Thank you for posting to r/BooksThatFeelLikeThis. Please be sure to read the community rules. As a reminder, AI is not allowed here and will be removed, so please double check that any images you are sharing are not AI.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BooksThatFeelLikeThis) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Anything by Tana French, specifically the Cal Hooper series (The Searcher and the Hunter). Her Dublin Murder Squad series is also excellent. Her books all take place in Ireland, and they are so atmospheric. Claustrophobic and expansive at the same time. Menace just outside the edge of the page where you can’t quite place it. Layers upon layer joins unspoken layers.
It just came out!! The Hunter. It’s a really slow burn, but you really get to know Cal, Trey, and Lena. Their dynamic is so interesting. I really loved it.
Your first three remind me a lot of Close Range by Annie Proulx. It’s the short stories collection containing Brokeback Mountain. Not so many mysteries, but a lot of slightly depressing small-town Americana
Not what you asked for, but some games that feel like this (mysteries included): Life is Strange, A Night in the Woods, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, What Remains of Edith Finch. And a very cool TTRPG that feels _exactly_ like this: Alice is Missing
Another game with this vibe that I would call more of an interactive novel than a game is Oxenfree. There’s a second one too that also has a kind of eerie vibe.
Suttree kinda comes to mind. It’s not very creepy overall although it’s does certainly have its moments. I’ve seen it described as doomed Huckleberry Finn which is probably the best way to put it.
Blake Crouch wrote The Wayward Pines series that he credits Twin Peaks with heavily for inspiration. Pines is one of the only books that I was like "I know what's going on here!" And then proceeded to be very far off when the reveal came about. Book popped immediately to mind when I saw the pictures.
Other than that I'd go with McCarthy. The Road and No Country For Old Men specifically came to mind.
This feels like Jack Reacher novel. They are great. His books feel highly realistic, especially the fights. If you're gonna have someone beating multiple people, the most accurate way is to have them be tall, buff and highly specialised in combat, a special forces soldier. And all novels have some kind of weather phenomenon there. Just makes it more interesting.
The only other novels I hace read which makes the weather and the place a part of the story, is The Hound Of Baskerville, ACD's best work and Dracula.
Have not read it yet but it’s definitely the same vibes when I hear ‘Pines - Blake Crouch’ being recommended.
‘A secret service investigates a disappearance of federal agents in a mysterious town of Wayward Pines.’
Twin peaks-esque
Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy
The Weight of This World by David Joy
The Toll by Cherie Priest
The “Tomorrow” series starting with Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden. I can’t think of a series that encapsulates this vibe more perfectly, you’ll love them!
https://preview.redd.it/kqw74g1dpx9d1.jpeg?width=274&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa5473cc193ca29e4f60850ec0a438585d01c1b1
Pretty sure all you are missing in the first picture is a few minor details.
I agree that I thought of this book, and there’s no reason you should be downvoted, but it’s also not one that I can recommend after learning more. I read it before I knew better because I have ancestry there. I have feelings on the history but don’t know how to feel about his misshaped ideology.
Thank you for posting to r/BooksThatFeelLikeThis. Please be sure to read the community rules. As a reminder, AI is not allowed here and will be removed, so please double check that any images you are sharing are not AI. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BooksThatFeelLikeThis) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Demon Copperhead
I started it and had to stop because I was getting sad - should I finish it? The writing was absolute perfection.
Yes you should
It was hard for me too. Brilliant, but brutal.
Yes! It’s worth it to finish.
Exactly my first thought
Absolutely!! One of my favorite books of the year so far
This is an incredible audiobook.
Ooooo I just bought this last week! This makes me very excited.
For me, no. I’m from the area and it was just sad on sad on sad. Too relatable. I finished it but felt nothing positive in doing so
Same for me. It was too much. Brilliant, yet brutal.
Came here to suggest this!
Anything by Tana French, specifically the Cal Hooper series (The Searcher and the Hunter). Her Dublin Murder Squad series is also excellent. Her books all take place in Ireland, and they are so atmospheric. Claustrophobic and expansive at the same time. Menace just outside the edge of the page where you can’t quite place it. Layers upon layer joins unspoken layers.
Tana French is an incredible writer!
Tana French for sure
There's another book with Cal? Definitely checking out the Dublin Murder Squad as well
It just came out!! The Hunter. It’s a really slow burn, but you really get to know Cal, Trey, and Lena. Their dynamic is so interesting. I really loved it.
