Readers, when I’m ready to get the cozy reading season started, I reach for the most autumnal genre of them all: gothic fiction.
As a certified scaredy-cat, I find that gothic novels provide a welcome balance of spooky-but-not-scary reading. With an emphasis on atmosphere, this genre puts gloomy rainy nights, crumbling castles, and supernatural events on the page—with the occasional dash of romance.
As we prepare to lean in to the darker side of our reading tastes with seasonal reads, I’m sharing a whole list of gothic novels to enjoy, with a mix of Victorian classics, southern gothic contemporaries, and ghostly historical fiction. I hope you find a goosebump-inducing read on today’s list, whether you’re welcoming fall with open arms or staying in summer reading mode for as long as possible.
22 novels filled with eerie hauntings, hidden secrets, and Gothic castles
Beloved
This isn't an easy book to read (and if you struggle through the first half, you're not alone), but persevering readers will be rewarded with one of the most important and beautifully written multicultural historical novels in the American canon. Sethe escaped slavery and fled to Ohio, but her memories stay with her, as does the ghost of her baby. Though she attempts to bury her past, Sethe is thwarted at every turn—most of all when a young woman shows up at her door, bearing the same name as the ghost baby's headstone: Beloved. I can't improve on the publisher's description, which says Beloved is "filled with bitter poetry and suspense as taut as a rope." If you're interested in adding an iconic southern gothic novel to your TBR, look no further. More info →
The House at Riverton
Many of Kate Morton's works could be filed under the gothic label. Though perfectly suited for this list, her debut usually doesn't get a lot of love from readers, but our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club community manager (and Kate Morton fan!) Ginger says this is her favorite of Morton's novels. Here's why: "If a gothic novel can also be glittery and glamorous, this is it. Morton's trademark flashback style set between the two world wars all comes together at one 1920s society party held at Riverton House. I've never forgotten how I could not stop turning the pages to reveal each secret." More info →
Frankenstein
This book completely surprises many modern readers who think they know the story—and find it to be nothing at all like they expected. Many critics consider Shelley's eerie tale of a dangerously ambitious young doctor and the monster he creates to be the very first science fiction novel, and influential for the horror genre as well. Fewer people know it all started as a ghost story, when Shelley and her husband stayed with Lord Byron and everyone came up with spooky stories to entertain one another. Though she couldn't think on her feet, Mary later wrote down her creepy story (said to be inspired by a nightmare). It remains a classic to this day. More info →
The Stranger Diaries
I know author blurbs are just an industry standard for modern book marketing, but I can't help but get excited when I see words from favorite authors like Louise Penny and Charlie Lovett on a book jacket. This well-endorsed British murder mystery features a high school English teacher who teaches a niche course on gothic writer R. M. Holland every year. When one of her colleagues is found dead with a quote from R. M. Holland left nearby, Clare Cassidy starts to see her favorite works of literature in a whole new light. What follows is a procedural campus mystery for book lovers, told in three rotating perspectives—a perfect novel to read as you welcome cooler evenings. More info →
The Thirteenth Tale
This moody literary mystery, set firmly in the tradition of gothic greats like Jane Eyre, kept me guessing from start to finish. A little dark and deliciously creepy, perfect for curling up with on a cold day. When one of Britain's most celebrated novelists reaches out to the young and relative novice Margaret Lea, Margaret has one question: Why? While she decides whether to take on the assignment, she begins reading one of the author's works: Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation. She is captivated by the stories, and puzzled by them because the book only contains twelve stories. Where is the thirteenth tale? More info →
Sing, Unburied, Sing
This story of three generations of a struggling Mississippi family, set in the present day, stands firmly in the southern gothic tradition. Ward's evocative prose imbues even the family's most painful moments with tenderness and beauty. She based the novel's structure on Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, saying, "I am in awe of how Faulkner volleys back and forth between multiple first-person POVs and still tells a coherent, moving story. I thought I could try to mimic that in the structure of Sing, Unburied, Sing." The result is this moving, haunting novel. More info →
Rebecca
This 1930s classic feels surprisingly current and holds its tension on a re-reading: a sure sign of a well-crafted thriller. Du Maurier's approach is unusual: the woman of the title is dead before the action begins; the young second wife, our narrator, is never given a name. She doesn't understand what's going on for a long time, and neither does the reader. By the time you find out what really happened, you may find yourself one of the many readers who feel almost complicit in the crime. This page-turner makes for a great book club pick with discussion fodder galore: marriage, Manderley, and (she says with a shudder) Mrs. Danvers. More info →
