38 Books like Penpal

The Silver Eyes

by Scott Cawthon • 2016

A memorial brings Charlie home, but the derelict pizzeria's mechanical mascots are still alive.

4.07

24k+

🕰️ Nostalgic Horror 🤖 Haunted Machines 👥 Childhood Friends Reunite

The Silver Eyes 93%

A memorial brings Charlie home, but the derelict pizzeria's mechanical mascots are still alive.

by Scott Cawthon 2016

4.07

24k+ ratings

🕰️ Nostalgic Horror 🤖 Haunted Machines 👥 Childhood Friends Reunite

Hello, Transcriber

by Hannah Morrissey • 2021

A police transcriber's neighbor confesses to murder, dragging her into a darkness she only typed.

3.43

9k+

🚔 Police Procedural 🏘️ Small-Town Secrets 💔 Troubled Marriage

Hello, Transcriber 93%

A police transcriber's neighbor confesses to murder, dragging her into a darkness she only typed.

by Hannah Morrissey 2021

3.43

9k+ ratings

🚔 Police Procedural 🏘️ Small-Town Secrets 💔 Troubled Marriage

The Last House on Needless Street

by Catriona Ward • 2021

A missing girl's sister moves next door to a recluse whose cat knows everything.

3.81

153k+

🧠 Psychological Horror 🔍 Missing Child 🎭 Unreliable Narrator

The Last House on Needless Street Summary

The Last House on Needless Street 92%

A missing girl's sister moves next door to a recluse whose cat knows everything.

by Catriona Ward 2021

3.81

153k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Horror 🔍 Missing Child 🎭 Unreliable Narrator

The Outsider

by Stephen King • 2018

Forensic proof: a coach killed a boy. Video proof: he was miles away. Both are undeniable.

4.01

387k+

🔪 Supernatural Crime 👤 Shape-Shifter Horror ⚖️ Framed For Murder

The Outsider 92%

Forensic proof: a coach killed a boy. Video proof: he was miles away. Both are undeniable.

by Stephen King 2018

4.01

387k+ ratings

🔪 Supernatural Crime 👤 Shape-Shifter Horror ⚖️ Framed For Murder

Mister Magic

by Kiersten White • 2023

She remembers nothing of the children's show she starred in. The desert reunion has not forgotten.

3.55

30k+

📺 Haunted Media 🧠 Repressed Memories 👫 Childhood Reunion

Mister Magic 92%

She remembers nothing of the children's show she starred in. The desert reunion has not forgotten.

by Kiersten White 2023

3.55

30k+ ratings

📺 Haunted Media 🧠 Repressed Memories 👫 Childhood Reunion

Little Ghosts

by Gregg Dunnett • 2023

A murdered girl's ghost asks her brother to find a killer the police missed.

4.18

7k+

🖤 Supernatural Thriller 👻 Child Ghost 🔍 Unlikely Detectives

Little Ghosts 92%

A murdered girl's ghost asks her brother to find a killer the police missed.

by Gregg Dunnett 2023

4.18

7k+ ratings

🖤 Supernatural Thriller 👻 Child Ghost 🔍 Unlikely Detectives

Whispers of Dead Girls

by Marlee Bush • 2025

Returning to her dead sister's high school to teach, she finds a predator among the faculty.

3.56

3k+

🔍 Psychological Thriller 🏚️ Modern Gothic 👁️ Unreliable Narrator

Whispers of Dead Girls 92%

Returning to her dead sister's high school to teach, she finds a predator among the faculty.

by Marlee Bush 2025

3.56

3k+ ratings

🔍 Psychological Thriller 🏚️ Modern Gothic 👁️ Unreliable Narrator

The Unseen

by Ania Ahlborn • 2025

A grieving mother fosters a mute boy discovered in her garden. Then the disappearances begin.

