Svetlana Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 I'm a huge spy thriller fan, but I decided to give the genre a break, because a lot of the authors are using news stories as material for their books, and it's getting repetitive with countless number of TV shows/novels with topics such as terrorism, and mass surveillance. Can someone recommenced a good psychological thriller book, maybe one where the main, or one of the characters suffers from social anxiety/agoraphobia? Even if they don't suffer from the above conditions, once it's a psychological thriller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblybear Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 The first one that comes to mind is Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes. The main character doesn't so much suffer from social anxiety/agoraphobia, but has strong issues which make her struggle to leave her home. For spy thrillers - have you read I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes? One of the best I have read, although it does rely on some current (last 15 years or so) events to move the story forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Have you read Red Dragon or Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 (edited) Oh, absolutely, I'll double endorse BB's recommendation above of I Am Pilgrim. It was absolutely fantastic! And, it must be, as it's one that we both agree upon!! Have you read John LeCarre's Smiley books? Especially the Karla Trilogy...https://www.amazon.com/John-Carr%C3%A9-Complete-Honourable-Schoolboy/dp/0517146975/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479570880&sr=1-1&keywords=karla+trilogy+john+le+carre Must add Jo Nesbo's Headhunters. Not a spy novel, but definitely hair raising. In fact there was even a film made of it that we accidently ran across on Amazon. Edited November 19, 2016 by pontalba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 I absolutely second the idea of Into the Darkest Corner - this is a fantastic book, one of the best, most disturbing books I have ever read. It's the sort of book that leaves you pondering and thinking about it for days, and that doesn't happen very often with me. If you haven't heard of him, I would also recommend an author called Mark Edwards. Be careful when you search for his books though, as there is another author who writes the same genre and goes by the same name, whose stuff according to the reviews is a load of rubbish. The Mark Edwards you are looking for also writes with a female author called Louise Voss. His books include The Magpies and Because She Loves Me, among others. They are all very good. Many of his works also feature characters with mental or emotional issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 I bought Into The Darkest Corner today, is had been on my TBR for a while, but having read another of her books (Never Alone) and having found it to be pretty terrible, I was putting ITDC on hold. It does have great reviews though, so I'm looking forward to it. Huh! Two Mark Edwards. I've read really bad books by one Edwards (was literally talking to Bobbly earlier as she just finished one I'd read, and agreed it wasn't great). I have heard of The Magpies and Because She Loves Me, and thought them to be by the same author. I shall have to look into this! ETA: Wait, they're the same Mark Edwards. I read 'Follow You Home' and didn't think much of it. Still, many authors are hit or miss, so I'd be happy to try more by Edwards. I did find him very readable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 20, 2016 Share Posted November 20, 2016 Personally I love his stuff, but I guess it may not be for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted November 20, 2016 Share Posted November 20, 2016 No, but also different books by the same author can get very different opinions from the same readers, so it's entirely possible I'll love some of his other stuff, and same for Eizabeth Haynes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 20, 2016 Share Posted November 20, 2016 Absolutely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshT Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 A great example of a psychological thriller/romance is YOU by Caroline Kepnes. (There is also a sequel, Hidden Bodies, which I have not read). It is told in the first and second person. Joe Goldberg is a psychopathic stalker in his twenties who has a day job in a bookshop. His stream of consciousness narrative is cynical, judgmental and perceptive with strong views on morality and popular culture - all fuelled by a sense of social inferiority (he couldn't afford to go to college, but is, in his opinion, far better read than the rich kids who could). Then Guinevere Beck (the "you" of the title), a flirtatious, social media preoccupied would-be writer buys something from his shop. Instantly Joe is smitten and embarks on an obsessive quest to make her his. Breaking into her apartment, hacking into her email and bumping off people who get in his way are all par for the course - after all, no faint heart ever won a fair dame. Recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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