Crime/Thriller/Horror that makes people say things like “I wanted to like it but it really dragged in the middle and I’m not sure I understand the ending”

I’m thinking of novels like Universal Harvester by John Darnielle or Ill Will by Dan Chaon. Unsure what to call the genre. Stories that start off with compelling crime/horror elements but rather than twisty developing plot points the initial crime/spookiness is more thematic and instead we focus more on character development or backstory. And we do get a resolution at the end (they’re not totally obtuse) but it’s maybe a little complicated or sticky, not a clean climactic who-done-it reveal.