The Widow of Rose House
In this 2020 Summer Reading Guide selection, young widow Alva has two priorities: restoring a dilapidated Hyde Park mansion so she can write her interior design book and moving past the death of her abusive husband. Only one problem: the house is haunted and the workers refuse to come near the house. Enter scientist and ghost hunter Sam. Alva can’t afford any complications in her life, nor does she want to risk her heart. But Sam wants nothing more than to prove she deserves her very own happily ever after. As soon as he figures out how to get rid of the ghost, that is. An enjoyable, humorous historical romance set during the Gilded Age with nods to the gothic genre. Heads up for a few open door moments. More info →
Jane Eyre
My daughter loved reading this romance, mystery, and psychological thriller all rolled into one (she even said it may be the best book she's ever read, which brings me so much joy as a book-loving parent). Its themes were astonishingly modern for 1847, making it a must-read classic to this day. I say fall is the perfect time to pick up this groundbreaking classic that features one of literature's greatest—if not universally beloved—heroines. My daughter might argue that any time is the perfect time to meet Jane, an orphan who becomes the governess for a brooding Byronic hero's children, learns to speak for herself, and makes bold choices. More info →
Mexican Gothic
Moreno-Garcia's gothic horror novel is deliciously creepy, but not frightening. She situates the story firmly in the tradition of country house classics like Wuthering Heights and Rebecca, and even references some of these titles. Noemí's recently married cousin Catalina has sent an odd, urgent letter to the family, pleading for someone to save her—but from what? When Noemí visits her new marital home High Place, a remote and lavish estate built by ill-treated mine workers, she discovers her cousin's predicament is worse than she feared: her husband is a brute, her father-in-law a terror, the staff deeply hostile, and even the house itself seems set against her—and worse, determined to entrap her. If you like the sound of a deeply strange and spine-tingling read about a smart heroine who saves herself, this is the book for you. More info →
Wuthering Heights
A beautiful copy of this novel sat on my shelf for a long time before I finally picked it up. While it isn't my favorite from the Brontë sisters, I am glad I read it. A groundbreaking classic, and downright scandalous in its day—this story hasn’t lost much of its shock value in the intervening 160+ years. Heathcliff is every bit as much the abominable scoundrel now as he was then, and the English moors are every bit as creepy. Read it once, and decide whether you love it or hate it. (And if you do both, you’re in good company.) The gloomy landscape and plenty of scenes on the moors make this a perfect read for a rainy day. More info →
The Governesses
In this lush story with gothic vibes, three mysterious sisters dwell in an isolated mansion behind a golden gate, ever-watchful that an unsuspecting man will stumble upon the garden path, that they may first bewitch and then devour him. This novel was published in France in 1992 but not translated into English until 2018. Mel Joulwan convinced me to read this super-short French novel when she described it as a "naughty fairy tale" in WSIRN Episode 219, called "Required reading revisited." Smart, magical, playful—and also A LOT darker than I expected; "naughty" doesn't begin to cover it. (Content warnings for sexual assault and other sexual content.) More info →
The Secret History
Hint, hint: if you've been meaning to read this tome for awhile and need some extra motivation, we've got you covered in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club this fall. The setting is a small Vermont college, the characters members of an isolated, eccentric circle of classics majors, who murder one of their own. The story begins with the murder, and the lonely, introspective narrator devotes the rest of the novel to telling the reader about his role in it, and how he seemingly got away with it. Strongly reminiscent of The Likeness in setting, Crime and Punishment in plot, and Brideshead Revisited in tone. Opinions differ widely on Tartt's debut novel: it's a compelling—and chilling—tale, but there's not a single likable character. More info →
Things in Jars
Readers, this book is still sitting on my TBR shelf—maybe I need the temperature to drop just a few more degrees before I pick it up this fall. Bridie Devine, infamous female detective and supernatural consultant, gets called to work on her most intriguing case yet. Christabel Berwick, secret daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, possesses mysterious powers that have collectors and curiosity hunters circling. Bridie comes in to figure out who kidnapped Christabel, while grappling with her own complicated childhood experiences. Full of lush descriptions of Victorian London and a heaping dose of mystery, this ghostly novel makes for an interesting genre mash-up. More info →
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
I remember reading Jackson's short stories in middle school, but I didn't think of picking up her short 1962 novel until a few years ago, since readers with great and diverse tastes kept recommending it. I first heard about it on the (sadly discontinued) Books on the Nightstand podcast, but its themes of family secrets, hateful neighbors, and mysterious deaths aren't the stuff of bedtime reading. It's not exactly scary, but Jackson sure is good at spinning a story with a creepy atmosphere. Heads up avid listeners: the audio version makes it come alive. More info →
