Psychological Fiction

The selections in our Psychological Fiction Collection focus on the mental and emotional experiences of characters. From psychological thrillers to suspenseful mysteries and crime novels, these narratives examine the complexity of the human mind and emotions as characters endure challenges, overcome obstacles, and face sometimes grueling circumstances.

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Femininity

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Psychological Fiction, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Politics / Government

The novel consists of two narratives: the frame narrative—which takes the form of a conversation between the Pakistani protagonist, Changez, and an unnamed American at a café in Lahore—and the flashback narrative, told by Changez in increments, that describe his time in America both before and after the events of 9/11.  The novel is told by way of a dramatic monologue, from a first-person point of view, in the present tense. This literary device is evident... Read The Reluctant Fundamentalist Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships, British Literature, Gothic Literature


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Western, Modern Classic Fiction, Irish Literature


Publication year 1904

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Class, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Psychological Fiction, Class, American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction

Jack London’s novel The Sea-Wolf, originally published in 1904, draws inspiration from an ocean voyage London took in the Pacific nearly a decade prior to his writing the novel. London himself was an avid adventurer and once spent seven and a half months on the crew of the Sophia Sutherland. This study guide references the Signet Classics 2013 edition of The Sea-Wolf.Along with London’s other famous works, The Call of the Wild and White Fang... Read The Sea-Wolf Summary


Publication year 1980

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Religion / Spirituality, Mental Illness, Psychological Fiction, Southern Literature, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Christian literature, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Regret

Tags Psychological Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, British Literature, Post Modernism, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction

The Sense of an Ending (2011) is a novel by English author Julian Barnes. Composed of two chapters, the book follows the life of Tony Webster, a retired man looking back on his youth and reflecting on his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Veronica Ford, and an enigmatic friend, Adrian Finn. The title alludes to the meaning and closure Tony seeks as he nears the end of his life. The novel was met with critical acclaim... Read The Sense of an Ending Summary


Publication year 1949

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Relationships: Marriage, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Historical Fiction, Post-War Era, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Psychological Fiction, Love / Sexuality, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, American Literature, Travel Literature, Classic Fiction

An American writer and composer who lived in Morocco for most of his life, Paul Bowles was a peripheral member of the post-World War II counter-cultural group of writers known as the Beat generation. The Sheltering Sky (1949), his first novel, is his best-known work, although he wrote other novels, numerous short stories, and works of nonfiction, most notably travel narratives. He also translated several works by Moroccan writers. The Sheltering Sky was adapted into... Read The Sheltering Sky Summary


Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris is a psychological thriller and crime novel published in 1988. The novel follows FBI agent-in-training Clarice Starling as she becomes increasingly involved in the investigation of serial killer Buffalo Bill. The book is the sequel to Harris’s 1981 novel Red Dragon and includes several continuing characters, like the serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The novel won the 1988 Bram Stoker Award and 1989 Anthony Award for Best... Read The Silence Of The Lambs Summary


Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison is a psychological thriller about a failing marriage. Published in 2013, the novel is Harrison’s first entry into the genre, though she had previously published an erotic novel and a non-fiction book on the female orgasm in the 1970s. Harrison passed away from cancer weeks before the novel’s publication. The novel has been compared to Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl in terms of both its content—the depiction of... Read The Silent Wife Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Southern Gothic, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Black Lives Matter, Relationships, Race / Racism, Class, Psychological Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Psychological Fiction, September 11 Attacks, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

The Submission is a novel written by Amy Waldman and published in 2011. The novel takes place in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy. A jury has been tasked with judging the blind entries for a 9/11 memorial. When it’s revealed that the designer of the winning submission is Muslim, it sparks a public controversy.The memorial jury is composed of Paul Rubin, the chair; Ariana Montagu, an artist; Claire Burwell, a representative of the families... Read The Submission Summary


Publication year 1955

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Italian Literature, Classic Fiction

The Talented Mr. Ripley, written by Patricia Highsmith, was originally published in 1955 by W. W. Norton & Company. The novel falls within the psychological thriller genre and is the first of five books featuring Tom Ripley, known as The Ripleiad, published between 1955 and 1991. The novel has been adapted twice into film, first in 1960 as a French film titled Purple Noon and again in 1991 under its original title. The 1991 film... Read The Talented Mr. Ripley Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Psychological Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, Education, Education, History: U.S., Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction

The Tattooed Soldier (1998) is a novel written by author and journalist Héctor Tobar. Tobar worked for the LA Times at the time of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and his work covering that event contributed to a Pulitzer Prize. This experience directly informs this novel, which is set in LA in the weeks prior to the riots, as well as in Guatemala. Much of Tobar’s work focuses on the relationship between the United States... Read The Tattooed Soldier Summary


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Community, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction