Taking all the best parts of the gothic genre and imbuing them with sensuous exposition and contemporary themes, Moreno-Garcia’s novel of surreality, dread, and control might leave you as disturbed as its protagonist.

Set in 1950s Mexico and paced like a del Torro horror, Mexican Gothic tells the story of Noémi, a young woman begged and beckoned by her cousin for help: she believes her new husband is trying to kill her. In honoring this bond of family and friendship something much more sinister than just a potentially homicidal husband is revealed.

This high drama story demands a high drama look: deep colors and luxe detailing will have you feeling like you're in the lustrous countryside that serves as the background for this haunting read, mercifully without the psychological terror.

Like your new favorite lounge set or a pair of silk pajamas, In the Dream House is essential no matter the season. Machado’s memoir reinvents the medium with her haunting and heartbreaking retelling of loving and leaving her abusive ex-girlfriend.

Katy Waldman described this memoir as a haunted carnival ride: each chapter jerks into a different genre in its retelling of domestic violence. Through using such a wide variety of styles and genres to paint a vivid, frenetic picture of what happens when your dream turns into a literal nightmare, the book can sometimes feel like fiction in its illusory atmosphere.

With generous candor and precise self-awareness, In The Dream House is also an examination of queer identity in a one-sitting read that is anything but comfortable.

Considered by some as history’s first witch, Circe is brought to life by the brilliant Madeline Miller in this retelling of ancient legends through modern dilemmas.

A novel about trauma, survival, rage, and forgiveness; Circe may be an immortal witch but she is human in her condition. Miller unpacks Circe’s relationship with her father Helios—and her siblings and the other gods and non-mortals of her youth—as well as her post-exile run-ins with vicious sailors, and Odysseus and his men through romantic and lyrical prose that’s often reminiscent of a spell you might recite under a full moon, in grounding layers of luscious fabrics.

Calling this book a plain old thriller does it a disservice: Slimani’s killer-nanny novel will stun you with its plot and prose.

This read is not for the faint of heart: Inspired by the 2012 murders of two young children by their babysitter, The Perfect Nanny opens with a mother at the crime scene of her dead son and daughter. Knowing the outcome of this family as we go back through the origin of their relationship with their nanny, Louise, makes the novel all the more fraught, tense, and terrifying.

Slimani is a prolific writer whose penchant for investigating the dynamics of caregiving and power in family manages to shine through brilliantly in this genuinely terrifying and eerie read. The Perfect Nanny is the perfect fit for francophiles that love an accent collar and lace trimmings.

A morbid and hilarious novella set in the vibrant Lagos, this a-typical thriller combines a slasher fest with a love triangle, and dialogue and a sense of humor Patrick Bateman couldn’t even dream of.

Protagonist Kayode is constantly cleaning up after her sister...like literally cleaning up her crime scenes because she is a serial killer. The power dynamics of sisterhood, familial bonds, modern romance, and the parasocial nature of social media are examined in Braithwaite’s searing commentary that paints this short but sometimes-sweet book.