Curiosity Kills: 5 Thrillers About Bad Decisions

Apparently no one in fiction has basic survival skills. These five thrillers follow people who see the warning signs, ignore them entirely, and waltz right into the danger. Doors creak, lights flicker, basements call—and these characters answer.

The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates If “absolutely not” were a house, it would look like this one. The new owner hears whispers, sees things she shouldn’t, and keeps exploring like the world’s bravest fool. It’s the kind of story that has you yelling at the page and double-checking your own locks.

The Dollhouse by Sara Ennis (aka me) Some houses trap you from the inside. This one turns captivity into a game—and losing isn’t optional. It’s a psychological freefall into fear and survival, and a reminder that not every monster waits outside the door.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell A shiny inheritance, a decaying mansion, and a family history that should have stayed buried. Jewell does what she does best—gives us polished people making terrible choices and lets us watch the chaos bloom.

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager Binoculars, boredom, and a lake full of secrets. She’s convinced she’s helping. We’re convinced she’s next. It’s voyeurism meets self-sabotage, and you’ll be both horrified and entertained.

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward This book doesn’t open the door—it tears it off the hinges. Unreliable narrators, eerie woods, and the creeping realization that nothing here is what it seems. It’s unsettling in all the best, worst ways.

You can call it curiosity, denial, or just bad decision-making, but in these stories, the warning signs are more like invitations—and the characters RSVP every time.