12 Authors Similar to Shari Lapena for Suspense Fans

If you’re on the lookout for authors similar to Shari Lapena, chances are you love the kind of suspense that keeps you flipping pages late into the night.

Lapena’s knack for domestic thrillers, unreliable narrators and twist-filled plots has a way of pulling readers into tangled webs of secrets and lies.

Thankfully, there’s no shortage of writers who deliver that same addictive blend of mystery and tension.

Whether you’re craving claustrophobic settings, family secrets or psychological mind games, the following authors capture that spirit in their own unforgettable way.

Get ready to expand your reading list with some truly gripping storytellers.

12 Authors Similar to Shari Lapena

1. Ruth Ware

Writing Style & Themes:
Ruth Ware crafts psychological thrillers that blend classic whodunit elements with modern suspense. 

Her stories often feature ordinary women thrust into perilous situations navigating secrets, betrayals and eerie settings.

Notable Books/Series:

• In a Dark, Dark Wood​
• The Woman in Cabin 10​
• The Lying Game​
• The Death of Mrs. Westaway​
• The Turn of the Key​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She masterfully builds suspense, keeping readers guessing with unexpected twists.

Ruth Ware’s Website: https://ruthware.com

2. Lucy Foley

Writing Style & Themes:
Lucy Foley writes thrillers that delve into domestic suspense and complex character dynamics. 

Her narratives often feature multiple perspectives, unreliable narrators and settings that become characters in their own right.​

Notable Books:

• The Hunting Party​
• The Guest List​
• The Paris Apartment​
• The Midnight Feast​
• The Book of Lost and Found​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She masterfully crafts suspenseful tales with intricate plots and richly drawn characters, keeping readers engaged until the final page.​

Lucy Foley’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7770523.Lucy_Foley 

3. Riley Sager

Writing Style & Themes:
Riley Sager blends psychological suspense with elements of horror, creating modern thrillers that are both chilling and emotionally resonant. 

His stories often explore themes of trauma, memory and survival.​

Notable Books:

• Final Girls​
• The Last Time I Lied​
• Lock Every Door​
• Home Before Dark​
• Survive the Night​

Why Readers Will Love Him:
He delivers gripping narratives with unexpected twists, making his books hard to put down.​

Riley Sager’s Website: https://www.rileysagerbooks.com​

4. Paula Hawkins

Writing Style & Themes:
Paula Hawkins specializes in psychological thrillers that delve into the darker aspects of human nature. 

Her narratives often feature unreliable narrators and explore themes of obsession, deceit and the complexities of relationships.​

Notable Books:

• The Girl on the Train​
• Into the Water​
• A Slow Fire Burning​
• Blind Spot (short story)​
• The Reunion (short story)​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She crafts intricate plots with deep psychological insight, keeping readers questioning every character’s motives.

Paula Hawkins’ Website: https://www.paulahawkinsbooks.com​

5. Liane Moriarty

Writing Style & Themes:
Liane Moriarty writes domestic fiction with elements of suspense, focusing on the intricacies of family dynamics and hidden secrets. 

Her stories often unravel the facade of suburban life to reveal underlying tensions.​

Notable Books:

• Big Little Lies​
• The Husband’s Secret​
• Truly Madly Guilty​
• Nine Perfect Strangers​
• What Alice Forgot​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She combines relatable characters with suspenseful storytelling, making her novels both thought-provoking and entertaining.​

Liane Moriarty’s Website: https://lianemoriarty.com.au​

6. Alice Feeney

Writing Style & Themes:
Alice Feeney crafts psychological thrillers with dark twists and emotionally charged narratives. 

Her stories often involve complex female protagonists and explore themes of identity, memory and betrayal.​

Notable Books:

• Sometimes I Lie​
• I Know Who You Are​
• His & Hers​
• Rock Paper Scissors​
• Daisy Darker​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She delivers unpredictable plots with emotionally resonant characters, keeping readers guessing until the end.​

Alice Feeney’s Website: https://alicefeeney.com

7. Liv Constantine

Writing Style & Themes:
Liv Constantine, the pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine, crafts psychological thrillers rich in domestic suspense, betrayal and high-society intrigue. 

Their stories often feature glamorous settings and complex female relationships.

Notable Books:

• The Last Mrs. Parrish​
• The Wife Stalker​
• The Stranger in the Mirror​
• The Last Time I Saw You​
• The Next Mrs. Parrish​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She delivers addictive thrillers that delve into the darker sides of wealth and ambition.

Liv Constantine’s Website: https://livconstantine.com​

8. Lisa Jewell

Writing Style & Themes:
Lisa Jewell writes gripping domestic thrillers that explore family secrets, psychological tension and the complexities of human relationships. 

Her narratives often intertwine multiple perspectives to unravel suspenseful plots.​

Notable Books:

• Then She Was Gone​
• The Family Upstairs​
• The Night She Disappeared​
• None of This Is True​
• Don’t Let Him In (upcoming, June 2025)​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She masterfully combines emotional depth with suspense, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.​

Lisa Jewell’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/93504.Lisa_Jewell 

9. Karin Slaughter

Writing Style & Themes:
Karin Slaughter is known for her intense crime thrillers that delve into themes such as violence, trauma and justice. 

Her stories often feature strong female protagonists and intricate plots.​

Notable Books:

• Pretty Girls​
• The Good Daughter​
• Pieces of Her​
• The Silent Wife​
• Girl, Forgotten​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She delivers emotionally charged narratives that explore the depths of human resilience.​

Karin Slaughter’s Website: https://www.karinslaughter.com​

10. Megan Miranda

Writing Style & Themes:
Megan Miranda crafts psychological thrillers set in small towns, often exploring themes of memory, secrets and the unreliability of perception. 

Her stories are known for their tension and twisty plots.​

Notable Books:

• All the Missing Girls​
• The Perfect Stranger​
• The Last House Guest​
• Such a Quiet Place​
• The Only Survivors​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She excels at building suspenseful narratives that keep readers questioning every character’s motives.​

Megan Miranda’s Website: https://meganmiranda.com​

11. Mary Kubica

Writing Style & Themes:
Mary Kubica writes psychological thrillers that delve into the complexities of human behavior, often featuring domestic settings and unexpected twists. 

Her narratives frequently explore themes of identity, trust and deception.​

Notable Books:

• The Good Girl​
• The Other Mrs.​
• Local Woman Missing​
• Just the Nicest Couple​
• She’s Not Sorry​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She delivers emotionally charged stories with suspenseful twists that keep readers engaged.​

Mary Kubica’s Website: https://marykubica.com​

12. B.A. Paris

Writing Style & Themes:
B.A. Paris specializes in psychological thrillers that explore the darker aspects of domestic life including control, manipulation and hidden secrets. 

Her stories are known for their intense suspense and shocking revelations.​

Notable Books:

• Behind Closed Doors​
• The Breakdown​
• Bring Me Back​
• The Dilemma​
• The Therapist​

Why Readers Will Love Her:
She crafts gripping narratives that delve into the psychological complexities of relationships.​

B.A. Paris’s Website: https://www.baparis.com

Last Word on the Authors Like Shari Lapena

The above 12 authors like Shari Lapena each bring their own unique flavor to the world of psychological thrillers and domestic suspense.

From Ruth Ware’s atmospheric storytelling to B.A. Paris’ tightly wound plots and from Lisa Jewell’s emotional depth to Riley Sager’s chilling twists, there’s something here for everyone.

Whether you’re drawn to stories of betrayal, buried secrets or gripping mysteries that unfold layer by layer, these authors similar to Shari Lapena are sure to keep you hooked.