Fingersmith
This is on my TBR, and comes highly recommended by MMD editor Leigh Kramer. She inhaled the last 400 pages of this Dickensian literary mystery and had to know what would happen next. The relationship between gentry and servant can be fraught—and even more so when one is running a con on the other. Maud and Susan are complex characters that beg a reaction (and a book club discussion), particularly when they do disagreeable things. With striking twists and turns, their relationship runs the full gamut of emotions, particularly because literary fiction is not known for giving queer characters a Happily Ever After. More info →
The Whispering House
Our August pick for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club. With a compelling narrator, absorbing atmosphere, and loads of literary references, this modern gothic novel is a stunner. While attending her cousin’s wedding in the gardens of Byrne Hall, a drunken Freya can’t resist stumbling into the off-limits house to investigate. When she ducks inside she discovers a startling portrait on display: it looks just like her sister Stella, who, years before, died mere miles from the historic seaside grounds. Once safely home in London, Freya can't get the house—or its portrait—out of her head. When she returns to investigate, she gets tangled up with the residing family and their eerie house—and the consequences could be disastrous. More info →
Northanger Abbey
Part coming-of-age classic, part parody, and part social critique, this 1818 novel remains one of Jane Austen’s lesser-read (and underrated) works. We paired it with The Whispering House for our annual Austen in August celebration, and readers have been surprised by just how funny this novel is, despite its place among the moody gothic classics. The heroine, Catherine Morland, is a 17-year-old girl with an active imagination and a fondness for sensationalist literature. While visiting Bath with her friends, she falls in love with Henry Tilney, a much more logical (and wealthier) member of the upper class. Their romance is secondary to Catherine's delightful imaginings as she allows herself to be swept up in gothic fantasies of her own making. Whether you aspire to be an Austen completist or simply love any novel featuring a sprawling gothic estate, this is a novel worth reading. More info →
The Mysteries of Udolpho
If you're reading Northanger Abbey with us for Austen in August, take note: Jane includes many references to this quintessential—and prototypical—gothic novel in her sassy take on the genre. A crumbling castle, a trapped heroine, supernatural events (that might actually be psychological); this tome has all the gothic tropes. On a journey through the mountains, Emily St. Aubert falls in love with Valancourt, but their romance is doomed when Emily becomes orphaned, nearly forced into marriage with a mysterious Italian count, and imprisoned in a spooky medieval castle. Originally published in four volumes, this dramatic story gained immediate popularity among 18th century readers, including our favorite Jane. More info →
The Picture of Dorian Gray
When I think of Oscar Wilde, I think of farcical plays or one of his sassy quips, like "I can resist everything except temptation." Rarely do I remember his Victorian gothic exploration of vanity and morality in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Obsessed with his own youth and beauty, Dorian Gray locks a portrait of himself away in an attic—but this isn't just any painting. As the years pass, the picture ages with wrinkles and lines, while Dorian's face remains youthful and unfazed. Emboldened by his eternal youth, he engages with virtually every vice available until his conscience catches up with him. With allusions to Shakespeare and highly discussable themes, this classic is perfect for reading with a literary lens. More info →
Ghost Summer
Some of you may recognize Tananrive Due's name from the epigraph of The Other Black Girl: "Black history is Black horror." In her debut short story collection, Due infuses everyday small town stories with horror tropes to create a distinctly southern gothic effect. The titular novella features a young ghost-hunter who visits his grandparents, only to discover the ghosts are much bolder this year. Other stories bend genres in unique combinations, exploring pandemic outbreaks and Afrofuturism while staying true to gothic horror themes. Bonus: each story includes an afterword from Due. I'm a hesitant horror reader, but the author commentary might be enough encouragement for me to pick this up. More info →
The Historian
Kostova's brooding literary thriller is hard to slot into a genre: she combines gothic, adventure, travelogue, and mystery writing in her epic novel exploring the battle of good vs. evil. The book opens in a library, where a young woman stumbles across ancient papers that lead her on the research trip of a lifetime. Kostova drew inspiration from childhood stories she heard from her father, as well as the classic Dracula tale for this dark novel—brace yourself for some fantastically weird storytelling. But her themes run deep; Kostova calls the Dracula tale "a metaphor for the evil that is so hard to undo in history." More info →
Can you think of any gothic novels to add to this list? We’d love to see those titles in the comments.
