Books like 'Special Topics in Calamity Physics'
Readers who enjoyed Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary mystery thriller literary-fiction coming-of-age dark-academia crime drama suspense bildungsroman
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Home by Harlan Coben
30 ratingsTen years after the high-profile kidnapping of two young boys, only one returns home in Harlan Coben’s gripping Myron Bolitar thriller.A decade ago, kidnappers grabbed two boys from wealthy families and demanded ransom, then went silent. No trace of the boys ever surfaced... -
Faith and the Beloved by Kochery C. Shibu
14 ratingsNaithy Cherozil is a rich and successful business woman from Mumbai who marries the young and handsome model Tony D'Souza after the death of her spouse. Little does she know that the ideal sex slave of her husband is the sleeper cell of a terror outfit. Events in her life take unforeseen turns as the male Mata Hari is activated... -
The Stepchild by Nicole Trope
14 ratingsThree-year-old Millie Everleigh disappears on a crisp winter’s day, and nothing is as it seems…It’s the phone call every mother dreads.I’m climbing into the car after a trip to the grocery store. As the engine starts, my phone rings. It’s my stepdaughter, Shelby, who is babysitting my three-year-old little girl Millie.‘I only went upstairs for a second,’ she says through her sobs. ‘She’s gone... -
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Jude by Kate Morgenroth
12 ratingsWhen fifteen-year-old Jude's father is brutally murdered, Jude is a witness. But to save his own life, he can't tell the police what he knows. Still, Jude is determined to clear his name and win the approval of his mother -- the district attorney he has not seen since he was an infant. At the urging of his mother's longtime companion, Jude agrees to a crazy scheme to protect her political future... -
Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
14 ratingsWe don’t pick and choose what to be afraid of. Our fears pick us.Tash Carmody has been traumatised since childhood, when she witnessed her gruesome imaginary friend Sparrow lure young Mallory Fisher away from a carnival. At the time nobody believed Tash, and she has since come to accept that Sparrow wasn’t real. Now fifteen and mute, Mallory’s never spoken about the week she went missing... -
No Child of Mine by Susan Lewis
16 ratingsFrom internationally bestselling British author Susan Lewis comes an unflinching, thoroughly suspenseful novel—perfect for readers of Jodi Picoult—about the darkest secrets a family can hide. Alex Lake’s life is centered on helping people. Her job as a social worker in a British seaside town is more than a career: It’s the very essence of who she is... -
The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon by Alexander McCall Smith
24 ratingsModern ideas get tangled up with traditional ones in the latest intriguing installment in the beloved, best-selling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. Precious Ramotswe has taken on two puzzling cases. First she is approached by the lawyer Mma Sheba, who is the executor of a deceased farmer’s estate... -
The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page
24 ratingsA charming, uplifting debut novel—full of humor and depth—that has taken readers around the world by surprise. Everyone has a story to tell. But does Janice have the power to unlock her own?She can’t recall what started her collection... -
Die Schatten, die wir verbergen by Allen Eskens
24 ratingsIn the highly-anticipated sequel to the national bestseller The Life We Bury, Joe Talbert returns to investigate the murder of the father he never knew, and to reckon with his own family's past.Joe Talbert, Jr. has never once met his namesake... -
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
26 ratingsGrowing up in rural NC, Ray McMillan’s life is already mapped out. If he’s lucky, he’ll get a job at the hospital cafeteria. Extra lucky, he’ll earn more than the minimum wage. But Roy has a gift-he’s determined to become a world class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way... -
The Baltimore Boys by Joël Dicker
28 ratingsSwiss Sensation Joel Dicker's compulsive follow-up to the phenomenally bestselling The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair... -
Dare You by Jennifer Brown
8 ratingsIn the second book of the suspenseful Shade Me trilogy, Nikki Kill becomes embroiled in another mystery where only her synesthesia can help her unravel the dark truth.Nikki Kill didn’t realize that trying to find out who killed Peyton Hollis would tangle her in a web of dangerous family secrets that would rock her identity to the core... -
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
