Domestic thrillers often focus on women’s storytelling, either by telling women’s stories or narrating with a woman’s perspective in mind. These thrillers explore interpersonal relationship dynamics, often in the home rather than taking place in unfamiliar or sensationalist settings. The plots often revolve around dark themes such as infidelity, money conflicts, and family secrets to enhance a thrilling story with a dynamic tone.
Often highly relatable as they take place within relationships that function similarly to many women’s lives, domestic thrillers include themes of spousal conflict and family trouble. This is a fantastic transitional genre for fans of romance and realistic fiction novels who are seeking to explore suspenseful, thrilling realms of fiction. Though these novels are sometimes degraded by the masses as being “chick noir” for their appeal to women, many domestic thrillers are high quality literature with award-winning potential. This subgenre is populated by such well-renowned authors such as Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, Shari Lapena, and more.
If you’re ready to explore the cracks in domestic bliss, here are some good places to start:
And when you’re done with those, peruse the stories below for more thrilling intrigue.
Lavish weddings. Beautiful spouses. Dark secrets.
By Jena Brown
Can you ever really know who you’re married to?
Books to keep you warm all winter long.
You'll never know what's coming next...
By Kimmy Kelly
Read an excerpt of The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose.
Bradeigh Godfrey’s debut novel Imposter is a must-read for suspense junkies.
By Kimmy Kelly
Blood is thicker than water.
A missing girl, a mysterious note, and a country town full of secrets.
You never know what's happening behind closed doors.
Sometimes vows really do bind you "for worse...".
By Lisa Holmes
Warmer temps mean more time to read outside.
She's got more twists and turns than a highway.
Delve into more novels brimming with atmospheric chills.
Nothing is as it seems in the prolific author’s twisty novels.
There’s something for every kind of reader when it comes to these fresh releases.
The students of this exclusive prep school are as good at hiding secrets as they are at acing their studies.