5 Cult Thrillers You Won’t Be Able to Put Down
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There’s something about cult stories that always gets under my skin — the isolation, the control, the blurred line between devotion and destruction. I’ve been part of a few commercial cults myself — everything from manifestation and “female empowerment” spaces to MLMs. On the surface, they promised community and belonging. But underneath, they thrived on control.
When you delegate your power to a group, you start to see how easy it is to get trapped in groupthink — the subtle isolation, the coded language, the way vulnerability gets weaponized. That’s probably why I can’t get enough of cult thrillers. They take something familiar — that yearning for connection — and turn it into something sinister.
In this episode of What to Read Next, I invited Chelsea from Thrillers by the Bookclub to help me build a TBR of novels that explore the darker side of belief systems — from celebrity-style cults to hidden spiritual retreats. Chelsea reads thrillers like other people breathe air, and she’s particularly drawn to stories where people lose themselves in the name of purpose.
If you’re new to this subgenre, these are the books that will make you question everything — your leaders, your mentors, even your friend group chat.
Why I’m Drawn to Cult Thrillers
I’ve seen what happens when people hand over their agency to the wrong kind of “community.” Cult thrillers let me explore that fear from a safe distance. When I pick up one, I’m not looking for car chases or explosions — I want psychological tension. I want that slow realization that the “found family” you thought you joined might actually be the villains.
Chelsea’s recommendations reminded me that cults don’t always look like religious communes. They can be commercial, spiritual, or social — and that’s what makes them so scary. She dives into the gray space where devotion becomes control, and I love how her picks capture that transformation.
Before this episode, my gateway into cult fascination wasn’t fiction at all — it was Anti-MLM commentary videos. Modern-day commercial cults isolate you, invent a language of “empowerment,” and sell you a dream that doesn’t exist. (If that’s your jam, I’ve got a separate list of books about MLMs and manipulation you’ll love.)
And while I adore fictional cults, I’m equally drawn to real-world survivor stories — from Twin Flames Universe to wellness cult exposés. They remind me how easy it is to fall for something that seems harmless. These books help me understand the psychology of belief — and the courage it takes to walk away.
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Chelsea’s Cult Thriller Recommendations
Chelsea’s been reading thrillers since Nancy Drew days, and her enthusiasm for cult fiction is infectious. Here are the titles she swears by — a mix of popular hits and underrated gems that will keep you reading long past midnight.
I’ll Be You by Janelle Brown
Twin actresses. One disappears after joining a “wellness” retreat. The other follows her trail to a mysterious spa where nothing is what it seems.
Why You’ll Love It: If you’re drawn to stories about identity, fame, and sisterhood gone wrong, this one’s for you. It’s glossy, creepy, and emotionally sharp — like Big Little Lies meets The Bling Ring.
This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel
A remote island retreat promises healing and freedom from fear — until guests begin to disappear.
Why You’ll Love It: Equal parts cult story and emotional reckoning, this novel explores how control can masquerade as empowerment. Perfect for fans of wellness-gone-wrong stories like Nine Perfect Strangers.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
A woman inherits a mansion linked to a decades-old cult murder-suicide — and begins unraveling her own past in the process.
Why You’ll Love It: This one’s for readers who like their thrillers slow, gothic, and steeped in family secrets. It’s less about the jump scares and more about the quiet horror of discovering who raised you.
The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead
A former cult survivor is pulled back into a dangerous world when her college friend dies under mysterious circumstances.
Why You’ll Love It: It’s dark, feminist, and brutally honest about power, sex, and manipulation. If you can handle the triggers, this book will haunt you — and make you think.
Nothing Important Happened Today by Will Carver
A chilling, literary thriller about a mass suicide movement spreading across the globe — and the mysterious figure orchestrating it all.
Why You’ll Love It: This is cult fiction at its most cerebral. It reads like a manifesto and feels like staring into the void — disturbing, brilliant, and impossible to forget.
What These Books Have in Common
All of these novels explore power — who takes it, who gives it away, and what happens when someone finally says “enough.” They’re about manipulation, belonging, and the cost of faith in the wrong person. If you’ve ever been drawn to a cause, a movement, or even a friend group that asked too much of you, these stories will hit close to home.
Meet Chelsea
Chelsea is one half of Thrillers by the Bookclub, a podcast born out of her lifelong love of murder — the fictional kind, of course. When she’s not devouring thrillers, she’s probably watching Love Island, eating sushi, or planning her next travel adventure. Follow her bookish escapades on Instagram at @thrillerbookbabe.
Want More Thrillers?
If you loved these dark, twisty reads, check out my companion post:
👉 Thriller Starter Guide: Where Every Reader Should Begin — featuring Sabrina Thatcher’s (formerly Olivia Day) essential picks for every mood, from psychological suspense to romantic thrillers.
If you are curious about wellness gone wrong thrillers, then check out our list featuring retreats, snake oil and all of the twist and turns you can expect from a thriller.
Love Freida McFadden but you have read her backlist already, check out these 10 Unputdownable Psychological Thrillers available on Kindle Unlimited.
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