Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life. He calls his wife, Abby, to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears her slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.
A year later, Grady is still desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible – a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.
When you step into a bookstore, you may notice that the mystery and thriller section is one of the bigger sections. Popular with readers of all ages and varied interests, mystery/thriller appeals to the curious knowledge seeker in all of us. Inside the world of thrillers, domestic thrillers take center stage.
Domestic thrillers primarily focus on interpersonal relationships, with marriage as a popular theme. As a setting, marriage provides the world in which the primary characters live. Their home, their lives, even their jobs are contextualized by the often volatile marriage that sets the tone for the main plot. The particular marriage of a thriller has its own culture and rules which the protagonist struggles to live by.
Marriage thrillers work well because unlike other scenarios of strangers and distant places, marriage is familiar territory. Authors of marriage thrillers explore the complexities of marriage over time, family relationships, loneliness, infidelity, and jealousy within the safe confines of a novel. Add the typical thriller elements of unreliable narrators and a fast pace, and marriage thrillers are endless readable. Before you say “I do,” try these books about complex marriages.
The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin
When Ainsley realizes that her marriage is on the verge of breaking apart, she decides she can fix it. Ainsley proposes an arrangement to her husband Peter. The rules are simple: they each date someone new each week and they never discuss their dates. As Ainsley and Peter push the boundaries and trust of their marriage, will they be pulled farther apart or find their way back to each other? This short thriller is twisty and fast-paced.
The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
In nearly 3 decades of marriage, Todd and Jodie have let the tiny cracks grow and splinter. The infidelity, lies, cruelty, and games have become too much, and their perfect world is about to shatter. Testing her own strength, Jodie must decide what she’s willing to lose to save herself.
The Arranged Marriage by Monica Arya
After her sister dies, Gia is forced to marry her dead sister’s husband, Raj, and move to America. Trapped in the Raj’s dilapidated estate, Gia begins to question the truth of her sister’s death. Arya weaves supernatural elements with Indian folklore and tradition to create a haunting page turner.
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
After 15 years of marriage, Millicent and Tobias are bored and uncommunicative. To save their marriage, they plan out a ridiculous series of murders. Hiding secrets from each other and shifting blame, Millicent and Tobias find themselves caught in a complicated web with no way out. The contrast between murders and mundane details of everyday suburban life makes this novel all the more chilling.
Spider by Azma Dar
Aspiring British-Pakistani actress Sophie has the perfect life laid out with her well-known husband Tariq. Tariq was supposed to be “the one” after two failed marriages. When Tariq supposedly dies in a disfiguring car accident, dread and suspicion grow inside Sophie as she attempts to get closer to the truth. This novel is messy and captivating.
Not So Perfect Strangers by L.S. Stratton
Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, this novel centers on two women both attempting to escape their marriages. When Tasha is on her way home for her son, a white woman begs Tasha to take her away from her husband. That snap decision to help Madison changes Tasha’s life forever. Stratton weaves complex themes of race, gender, and class into this heart-pounding thriller.
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
In an alcoholic haze since her divorce, Vanessa is haunted by her failures as a wife. When she discovers that her ex-husband Richard is about to remarry, Vanessa becomes obsessed with protecting Richard’s new fiancé Nellie. The truth begins to come out of hiding as Vanessa’s obsession grows. The sharp turns of this thriller will leave you breathless.
You’re Invited by Amanda Jayatissa
Amaya receives an invitation to her former best friend’s opulent Sri Lankan wedding. When she learns that Kaavi’s husband-to-be is her ex, Amaya is determined to stop the wedding, no matter what. The constant gossip during the celebrations makes Amaya feel targeted. When Kaavi goes missing, Amaya is the prime suspect. As Amaya attempts to prove her innocence, secrets about Kaavi and her groom begin to unravel from everyone. Smart and atmospheric, this thriller plays with wedding tropes for a surprise journey.
Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier
One year after the kidnapping of her son, Marin is a shell of her former self. After the FBI case has gone cold, Marin hires a private investigator who discovers that Marin’s husband is having an affair. Unwilling to lose Derek, too, Marin sets off on a path to destroy Derek’s girlfriend. Hillier weaves emotional turmoil with psychological elements to create an intense read from start to finish.
After you’ve made your way through this unnerving list, check out these Domestic Thrillers That Will Make You Want to Look Over Your Shoulder and visit our mystery/thriller archives for more reading inspiration.