9 ratingsAvery’s fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about.To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers...Categorized as:
crime dark-academia law-enforcement realistic thriller action-adventure book contemporary -
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The Devils' Cradle by Darcy Daniel
10 ratingsOn Australia’s island state, more than one species of Tasmanian Devil exists... Beneath the surface of Nina Holt’s perfect marriage lurks a life of terror inflicted upon her by her politically powerful husband Michael and his brother Greg, a sadistic detective. For over a decade they have managed to keep Nina imprisoned, using her to satisfy their every whim... -
The Disappearance of Sloane Sullivan by Gia Cribbs
12 ratingsNo one wants me to tell you about the disappearance of Sloane Sullivan.Not the lawyers or the cops. Not her friends or family. Not even the boy who loved her more than anyone. And most certainly not the United States Marshals Service... -
The Restless Dead: by Simon Beckett
18 ratings‘Composed of over sixty per cent water itself, a human body isn’t naturally buoyant. It will float only for as long as there is air in its lungs, before gradually sinking to the bottom as the air seeps out. If the water is very cold or deep, it will remain there, undergoing a slow, dark dissolution that can take years... -
Found by Harlan Coben
24 ratingsMurder. Mystery. High School.A new Mickey Bolitar novel following on from Shelter and Seconds Away.It’s been eight months since Mickey Bolitar witnessed the tragic death of his father.Eight months of lies, dark secrets and unanswered questions.As if that wasn’t bad enough, Mickey’s sophomore year of high school brings on a whole new set of troubles... -
Ali's Pretty Little Lies by Sara Shepard
24 ratingsPerfect for fans of the #1 New York Times bestselling series and the hit ABC Family TV show, this Pretty Little Liars prequel novel reveals Ali's secrets from before she was murdered.Rewind a few years to seventh grade: Alison DiLaurentis and her friends are the It girls of Rosewood Day. Boys want to date them. Girls want to be them... -
Call the Canaries Home by Laura Barrow
24 ratingsThree estranged sisters reconnect in their Louisiana hometown to face an unresolved past in a heartfelt novel about family, grief, secrets, and forgiveness.Savannah was four years old when her twin sister, Georgia, went missing from their small Louisiana town, fracturing their family... -
Break Us by Jennifer Brown
6 ratingsNikki Kill doesn’t see the world in black and white. Her synesthesia shades everything in view, transforming numbers, words, and emotions into colorful clues. Which means she’s a dangerous commodity to anyone with something to hide.Nikki has already taken on the Hollises—one of L.A.’s most powerful families—for murdering her half sister, Peyton...Categorized as:
family friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic action-adventure book contemporary -
To Hatch a Thief by Zara Keane
6 ratingsAn Irish cozy mystery featuring mystery, mayhem, and…chickens? When a valuable diamond necklace is stolen, former American cop and classic movie buff, Maggie Doyle's, peaceful vacation on a remote Irish island comes to an abrupt end. An island lawyer hires Maggie to find the necklace before its owner realizes it's missing... -
The Hunter by Tana French
6 ratingsIt’s a blazing summer when two men arrive in a small village in the West of Ireland. One of them is coming home. Both of them are coming to get rich. One of them is coming to die.Cal Hooper took early retirement from Chicago PD and moved to rural Ireland looking for peace...Categorized as:
crime thriller literary-fiction law-enforcement suspense mystery fiction contemporary -
The Perfect Family Man by M.M. DeLuca
12 ratingsFive years ago, my little boy went missing. Now my husband’s vanished, too.I wish I could say that the tragedy of little Jack disappearing brought me and Nate closer together. But my husband is more distant from me now than he’s ever been. Perhaps that’s why I don’t ask him exactly where he’s going when he sets off on another business trip...Categorized as:
crime suspense amateur-sleuth literary-fiction family thriller psychological contemporary -
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One Little Mistake by Emma Curtis
16 ratingsVicky Seagrave is blessed: three beautiful children, a successful, doting husband, great friends and a job she loves. She should be perfectly happy. When she risks everything she holds dear on a whim, there's only person she trusts enough to turn to. But Vicky is about to learn that one mistake is all it takes; that if you're careless with those you love, you don't deserve to keep them . . -
Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt
