6 Horror Books With Unreliable Narrators That’ll Have You Questioning Everything 

Listen. I know this is an article about unreliability, but if there is one reliable thing about me it’s this: if I can find a way to talk about The Sluts in an article, I’m gonna do it. The book is simply too good to not always be recommending it. Thankfully an article about unreliable narrators is kinda the perfect place to talk about The Sluts, which I’ve often described as a masterclass in unreliable narration.

But don’t take my word for it! Or do! I am not an unreliable narrator. I would never lie to you, except for all of the times I already have and will continue doing so.

Consisting mostly of forum excerpts where members leave reviews of sex workers, things quickly spiral after everybody starts writing inconsistent stories about one specific male escort named Brad. This thing is fun and deranged and…okay, I’m just going to say it, it’s perfect.

I know what you’re going to say. “You’re including a Bret Easton Ellis book on a list about unreliable narrators and it’s something other than American Psycho? Max, have you lost your goddamn mind?”

First of all, two things can be true. But also, yes, you read this entry’s title correctly. The Shards is probably his best book, and it’s crazy how little I see people talking about it.

Structured as a fictionalized memoir of the author’s final year in high school, the novel follows Bret Easton Ellis and his circle of friends coming into contact with a new kid in town, whose arrival bizarrely coincides with the beginning of a serial killer’s murders. Very good audiobook, too!

She’s a Lamb! is such a fun, unhinged delight of a book. Narrated by an aspiring “star” desperate to land a role in her local theater’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music, things soon take a nosedive into crazy-villel in ways that reminded me of Serial Mom. 

The general vibe of the novel also matches the movie. I loved this one, and I highly recommend the audiobook narration.

This is a deeply weird thriller that contains a twist so goddamn goofy and bold that you literally will not be able to guess it. Understandably, many readers hated it. 

I personally respect such an insane direction to go with your book. I don’t even know how to talk about this one without accidentally spoiling anything. Just check it out sometime and read nothing about it beforehand. 

You will either hate me or love me for the recommendation, and I accept either fate.

This is one of my favorite novels. The whole book series is incredible, to be honest. Narrated by someone with a fake name, the series follows “David Wong” and his friend “John” as they investigate mysterious incidents around their town of [Undisclosed.] which includes, but is not limited to, a monster made of deep-freezer meat. 

Either you’re already sold on this, or you’re not the intended audience.

Inarguably Shirley Jackson’s best work, and a perfect example of a great unreliable narrator. The way Jackson manages to lure her readers into a false sense of security is so groundbreaking, and awe-inspiring. It’s hard not to gush about this one for a thousand words. But you have books to read. I won’t keep you too long.

But I will leave you with the opening paragraph of We Have Always Lived in the Castle, which has to be one of the coolest opening paragraphs from any book (which should come as no shock, considering the writer is kinda known for incredible openings):

“My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all, I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cup mushroom. Everyone else in our family is dead.”