Psychological Fiction: 14 Authors of Psychological Fiction

Psychological fiction (or psychological realism) is a genre of literature in which writers delve into the interiority (or “inner person”) of a character’s mind and motivation rather than focusing on external actions or motivators. In psychological novels, the characters’ mental and emotional state drives the story forward rather than outward forces.

Psychological fiction is a broad genre that includes several other subgenres, including psychological drama, psychological thriller, psychological suspense, psychological horror, and psychological science fiction.

Psychological fiction books often feature:

1. 1. Deep interiority: The key element of this type of fiction is the focus on the psychology of the human mind or the mental and emotional states of the characters. Authors employ different techniques to achieve a more realistic picture of a person’s psychology, including stream of consciousness, interior characterization, fragmented storytelling, and flashbacks.
2. 2. Internal conflict: In most psychological fiction, the story’s main conflict comes from the inner turmoil of the main character or characters rather than an outward pressure.
3. 3. Representational characters: Characters that represent specific ideas, values, or ideologies are common in psychological fiction. Authors may use psychological fiction as a way to explore many facets of a societal issue or public debate.

If you’re interested in psychological fiction, here are a few must-read authors:

1. 1. Agatha Christie: This British novelist is well-known for her psychological page-turners and plot twists, especially her true crime thrillers written through the mind of her famous detective character Hercule Poirot. Notable works include And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express.
2. 2. A.J. Finn: His debut novel, The Woman in the Window, became a best-seller.
3. 3. Alex Michaelides: Michaelides’s debut novel, The Silent Patient, is a psychological thriller that centers around a psychotherapist working with a patient who refuses to speak.
4. 4. Anthony Burgess: A Clockwork Orange is a biting satire that includes elements of psychological science fiction and psychological horror.
5. 5. Fyodor Dostoyevsky: This Russian writer is well-known for his extensive psychological novels, including The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment.
6. 6. Gillian Flynn: An author whose work deals with psychological intensity, trauma, serial killers, and horror, Flynn’s suspense novels include Gone Girl, which chronicles the disappearance of Amy Dunne on her fifth wedding anniversary, and Sharp Objects, her debut novel. Both rank among the best psychological thriller books of the twenty-first century.
7. 7. Henry James: An author of novels, novellas, and short stories, James was born in New York but lived in England at the end of his life. His notable works include The Portrait of a Lady and The Turn of the Screw.
8. 8. Liane Moriarty: This contemporary Australian author’s hit novel, Big Little Lies, dives into the psychological interiority of characters dealing with domestic abuse.
9. 9. Margaret Atwood: This contemporary Canadian author’s psychological work deals with themes of gender roles, identity, society, and speculative historical fiction. Atwood’s notable works include The Handmaid’s Tale and Alias Grace.
10. 10. Murasaki Shikibu: One of the earliest pieces of psychological literature is The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu.
11. 11. Patricia Highsmith: The author introduced her recurring character Tom Ripley in the psychological thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley.
12. 12. Paula Hawkins: This contemporary British author’s novel The Girl on the Train uses unreliable narration and interiority to create a feeling of psychological suspense.
13. 13. Samuel Richardson: Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded is an early example of psychological fiction. Richardson’s Pamela tells the story of a young girl trying to adjust to her new life as a wife and deals with themes of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and class struggle.
14. 14. Stephen King: A well-known author working in the psychological horror genre, King’s books include the best sellers The Shining and Carrie.

Become a better writer with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Neil Gaiman, Walter Mosley, Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, and more.