Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)
We know what book you should read next
  • The Fiction Novels Jenny Jackson Is Loving Right Now
    The Fiction Novels Jenny Jackson Is Loving Right Now
    Learn More >

  • Gripping Novels for Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid
    Gripping Novels for Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid
    Read More >

  • New Stories to Listen to
    New Stories to Listen to
    Learn More >
  • <
    Books>
  • Popular
  • New & Noteworthy
  • Bestsellers
  • Popular Series
  • Anticipated Books of 2023
  • Popular Books in Spanish
  • Coming Soon
  • Fiction
  • Classics
  • Romance
  • Literary Fiction
  • Mystery & Suspense
  • Science Fiction & Fantasy
  • Spanish Language Fiction
  • Nonfiction
  • Biographies & Memoirs
  • Wellness
  • Cooking
  • History
  • Spanish Language Nonfiction
  • Series
  • Gray Man
  • Dark Star Trilogy
  • Ramses the Damned
  • Outlander
  • Penguin Classics
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Kids>
  • Popular
  • New & Noteworthy
  • Bestsellers
  • Award Winners
  • The Parenting Book Guide
  • Books to Read Before Bed
  • Books for Middle Graders
  • Trending Series
  • Who Was?
  • Magic Tree House
  • The Last Kids on Earth
  • Mad Libs
  • Planet Omar
  • Beloved Characters
  • The World of Eric Carle
  • Bluey
  • Llama Llama
  • Dr. Seuss
  • Junie B. Jones
  • Peter Rabbit
  • Categories
  • Board Books
  • Picture Books
  • Guided Reading Levels
  • Middle Grade
  • Activity Books
  • <
    View All>
  • <

    Popular

  • Trending
  • Trending This Week
  • Top Must-Read Romances
  • Page-Turning Series To Start Now
  • Books to Cope With Anxiety
  • Short Reads
  • Anti-Racist Resources
  • Staff Picks
  • Romance
  • Mystery & Thriller
  • Fiction
  • Memoir & Fiction
  • Features & Interviews
  • Emma Brodie Interview
  • Gabriella Burnham Interview
  • Nicola Yoon Interview
  • Qian Julie Wang Interview
  • Deepak Chopra Essay
  • How Can I Get Published?
  • For Book Clubs
  • Reese's Book Club
  • Oprah’s Book Club
  • Guide: Trust
  • Guide: Book Lovers
  • <
  • <
    Authors & Events>
  • Our Authors
  • Michelle Obama
  • Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Mohsin Hamid
  • Cormac McCarthy
  • Celeste Ng
  • In Their Own Words
  • Qian Julie Wang
  • Patrick Radden Keefe
  • Phoebe Robinson
  • Emma Brodie
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates
  • Laura Hankin
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Recommendations>
  • Book Lists
  • The Best Books to Get Your Finances in Order
  • Mysteries & Thrillers by Black Authors
  • Novels We Love Set in Libraries
  • Narrative Nonfiction to Rival Thrillers
  • Books Based on Your Favorite Taylor Swift Era
  • Manga and Graphic Novels
  • Articles
  • Between the World and Me Oral History
  • Meet the Bookseller: Yu and Me Books
  • Cook a Soul Food Holiday Meal With Rosie Mayes
  • Ina Garten’s Chicken & Potatoes Recipe
  • Vallery Lomas’ Blueberry Buckle Recipe
  • <
    View All>
  • <
    Audio>
  • Popular
  • New Releases
  • Award Winners
  • Coming Soon
  • Featured
  • Memoirs Read by the Author
  • Our Most Soothing Narrators
  • Press Play for Inspiration
  • Audiobooks You Just Can't Pause
  • Listen With the Whole Family
  • <
    View All>
cart
Penguin Random House

Books

Popular


New & Noteworthy

Bestsellers

Popular Series

Anticipated Books of 2023

Popular Books in Spanish

Coming Soon

Fiction


Classics

Romance

Literary Fiction

Mystery & Suspense

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Spanish Language Fiction

Nonfiction


Biographies & Memoirs

Wellness

Cooking

History

Spanish Language Nonfiction

View All >

Series


Gray Man

Dark Star Trilogy

Ramses the Damned

Outlander

Penguin Classics

View All >

New Releases
New Releases
Learn More >

Kids

Popular


New & Noteworthy

Bestsellers

Award Winners

The Parenting Book Guide

Books to Read Before Bed

Books for Middle Graders

Trending Series


Who Was?

