Books Like...

Jules, a young woman facing unemployment and heartbreak, takes a job as an apartment sitter in a luxurious and mysterious building called the Bartholomew. Despite being warned about strange rules and disappearances of previous sitters, she accepts the job for the high pay. As she delves deeper into the secrets of the building and its residents, Jules uncovers a sinister truth that puts her own life in danger. The story is described as a suspenseful and atmospheric thriller with unexpected twists that keep the reader on edge.

'The Sun Down Motel' by Simone St. James is a chilling and suspenseful novel that follows the intertwined stories of Vivian Delaney, a temporary night clerk at the eerie Sun Down Motel in 1982, and Carly Kirk, Vivian's niece who arrives at the motel in 2017 to investigate her aunt's mysterious disappearance. The book seamlessly weaves between the two timelines, delving into paranormal phenomena, mysterious occurrences, and the dark secrets surrounding the motel. Simone St. James masterfully portrays the suspense and thriller elements, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they uncover the haunting mysteries within the walls of the Sun Down Motel.

Final Girls by Riley Sager is a psychological thriller that follows Quincy Carpenter, one of three survivors of separate massacre incidents. Quincy, dubbed a Final Girl by the media, struggles with memory loss surrounding the night her friends were murdered at Pine Cottage. When another Final Girl is found dead, Quincy is forced to confront her past and unravel the mysteries surrounding the traumatic events that have haunted her for years. The book weaves between Quincy's present life and the chilling events of the past, keeping readers on edge with unexpected twists and suspenseful storytelling.

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager is a suspenseful thriller that follows Emma, who returns to Camp Nightingale as an art instructor, the place where three girls disappeared 15 years ago. The novel expertly weaves between past and present, revealing secrets and mysteries surrounding the girls' disappearance. The writing style is engaging, with a mix of mystery and suspense that keeps readers captivated until the very end.

In "Survive the Night" by Riley Sager, college student Charlie is grappling with guilt and grief after her best friend is murdered by a serial killer known as The Campus Killer. Desperate to escape, she hitches a ride with a stranger named Josh, suspecting that he might be more dangerous than he appears. As the tension mounts over the course of a dark and suspenseful night, Charlie's film obsession blurs the lines between reality and fiction, leading to a gripping cat-and-mouse game filled with twists and turns.

The narrative unfolds like a Hitchcockian thriller, with Charlie as an unreliable narrator navigating a claustrophobic and menacing journey. The author expertly weaves in references to old movies, adding layers of suspense and intrigue as Charlie's suspicions about Josh grow, culminating in a dramatic and satisfying reveal.

'The Turn of the Key' by Ruth Ware is a suspenseful mystery thriller that follows the story of Rowan Caine, a nanny accused of murdering one of the children she was caring for. The book is written in a unique format, primarily through letters, which creates an atmospheric and suspenseful narrative. As Rowan navigates her new job at a secluded smart house in Scotland, she uncovers disturbing secrets and mysterious occurrences, leading to a chilling and twisty plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The story is filled with creepy and spooky elements, blending modern technology with a Victorian setting to enhance the suspense and mystery. Readers are taken on a journey of unraveling the truth behind the events at Heatherbrae House, with unexpected twists and turns that culminate in a shocking and ambiguous ending, leaving unanswered questions and a sense of unease.

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager follows Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress who escapes to her family's lake house in Vermont. As she struggles with grief and alcoholism, she becomes obsessed with her neighbors, Tom and Katherine Royce. When Katherine goes missing, Casey is determined to uncover the truth behind her disappearance, leading to unexpected twists and revelations about the dark secrets lurking in the serene setting of the lake.

The book combines elements of mystery, horror, and psychological thriller, with a setting that adds to the eerie atmosphere. Through the eyes of a complex and unreliable protagonist, the story unfolds with unexpected plot twists and suspenseful moments that keep the reader engaged until the chilling conclusion.

Kill Creek by Scott Thomas is a haunted house story that follows four horror writers invited for an interview at the infamous Finch House on Halloween night. The novel delves into themes of writing, grief, and buried trauma while exploring the maintenance and circulation of horror. The characters, especially the four main authors, are well-developed and represent various facets of the horror genre. The house itself becomes a malevolent entity, adding an extra layer of suspense to the plot.

Riley Sager's "The Only One Left" is a twisty and spine-chilling gothic thriller set in a decaying cliffside mansion where Lenora Hope, accused of murdering her family years ago, is now mute and confined to a wheelchair. Kit McDeere, a home health aide, is assigned to care for Lenora and uncovers dark family secrets as she becomes obsessed with solving the mystery behind the deaths. The story is filled with haunting atmosphere, clever twists, and vivid descriptions that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, leading to a suspenseful and unpredictable journey towards the truth.

The novel intricately weaves together past and present, blending elements of psychological suspense with a gripping plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end. With vivid descriptions that make the mansion come alive, a complex relationship between Kit and Lenora, and a series of shocking revelations, "The Only One Left" delivers a rollercoaster of emotions and surprises that will leave readers captivated and eager to uncover all the dark secrets hidden within Hope's End.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a gothic mystery set in Mexico in the 1950s, following the story of a young socialite named Noemi Taboada. Noemi receives a troubling letter from her cousin who recently married into the Doyle family and is unwell. She travels to the family's eerie mansion, High Place, where she encounters strange inhabitants and begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding her cousin's illness. The book combines elements of classic gothic romance, a haunted house mystery, and explores themes of colonialism and horror in a unique setting.

The writing style of Mexican Gothic is described as atmospheric and immersive, drawing readers into the cold and haunted environment of the mansion. The plot unfolds with suspenseful pacing, blending Victorian sensibilities with creepy and grotesque elements like mushrooms, mysterious dreams, and family secrets. The protagonist, Noemi, is highlighted as a strong and brave heroine who must navigate the dark secrets of High Place to save her cousin and herself, making for a gripping and eerie tale.