8 Twisty Books Like The House Across The Lake By Riley Sager

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“No matter how much you look, something just beneath the surface will always remain hidden. I should know. I’ve been watching.”

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If you loved The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager, you’re probably on the hunt for more twisty books that keep you guessing until the very final page. Known for its suspenseful plot, shocking twists, and unforgettable characters, Sager’s thriller has captured the attention of readers who love psychological suspense and domestic thrillers. Thankfully, there are plenty of books like The House Across the Lake that deliver the same heart-pounding tension, dark secrets, and unpredictable plot turns. Whether you’re looking for books similar to Riley Sager, thrillers with big twists, or mind-bending psychological thrillers, this list has something for every suspense fan. From novels with unreliable narrators to domestic suspense full of shocking reveals, join us at What We Reading for the best books that promise to keep you hooked and reading well into the night. 

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The House Across The Lake Summary

Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actor trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live across the lake. They make good viewing. Tom is rich, and Katherine is gorgeous. 

One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the pair strike up a budding friendship. However, the more they get to know one another – and the more Casey watches – it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect as it appears. When Katherine suddenly disappears, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what’s happened. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyerism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession, and how looks can be very deceiving. 

The Woman In The Window – A.J. Finn

Where else could we begin a list of books like The House Across the Lake than with A.J. Finn’s bestselling domestic thriller, The Woman in the Window? Anna Fox lives alone, a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outdoors. She spends her days drinking wine, watching old movies, recalling happier times… and spying on her neighbours. 

Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, and their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out the window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world starts to crumble, and its shocking secrets are laid bare. What is real? What is imagined? And who is in danger? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one – and nothing – is as it seems. 

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Check Out The Best Books Like The Woman In The Window 

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The Last One At The Wedding – Jason Rekulak

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. He arrives to find that the event is being held at a very private, extremely luxurious estate. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. 

Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive, Maggie doesn’t seem to have much time for him, and he finds the locals unnervingly hostile. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever. 

Every Last Secret – A.R. Torre

Cat Winthrope has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home, social standing, and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbour like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality. 

Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s keen to move up in the world. But when Neena’s infatuation with William escalates into obsession, it’s just a case of eliminating a few obstacles to getting the life she wants. Similar to The House on the Lake, this is a story of cordial interactions masking a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous. 

Beautiful Ugly – Alice Feeney

Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life. Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brake, get out of the car, and then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge, the headlights are on, the driver’s door is open, her phone is still there… but his wife has vanished. 

A year on, Grady is still overcome with grief and 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 and get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible – a woman who looks exactly like his wife. One of the best new thrillers from 2025, Beautiful Ugly is a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage, perfect for anyone looking for what to read after The House Across the Lake. 

First Lie Wins – Ashley Elston

The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss, Mr Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job. 

Evie isn’t privy to Mr Smith’s true identity, but she knows that this job isn’t like the others. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s beginning to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes – especially after what happened last time. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past whilst making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn’t be higher – but then, she’s always enjoyed a challenge… 

Before She Disappeared – Lisa Gardner

Frankie Elkin is an average middle-aged woman, a recovering alcoholic with more regrets than belongings. But she spends her life doing what no one else will – searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never paid attention, Frankie begins searching. 

A new case brings her to Mattapan, a Boston neighbourhood with a rough reputation. She is looking for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teen who vanished from her high school months earlier. Resistance from the Boston PD and the victim’s wary family tells Frankie she’s on her own – and she soon learns she’s asking questions someone doesn’t want answered. But Frankie will stop at nothing to find the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing could be her. 

Watching You – Lisa Jewell

Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Bristol, England. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally killed in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you. Tom Fitzwilliam is a respected headmaster. Joey Mullen, his new neighbour, quickly develops an intense infatuation with this unavailable man. Joey thinks her crush is a secret, but Tom’s teenage son, Freddie, excels at observing people and has seen Joey behaving strangely around his father. 

One of Tom’s students, Jenna Tripp, also lives on the same street, and she’s not convinced Tom is as squeaky clean as he appears. For one thing, he has taken a particular liking to her best friend. Jenna’s mother is also convinced Mr Fitzwilliam is stalking her. Meanwhile, twenty years prior, a schoolgirl writes in her diary, charting her doomed obsession with a handsome young English teacher named Mr Fitzwilliam…

The Last Time I Lied – Riley Sager

Another one of the best Riley Sager books, The Last Time I Lied, opens with summer camper Emma Davis watching three of her cabin mates sneaking out one evening. It would be the last time anyone ever saw them. Now a rising star in the NYC art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings. They catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of the same Camp Nightingale Emma stayed at. When Francesca implores Emma to return to the camp as a counsellor, Emma sees an opportunity to find closure and move on. 

But it becomes immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Emma is suddenly plagued by a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca, and cryptic clues left behind about the camp’s twisted origins. And, as history begins to repeat itself when three more girls disappear, Emma must face threats from both man and nature to uncover all the buried secrets – including what really happened all those years ago.