P.S. Can’t get enough spooky (or scholarly) reads this season? Check out 31 spooky (but not too scary) books for your fall reading list or 6 tips to help you tackle a classic novel.
74 comments
A book I first heard about on your podcast that fits in the eerie but not too scary category is Picnic at Hanging Rock. Loved it – as well as so many of the classics on this list. In fact, I am currently rereading Jane Eyre.
Maybe Wilkie Collins’ books The Woman in White and The Moonstone would also be good fits for this category.
I also thought The Woman in White might be a good addition to this list! It’s certainly a story with many twists and turns.
Cannot remember how long ago, I read these two books but I remember loving them. I have read them often through the years. They are great choices for a stormy evening read while sipping apple cider! My favorite time of year is coming up and these books with so many of those listed are wonderful. I like just one lamp on sitting by a window listening to the sound of wind. My favorite place to do this to go away to the ocean, taking long walks and coming back and read through the night.
I was just going to recommend both of these!! They are the perfect slightly spooky reads. So so good.
Wilkie Collins! Yes! So happy to see him getting some love here. The Woman in White is one of my all-time favorite books and definitely has the gothic feel. Love many of the books on this list, in fact, and I’m excited for all the fall book lists starting to pop up now, as fall and winter reading are my favorites.
Yes, and the Wilkie Collins books, especially The Woman in White, pair really well with Fingersmith.
I am happy to see The Mysteries of Udolpho included in this list. I checked it out from my library and the book was so pristine I must have been the first to read it. I loved that book. It’s not only a Gothic novel…it is also a travelogue! Any readers who love lush, vivid descriptions of nature will love that book. If you don’t like books with a lot of description, skip it.
I have not started with my autumnal reading yet but wanted to provide a suggestion/request: I’d sure love to have a hard copy print out of your lists when they come out. Call me old fashioned but I still love a hard copy. Is it possible to provide your reading lists in a printable form? Thanks and keep them coming! I love your lists!
Having the reading lists in printable form would be so wonderful!
I’d really like that. I love Anne’s lists too!
Please, don’t follow the lead of the stores – all showing Halloween stuff in early August. I intend to milk every beautiful minute of the summer – and rushing Fall (which I love) is not going to be part of my routine.
My sentiment also. I live in the northeast where winter often comes early and stays beyond the date the calendar says it should! I am not ready to leave my vicarious beach visits through my current reads. Pre-COVID my fall reads were often related to travel plans. I tend to save atmospheric gothic reads for after the holidays; to me they’re meant to be read by a crackling fire. So some books from this list were added to my ‘consider in January or February’ TBR list. Decades ago I read some of Catherine Cookson’s books that would fit this category.
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver
The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase
I love reading creepy (but not too scary) books in October! I will be adding some of these to my TBR list. I do suggest reading some Wendy Webb. Her books are amazing! My personal favorite is Daughters of the Lake. Although, all of her books hit this creepy (but not too scary) mark.
Yes! I’m glad to see Wendy Webb mentioned. I love her works. Daughters of the Lake is also my favorite. I also really enjoy Jennifer McMahon’s works, my favorite being “The Invited”. Perfect for Halloween vibes.