3.36

4k+

🌌 Cosmic Horror 👽 Alien Abduction 🫀 Body Horror

The Unseen 92%

A grieving mother fosters a mute boy discovered in her garden. Then the disappearances begin.

by Ania Ahlborn 2025

3.36

4k+ ratings

🌌 Cosmic Horror 👽 Alien Abduction 🫀 Body Horror

What Lies in the Woods

by Kate Alice Marshall • 2023

After her attacker dies, a photographer returns to the woods where a skeleton hid the truth.

3.94

206k+

🖤 Psychological Suspense 🔍 Cold Case Thriller 🔪 Toxic Female Friendship

What Lies in the Woods 92%

After her attacker dies, a photographer returns to the woods where a skeleton hid the truth.

by Kate Alice Marshall 2023

3.94

206k+ ratings

🖤 Psychological Suspense 🔍 Cold Case Thriller 🔪 Toxic Female Friendship

The Perfect Stranger

by A.J. Carter • 2024

A blind date pulls a grieving mother to a lake house hiding her daughter's fate.

4.11

2k+

🕵️ Psychological Thriller 🤫 Small Town Secrets 💔 Family Betrayal

The Perfect Stranger 92%

A blind date pulls a grieving mother to a lake house hiding her daughter's fate.

by A.J. Carter 2024

4.11

2k+ ratings

🕵️ Psychological Thriller 🤫 Small Town Secrets 💔 Family Betrayal

Unspeakable Things

by Jess Lourey • 2020

Boys vanish. A girl hunts the predator. But her father's footsteps climb the stairs toward her room.

3.78

92k+

🏘️ Small Town Mystery 👧 Child Narrator 🔑 Dark Family Secrets

Unspeakable Things 92%

Boys vanish. A girl hunts the predator. But her father's footsteps climb the stairs toward her room.

by Jess Lourey 2020

3.78

92k+ ratings

🏘️ Small Town Mystery 👧 Child Narrator 🔑 Dark Family Secrets

The Sun Down Motel

by Simone St. James • 2020

A haunted motel swallowed her aunt. She takes the night shift, and the ghosts know why.

3.99

195k+

🕯️ Supernatural Mystery 🚺 Feminist Horror 🕰️ Dual Timeline

The Sun Down Motel 92%

A haunted motel swallowed her aunt. She takes the night shift, and the ghosts know why.

by Simone St. James 2020

3.99

195k+ ratings

🕯️ Supernatural Mystery 🚺 Feminist Horror 🕰️ Dual Timeline

The Hypnotist

by Lars Kepler • 2009

A Stockholm family massacred. A ruined hypnotist breaks his vow to unlock the only witness.

3.75

75k+

🌑 Nordic Noir 🕵️ Damaged Detective 🧠 Repressed Memories

The Hypnotist 92%

A Stockholm family massacred. A ruined hypnotist breaks his vow to unlock the only witness.

by Lars Kepler 2009

3.75

75k+ ratings

🌑 Nordic Noir 🕵️ Damaged Detective 🧠 Repressed Memories

Violet

by Scott Thomas • 2019

A widow takes her mute daughter to a decaying lake house where a childhood friend never left.

3.54

3k+

🧠 Psychological Horror 🪦 Grief Horror 🎭 Imaginary Friend

Violet 92%

A widow takes her mute daughter to a decaying lake house where a childhood friend never left.

by Scott Thomas 2019

3.54

3k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Horror 🪦 Grief Horror 🎭 Imaginary Friend

Think of a Number

by John Verdon • 2010

Letters predict his thoughts, then murder. A retired detective decodes a staged crime scene.

3.88

40k+

🧠 Psychological Thriller 👮 Police Procedural 🔍 Reluctant Investigator

Think of a Number 92%

Letters predict his thoughts, then murder. A retired detective decodes a staged crime scene.

by John Verdon 2010

3.88

40k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Thriller 👮 Police Procedural 🔍 Reluctant Investigator

The Whisper Man

by Alex North • 2019

When a widower moves to a village, his young son starts hearing a serial killer's whispers.

