Give me your darkest, most f*cked up psychological thrillers

Hi readers! I'm on the hunt for some truly dark, well-written psychological thrillers that mess with your head, give off creepy vibes, and pull you in from the very first page. I’m not looking for overhyped, formulaic stuff like The Silent Patient, Freida McFadden books, or TikTok viral thrillers that rely on generic twists or bad writing.

I want something that’s:

• Intensely atmospheric

• Disturbing, morally twisted, or deeply psychological

• Beautifully written or stylistically unique

• Character-driven

• Great plot twists

• With themes like madness, obsession, manipulation, identity, isolation, or moral decay

Some books I've loved:

• Verity by Colleen Hoover (loved the unreliable narrator & darkness)

• Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

• The Hannibal series by Thomas Harris

• Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (slow burn, beautifully written, twisted)

Not into:

• TikTok thrillers

• Generic domestic thrillers

• Predictable twist endings

• Poorly written “popcorn” thrillers

I’d love some underrated, obscure, or cult-classic recs — bonus points if the book leaves you feeling unsettled or questioning everything.

Thanks in advance for any recs!