Lisa Unger writes books that keep you on the edge of your seat. She is known for thrillers and suspense novels that often explore the darker side of human nature.
If you enjoy stories with twisty plots, complex characters, and a strong sense of atmosphere, you might wonder about authors with a similar style. Here are some writers you may find just as captivating.
Readers who appreciate Lisa Unger’s suspenseful mysteries and psychological insights may also enjoy Ruth Ware’s thriller novels. Ware has a talent for creating atmospheric settings, unexpected twists, and complex characters.
Her novel “The Woman in Cabin 10” follows travel journalist Lo Blacklock, who embarks on an exclusive luxury cruise assignment.
One night, Lo witnesses what seems to be a woman thrown overboard from the adjacent cabin, but the following morning, everyone remains accounted for, and nobody believes her story.
As Lo searches for answers, strange occurrences and uncertain identities keep readers guessing about reality, trust, and truth until the very end.
Gillian Flynn crafts dark and suspenseful tales exploring twisted family secrets and psychological tension—perfect for fans of Lisa Unger’s atmospheric thrillers.
Her novel “Sharp Objects” follows journalist Camille Preaker as she returns to her hometown to cover the disturbing murders of two young girls. Camille must confront her troubled past and her strained relationship with her cold, distant mother.
As she investigates further, Camille uncovers unsettling truths about the town and her own family, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. Flynn expertly creates an eerie, tense atmosphere that captures the reader’s attention until the final chilling reveal.
Readers who enjoy the psychological suspense novels of Lisa Unger will likely appreciate author Paula Hawkins.
Her novel “The Girl on the Train” explores the unreliability of memory and perception through Rachel, a troubled woman obsessed with the lives of strangers she watches from her commuter train every day.
After she notices something disturbing at their home, Rachel becomes tangled in a mystery where each revelation casts more doubt on everyone around her—including herself.
Hawkins builds a tense narrative full of twists and complicated characters, perfect for anyone who enjoys deep psychological drama and suspenseful storytelling.
Tana French is an Irish-American author known for her psychological suspense novels. Readers who enjoy Lisa Unger will find similarities in the layered characters and atmospheric settings of French’s books.
Her novel, “In the Woods,” introduces readers to Detective Rob Ryan, who is forced to confront his mysterious past when investigating the unsettling disappearance of a young girl in a Dublin suburb.
French creates tension through careful storytelling and finely drawn relationships between her characters. As Rob’s investigation unfolds, secrets buried years ago begin to surface, complicating his quest for answers.
The dark and moody setting adds suspense and depth to a story filled with psychological twists and haunting memories.
Mary Kubica crafts suspenseful psychological thrillers that explore complicated human relationships and hidden secrets. Readers who enjoy Lisa Unger’s character-driven mysteries may find Kubica’s style appealing.
In “The Good Girl,” Kubica tells the story of Mia, a young woman who disappears under mysterious circumstances. As her mother tries frantically to understand what happened, dark secrets slowly rise to the surface.
This story shifts between different points of view and timelines, keeping readers guessing about who to trust and what really happened to Mia. Kubica’s talent for building emotional tension and her well-developed characters make this an engaging and suspenseful read.
Megan Miranda is an author who writes psychological thrillers and mysteries that delve into hidden secrets and dark pasts. If you enjoy Lisa Unger, Miranda’s book “All the Missing Girls” could appeal to you.
This story begins with Nicolette Farrell returning to her hometown ten years after her best friend mysteriously disappeared. Soon after Nicolette’s arrival, another young woman vanishes. Told uniquely in reverse, from day fifteen back to day one, the book keeps you guessing.
Miranda carefully reveals truths and lies beneath the surface of Nicolette’s seemingly familiar world. The engaging narrative structure adds suspense and intensity, making this thriller stand out.
Karin Slaughter is an American author known for her gritty thrillers and strong character development. If you enjoy Lisa Unger’s psychological intensity, you might appreciate Slaughter’s novel “Pretty Girls.” The story revolves around two estranged sisters, Claire and Lydia.
The disappearance of a teenage girl brings back the painful memories of their own sister’s unsolved disappearance decades earlier. As they reconnect, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined.
Slaughter’s writing pulls readers along with fast-paced suspense, deep family drama, and twists you won’t see coming.