4.01

198k+

🗡️ Serial Killer Thriller 👮 Police Procedural 👨‍👦 Father-Son Bond

The Whisper Man 92%

When a widower moves to a village, his young son starts hearing a serial killer's whispers.

by Alex North 2019

4.01

198k+ ratings

🗡️ Serial Killer Thriller 👮 Police Procedural 👨‍👦 Father-Son Bond

Bald-Faced Liar

by Victoria Helen Stone • 2025

A woman who reinvented herself to escape a childhood scandal is hunted by a stalker who remembers.

3.76

8k+

🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🔪 Stalker Thriller 💔 Trauma Survivor

Bald-Faced Liar 92%

A woman who reinvented herself to escape a childhood scandal is hunted by a stalker who remembers.

by Victoria Helen Stone 2025

3.76

8k+ ratings

🎭 Unreliable Narrator 🔪 Stalker Thriller 💔 Trauma Survivor

Legacy

by Nick Roberts • 2025

A murdered psychologist. His name in her blood. The childhood predator he escaped is back.

4.37

1k+

🧠 Psychological Horror 🔪 Serial Killer Thriller 👶 Childhood Trauma

Legacy 92%

A murdered psychologist. His name in her blood. The childhood predator he escaped is back.

by Nick Roberts 2025

4.37

1k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Horror 🔪 Serial Killer Thriller 👶 Childhood Trauma

The Chalk Man

by C.J. Tudor • 2018

A chalk drawing arrives. Thirty years after a childhood murder, someone wants the truth unearthed.

3.70

126k+

🏘️ Small Town Murder ⏳ Dual Timeline Thriller 👦 Childhood Friends

The Chalk Man 92%

A chalk drawing arrives. Thirty years after a childhood murder, someone wants the truth unearthed.

by C.J. Tudor 2018

3.70

126k+ ratings

🏘️ Small Town Murder ⏳ Dual Timeline Thriller 👦 Childhood Friends

Sleep Tight

by J.H. Markert • 2024

A detective's daughter is abducted, forcing her to hunt a killer who mirrors her own buried past.

3.64

26k+

🕯️ Cult Horror 🔪 Serial Killer 🎭 Multiple Personalities

Sleep Tight 92%

A detective's daughter is abducted, forcing her to hunt a killer who mirrors her own buried past.

by J.H. Markert 2024

3.64

26k+ ratings

🕯️ Cult Horror 🔪 Serial Killer 🎭 Multiple Personalities

Don't Let Go

by Harlan Coben • 2017

Fifteen years after his twin died, a cop's missing girlfriend reappears at a murder scene.

4.05

82k+

🔍 Cold Case 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 🚀 Cold War Mystery

Don't Let Go 92%

Fifteen years after his twin died, a cop's missing girlfriend reappears at a murder scene.

by Harlan Coben 2017

4.05

82k+ ratings

🔍 Cold Case 🏘️ Small Town Secrets 🚀 Cold War Mystery

Middle of the Night

by Riley Sager • 2024

His best friend vanished. Three decades later, a haunting on his childhood street demands answers.

3.67

191k+

🕵️ Cold Case 🏘️ Suburban Thriller 👻 Ghost Mystery

Middle of the Night 92%

His best friend vanished. Three decades later, a haunting on his childhood street demands answers.

by Riley Sager 2024

3.67

191k+ ratings

🕵️ Cold Case 🏘️ Suburban Thriller 👻 Ghost Mystery

Dark Places

by Gillian Flynn • 2009

A broke massacre survivor takes money from true-crime fanatics to clear the brother she convicted.