Magic Tree House

The Last Kids on Earth

Mad Libs

Planet Omar

View All >

Beloved Characters


The World of Eric Carle

Bluey

Llama Llama

Dr. Seuss

Junie B. Jones

Peter Rabbit

Categories


Board Books

Picture Books

Guided Reading Levels

Middle Grade

Activity Books

View All >

Stories & Activities To Celebrate Women’s History Month With Kids
Stories & Activities To Celebrate Women’s History Month With Kids
Learn More >

Popular

Trending


Trending This Week

Top Must-Read Romances

Page-Turning Series To Start Now

Books to Cope With Anxiety

Short Reads

Anti-Racist Resources

Staff Picks


Romance

Mystery & Thriller

Fiction

Memoir & Fiction

Features & Interviews


Emma Brodie Interview

Gabriella Burnham Interview

Nicola Yoon Interview

Qian Julie Wang Interview

Deepak Chopra Essay

How Can I Get Published?

For Book Clubs


Reese's Book Club

Oprah’s Book Club

Guide: Trust

Guide: Book Lovers

The Fiction Novels Jenny Jackson Is Loving Right Now
The Fiction Novels Jenny Jackson Is Loving Right Now
Learn More >

Authors & Events

Our Authors


Michelle Obama

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Mohsin Hamid

Cormac McCarthy

Celeste Ng

View All >

In Their Own Words


Qian Julie Wang

Patrick Radden Keefe

Phoebe Robinson

Emma Brodie

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Laura Hankin

Our Favorite Literary Compliments
Our Favorite Literary Compliments
Learn More >
Join Our Authors for Upcoming Events
Join Our Authors for Upcoming Events
Learn More >

Recommendations

Book Lists


The Best Books to Get Your Finances in Order

Mysteries & Thrillers by Black Authors

Novels We Love Set in Libraries

Narrative Nonfiction to Rival Thrillers

Books Based on Your Favorite Taylor Swift Era

Manga and Graphic Novels

Articles


Between the World and Me Oral History

Meet the Bookseller: Yu and Me Books

Cook a Soul Food Holiday Meal With Rosie Mayes

Ina Garten’s Chicken & Potatoes Recipe

Vallery Lomas’ Blueberry Buckle Recipe

Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
Browse All Our Lists, Essays, and Interviews
See What We’re Reading >
Gripping Novels for Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid
Gripping Novels for Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid
Read More >

Audio

Popular


New Releases

Award Winners

Coming Soon

View All >

Featured


Memoirs Read by the Author

Our Most Soothing Narrators

Press Play for Inspiration

Audiobooks You Just Can't Pause

Listen With the Whole Family

View All >

New Stories to Listen to
New Stories to Listen to
Learn More >
Audiobooks to Listen to While You Cook
Audiobooks to Listen to While You Cook
Learn More >
search
Penguin Random House Penguin Random House
cart
search
Penguin RandomHouse
close search
close search
Penguin Random House
The ReadDown

The Most Terrifying Serial Killers in Fiction to Read Right Now

From classic fairytales like Bluebeard to more modern horrors like Hannibal Lecter, murderous monsters of the more human variety have long held a firm grip on readers’ imaginations. Perhaps it’s the escapist thrill of seeing a terrifying killer outsmarted—a macabre fascination with the deepest recesses of our collective imagination. Or, it could simply be the love of a good thriller. Whatever the case, serial killers and the novels about them very often make for terrifyingly enjoyable reads.

  1. 1
    The Snowman Book Cover Picture
    The Snowman Book Cover Picture
    Add The Snowman to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Snowman

    by Jo Nesbo

    Jo Nesbo might be just be the current king of Nordic Noir, and this bleak, tightly constructed thriller is one of his best. The seventh novel in the Nesbo’s Harry Hole Series sees the tortured detective land a missing persons case that soon sets him on the hunt for methodical serial killer whose fascination with a deeply disturbing snowman fascination.
    The Snowman Book Cover Picture
    The Snowman Book Cover Picture
    Add The Snowman to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $17.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  2. 2
    Darkly Dreaming Dexter Book Cover Picture
    Darkly Dreaming Dexter Book Cover Picture
    Add Darkly Dreaming Dexter to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Darkly Dreaming Dexter

    by Jeff Lindsay

    Jeff Lindsay took us deep into the mind of a serial killer when he introduced to the world to Dexter Morgan and Morgan’s Dark Passenger with his 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Lindsay put a fascinating spin on the serial killer trope by introducing a sociopath who channels his homicidal urges toward those who have escaped justice. It’s an intriguing twist, and it makes Dexter Morgan one of the more intriguing entries on this list.
    Darkly Dreaming Dexter Book Cover Picture
    Darkly Dreaming Dexter Book Cover Picture
    Add Darkly Dreaming Dexter to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $17.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  3. 3
    The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game Book Cover Picture
    The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game Book Cover Picture
    Add The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley’s Game

