Isolation, Madness, and the Downward Spiral into Chaos — My Shepherd List

I was recently invited to put together a list for Shepherd.com, a site where writers share books that have inspired their own creative work. The theme I chose was isolation, madness, and the downward spiral into chaos, terrain I’ve spent a good deal of time exploring, both in life and on the page.

Each of the five books I selected had an unsettling effect on me, in the best way. They rattle something loose. These are works that dig into the human psyche, confront inner breakdowns, and challenge the illusion of control. Some are brutal, some are strangely beautiful, all are deeply human. In them, I found reflections of themes I write about myself: alienation, mental disintegration, self-destruction, and the search for some thread of meaning in the midst of it all.

Whether you’re interested in the emotional roots of The Night Swimmer, or you’re just looking for some dark, unforgettable reads, I hope the list resonates with you. You can read the full list here:
👉 The best books about isolation, madness, and the downward spiral into chaos

Let me know if any of them strike a chord. Or unsettle something.