3.94

848k+

🌫️ Cold Case Mystery 🔪 True Crime Fandom 🧠 Unreliable Memory

Dark Places 92%

A broke massacre survivor takes money from true-crime fanatics to clear the brother she convicted.

by Gillian Flynn 2009

3.94

848k+ ratings

🌫️ Cold Case Mystery 🔪 True Crime Fandom 🧠 Unreliable Memory

Whistle

by Linwood Barclay • 2025

Her son's toy trains kill, and the creature behind them demands she take its place.

3.91

10k+

🖤 Supernatural Horror 🚂 Cursed Toys 🏚️ Small Town Horror

Whistle 92%

Her son's toy trains kill, and the creature behind them demands she take its place.

by Linwood Barclay 2025

3.91

10k+ ratings

🖤 Supernatural Horror 🚂 Cursed Toys 🏚️ Small Town Horror

You'll Never Know

by Caleb Stephens • 2025

His wife vanishes from a mountain trail. Every clue points back to the crimes he buried.

4.01

27k+

🧠 Psychological Suspense 🏠 Domestic Thriller 🎯 Revenge Quest

You'll Never Know 92%

His wife vanishes from a mountain trail. Every clue points back to the crimes he buried.

by Caleb Stephens 2025

4.01

27k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Suspense 🏠 Domestic Thriller 🎯 Revenge Quest

Night Watcher

by Daphne Woolsoncroft • 2025

She survived a masked killer as a child. Now a caller dies on her radio show.

3.70

15k+

🗡️ Serial Killer Thriller 🔪 Final Girl 💔 Childhood Trauma

Night Watcher 92%

She survived a masked killer as a child. Now a caller dies on her radio show.

by Daphne Woolsoncroft 2025

3.70

15k+ ratings

🗡️ Serial Killer Thriller 🔪 Final Girl 💔 Childhood Trauma

Dead in the Water

by John Marrs • 2026

After nearly drowning, a man is haunted by a dead boy. The returning memories are his own crimes.

3.86

37k+

🌀 Unreliable Narrator 🧠 Repressed Memories 🔪 Serial Killer Mind

Dead in the Water 92%

After nearly drowning, a man is haunted by a dead boy. The returning memories are his own crimes.

by John Marrs 2026

3.86

37k+ ratings

🌀 Unreliable Narrator 🧠 Repressed Memories 🔪 Serial Killer Mind

Come Home, Katie

by J.R. Erickson • 2024

A columnist who hears the dead follows a plea to a town where a girl vanished.

4.35

1k+

🕵️ Psychic Detective 🏘️ Small-Town Mystery 🔪 Serial Killer

Come Home, Katie 92%

A columnist who hears the dead follows a plea to a town where a girl vanished.

by J.R. Erickson 2024

4.35

1k+ ratings

🕵️ Psychic Detective 🏘️ Small-Town Mystery 🔪 Serial Killer

Vanishing Girls

by Lisa Regan • 2018

A suspended detective chases a whispered name into a town where girls vanish into silence.

4.19

29k+

🏛️ Police Procedural 🏘️ Small Town Crime 👮‍♀️ Female Detective

Vanishing Girls 92%

A suspended detective chases a whispered name into a town where girls vanish into silence.

by Lisa Regan 2018

4.19

29k+ ratings

🏛️ Police Procedural 🏘️ Small Town Crime 👮‍♀️ Female Detective

The Staircase in the Woods

by Chuck Wendig • 2025

A dying man hustles his gang back to the woods where a staircase swallowed a friend.

3.54

25k+

🏚️ Haunted House Horror 🩸 Trauma Horror 👥 Friend Reunion Horror

The Staircase in the Woods 92%

A dying man hustles his gang back to the woods where a staircase swallowed a friend.

by Chuck Wendig 2025

3.54

25k+ ratings

🏚️ Haunted House Horror 🩸 Trauma Horror 👥 Friend Reunion Horror

Blindsighted

by Karin Slaughter • 2001

A small-town coroner finds a blind woman murdered, and the killer means each body for her.

