“I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship.’ Well, I’ve never feared bad weather, either.”
Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen’s The Wife Between Us is a Goodreads-nominated thriller that explores themes of love, betrayal, psychological manipulation and the secret complexities behind a seemingly idyllic marriage. In it, readers follow the story of Vanessa and Nellie. Vanessa is the ex-wife of the wealthy, charming and successful Richard. With Richard preparing to move on with his new fiance, Nellie, she becomes increasingly obsessed with her replacement. If you loved all the shocking twists and turns that come with these marriages-gone-bad, check out the best domestic noir books like The Wife Between Us at What We Reading!
The Perfect Marriage – Jeneva Rose
First up on our list of the best thriller books like The Wife Between Us is Jeneva Rose’s The Perfect Marriage. Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defence attorney working in Washington D.C. After she is made a partner at just thirty-three, her life appears to be all mapped out. The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. A struggling writer, he quickly grows tired of his relationship with Sarah, blaming her hectic work schedule.
In their secluded second home in the woods, he begins to have an affair with a woman named Kelly Summers. And then, one morning, everything changed. Adam is arrested on the charge of murdering Kelly. Sarah suddenly finds herself playing defence for her husband for the murder of his mistress which he may or may not be guilty of.
Behind Closed Doors – B.A. Paris
Another psychological thriller book similar to The Wife Between comes from Sunday Times bestselling author B.A. Paris in Behind Closed Doors. Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace, the epitome of wealth, charm, elegance and success, they’re the kind of couple you don’t want to, but can’t help but like.
However, scratch beneath the surface, and you begin to uncover some things that don’t quite add up. Like why Grace isn’t allowed to answer the phone or meet up for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. Or why she cooks all these elaborate meals but stays so slim. Or why there are metal shutters over the downstairs windows of their house. Some may start to wonder what is going on with these loved-up newlyweds once the prying eyes of their social circles have left them.
The Couple Next Door – Shari Lapena
Bestselling thriller author Shari Lapena sets up a premise plucked out of every parent’s worst nightmare in her 2016 book, The Couple Next Door. Readers follow married couple Anne and Marco Conti who attend a neighbour’s dinner party, leaving their six-month daughter sleeping at home. When they return, they discover that their baby daughter is gone.
As the investigation kicks off, it soon comes to light that many of Anne and Marco’s neighbours have something to hide. Like The Wife Between Us, The Couple Next Door is a suspenseful and gripping psychological thriller that revels in the facade of domestic bliss being pulled out and explores how far we’re willing to go when pushed to our absolute limits.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Couple Next Door
Happy New Year – Malin Stehn
Another book similar to The Wife Between Us centred around a husband-and-wife couple caught in a sudden maelstrom of secrets and suspicion comes from Malin Stehn in Happy New Year. Like with The Couple Next Door, this thriller kicks off with a neighbourhood get-together for New Year’s Eve. The adults are partying around one house, whilst the kids have the run-around of another.
However, when seventeen-year-old Jennifer Wiskell is reported missing the next day, this quaint Swedish setting is thrown into a paranoia-filled search for the truth. For a slow-burning psychological thriller mixed in with fireworks and festivities, Happy New Year is a great read.
Check Out Our Happy New Year Book Review
The Coworker – Frieda McFadden
Like The Wife Between Us, Frieda McFadden’s The Coworker is another psychological read nominated for Best Mystery & Thriller in the Goodreads Choice Awards. This 2023 book introduces Dawn Schiff, a peculiar woman working at the nutritional supplement company, Vixed. She never says the right thing, doesn’t have any friends, and is always seated at her desk at exactly 8:45 in the morning.
One morning, high-flying and popular Natalie Farrell notices that Dawn isn’t in. Later that day, when she receives a shocking anonymous call, everything in her world changes. It turns out Dawn wasn’t just the awkward loser of the company but was being targeted in a potentially deadly game of cat and mouse. Another fast-paced thriller from one of the genre’s most prolific writers, The Coworker relies on unreliable female narrators, suspense, and a whole lot of shocking twists and turns.
Just The Nicest Couple – Mary Kubica
Jake Hayes is missing. To begin with, his wife, Nina, thinks he may have been blowing off steam around a friend’s house after their explosive argument the night before. But then another day goes by. And another. And, by day five, Jake is still nowhere to be found.
Nina’s friend and coworker, Lily Scott, believes she may have been the last one to see Jake before his disappearance. She confesses all to her husband, Christian, and the pair quickly decide that no one can ever learn about the events that conspired leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially Nina. But, in this 2023 thriller from Mary Kubica, readers soon learn the lengths this wife will go to unearth the truth.
The Marriage Pact – Michelle Richmond
On the surface, newlyweds Alice and Jake are the picture-perfect couple. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice, while Alice was the lead in a successful rock band and is now a practising lawyer. After receiving a wedding gift from one of their friends, the pair decides to join an exclusive and alluring group only known as ‘The Pact.’
The goal of The Pact is simple: keep marriages happy through a series of rules that all mostly make sense—always answer the phone to your spouse, plan a trip every quarter, and never mention The Pact to anyone. The pair is initially enticed by the secrecy of the group, the expensive parties, and their growing social circle until one of them breaks one of its rules. Soon, these two young lovers discover the lengths The Pact will go to enforce their rules, leading to this marriage of their dreams quickly divulging into nightmare territory.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
