Halloween is coming, and we seriously can’t wait. But for now, the days are definitely getting shorter, the nights appear to be a little darker, and suddenly, every creak in the house seems to get our imaginations working overtime. We are officially making September Thriller Month! It’s time to read those books that keep you guessing (and checking that the windows and doors are locked!) You know those books, the ones that make you say, “I didn’t see that coming!” or the ones that make you gasp out loud!

At Once Upon a Book Club, we’re all about turning reading into a full-blown experience, and thrillers are the perfect fit. The suspense, the secrets, the shocking twists, we think they’re made for candlelight reading and blanket-burrowing. (There are a few of us who will never admit to hiding under the blankets, but it has been known to happen on the odd occasion!)

 

5 Thrillers to Set the Mood 

🏡 A Chilling Small-Town Mystery with Secrets at Every Turn

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

No one does creeping suburban dread quite like Riley Sager. Middle of the Night follows Ethan Marsh as he returns to the cul-de-sac where his childhood best friend vanished thirty years ago. This is the stuff of suburban nightmares…a tent sliced open, a boy gone forever, and a neighborhood full of secrets!

As Ethan pieces together the past, there are eerie signs that suggest his friend might never have left at all. This book is bound to capture you from the start and offers that unsettling mix of nostalgia and menace, reminding us that even manicured lawns can hide monsters in the shadows.

For readers who love their thrillers paired with immersive gifts, our Mischief Halloween 2024 Box captured that same keep-the-lights-on energy with Shari Lapena’s What Have You Done? This chilling box also includes four surprise gifts; it’s a ready-to-ship fright-fest.

🔥A Twisty Domestic Thriller You Won’t See Coming

You Killed Me First by John Marrs

This one is a bonfire of secrets, literally. The story opens with a woman bound inside a towering bonfire, seconds from being swallowed by flames. Then the clock rewinds, unravelling the tangled relationships of three women whose polished exteriors hide very deadly truths.

It’s domestic suspense at its sharpest, the kind of book that makes you glance sideways at your neighbor’s perfect picket fence. Get ready for layers of betrayal, ambition, and shocking reveals until you’re left wondering which woman will burn and who lit the match.

If your autumn vibe leans toward page-turning shockers, add this to your Halloween reading list and prepare to ignore your phone until the last page.

🎭A Dark Academia Tale Dripping with Atmosphere

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

Shakespeare, ambition, and a secluded conservatory where art and obsession blur—If We Were Villains is a masterclass in dark academia. Seven theatre students, each embodying the archetypes they study, find their rivalries bleeding into real life until tragedy strikes on opening night.

We loved the tension, the dangerous friendships, and that question of innocence hanging in the air. This is a perfect pick for anyone who loves their thrillers served with brooding gothic vibes.

🏚️A Haunting Story Where the House Is a Character

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey

What’s creepier than coming home to a place where your father once buried bodies in the backyard? Sarah Gailey’s Just Like Home takes family drama and turns it into gothic horror. Vera Crowder returns to her childhood home only to find her estranged mother and a parasitic artist stripping the house of its secrets…literally.

As eerie notes appear in her father’s handwriting, Vera is forced to confront just how deep the rot runs. The house itself seems alive, humming with menace. This one is for those of you who crave an atmosphere so thick it seeps through the floorboards!

🧩A Psychological Puzzle That Will Keep You Guessing

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Imagine being accused of murdering your best friend, especially when you can’t remember a thing about that night. That’s Lucy Chase’s reality in Amy Tintera’s razor-sharp thriller. A true-crime podcast takes up her case, dredging up old rumors and forcing Lucy back to her Texas hometown, where everyone is certain of her guilt.

As lies layer over half-truths, the narrative twists like a maze. Tintera delivers a propulsive, addictive read that feels tailor-made for fans of Serial or Luckiest Girl Alive. It’s the ultimate psychological puzzle—just right for readers who love gasping out loud at midnight.

And if you’re craving more immersive chills, our Murder Mystery 2025 Box delivers the same pulse-pounding energy with surprise gifts that keep you guessing.

 

How to Make Your Thriller Read Even More Immersive

If you’re looking to make these psychological thrillers even scarier, it’s time to dim the lights and read by candlelight, queue up a moody playlist of rainstorms and violin strings, and haul out the snacks (nothing like the sound of popcorn crunching) to add that extra touch!

For the ultimate thrilling vibe, pair your book with one of our past seasonal treasures, like the Magic Halloween 2024 Teacup Set or the Halloween Pillowcase Set. We also have some incredible Adult Book Box thrillers paired with themed gifts that bring the story to life. It’s all about taking thrillers to a whole new level!

The Murder Mystery Box

This limited edition box features a new, hardcover copy of The Dollhouse Academy by the incomparable Margarita Montimore, a signed bookplate from the author, plus four incredible gifts that bring the most intriguing moments to life as you read this new release!

The Summer Thrills Box

This box features a brand-new, hardcover edition of With a Vengeance by bestselling author Riley Sager, plus five incredibly immersive gifts to bring this intense tale to life in the way only OUABC can! The box also includes a signed bookplate from the author, an exclusive letter from the author to our readers, and a book club kit featuring more details about the novel.

The Bone Garden

Get ready for “The Bone Garden” featuring The Family Inside by Katie Garner, plus four phenomenal and customized gifts that bring this eerie read to life!

 

One Last Thrilling Page

We love stories that sneak under your skin and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Psychological thrillers do exactly that, pulling you into their puzzles, twists, and eerie atmospheres until you’re utterly hooked. You know that moment, when you hold your breath and sit torn between wanting to turn the page and being too scared to, all at the same time!

So stack these thrillers on your nightstand, brew something warm, and let yourself sink into the shadows. And when you’re ready to take your reading beyond the page, subscribe to our Adult Book Boxes or grab our Mischief Halloween 2024 Boxes. After all, every great thriller deserves an unforgettable experience to match.

As the Halloween season grows bigger each year, more readers are reaching for books that pair perfectly with the eerie atmosphere. Make sure to check out our blog, The OUABC List of Halloween Horrors!

 

Sources

Dukes, J. (n.d.). What is a psychological thriller? Celadon Books. Retrieved August 11, 2025, from https://celadonbooks.com/what-is-a-psychological-thriller/

Shah, S. (2023, October 27). The big business of spooky season.   TIME. https://www.time.com/6328869/the-big-business-of-spooky-season/