Shari Lapena is a Canadian author known for crafting twisty psychological thrillers that keep readers hooked from start to finish. Fans of Lisa Unger’s suspenseful storytelling will likely enjoy Lapena’s novel “The Couple Next Door”.
This book follows Anne and Marco, a young married couple who leave their infant daughter at home while attending a dinner party next door. They check on her regularly, but when they return home, she has vanished.
As suspicion falls heavily on the parents, secrets unravel fast, and the reader questions everyone involved. Lapena creates sharp tension, believable characters, and surprising turns, perfect for suspense lovers.
Readers who enjoy Lisa Unger’s psychological thrillers might find Greer Hendricks equally entertaining. Hendricks co-authored “The Wife Between Us,” a story filled with twists, suspense, and deceptive appearances.
At first glance, this novel feels familiar: a jealous ex-wife, a younger, naive fiancée, and the charming man who connects them. But nothing is as straightforward as it seems. Each chapter reveals a fresh layer of secrets and hidden motivations.
The further you read, the clearer it becomes that Hendricks skillfully plays on readers’ assumptions, turning a seemingly ordinary story into an intense, layered mystery.
Readers who enjoy Lisa Unger’s psychological suspense stories with complex characters may also appreciate Sarah Pekkanen’s thrillers. Pekkanen writes captivating novels filled with secrets and intriguing plot twists.
In “The Wife Between Us,” co-authored with Greer Hendricks, Pekkanen introduces readers to Vanessa, a woman recovering from a complicated marriage. At first glance, it appears to be the story of jealousy and betrayal involving a young fiancé and an ex-wife.
But as the narrative progresses, subtle details emerge, revealing hidden motives and unexpected turns. This novel combines elements of mystery and drama, keeping readers guessing until the final chapters.
Jennifer McMahon writes suspenseful mysteries that blend psychological depth with supernatural twists. If you enjoy Lisa Unger’s exploration of dark secrets in everyday lives, consider reading McMahon’s “The Winter People.”
Set in a remote Vermont town with a mysterious past, the story revolves around the sudden disappearance of a woman named Alice. Her teenage daughter Ruthie finds troubling clues hidden within her home, which lead her to unsettling historical connections and eerie local legends.
McMahon expertly builds a tense atmosphere and weaves together past and present into a chilling mystery.
Heather Gudenkauf writes captivating psychological suspense novels filled with family drama and tense mysteries hidden beneath ordinary lives. If you enjoyed Lisa Unger’s layered storytelling, you might appreciate Gudenkauf’s “The Weight of Silence.”
One quiet summer morning, two families awaken to find their young daughters have vanished during the night. As the desperate search unfolds, complex family secrets gradually surface, putting relationships to the test and raising uneasy questions about who can truly be trusted.
Gudenkauf skillfully combines suspenseful twists with emotionally charged storytelling, making her books hard to put down.
B.A. Paris writes psychological thrillers that explore tense, suspenseful relationships and hidden secrets. Her book “Behind Closed Doors” follows Jack and Grace, a couple that appears perfect from the outside. Grace is charming and graceful; Jack, successful and attentive.
But behind their flawless image exists a dark reality where danger simmers below the surface. Paris builds a story full of suspense, keeping readers guessing the truth about Jack and Grace until the final pages.
Fans of Lisa Unger’s domestic suspense stories may enjoy Paris’ clever plots and realistic, troubled characters.
Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers by Lisa Unger may also appreciate novels by Alice Feeney. Feeney specializes in suspense novels featuring complex characters and surprising plot twists.
Her novel “Sometimes I Lie” introduces readers to Amber Reynolds, a woman who wakes up in a hospital bed unable to speak or move, but aware of everything around her.
As Amber pieces together the events leading to her current condition, readers are drawn into a narrative filled with secrets and unreliable memories. Feeney keeps readers guessing until the final pages, creating suspense similar to Lisa Unger’s intriguing storytelling style.
Books by A.J. Finn offer psychological suspense readers a tense and atmospheric journey into complex characters and unsettling mysteries. If you’ve enjoyed Lisa Unger’s psychological thrillers, try Finn’s novel “The Woman in the Window.”
This story follows Anna Fox, a recluse who hasn’t left her New York home for months due to anxiety and paranoia. Strange events unfold after she witnesses an alarming incident in her neighbor’s home through her living room window.
Anna doubts her own memory, and readers soon question what’s true and what’s imagined. Finn weaves suspense, unreliable narration, and unexpected twists into a memorable thriller.