I will add some Jennifer McMohon’s work to my October TBR! Thank you!
Reading Northanger Abbey and The Whispering House have me in a Gothic mood, I just wish the weather matched! I’m not a hot and humid weather fan, so the sooner the temperatures match my mood, the better! This list is perfect, since I’ve already decided to keep going with the Gothic feel. I pulled Rebecca, Jane Eyre, The Widow of Rose House, Things in Jars, and Fingersmith off my shelf to be read in the upcoming month(s). I’m so looking forward to embracing this mood!!
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón!
The 7 1/2 Lives of Evelyn Hardcastle!
The Sisters of Straygarden Place is a good middle-grade atmospheric read.
There is also the Woman in Black and the Turn of the Screw, though both of these are pretty high on the scare meter.
Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller! I love a good novel about a creepy old house.
I just read Bitter Orange this summer and it is really a great Gothic novel at a creepy decrepit manor house as Kelsey says. But it takes place during the summer so it has that oppressively hot vibe for those of you who, like me, live where it will be hot and muggy until well into September. You can have your Gothic atmosphere without feeling like you’re reading “in the wrong season.”
I’m rereading The Moor by Laurie R King and The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowen (which is a nod to Rebecca). I also may finally read Frankenstein this year and reread The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I have read and loved many of the titles on your list. Rebecca is one of my favorite books! Sing, Unburied Sing is amazing, and I certainly recommend it.
Last fall I read The Turn of the Screw, and it has all of the creepy, slow gothic turns you could ask for.
This year I’m planning to read We Have Always Lived in the Castle and maybe a few more from your list!
Anne, Your blog and podcast are so awesome, I have found so many great next reads! For a good Fall, atmospheric read try Stephen King’s newer book BILLY SUMMERS. It is not horror but it has some brutal scenes and suspense for sure. You get so involved in the characters lives and history.
I am just enjoying it so much.
I recomment Ruth Ware’s The Death of Mrs. Westaway. Pure gothic, creepy house and all. And, love all of Elly Griffiths’ novels!
My favorite genre! I’ve read many of these! Jamaica Inn and The Woman in White also belong on this list.
The Seance by John Harwood; Asylum by Patrick McGrath; A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
All of John Harwood’s books are well-written and creepy. My favorite is The Asylum and The Ghost Writer.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings and most The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware.
subtract “most” from that sentence! 😀
“The Silent Companions” by Laura Purcell is deliciously shivery and creepy; complete with a haunted mansion and historical subplot. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. Purcell’s “The Corset” is equally chilling. And for fans of classic gothic literature, “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux can’t be beat!
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters is a perfect fit for this list. So moody and atmospheric with a building sense of foreboding.
Great list, and I’ve read more than half of these. Will put a couple of the others on my TBR list. I would add the novels of Edgar Allan Poe – Tell-tale Heart, Fall of the House of Usher, lots of good scary stuff.
Oops, EAP is short stories, sorry! The Georgetown trilogy by Barbara Michaels is super (not quite in the gothic time but feel like it). Ammie Come Home, Stitches in Time and Shattered Silk can all be read as stand alone novels.
The Thirteenth Tale, be still my heart! One of my all time favorites! I was also thinking of The Little Stranger, by Sarah Waters. And I’m with you, Ginger! The House at Riverton is my favorite Kate Morton, as well!
Love this post!! Thank you, Anne, and fellow readers! I second The Thirteenth Tale and the Moor. Loved them both. Also in the hard copy camp of the lists—most of what I read comes from MMD and would be nice to have these handy. Thanks again, Anne and team. You have changed my reading life!
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager is an interesting haunted house/ghost story.
Simone St James! I loved The Broken Girls.
The Family Plot by Cherie Priest is a great atmospheric haunted house gothic novel as well.
Another vote for a printable list!
For fall reading, I love The Witches of New York by Ami McKay!
Finger smith is definitely a must read! I would say creepy rather than scary but Sarah Waters writes really well. This is an excellent LGBTQ title!
