10 More Stories From Lisey’s Bookshelf
Lisey’s Story is the latest Stephen King thriller and boy is it a psychologically charged thrill ride!
If you’ve finished this one and are looking for something similar, we’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing.
To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Lisey’s Story.
Sharp Objects
Similarities – Mystery & Characters
Psychologically charged murder mystery Sharp Objects is as engaging as it is technically impressive. From the exquisite sound design to the perfect editing, every part of this show has been finely tuned and crafted to create a compelling mystery.
The story follows troubled reporter Camille who begrudgingly finds herself assigned to reporting a violent murder case in her hometown Wind Gap. Haunted by a troubled past mired in violence and depression, Camille feels alienated from the adults, growing closer to the young girls whom the killer in town is targeting.
The show is a must-watch if you’re looking for a compelling character-driven mystery.
You can read our thoughts on Sharp Objects in our full season review here!
Tabula Rasa
Similarities – Slow Burn Mystery
If you’re in the mood for slow burn thrillers, look no further than Belgium’s Tabula Rasa. With an intriguing premise, some solid characters and a mystery that compels you to see it through to its conclusion, this crime drama is certainly worth your time.
The story revolves around an amnesia-stricken young woman called Mie, who’s locked up in a secure psychiatric hospital. When she receives a visit from Detective Wolkers, he claims to be the last person seen with Thomas Spectre, who has vanished.
As a witness and prime suspect in the case, Mie is forced to remember what happened that night before she can even think about being released. In order to fight for the truth, Mie is forced into reconstructing her lost memories. The more she remembers though, the more Mie starts to distrust those around her.
Moody, ambitious and really well written, Tabula Rasa is a solid series to check out.
Twin Peaks
Similarities – Tone & Mood
Twin Peaks is one of those classic, quintessential shows from the 90’s that sticks with you long after the final credits have rolled. The simple story about a peculiar FBI agent investigating the murder of a young woman – in the even more peculiar town of Twin Peaks – is simple but surprisingly effective.
It’s one of those rare gems that completely changed the landscape of the small screen when it released in 1990 and showed what could be achieved with horror through this medium.
There’s some genuinely creepy moments along the way, typified by the stunningly horrific nightmare montage in the episode “Lonely Soul.”
If you haven’t watched this already, you absolutely should – it’s one of the better shows out there.
Homecoming
Similarities – Style
After the success of Mr. Robot, creator Sam Esmail set his sights on a new venture – noir-thriller Homecoming.
This intriguing thriller essentially splits its focus between the past and present. Main protagonist Heidi works as a waitress in present day America but at a company called Homecoming in the past.
This company, run by sleazy boss Colin, aims to rehabilitate damaged soldiers back into civilian life through an experimental, privately funded program. One of the stars of said program is vet Walter who has all the makings to be the perfect test subject.
With a significant chunk of Heidi’s memory mysteriously missing, Investigator Carrasco begins to piece together what happened in the present day timeline.Â
With 30 minute episodes and an uneasy dread clinging to large parts of the story, the aesthetic and visual design is very similar to Lisey’s Story. While the second season isn’t quite as effective as the first, there’s a lot to like here nonetheless.
You can read our thoughts on Homecoming in our full season review here!
The Outsider
Similarities – Fantasy, Mystery & Possessions
Stephen King TV adaptations are usually very good or very bad. While The Outsider is far from perfect, the story is absolutely gripping and you’ll undoubtedly be hooked until the very end.
The Outsider works much better as a straight forward binge rather than a show drip-fed across several weeks. The basic premise revolves around a group of investigators completely baffled by an unspeakable crime that’s been committed. We won’t go into spoiler territory, but where this one really shines is with its characters, who are beautifully written throughout.
If you’re in the mood for a good thriller, this one has all the right ingredients to hook you in and keep you glued until the end.
You can read our thoughts on The Outsider in our full season review here!
Castle Rock
Similarities – Characters & Tone
Unlike the second season’s more action-driven plot, the first is a suitably moody, mysterious story that perfectly combines all the hallmarks of what makes a good mystery show.
