14 books with unreliable narrators

There’s a special thrill in books where the narrator is untrustworthy, deceptive, or simply out of touch with reality. Unreliable narrators shake up the narrative, leaving you questioning every word and doubting what’s real. This narrative technique keeps readers on edge, forcing them to piece together the truth from fragments of partial stories. These books dive deep into the psychology of their characters, exploring their hidden motives, distorted perceptions, and secrets that emerge only after the final page is turned.

Here are 14 books where unreliable narrators lead you on twisting journeys where nothing is as it seems, and trust is a dangerous thing to give.

1. “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger

Holden Caulfield’s voice is one of the most iconic in literary history. The teenage rebel with a sharp tongue and a deep cynicism towards the world might seem like a typical angst-ridden adolescent, but as the novel progresses, you begin to realize that his perceptions of the world are often distorted. He misreads situations, lies to those around him, and is frequently contradictory. Salinger brilliantly crafts a narrator whose unreliability forces readers to question not only his words but also his very sanity.

2. “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn

In this twisted psychological thriller, Flynn presents a marriage riddled with lies, manipulation, and deceit. The alternating narratives of Nick and Amy provide two very different versions of their troubled relationship, both of which seem suspect at times. Amy’s diary entries, which serve as a window into her mind, blur the line between truth and fiction, making it increasingly difficult to trust anything she says. Flynn plays with your emotions as you attempt to navigate the complicated, unreliable narrative from two sides of a toxic relationship.

3. “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins

Rachel Watson, the narrator of The Girl on the Train, is an alcoholic with a fragmented memory and a distorted sense of reality. After witnessing something she believes to be a crime, her version of events becomes a puzzle for the reader to piece together. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes apparent that Rachel’s reliability is questionable, and the truth is much more elusive than it first seemed. The suspense comes from the gradual realization that you can’t fully trust Rachel’s account of what’s happening, forcing you to question every character’s motives.

4. “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart

In We Were Liars, the narrator Cadence is forced to confront her past after a tragic event, but her fractured memory and unreliable recounting of events make it nearly impossible to know the full truth. Lockhart expertly plays with the reader’s expectations, creating a sense of suspense and intrigue that builds to a shocking revelation. The unreliable nature of Cadence’s narration serves to deepen the emotional impact of the novel’s theme of loss, guilt, and the consequences of family secrets.

5. “Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane

Teddy Daniels is a U.S. Marshal sent to investigate a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that his mind is not as stable as he believes. Lehane masterfully constructs a psychological labyrinth where the lines between reality and delusion blur. As Daniels unravels the mystery of the island, so too does his understanding of his own troubled past. The unreliable nature of his narration creates a sense of constant unease, as readers are forced to question what is real and what is a product of Daniels’ unraveling sanity.

6. “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling short story is one of the most famous examples of an unreliable narrator. The unnamed protagonist insists he is not mad, even as he describes his obsession with an old man’s eye and his ultimate murder of the man. Poe’s narrator is so consumed by guilt and paranoia that his descent into madness is palpable. As he confesses his crime to the reader, his overconfidence and inability to distinguish between reality and delusion make him an unreliable source of information.

7. “Life After Life” by Kate Atkinson

Life After Life introduces Ursula Todd, a woman who is repeatedly born and dies in various circumstances throughout the 20th century. As Ursula’s lives unfold in different iterations, the reader is faced with the challenge of deciphering which version of events is true. Atkinson cleverly uses her unreliable narrator to explore themes of fate, choice, and the delicate nature of existence. The result is a story that is both disorienting and deeply engrossing.

8. “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James

In The Turn of the Screw, the governess who narrates the story is consumed by the belief that the children under her care are being haunted by ghosts. However, her credibility is called into question as the story progresses. Is she truly witnessing supernatural occurrences, or is she simply succumbing to madness? James leaves this question unanswered, creating a chilling atmosphere where the reliability of the narrator is constantly in doubt.

9. “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga

In The White Tiger, Balram Halwai tells his story from prison, recounting his rise from poverty to becoming a successful entrepreneur in India. He openly admits to his criminal activities, but his narration is full of self-justification and rationalization, making it difficult for readers to fully trust his perspective. Adiga uses the unreliable narrator to explore themes of class, corruption, and ambition in modern India, all while keeping the reader on edge as they try to decipher the truth behind Balram’s actions.

10. “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig

Nora Seed is given the chance to explore alternate lives in The Midnight Library, a place between life and death where every book represents a different choice she could have made. Throughout the novel, Nora’s reflections on her life and the regrets she carries are colored by her limited understanding of the possibilities around her. While Nora isn’t a traditional unreliable narrator, her internal biases and misunderstandings of her own life lead her to misinterpret the paths she encounters. Haig’s novel is a meditation on regret, choice, and the power of perspective, making the reader question the reliability of even their own interpretations of life.

11. “American Psycho” by Bret Easton Ellis

In American Psycho, Patrick Bateman’s narration is unsettling, as his obsession with wealth, status, and violence often leads him to doubt the reality of his own experiences. As the book progresses, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between Bateman’s fantasies and his actual actions. Ellis pushes the boundaries of the unreliable narrator, creating a chilling portrayal of a man’s mind unraveling, leaving readers unsure of what is truth and what is the product of his delusions.

12. “The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon

Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree is a richly woven epic fantasy, and while it’s not strictly about an unreliable narrator in the traditional sense, the novel’s various perspectives often leave the reader questioning the true motives of each character. There are hidden truths, deceptions, and slowly revealed secrets that make the reader challenge what they believe about the protagonists and their actions, all set against a grand backdrop of dragons, politics, and magic.

13. “The Lying Game” by Ruth Ware

In The Lying Game, a group of friends who once shared a dark secret are forced to confront their past when a body is found near their old boarding school. The novel’s structure is shaped by the unreliability of the narrators—each woman offers a different version of events, making it unclear whether the truth lies in their memories or in the lies they’ve told themselves over the years. Ware keeps you guessing, with each revelation further blurring the lines between friendship, guilt, and betrayal.

14. “Atonement” by Ian McEwan

In Atonement, Briony Tallis is a young girl who makes a devastating mistake that alters the course of several lives. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Briony’s perspective of events is shaped by her youth and her imagination. The novel explores how guilt and the need for atonement influence the way she revisits the past. McEwan brilliantly plays with the idea of unreliable narration, leaving readers to question the true nature of the events that Briony recounts.

Conclusion:

Unreliable narrators add a layer of complexity and intrigue to these books, forcing readers to constantly re-evaluate the story and search for hidden truths. Whether it’s through the distorted memories of a troubled mind or the deliberate manipulations of a deceptive character, these books keep you on your toes and ensure that nothing is ever as it seems. Ready to dive into the mind of an unreliable narrator? These 14 books will keep you questioning, guessing, and perhaps even second-guessing every word.