Only add psychological thriller/suspense books that feature female protagonists written by women.

A suspenseful book emphasizes the psychology of its characters rather than the plot; this is a sub-genre of thriller.

Examples: In a psychological thriller, the characters are exposed to danger on a mental rather than physical level. // Overcoming the antagonist relies on wits rather than brute force. // A story where 'why' holds more weight than 'how'.
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1,465 books · 3,522 voters · list created June 18th, 2013 by Beverly (votes) .
1472 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


Beverly 6782 books
277 friends
Adenike 1 book
0 friends
Veronica 1418 books
108 friends
La 1 book
2 friends
Susan 101 books
3 friends
Nerfzilla 979 books
46 friends
Renee 3221 books
115 friends
Samantha 1372 books
139 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-25 of 25 (25 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Susan (new)

Susan How did The Firm get on this list? It is a decent book but it is also one with a male protagonist, written by a male author...


message 2: by Amber (new)

Amber Night Film also has a male protagonist.


message 4: by Rebecca (last edited Oct 23, 2014 08:23AM) (new)

Rebecca Currently #68 The Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver doesn't belong on this list either.

Edited to add: Actually, there are several books on this list with male authors. Master & Apprentice by Christopher Rankin & The Happiness Animal by Will Jelbert (which isn't even a thriller.


message 5: by Margaret (new)

Margaret Carmel Gone Girl is on here three times just an FYI


message 6: by Joan (new)

Joan Hovey I've written 7 suspense novels, the latest 'The Deepest Dark' and it would be nice to replace one of those male authors. :) And I know I have plenty of company among my female colleagues who also write suspense.
Wishing you all a wonderful year in 2015!

Joan
www.joanhallhovey.com The Deepest Dark by Joan Hall Hovey


message 7: by Beverly (new)

Beverly Joan wrote: "I've written 7 suspense novels, the latest 'The Deepest Dark' and it would be nice to replace one of those male authors. :) And I know I have plenty of company among my female colleagues who also..."

Hi Joan -

Anyone can add books to this list. So if your books fit the category - you can add.


message 8: by Beverly (new)

Beverly Margaret wrote: "Gone Girl is on here three times just an FYI"

Since it is an open list and anyone can add - people added whatever edition they read without looking to see if a book is already on the list.


message 9: by Beverly (new)

Beverly Rebecca wrote: "Currently #68 The Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver doesn't belong on this list either.

Edited to add: Actually, there are several books on this list with male authors. Master & Apprentice by Chris..."


As an open list - people had books to the list - even if they do not fit the list description.


message 10: by Kelley (new)

Kelley Stoneking Angels and Demons has a male protagonist and male author.


message 11: by Cat (new)

Cat Perham Ann wrote: "Before I Go To Sleep is written by a maleS.J. Watson"

S.J. is Sharon Bolton, dear.


message 12: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Catherine wrote: "Ann wrote: "Before I Go To Sleep is written by a maleS.J. Watson"

S.J. is Sharon Bolton, dear."


No, S.J. Watson is a man :

http://www.sjwatson-books.com


message 13: by Greg (new)

Greg I see "Crooked House" on this list at #201. But why so high a rating?


message 14: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Greg wrote: "I see "Crooked House" on this list at #201. But why so high a rating?"

Looks like it is now at #203. The rating is determined according to score. Every time someone votes for a book to be on the list they are adding points to that book's score. The book at the top of your vote list gets 100 pts and then going down each book gets 1 pt less. Hope that makes sense!


message 15: by ~☆~Autumn (new)

~☆~Autumn Looks like it is now at #203. The rating is determined according to score. Every time someone votes for a book to be on the list they are adding points to that book's score. The book at the top of your vote list gets 100 pts and then going down each book gets 1 pt less. Hope that makes sense!

I had heard something like this before but your explanation is much better so thanks. I did a reschuffle on some of mine.


message 16: by Anne (w/ an E) (new)

Anne (w/ an E) Sarah wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Ann wrote: "Before I Go To Sleep is written by a maleS.J. Watson"

S.J. is Sharon Bolton, dear."

No, S.J. Watson is a man :

http://www.sjwatson-..."


Thank you Sarah :D


message 17: by [deleted user] (last edited Nov 12, 2017 05:05AM) (new)

When you find a book that shouldn't be here, post on the Librarians Group: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... Name the book, explain how it doesn't fit the list description and what # it is on the list at the time of your posting. Hopefully a librarian can remove it for you. (You must be a member of the group to post but anyone can join)

Edit: I removed Night Film as requested above (male prot) and Before I Go to Sleep (male author). The others mentioned must have already been removed. Also I removed many that are from male authors. I also worked on removing books that haven't been shelved by anyone as a thriller, psychological or suspense. There are so, so many that don't seem to fit the description but am only clearing out those. For example, romance, paranormal, erotica, historical fiction, fiction etc that doesn't mention anything about being a thriller, psychological or suspenseful. I also added more detail to the description. {ex. of books removed - Gone With the Wind, Glass Castle, The Help, Diary of Anne Frank etc} I quit around 331 "The Last to Die" for now.

Most lists on GRs need to be maintained so I encourage you to help keep it accurate by reporting any errors.

Here is a similar list maybe it's better maintained List: Psychological Chillers by Women authors of course doesn't restrict sex of protagonist.
Here is another maybe better way to find these books: GR Shelf: Psychological Thriller again doesn't restrict sex of protagonist. It's just books that were shelved as Psy Thriller
And another: List: Best Female Crime Mystery Thriller Writers


message 18: by Malena (new)

Malena A.J. Finn the author of The Woman in the Window is a man


message 19: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Sep 28, 2018 11:46PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Malena wrote: "A.J. Finn the author of The Woman in the Window is a man"

As the description of this Listopia clearly says "Psychological thriller/suspense books that feature female protagonists written by Women.", The Woman in the Window has been removed.

Next time, do mention the number you found a book on, as it saves librarians going through several pages having to look for a book. Thanks 🙂


message 20: by Suzanne (new)

Suzanne Seddon A Fool's Circle

Could someone tell me if i have added this book to the list correctly?


message 21: by Saturday's (new)

Saturday's Child Booklovinglady wrote: "Malena wrote: "A.J. Finn the author of The Woman in the Window is a man"

As the description of this Listopia clearly says "Psychological thriller/suspense books that feature female protagonists wr..."


It is back again on this list at number 46.


BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) Saturday's wrote: "It is back again on this list at number 46....

Nipped it again.


message 23: by Saturday's (new)

Saturday's Child Booklovinglady wrote: "Saturday's wrote: "It is back again on this list at number 46....

Nipped it again."


Nice work BLL :)


message 24: by Echo 16 (new)

Echo 16 "The Kind Worth Killing" is by a male, Peter Swanson.


message 25: by Naomi (new)

Naomi 13 duplicates found and removed


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