly ordinary lives.
The Silent Wife by A S A Harrison
The Silent Wife by A S A Harrison
Todd and Jodie have been together for more than twenty years. They are both aware their relationship is in crisis, though neither is willing to admit it. Todd is living a dual existence, while Jodie is living in denial. She also likes to settle scores. When it becomes clear their affluent Chicago lifestyle could disintegrate at any moment, Jodie knows everything is at stake. It’s only now she will discover just how much she’s truly capable of.
This chilling novel tells a deeply disquieting tale of adultery, jealousy, lust and a precarious world destined for disaster. It’s brilliantly crafted and thoroughly captivating.
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Jen is waiting up for her teenage son, but she doesn’t suspect anything is out of the ordinary – until she witnesses him on their street corner, stabbing an unknown man. He is arrested and charged with murder; his life, she assumes, is over.
But the next morning, Jen wakes up and it is the day before the murder. And every morning she wakes up, it is the day before the previous one. Trapped in the past, she searches for a reason for her son’s crime – and how she can stop it. This time-travel mystery has all the domestic suspense of Big Little Lies.
The Swimming Pool by Louise Candlish
The Swimming Pool by Louise Candlish
It’s summer when Elm Hill lido opens, having stood empty for years. For Natalie Steele – wife, mother, teacher – it offers freedom from the ordinary, humdrum routines of work and family. Especially when it leads her to Lara Channing, a flawless, charismatic former actress with a lavish bohemian lifestyle, who seems all too happy to invite Natalie into her elite circle.
Soon Natalie finds herself intoxicated – caught up in the glamorous, mesmerising new lifestyle – and wholly unaware that there’s something sinister about the new friendship. Is such a change in fortunes too good to be true?
My Husband's Wife - Jane Corry by Jane Corry
My Husband’s Wife by Jane Corry
Ed and Lily are newly married – but after the initial honeymoon period, the cracks are already starting to show. The lies start small but soon become too big to handle, and what began with marriage soon ends in murder.
Jane Corry’s debut introduces us to characters who are pushed to the extreme. Told through multiple viewpoints, this is a complex, suspenseful thriller full of twists and turns that will take you on an absolute rollercoaster of a ride.
The Loving Husband by Christobel Kent
The Loving Husband by Christobel Kent
The Loving Husband draws readers into a marriage where nothing is as it seems. It’s an unsettling, unputdownable read and a compulsive psychological thriller.
Fran and her husband Nathan have moved with their children to a farmhouse on the edge of the Fens – a chance to get away from London and have a fresh start. But when Fran wakes one night to find Nathan gone, she makes a devastating discovery. As questions about her husband and her relationships start to mount, Fran’s life begins to spiral out of control. What is she hiding from the police about her marriage, and does she really know the man she shared her bed with?
The Trophy Child by Paula Daly
The Trophy Child by Paula Daly
Karen Bloom expects perfection from her family – no matter what the consequences may be. As she pushes her talented daughter to the brink, the rest of the family starts to crumble. Karen’s husband is losing himself in work, and his teenage daughter from his first marriage is becoming ever more volatile. The family is dangerously near breaking point – and then tragedy strikes.
Paula Daly is brilliant at taking ordinary people and turning their everyday lives upside down. The Trophy Child digs beneath the serene surface of the idyllic suburban Lake District community where families strive for perfection, delivering a suspenseful, surprising story of ambition, motherhood and murder.
You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott
Katie and her husband Eric have made their daughter Devon the centre of their world. Talented, determined, a rising gymnastics star, Devon is the focus of her parents’ lives and the lynchpin of their marriage. There is nothing they wouldn’t do for her.
Then a death sends shockwaves through their close-knit community. Hidden secrets, lies, passions and rivalries soon rise to the surface and everything is thrown into turmoil. Katie and Eric have sacrificed so much for Devon – but how just far will they go to protect her?
Have we missed any must-read books like Big Little Lies? Let us know in the comments below!
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Thanks so much for all these books, I can’t wait to start reading them.
Thank you for this list of books. I cannot wait to get started. Please send me more book lists.😊
In A Dark, Dark Wood and The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
The Husband’s Secret by far the best of Liane Moriarty.And Penny Vincenzi puts everyone in the shade,.with very little blood shed!