Rebecca is my favorite Gothic novel (with Jane Eyre not too far behind)! Just watched the Netflix movie over the weekend and enjoyed it. Please make a printable version of this list! 🙂
I don’t think it strictly qualifies as Gothic, but Agatha Christie’s Sleeping Murder is one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read.
I haven’t read Sleeping Murder, but Endless Night is a Christie novel that left me feeling unsettled.
I’m often confused by the “gothic” novel as well as “middle grade”. What defines those two types of books?
Gothic is more atmospheric. Think gloomy, dark, eerie. Middle Grade is for an age group, think fiction for upper elementary, middle school reading levels.
Mexican Gothic and Things in Jars are both absolutely excellent! Loved reading them. ^_^
When I saw the title of the post, I thought, “Maybe I should read more gothic stories.” Surprised to see I have already read nearly half of the titles in the list—and some of them were favourite reads! The Thirteenth Tale, Jane Eyre and The Historian we’re all so deliciously atmospheric, and so well written.
Things in Jars was an excellent book! It’s perfect for cooler weather and snuggling up under a blanket. It isn’t too scary but it has a great Victorian atmosphere, a talking ghost, and plenty of other oddities, as well as a plucky heroine, to keep you turning the pages. I loved it!
This list is 🤌🏼
I absolutely can’t wait for fall reading, thank you for helping me get a start on my TBR! One note about the Secret History: I didn’t like a single character… except Francis. 🙂
I’m reading Rebecca right now, and loving it!
I have read so many of the books on your gothic novel list. Rebecca is my favorite; I read it once a year. With every reading, the characters seem to become a little more evil.
Having the reading lists in printable form would be so wonderful!
I’m on the opposite side of fall reading. I’d like a fun read set in New England where the leaves change color and you get crisp fall weather.
These authors have already been mentioned in the comments, but I’d like to echo the recommendations – Jennifer McMahon, Laura Purcell, and Simone St. James. 🙂
I guess I have a thing for atmospheric Gothic. I have read about 80% of these. I would toss in The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters too…
I’ve read a few of these eerie tales, but the one that stays with me is We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I read it as a teen and adored it. So haunting, such mystery. I’ve actually read it a few times since (I’m in my late 60s) and will probably read it again. I rarely reread, but it was a classic. The same with The Haunting of Hill House.
Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse is a great creepy listen on audio. I also recommend Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.
My old book group had a great Frankenstein discussion and current book group read The Historian (which I really liked).
So happy to see The Historian on this list! I don’t often reread books, but I reread this one, and probably will again in a few years, despite its length. To me, it’s a perfect balance of complex and fast-enough-paced to keep you going. Definitely creepy in the best way.
Agreed on the Historian. I was never too interested in Dracula, but this book was fabulously written. I loved it.
I agree with those who suggested “The Moonstone” and “The Turn of the Screw,” and would also add “The Shadows of Castle Fosse” by Jill Tattersall.
I’ve read quite a few books on this list. I do love Fingersmith. It’s wonderfully written.
Rebecca, Jane Eyre, and Frankenstein are some of my favorite books of all time! Another creepy one is The Birds and Other Short Stories by Daphne DuMaurier. They are straight up unsettling! Can’t wait to dive into her other books and some more hood ones on this list!
The Little Stranger is excellent, & an old Anne River Siddons book “ The House Next Door” set in Peachtree City is sooo good. Anne Rice also wrote a great series of books in the 1990s about a family of Witches, (nothing to do with Vampire series), set in New Orleans. And Chris Bohjalian has some doozies. Thanks for this discussion!
Hello; this is all well and good reading; I like that Daphne du Maurier made this list with Rebecca. An old favorite of mine The Haunting of Suzanna Blackwell is a good read for this genre…and tales by Poe. Thank you for sharing.
The Portrait by Emilia Kelly is a great one for this category. Lots of art history, romance, and suspense in Victorian London. I’ll include her website.
Sorry, thought the website would show, it’s emiliakelly.com
I never thought of myself as loving gothic novels, but I have read and enjoyed many of these so maybe need to put the others on my TBR. Once again, Anne, you have helped me define my reading tastes!
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware can definitely be added to this list.
It’s a short story, but I have never forgotten “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.