16 ratingsAn against-the-odds love story at the heart of a book for teens about prejudice, courage, and a dark, compelling mystery—shortlisted for a Romantic Novelists Association AwardUgly people don’t have feelings. They’re not like everyone else. They don’t notice if you stare at them and turn away. And if they did notice, it wouldn’t hurt them. They’re not like real people... -
The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston
16 ratingsOwen Foster has never wanted for anything. Then his mother shows up at his elite New Orleans boarding school cradling a bombshell: his privileged life has been funded by stolen money... -
Paradise Lost by Kate Brian
18 ratingsParadise awaits.... Now that Cheyenne's murderer has been revealed and Reed knows the truth about who's been stalking her, she's ready to leave the heartache and turmoil of last semester behind. And what better way to recover than a five-star Caribbean vacation? Reed is reunited with former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor, and she and her friends take over the exclusive island...Categorized as:
coming-of-age drama friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic suspense boarding-school -
The Halo Effect by Anne D. LeClaire
18 ratingsIn this tour de force, a father, shaken by tragedy, tries to avenge his daughter’s murder—and restore his family’s shattered life. It was supposed to be a typical October evening for renowned portrait artist Will Light... -
The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith
24 ratingsBusiness is slow at the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, so Mma Makutsi persuades Mma Ramotswe to take her first-ever holiday. When a new client arrives just as she's about to depart, Mma Ramotswe almost cancels her trip. But Mma Makutsi is adamant that she and Charlie have the situation in hand... -
When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
31 ratingsThree lives come together in unexpected and thrilling ways in Kate Atkinson's When Will There Be Good News?On a hot summer day, Joanna Mason's family slowly wanders home along a country lane. A moment later, Joanna's life is changed forever...On a dark night thirty years later, ex-detective Jackson Brodie finds himself on a train that is both crowded and late... -
Her Perfect Family by Teresa Driscoll
28 ratingsA gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of I Am Watching You. The perfect family? Or the perfect lie?It’s their daughter’s graduation and Rachel and Ed Hartley are expecting it to be one of their family’s happiest days... -
Seconds Away by Harlan Coben, Nick Podehl
24 ratingsLength: 7 hrs and 41 minsWhen tragedy strikes close to home, Mickey Bolitar and his loyal new friends — sharp-witted Ema and the adorkably charming Spoon — find themselves at the center of a murder mystery involving their friend Rachel... -
January by Gabrielle Lord
18 ratingsOn New Year's Eve, Cal is chased down the street by a crazed man with a deadly warning:They killed your father.They'll kill you.You must survive the next 365 days!Forced into a life on the run, Cal finds himself hunted by ruthless criminals and the police... -
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A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away by Christopher Brookmyre
18 ratingsBack when they were students, just like everybody else, Ray Ash and Simon Darcourt had dreams about what they'd do when they grew up. In both their cases, it was to be rock stars. Fifteen years later, their mid-thirties are bearing down fast, and just like everybody else, they're having to accept the less glamorous hands reality has dealt them...Categorized as:
crime humor law-enforcement literary-fiction satire suspense thriller action-adventure -
I Made a Mistake by Jane Corry
16 ratingsIT STARTED WITH A KISS... AND ENDED WITH MURDER. The darkly addictive new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of I Looked Away, Blood Sisters and My Husband's Wife. --------------------------------------------------------In Poppy Page's mind, there are two types of women in this world: those who are faithful to their husbands, and those who are not... -
Don't Turn Out the Lights by Bernard Minier
14 ratings“You did nothing.”Christine Steinmeyer thought the anonymous suicide note she found in her mailbox on Christmas Eve wasn’t meant for her. But the man calling in to her radio show seems convinced otherwise.“You let her die. . . .”That’s only the beginning. Bit by bit, her life is turned upside down... -
Remember Me by Romily Bernard
10 ratingsIn the sequel to Find Me, Wick Tate, sarcastic teen hacker, is back and once again dealing with criminals and corrupt cops…and a brooding new love interest. Will Wick persevere when some secrets refuse to stay hidden?Wick had thought her troubles were over.But she should’ve known better... -