    by Patricia Highsmith

    Patricia Highsmith was among the most influential crime fiction writers of the latter twentieth century, and Tom Ripley is her greatest creation. Beginning as a small-time con man, Ripley works his way up the social ladder to a life of opulence. Completely without remorse and absolutely amoral, Ripley does literally whatever it takes to maintain the life he has built for himself. Ripley is a charming monster, which makes him all the more fearsome, and one of the greatest characters of contemporary literature.
    The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game Book Cover Picture
    The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game Book Cover Picture
    Add The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley Under Ground, Ripley's Game to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Hardcover
    $28.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  4. 4
    American Psycho Book Cover Picture
    American Psycho Book Cover Picture
    Add American Psycho to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    American Psycho

    by Bret Easton Ellis

    What would this list be without Bret Easton Ellis and Patrick Bateman? With American Psycho, Ellis took a deep dive into the darkest reaches of what the American dream could mean. The portrait of this unhinged serial killer and the searing satirical indictment of consumer greed fueled culture of 1980’s Wall Street. American Psycho is an American classic — just a grisly and unforgettably disturbing one.
    American Psycho Book Cover Picture
    American Psycho Book Cover Picture
    Add American Psycho to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $17.95

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  5. 5
    The Perfect Husband Book Cover Picture
    The Perfect Husband Book Cover Picture
    Add The Perfect Husband to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Perfect Husband

    by Lisa Gardner

    This page-turning thriller from Lisa Gardner is the sort of novel that demands to be read in a single sitting. When she discovers her perfect husband is a brutal serial killer, Tess Beckett’s life is torn to pieces. And when her husband escapes from prison five years later, Tess knows the monster she once loved will be on the hunt for not only her, but their young daughter. The Perfect Husband is a taut, white knuckle thriller.
    The Perfect Husband Book Cover Picture
    The Perfect Husband Book Cover Picture
    Add The Perfect Husband to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Mass Market Paperback
    $9.99

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  6. 6
    The Alienist (TNT Tie-in Edition) Book Cover Picture
    The Alienist (TNT Tie-in Edition) Book Cover Picture
    Add The Alienist (TNT Tie-in Edition) to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    The Alienist (TNT Tie-in Edition)

    by Caleb Carr

    With TNT’s eight episode adaptation of Caleb Carr’s bestseller set to premiere on January 22nd, now is the perfect time to pick up a copy of The Alienist. Set against the backdrop of corruption and scandal in 1896 New York City, the novel follows renowned and controversial “alienist” (an archaic term for a psychiatrist or psychologist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, who at the behest of then-Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt puts together a team to track down a particularly violent and dangerous serial killer stalking the Lower East Side. Inspired by real-life serial killer Albert Fish, the very human monster of The Alienist is one of the most unsettling in recent memory.
    The Alienist (TNT Tie-in Edition) Book Cover Picture
    The Alienist (TNT Tie-in Edition) Book Cover Picture
    Add The Alienist (TNT Tie-in Edition) to bookshelf
    Add to Bookshelf

    Paperback
    $17.00

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy
  • Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Pin it
  • Share on Tumblr
  • SMS
  • Email
More to Explore
Back to Top
We know what book you should read next

Connect

Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House

global.penguinrandomhouse.com

© 2023 Penguin Random House

  • About Us
  • Our Story
  • Our People
  • Our Contributors
  • Locations
  • Management
  • Social Impact
  • Careers
  • Imprints
  • Quick Links
  • Partnerships
  • Media Queries
  • Influencers
  • Company Reads
  • PenguinRandomHouse.biz
  • Email Preferences
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • CA Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  • Affiliate Program Disclosure
  • Fraud Alert
  • Help
  • Publishing Process
  • FAQ
  • Shopping & Shipping FAQ
  • For Educators
  • Subrights
  • Permissions

Connect

Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House

global.penguinrandomhouse.com

© 2023 Penguin Random House

Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

Raise kids who love to read

Brightly

Raise kids who love to read

Today's Top Books

Today's Top Books

Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

An online magazine for today’s home cook

TASTE

An online magazine for today’s home cook

Stay in Touch

Please enter a valid email address
We are experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again later.

By clicking Sign Up, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

×

Become a Member

Start earning points for buying books! Just for joining you’ll get personalized recommendations on your dashboard daily and features only for members.

Find Out More Join Now Sign In
Hi,
Member Since

Account Overview Rewards Recommendations Orders Account Details Email Preferences Bookshelf

Point Status info
This is where you’ll see your current point status and your earned rewards. To redeem, copy and paste the code during the checkout process.See Account Overview

until your next FREE book!
0 120
You currently do not have any rewards.

Success!

Your account has been created. Upload book purchases, access your personalized book recommendations, and more from here.