If you recently finished Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak, chances are you’re still thinking about it, the eerie illustrations, the haunting child’s drawings, and that final twist that made your jaw drop. There’s something about the mix of domestic mystery, supernatural suspense, and psychological tension that makes this book so addictive.
If you’re craving more books like Hidden Pictures that give you the same heart-pounding suspense and emotional depth, I’ve got you covered. Below are five dark thriller books like Hidden Pictures, each one a haunting story that plays with your mind, just the way Rekulak’s masterpiece did.
1. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
If Hidden Pictures hooked you with its emotional layers and unreliable storytelling, The Last Mrs. Parrish will satisfy that craving for deceit and manipulation. The novel follows Amber Patterson, a woman who’s tired of being invisible. When she befriends the seemingly perfect Daphne Parrish, her real intentions start to unfold, and what begins as envy quickly turns into obsession.
The slow reveal of secrets and the shocking mid-book twist make this one of the best psychological thrillers like Hidden Pictures. It’s smart, dark, and deeply unsettling, just the way a good domestic thriller should be.
Why you’ll love it: The dual narrative feels like peeling back layers of a perfect life, only to find rot underneath.
2. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
Every perfect marriage hides a story, and this one is pure horror wrapped in elegance. Behind Closed Doors introduces Grace and Jack Angel, the ideal couple everyone envies. But the reality inside their home is far from ideal.
If Hidden Pictures left you uneasy with its psychological tension, this book will keep you on edge from start to finish. The narrative claustrophobia and the perfectly controlled pacing create a sense of dread that mirrors the suffocating secrets in Rekulak’s world.
This remains one of the most talked-about thriller books, like Hidden Pictures, for readers who love stories that appear calm on the surface but hide something sinister beneath.
Why you’ll love it: You’ll find yourself questioning how well you really know anyone including your closest loved ones.
3. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Lisa Jewell crafts emotionally rich thrillers that blur the line between mystery and heartbreak. Then She Was Gone is about Laurel, a mother who lost her teenage daughter years ago. When she meets a man whose young daughter bears an uncanny resemblance to her missing child, her world begins to unravel.
If Hidden Pictures gripped you with its emotional undertones and psychological creepiness, Then She Was Gone offers that same haunting blend of grief, mystery, and revelation.
Readers searching for mystery books similar to Hidden Pictures will find this one unforgettable, not only for its twists but for its emotional payoff.
Why you’ll love it: Jewell balances human vulnerability with chilling suspense, leaving you both heartbroken and horrified.
Also Read: Review of Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
4. The Whisper Man by Alex North
This one’s for those who loved the eerie, supernatural edge of Hidden Pictures. The Whisper Man blends crime, trauma, and whispers of the supernatural into a chilling modern classic.
When a father and his young son move to a quiet English village, they discover that the town hides a dark past, and a serial killer known as “The Whisper Man” once terrorized the area. Now, the whispers seem to have returned.
It’s atmospheric, emotionally intense, and deeply unsettling, a perfect match for fans searching for dark thriller books like Hidden Pictures that also explore grief, parenthood, and fear of the unknown.
Why you’ll love it: The father-son bond will break your heart just as the whispers raise every hair on your neck.
5. The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
If Hidden Pictures had you questioning what’s real, The Butterfly Garden will make you question humanity itself. The book follows an FBI investigation into a secret garden where young women are held captive and tattooed with butterfly wings.
It’s dark, disturbing, and psychological, exploring control, trauma, and survival. What makes it fit alongside Hidden Pictures is how it humanizes horror, showing how beauty, art, and cruelty can intertwine.
This one’s not for the faint of heart, but for readers who want psychological thrillers like Hidden Pictures with an even darker edge, it’s absolutely gripping.
Why you’ll love it: The contrast between the garden’s beauty and its horror is unforgettable, and the narrative voice is hauntingly compelling.
Bonus: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Because one Lisa Jewell book isn’t enough, The Family Upstairs deserves a spot on this list. With its gothic mansion, secret cult, and multiple POVs, it’s one of the best dark mystery novels for fans of Hidden Pictures who enjoy layered storytelling and morally complex characters.
Why you’ll love it: It’s eerie without being supernatural, perfect if you liked the grounded realism of Hidden Pictures mixed with a hint of gothic dread.
If you want a review before you read, Click Here
Final Thoughts: Your Next Dark Obsession Awaits
There’s something uniquely haunting about Hidden Pictures. It’s not just the horror, it’s the way the story lingers, how it mixes grief with suspense, and how it feels both intimate and terrifying.
The books listed above, from The Whisper Man’s eerie whispers to Behind Closed Doors’ suffocating perfection, all deliver that same emotional punch. They are the kind of books like Hidden Pictures that don’t just thrill you; they stay with you.
So grab a blanket, pour yourself a cup of coffee/tea (preferably when it’s raining outside), and dive into one of these dark, mesmerizing worlds. Just don’t be surprised if you start sleeping with the lights on.
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