There are a huge number of psychological thrillers out there at the moment - all of them destined to send shivers down your spine and set you on the edge of that sofa! But here are some of our favourites that will get you wondering about the person sitting next to you.........
A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbours—a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. . .
Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.
Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they've kept for years.
Have a chat about:
- the pressures that the couples are under and what comments the author might be making about the role of parenting, happiness and social status in our society
- ordinary people making ordinary decisions - how plausible is the set up and how convincing did you find the decisions made by the characters?
- which character got under your skin and why?
- choose one character, at one moment in the story: what advice would you give them at this point?
When Jamie and Kirsty move into their first home together they are full of optimism. The future, in which they plan to get married and start a family, is bright. The other residents of their building seem friendly too: the horror writer and the middle-aged herbalist who live upstairs, and the Newtons, a married couple who welcome them to the building with open arms.
At first, the two couples get on well. But then strange things start to happen. Dead rats are left on their doorstep. They hear disturbing noises, and much worse, in the night. After Jamie's best friend is injured in a horrific accident, Jamie and Kirsty find themselves targeted by a campaign of terror.
Have a chat about:
- your worst neighbours and/ or your worst flatmates
- if you were to make this book into a film, who would you cast in which role and why?
- why do you think the premise of a newly married couple moving into a new house is such a successful start for a novel? can you think of any other books which do this?
The first time I saw you, you were standing at the far end of the playing field. You were looking down at your brown straggly dog, your mouth going slack as your eyes clocked her. Alice Taylor.
I was no different. I’d catch myself gazing at the back of her head in class, at her thick fair hair swaying between her shoulder blades.
If you’d glanced just once across the field, you’d have seen me standing in the middle on my own looking straight at you, and you’d have gone back through the trees to the path quick, tugging your dog after you. You’d have known you’d given yourself away, even if only to me.
But you didn’t. You only had eyes for Alice
Have a chat about:
- the authors use of point of view - third person (he/she) / first person (I) -how effective is their choice of narrative voice here and why?
- how authentic did you find Yasmin as a character? how do you think the author wanted you to respond to her?
- this is perhaps not a "traditional" thriller but it is thrilling - would you agree? what did you find unsettling about the story and why?
Fancy something more classic? Wilkie Collins is the original detective thriller writer and "The Moonstone" is generally considered the very first detective novel. Although more dense, often quite lengthy and with complex story lines, his writing is actually quite compelling and he definitely tells a gripping story.
Have a chat about:
- "The Moonstone" is considered a novel of 'firsts' - first detective, first red herrings, first book with a range of suspects, first book with bumbling policemen, first use of evidence from the crime scene and physical clues ....... how does this affect your reading of the novel?
- "The Moonstone" also makes a lot of social comment about society at the time - what observations or issues do you think Collins is trying to illustrate / explore?
- how did you find reading this novel compared to contemporary fiction? did you read it differently?
- A new version of "The Moonstone" will be on TV in November - how well do you think it will transfer to the screen? what do you think were the main issues the production team had to research/ think about / consider?
Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor in London, is summoned to Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, and to sort through her papers before returning to London. It is here that Kipps first sees the woman in black and begins to gain an impression of the mystery surrounding her. From the funeral he travels to Eel Marsh House and sees the woman again; he also hears the terrifying sounds on the marsh.
Despite Kipps’s experiences he resolves to spend the night at the house and fulfil his professional duty. It is this night at Eel Marsh House that contains the greatest horror for Kipps. Kipps later discovers the reasons behind the hauntings at Eel Marsh House. The book ends with the woman in black exacting a final, terrible revenge.
Have a chat about:
- this book is often met with a marmite reaction - people either love it or hate it. which are you? can you talk about what you did or didn't like about it? and if you didn't like it, why do you think it has become such a definitive example of its genre?
- what do you find more frightening in books? ghostly suggestions and implications playing on your own fears and imagination or more action and gratuitous horror?
And if you want to see what The Good Book Group are looking forward reading this Halloween here's our pile of nail biting novels.........
And not forgetting the other essential ingredients....
Drinks?
- Spicy Bloody Mary
- hollow out a pumpkin and serve a fruit punch from it
- Blood Beetroot Cocktails (beetroot, Aperol, Prosecco, lemon and sugar)
- Warm Spiced Apple Juice
- Cherry / Cranberry / Raspberry juice (with or without vodka)
- Hot chocolate with "bones" (marshmallows)
- Zombie fingers (made with dates, oats and peanut butter)
- jam tarts
- green or red jelly filled with fang shaped sweets
- Crisps / carrots and beetroot dip or guacamole
- Pumpkin muffins or cookies
- a selection of confectionary stolen from your children's trick or treat haul or a selection of the seasonal halloween cakes from the bakery or supermarket
- a graveyard
- someone's house - with tea lights and candle light only - and any remaining carved pumpkins!
- a pub - preferably one holding a fancy dress evening so you can be surrounded by ghouls and monsters
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