The best psychological thrillers out now: Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu, Such A Nice
Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu (Bedford Square £16.99, 288pp)
When boring Asian female Elizabeth Zhang is rejected from Harvard Law School, her ambition spirals out of control as she obsesses over the success of fellow student Laura Kim, who is accepted.
At first she turns stalker to discover why Laura is deemed more impressive, but the plot soon ascends into a crazy satire that has Elizabeth contemplating getting pregnant to make her application interesting.
A compelling twist redeems it from being pure farce. And there are psychological insights into female ambition and envy which elevate the writing. The hectic pace and unlikeable main character won’t suit everyone but it has definite possibilities as a big-screen hit.
Such A Nice Girl by Andrea Mara (Bantam £16.99, 384pp)
This is a no-brainer if you enjoyed the smash-hit TV adaptation All Her Fault, written by the same author. However, new readers might struggle with a complicated plot and a crowded stage of characters – some more credible than others.
It’s hard to fault the main storyline, based on the disappearance of two young women the morning after a flashy wedding and the desperate search by their mothers, who are friends.
The search exposes the possibility that one of the girls might be responsible for harming the other.
Mara’s handling of the relationship of the mothers under pressure is gripping, as is the central mystery – which girl will turn out to be either a victim, or guilty.
Not all the plot lines are tidied up satisfyingly but the book packs a punch and has well concealed surprises.
The Perfect Accident by Tess Stimson (Headline £10.99, 464pp)
There is a trigger warning about self-harm, bullying and suicide which probably gives the game away at the start. But Stimson maintains an original plot. The prologue is a graphic account of an unnamed person and the ensuing story centres on a tragic prom night when 23 young people are trapped on a sinking boat.
In the chaos, two teachers who are sisters are forced to make life and death decisions about two of the children, with serious consequences.
But it’s only when one of the children emerges from a coma that the key to the mystery is turned. Stimson balances the drama with deep psychological insight.