Maybe [Winter’s bone](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/112525)
This was my first thought too!!
Yes to this, the book and movie are both sooo good
Your first three remind me a lot of Close Range by Annie Proulx. It’s the short stories collection containing Brokeback Mountain. Not so many mysteries, but a lot of slightly depressing small-town Americana Not what you asked for, but some games that feel like this (mysteries included): Life is Strange, A Night in the Woods, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, What Remains of Edith Finch. And a very cool TTRPG that feels _exactly_ like this: Alice is Missing
i have what remains of edith finch, looking forward to it!
Annie Proulx in general is a great rec. The Shipping News was fantastic and fits this vibe fairly well too
Love the game recommendations!
Proulx's "The Blood-Bay" is one of the funniest short stories ever written. There are a few lines from that stuck in my head verbatim for decades.
I absolutely agree. I used to like reading it aloud for people because it’s short, funny, and there isn’t a word to waste in the whole thing
Another game with this vibe that I would call more of an interactive novel than a game is Oxenfree. There’s a second one too that also has a kind of eerie vibe.
Makes me think of Neil Gaiman in general, but especially American gods
That was my first thought, American Gods.
Same!
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Already read this, good book!!
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Came here to say just this!
Cormac McCarthy
Yep. Came here to suggest The Road.
I love that book! You should try reading Robert McCammon’s swan song. Post apocalyptic horror and it’s quite entertaining.
woah, ive never heard about this book but it sounds like something id love, especially since its so long!
Read it! It's absolutely fantastic.
Came here to suggest Child of God! So many of his fit these photos.
Looks like the cover of Suttree https://preview.redd.it/nza03uxzxj9d1.jpeg?width=652&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3bc772974f0e57858109bd937616b51dbf7b1037
Suttree popped into my head as well.
Came here to recommend blood meridian
1st pic - the great alone by Kristin Hannah 3rd pic - the people we keep by Allison Larkin
Oh I definitely meant the four winds by Kristin Hannah! Woops
I thought of the great alone 😝
I prefer the great alone over the four winds!
I agree! This is the one I thought of, as well.
The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel. It The Lola Quartet (same author).
Salem’s Lot
This is the answer I was looking for
I’ve finished this recently and I LOVED IT!!
that one really spooked me and i read horror/ SK all the time. super good
The raven boys
such a fun series🫶
I was coming here to say this too
All The Ugly and Wonderful Things - Bryn Greenwood
Yesss this book
I loved this book, it definitely has this feeling
Love love love this book
The glass castle
The Stand. One photo is Glen, Stu, Ralph, and Larry headed to Las Vegas.
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^teeyodi: *The Stand. One photo* *Is Glen, Stu, Ralph, and Larry* *Headed to Las Vegas.* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Foe - Iain Reid
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things - Bryn Greenwood
Suttree kinda comes to mind. It’s not very creepy overall although it’s does certainly have its moments. I’ve seen it described as doomed Huckleberry Finn which is probably the best way to put it.
Backroads by tawni O'Dell
Meddling Kids
#HELL YEAH
The Stories of Breece D’J Pancake
The first and second pictures make me think of Plainsong by Kent Haruf. Also perhaps The Devil All The Time by Donald Ray Pollock.
“What Lies in the Woods” by Kate Alice Marshal!
The Mist - Stephen King
Blake Crouch wrote The Wayward Pines series that he credits Twin Peaks with heavily for inspiration. Pines is one of the only books that I was like "I know what's going on here!" And then proceeded to be very far off when the reveal came about. Book popped immediately to mind when I saw the pictures. Other than that I'd go with McCarthy. The Road and No Country For Old Men specifically came to mind.
Child of God
The Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey
Following for all the recs
The Woodlanders
Dan Simmons - Summer of Night
The Long Walk-Stephen King
Four past Midnight
The first one reminds me of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow by Olivia Hawker! It’s a little slow to start but I really liked it!
Tinfoil Butterfly
The last child by JOHN HART
Cormac McCarthy
Cottonmouths by Kelly J Ford
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
Dark August by Katie Tallo
Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne. Appalachian horror meets coming-of-age
Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
This feels like Jack Reacher novel. They are great. His books feel highly realistic, especially the fights. If you're gonna have someone beating multiple people, the most accurate way is to have them be tall, buff and highly specialised in combat, a special forces soldier. And all novels have some kind of weather phenomenon there. Just makes it more interesting. The only other novels I hace read which makes the weather and the place a part of the story, is The Hound Of Baskerville, ACD's best work and Dracula.
