11 Books with Shocking Plot Twists

Jean Hanff Korelitz is the author of psychological suspense novels, including The Devil and Webster and You Should Have Known, the bestselling thriller that served as the basis for HBO’s The Undoing. Her latest tale of suspense will keep you reading long into the night with its rich character development and twisty plot. Jacob Finch Bonner is a washed-up writing professor who hasn’t published anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, one of Jacob’s more arrogant students, lays out the plot of his novel-in-progress, Jacob knows it’s going to be huge. But when Evan dies before completing his narrative, Jacob decides to steal the premise and present it as his own. Sure enough, Jacob was right: He becomes a household name after publishing his latest work of fiction. Then, just as he’s reaching the height of fame, he receives a shocking message that threatens to expose him: “You are a thief.” Who else knows about his stolen plot, and just who was Evan Parker?

Alex Michaelides catapulted himself to literary superstardom with his debut psychological thriller, delivering a blockbuster narrative steeped in suspense and unexpected revelations. The novel follows Theo Faber,  a criminal psychotherapist trying to unravel a violent domestic mystery. Alicia Berenson is a world-renowned artist who leads a life that most of us dream of having. Why, then, did she murder her photographer husband in cold blood? Faber’s determined to find out. But his job won’t be easy, because after shooting her spouse in the face, Alicia went mute. The patient may be silent, but this shocking story practically screams from the page.

There’s no doubt that The Maidens – Alex Michaelides’ highly anticipated follow up to his debut novel The Silent Patient – will thrill you with its twisting, turning plot. Weaving together themes of obsession, murder, and Greek mythology, The Maidens centers on a secret society of female students at Cambridge University. When one member of the group is found murdered, therapist Mariana Andros becomes obsessed with the crime, the clique, and Edward Fosca, a Greek tragedy professor she’s certain is the killer. But will her obsession lead to her downfall?

If you haven’t read a Gillian Flynn book before, the best place to start is with her first book, Sharp Objects. Set in small-town Missouri, the narrative follows Camille Preaker, a journalist tasked with covering the murder case of two young girls. The catch? The murders took place in Camille’s hometown. Now Camille must return to her troubled family – including a neurotic mom and a mysterious half sister – as she searches for the truth. Soon Camille begins identifying with the victims, leading her to confront devastating secrets about her traumatic past.

Bestselling author Shari Lapena, whose most recent release is 2020’s The End of Her, has many thrillers under her belt. Yet no list of books with plot twists would be complete without her prized gem The Couple Next Door. The story centers on Anne and Marco Conti, a seemingly perfect couple who attend a dinner party next door while a heinous crime is committed in their own home. As a persistent detective investigates, the Contis become prime suspects, and it becomes clear they’re keeping secrets from everyone – including each other.

If you like to read a book before it’s adapted to the screen, now’s the perfect time to start Jessica Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive. The bestselling thriller will soon become a Netflix film starring Mila Kunis. As a teenager, Ani suffered a public humiliation while attending the respected Bradley School. The ordeal was devastating, yet it also prompted Ani to reinvent herself. Years later, she leads a life of seeming perfection: a glamorous job, incredible clothes, and a desirable fiancé. But painful secrets lie buried in Ani’s past. Will they destroy the life she’s worked so hard to build?

Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes boasts a twist ending so shocking that you just knew it would be adapted for film or TV. Sure enough, Netflix’s popular adaptation of Behind Her Eyes is streaming right now. The psychological thriller follows Louise, a single mom who gets pulled into the middle of a marriage that isn’t what it seems. David is Louise’s boss. The pair shared a kiss at a bar before Louise started work, which certainly makes things tricky. Then Louise strikes up a friendship with Adele, who happens to be married to David. Just what happens next? You’re in for a tantalizing ride.

Christina McDonald, whose latest book, Do No Harm, came out in early 2021, delivered an electrifying domestic drama with 2019’s The Night Olivia Fell. The novel follows Abi Knight as she strives to understand what happened to her daughter Olivia. Olivia plummeted from a bridge one night and is now on life support. But was the fall an accident? Why are her wrists bruised? And – most shocking of all – did she realize she was pregnant at the time of the incident? Sometimes we don’t know our family members as well as we think we do.

The Sanatorium was an instant bestseller when it was released earlier this year, and it’s easy to understand why. Author Sarah Pearse weaves an intricate web of terror, complete with a remote winter setting and a narrative packed with shocking twists. The story follows detective Elin Warner, who’s taking time off to celebrate the engagement of her brother Isaac and his fiancée, Laure. The revelers decamp to Le Sommet, an isolated getaway in the Swiss Alps. Things take a dark turn, however, when Laure goes missing in the middle of a terrible winter storm. Oh, and did we mention that the five-star Le Sommet was once an abandoned sanitarium?

Amy Gentry’s Good as Gone – her debut novel – is a masterful take on the family-focused thriller. It’s about the kidnapping of young Julie Whitaker, a 13-year-old girl who’s taken from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Years later, Julie miraculously reappears. The family is ecstatic. But is it really Julie? Anna, Julie’s mother, sets out to uncover the truth about this newly arrived mystery woman. You won’t see the shockers coming as Anna tries to figure out whether she’s truly reunited with her flesh-and-blood daughter.

An Anonymous Girl boasts a twist ending that can only be described as bananas, and we mean that in the best way possible. The suspenseful narrative centers on Jessica Farris, a woman who volunteers to participate in a psychological experiment on ethics and morality. But when the doctor in charge of the experiment sends Jessica off into the real world, the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur. What follows is a tale of attraction, manipulation, and deceit – in other words, all the things we love in a thrilling page-turner.