Based on the stories of Stephen King, the series intertwines characters and themes from the fictional town of Castle Rock. The central character for season 1 is Henry Deaver, who returns to his hometown after receiving a strange call.
Only, when a stranger arrives in town called The Kid, things take a turn for the strange.
The first season is absolutely suffocating in tension and while the second adopts a more action-driven slant, there’s actually a lot here to like.
You can read our thoughts on Castle Rock in our full season reviews here!
Losing Alice
Similarities – Characters & Mystery
Losing Alice is an Israeli slow-burn erotic thriller. With an intriguing cast of characters at its core, the show does tend to meander a little in the middle but undoubtedly has a lot of similarities to Behind Her Eyes. The story here revolves around a woman named Alice, who finds her life turned upside down when she agrees to shoot a movie for a femme-fatale screenwriter Sophie.
As the series progresses, Alice realizes she’s stuck in a nightmare of her own making, unsure who to trust and who’s telling the truth. With some gorgeous shots and a pretty consistent tone, the beginning and end of this series is enough to recommend soldiering through the middle chapters.
You can read our thoughts on Losing Alice in our episode recaps here!
Big Little Lies
Similarities – Trauma & Relationship Issues
While the needless second season does dampen the experience somewhat, the first season of Big Little Lies is damn near perfect storytelling. With incredible acting, a slow burn mystery and some great reveals across the 7 episodes, Big Little Lies is one of the best miniseries to release in quite some time.
The story predominantly follows three Mums and their families. Boisterous Madeline struggles with her children growing up and not needing her anymore whilst simultaneously dealing with conflicted emotions toward current husband Ed.
There’s also some ensuing tension between Nathan and his new wife Bonnie, while Jane struggles after moving to town and finding her son Ziggy accused of biting Renata’s daughter at school. Their feud is the glue that holds everything together but there’s a much darker central mystery at work here.
That comes in form of Celeste who appears to have the perfect life with her twin sons and good looking husband Perry. Unfortunately under this sickly veil of smiles and laughter is a volatile relationship built on violence and fear. This one is a must watch.
You can read our thoughts on Big Little Lies in our full season reviews here!
The Sinner
Similarities – Characters & Drama
From the onset, its obvious that there’s something unsettling lurking in the shadows of The Sinner. The first season starts just like a standard mystery thriller; a short build up leads to young mother Cora Tannetti stabbing a man on a beach for seemingly no reason.
With the crime already committed and shown in visceral detail, two key questions drives the show forward – why did she kill him and what drove her to commit this crime? The question hangs over the show like a black cloud and when Investigator Harry Ambrose begins digging deeper, a slowly opening puzzle box of clues sheds more light on the motive.
As truths surface and lies are uncovered, this methodically paced mystery keeps the suspense running right through to its climactic ending, playing as a why-dun-it rather than a who-dun-it.
As the seasons progress, Harry Ambrose is the glue that holds the seasons together as different crimes come to light. The first season is undoubtedly the strongest of the three though.
You can read our thoughts on The Sinner in our full season review here!
Equinox
Equinox feels like a blend of Midsommar and German Series Dark. With a mystery encompassing the entire series, revealing flashbacks and light bites of horror, this Danish series certainly has a lot going for it.
The story itself is essentially split between two separate timelines. In 1999, Astrid’s sister Ida leaves town on a Graduation Bus with a class full of students never to be seen again. Including Ida, 21 students in total go missing with only Amelia, Jakob and Falke inexplicably surviving whatever happened.
Cut forward 20 years and Astrid continues to be haunted by her sister’s disappearance. Working at a local radio station, she receives a strange, garbled call: “It’s me, Jakob Skipper. I know why she disappeared.”
From here, the show takes on a twisty-turny thriller, drip-feeding out the truth which is revealed in part during the finale. Do be warned though, this one does end on a cliffhanger!
You can read our thoughts on Equinox in our full season review here!
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching Lisey’s Story on Apple TV+.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!