4.10

123k+

🔬 Forensic Thriller 🌾 Rural Noir 🔍 Serial Killer Hunt

Blindsighted 92%

A small-town coroner finds a blind woman murdered, and the killer means each body for her.

by Karin Slaughter 2001

4.10

123k+ ratings

🔬 Forensic Thriller 🌾 Rural Noir 🔍 Serial Killer Hunt

The Butterfly Garden

by Dot Hutchison • 2016

A girl recounts the greenhouse where a collector kept women as butterflies, backs inked with wings.

4.09

294k+

🧠 Psychological Thriller 🔒 Captivity Narrative 🔪 Serial Predator

The Butterfly Garden 91%

A girl recounts the greenhouse where a collector kept women as butterflies, backs inked with wings.

by Dot Hutchison 2016

4.09

294k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Thriller 🔒 Captivity Narrative 🔪 Serial Predator

Almost Surely Dead

by Amina Akhtar • 2024

Nearly pushed onto subway tracks, a pharmacist finds her face plastering her attacker's walls.

3.68

22k+

🎙️ True Crime Podcast 🌫️ Jinn Folklore 👁️ Cultural Horror

Almost Surely Dead 91%

Nearly pushed onto subway tracks, a pharmacist finds her face plastering her attacker's walls.

by Amina Akhtar 2024

3.68

22k+ ratings

🎙️ True Crime Podcast 🌫️ Jinn Folklore 👁️ Cultural Horror

Daphne

by Josh Malerman • 2022

Think of her, you die. A basketball star with severe anxiety can't control her thoughts.

3.37

6k+

🧠 Psychological Horror 🌃 Urban Legend 😰 Anxiety As Horror

Daphne 91%

Think of her, you die. A basketball star with severe anxiety can't control her thoughts.

by Josh Malerman 2022

3.37

6k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Horror 🌃 Urban Legend 😰 Anxiety As Horror

The Overnight Guest

by Heather Gudenkauf • 2022

Snowbound, a true crime writer finds a frozen child and a murder that refuses to die.

4.02

160k+

⏳ Dual Timeline Mystery 🌾 Rural Noir ✍️ True Crime Writer

The Overnight Guest 91%

Snowbound, a true crime writer finds a frozen child and a murder that refuses to die.

by Heather Gudenkauf 2022

4.02

160k+ ratings

⏳ Dual Timeline Mystery 🌾 Rural Noir ✍️ True Crime Writer

Night Film

by Marisha Pessl • 2013

A cult director's daughter dies, a ruined reporter digs, and the horror films start coming true.

3.78

96k+

🧠 Psychological Thriller 🌀 Postmodern Mystery 📰 Investigative Journalism

Night Film 91%

A cult director's daughter dies, a ruined reporter digs, and the horror films start coming true.

by Marisha Pessl 2013

3.78

96k+ ratings

🧠 Psychological Thriller 🌀 Postmodern Mystery 📰 Investigative Journalism

The Murder House

by James Patterson • 2015

A detective returns to a cursed mansion crime scene; the house remembers the childhood she buried.

4.06

51k+

🔪 Serial Killer Thriller 🏚️ Gothic Atmosphere 🩸 Generational Curse

The Murder House 91%

A detective returns to a cursed mansion crime scene; the house remembers the childhood she buried.

by James Patterson 2015

4.06

51k+ ratings

🔪 Serial Killer Thriller 🏚️ Gothic Atmosphere 🩸 Generational Curse

Joyland

by Stephen King • 2013

A heartbroken student's carnival summer job unearths a ghost story that masks an unsolved murder.

3.93

181k+

🎪 Carnival Noir 🔍 Cold Case Murder 🎭 Villainous Mentor

Joyland 91%

A heartbroken student's carnival summer job unearths a ghost story that masks an unsolved murder.

by Stephen King 2013

3.93

181k+ ratings

🎪 Carnival Noir 🔍 Cold Case Murder 🎭 Villainous Mentor

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