Looking for HR'S with over the top deranged and evil family members or exes that are extremely dangerous villains

[Lyndol]

Looking for historical romances with truly deranged and evil family members or exes that are extremely dangerous villains. Ones that no one suspects that are truly that deranged and crazy until they start doing things to the hero or heroine. Ones that are trying to prevent the hero and heroine from marrying because they want them themselves, are jealous, or because they gain something if the hero and heroine don't marry or die. The more deranged, insane, and self absorbed the villain or villains are the better. Thank you for any suggestions :)

[MJ]

Salt Bride... the bad girls obvious, but far more demented than they realise.

There's also one I read that had a 'lord-ish' guy rush marry to ensure his heir because of a debilitating family disease that has already claimed his father and brother, but he doesn't want to sire the baby. There's a demented character in that one too, if it sounds like something you'd like, I'll go hunting.

[MJ]

The Haunting of a Duke

[MJ]

... and the one I mentioned above was Loving the Marquess

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Jane Eyre
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

[Empress]

Read your title and immediately thought of Miserere: An Autumn Tale. The MC is a older crippled man who is kept imprisoned by his sister. He escapes and helps some kids, but his sister is after him and after the whole realm.
Now it is obvious from the beginning she is the evil one, but it is the brother that comes to term with it that and rebelling against her that is the focus of the story.

[Peter]

It's a fairly big spoiler, but from what I understand How Like a God by Brenda Clough would qualify. Haven't read it myself, but I've heard good things.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Cousin Kate the deranged one isn't the "obvious" suspect here.

These Old Shades

The Talisman Ring

The Quiet Gentleman

These 4 books were all written by the same author, who was an expert at Regency Romances. In fact, she's often called the Mother of The Regency Romance. Despite the drama, there is usually some humour in her books.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Rebecca

[Lyndol]

My all time favorite is actually salt bride lol.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Here's your duplicate thread:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Frankly, it's better to keep it all in one thread which lessens the chances that you'll be recommended the same books over and over.

[Rosa]

Salt Bride