Diamonds in the Rough by Michelle Madow
10 ratingsAll-access doesn't mean no problems. The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves... -
A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis
10 ratingsLydia Chass doesn’t mind living in a small town; she just doesn’t want to die in one. A lifetime of hard work has put her on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind—until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating. Undeterred, Lydia has a plan to earn that credit: transform her listener-friendly local history podcast into a truth-telling exposé... -
Unfriended by Katie Finn
8 ratingsMadison MacDonald is glad things are back to normal!Madison It’s SUMMER at last -- let the good times & pool parties roll!Location: Putnam Beach. Putnam, CT.Madison My friends are all together again, and Nate and I are better than ever. Finally, everything in my life is working out. :)Location: Gofer Ice Cream... -
Deadly Recall by Donnell Ann Bell
6 ratingsA terrifying memory is locked deep inside of her. A killer wants to keep it that way. Nine-year-old Eden Moran thought she was saying good-bye to her mentor that fateful day in St. Patrick’s. She had no idea she’d witness the nun’s demise, or that her child’s mind would compensate...Categorized as:
amateur-sleuth crime law-enforcement literary-fiction suspense adult book contemporary -
Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King
28 ratingsSingle mother Maisey Addington has always fallen short of her own mother’s expectations—never married, a bit adrift, wasting her high IQ on dead-end jobs. The only thing Maisey’s sure she’s gotten right is her relationship with her twelve-year-old daughter, Elle…until a phone call blows apart the precarious balance of their lives... -
Second Son by Lee Child
28 ratingsIn this new short story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child, available exclusively as an eBook, a young Jack Reacher knows how to finish a fight so it stays finished. He knows how to get the job done so it stays done. And, in one of his earliest challenges, he knows that his analytical brain is just as important as his impressive brawn. Okinawa, 1974... -
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The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky, Голди Молдавски
18 ratingsNew girl Rachel Chavez is eager to make a fresh start at Manchester Prep. But as one of the few scholarship kids, Rachel struggles to fit in, and when she gets caught up in a prank gone awry, she ends up with more enemies than friends... -
Suspicion by Kate Brian
18 ratingsForbidden fruit... Reed, Noelle, and former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor have been living it up on St. Barths over winter break. The tropical sun has melted away all the tensions of last semester, and for the first time in months, Reed is happy. She's got her best friends by her side, she has a palatial suite with an ocean view, and she's landed Upton, the most sought-after guy on the island...Categorized as:
coming-of-age drama friendship high-school law-enforcement realistic suspense boarding-school -
Passionfruit by Daniel Pennac
16 ratingsBenjamin Malaussène and family are far from happy when his fortune teller younger sister Thérèse marries the aristocratic Count Marie-Colbert de Roberval at a televised wedding – a ceremony from which Marie-Colbert has unceremoniously banned the madcap Malaussène clan... -
Stolen by Rebecca Muddiman
16 ratingsWhen Abby Henshaw is brutally attacked by two strangers in the countryside, her first thought is for the safety of her baby daughter, Beth. But what follows is a mother’s worst nightmare: Beth is gone and Abby's world collapses around her.As DI Michael Gardner begins to investigate Abby and her family, he discovers lives built on secrets and betrayals... -
The Rules for Breaking by Ashley Elston
14 ratingsWho do you trust when no one is what they seem? The gripping sequel to contemporary, romantic YA thriller, The Rules for Disappearing.Anna Boyd almost lost her life to get what she wanted most in the world: freedom.But just when it seems that her family has finally escaped Witness Protection, the illusion that Anna could resume a normal life comes crashing down... -
The Good Byline by Jill Orr
14 ratingsRiley Ellison, quirky young library assistant in hometown of Tuttle Corner, Virginia, is asked to write an obituary for childhood best friend Jordan James. A paranoid reporter convinces her the death is murder. He leads her down a dangerous path to organized crime, secret lovers, and suspicious taco trucks...
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