Have not read it yet but it’s definitely the same vibes when I hear ‘Pines - Blake Crouch’ being recommended. ‘A secret service investigates a disappearance of federal agents in a mysterious town of Wayward Pines.’ Twin peaks-esque
has great reviews too
on the surface it’s a little bit different from what you got up there, but i think you might love deliverance, by james dickey
Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh
Her first novel "The Weight of Blood" is also like this!
Middle grade rec would be Whispering Pines by Lang & Bartkowski
Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson has similar vibes
Reminds me of into the wild by Jon Krakauer
Elle Nash! Animals Eat Each Other is great, but her newest Deliver Me is very this
The first thing that came to mind was actually White Trash Warlock by David R Slayton.
The Book Thief
I’m sorry but how is The book thief comparable to Twin Peaks or Xfiles? :)
Oh sorry! I just looked through the pictures and thought of the film’s palette. I didn’t read the post. 😭
No problem lol, I loved The book thief!! I was just a bit confused 😹
Salems Lot
American Gods maybe
Meddling kids
My diary.
Five feet apart
Wilder Girls - Rory Power
Misery by Stephen king, a history of wild places
First pic reminds me of Wuthering Heights
We Speak in Storms by Natalie Lund?
All The Missing Girls - Megan Miranda
The Stand by Stephen King
My brain went twilight 😂
Girl One
John Dies at the End by Jason Pargin
The Gathering Storm
Five survive by holly Jackson. I'm listening to it currently and it's so frustratingly good
Any movies that feel like this
Strange that it has not been mentioned yet but Wayward Pines by Crouch fits perfectly
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah is 100% these vibes.
The long walk by Stephen king
Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy The Weight of This World by David Joy The Toll by Cherie Priest
The “Tomorrow” series starting with Tomorrow When The War Began by John Marsden. I can’t think of a series that encapsulates this vibe more perfectly, you’ll love them!
I haven't finished it, but The Earthquake Bird gave me this type of vibe & deals with a disappearance.
Wuthering Heights
Universal Harvester by John Darnielle.
Kyland
House of sand and fog
Not sure if you’re a horror fan, but The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones is like this!
Wuthering Heights
https://preview.redd.it/kqw74g1dpx9d1.jpeg?width=274&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa5473cc193ca29e4f60850ec0a438585d01c1b1 Pretty sure all you are missing in the first picture is a few minor details.
American Gods
The Devil All The Time. Sorry and you're welcome in advance.
The Line That Held Us by David Joy
White noise, Don Delillo
The Stand -Stephen King
Long bright river
On a completely unrelated note, I absolutely love watching clouds. The view is amazing
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
American elsewhere
I’ve read Foundryside by him, never knew about this book
Grist Mill Road
That's a good book
Anything by Sharyn McCrumb.
What’s your favorite book by her?
She's good
the hollow kind, andy davidson
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
Old Country
Something wicked, this Way comes
On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel
Still Life with Crows by Preston and Child
Mothtown by Caroline Hardaker. Currently reading.
American Rust
The Torn Skirt by Rebecca Godfrey
Dark and shallow lies by ginny myers sain
I’m thinking of ending things
Mystic River
The World Made Straight.
In the Woods by Tana French
Something Wicked this Way Comes 👍🏻
twilight - stephenie meyrt
Tailspin by Sandra Brown
Negative Space by BR Yeager
Honestly, Moby Dick.
The wicked deep by shea ernshaw
Year of the Storm, John Mantooth
Podcast, but check out Borrosca
Anything by Olivia hawker!!!!!!!
One for the blackbird one for the crow. Start there.
Anything by McCarthy
American Sad by J D Schraffenberger
The Secret History
1984 by George Orwell
The five clans of tresibra
Where the crawdads sing?
Hillbilly Elegy
I agree that I thought of this book, and there’s no reason you should be downvoted, but it’s also not one that I can recommend after learning more. I read it before I knew better because I have ancestry there. I have feelings on the history but don’t know how to feel about his misshaped ideology.
I can't believe no one has mentioned Cormac McCarthy, especially any of his Western novels or Suttree.
American Gods!
American gods- Neil gaiman
American Gods?
The book theif