Tasha Coryell’s sophomore thriller Matchmaking for Psychopaths delivers a provocative psychological exploration that asks a deceptively simple question: what happens when society’s most emotionally detached individuals seek their perfect match? The answer, as protagonist Alexandra Smith discovers, is a blood-soaked journey through the darker territories of human connection that will leave readers questioning everything they thought they knew about love.
Following her debut Love Letters to a Serial Killer, Coryell demonstrates a remarkable ability to weave dark psychology into compulsively readable fiction. This latest offering showcases an author who has found her voice in the shadows between romance and horror, creating a narrative that pulses with the same unsettling energy as her protagonist’s fractured psyche.
The Anatomy of Betrayal
Alexandra Smith appears to have constructed the perfect life—a thriving career as a matchmaker specializing in clients with psychopathic tendencies, a handsome doctor fiancé named Noah, and a best friend Molly who seems to understand her completely. But on what should be her triumphant birthday dinner, Alexandra’s carefully curated world implodes with devastating precision.
The opening sequence, where Alexandra arrives expecting a surprise party only to discover Noah and Molly’s affair announcement, showcases Coryell’s masterful understanding of psychological trauma. The author captures the disorienting nature of betrayal with surgical precision, allowing readers to experience Alexandra’s shock and disbelief in real-time. The scene crackles with tension as Alexandra struggles to process this double betrayal, her mind rejecting the reality unfolding before her.
Coryell’s portrayal of Alexandra’s emotional unraveling feels authentically devastating. The protagonist’s desperate attempts to maintain composure while her world crumbles reveal the fragility beneath her professional competence. This vulnerability makes Alexandra simultaneously sympathetic and deeply unsettling—a duality that drives the novel’s psychological complexity.
Enter the Monster
When mysterious client Aidan Lewis appears at Better Love Matchmaking, the story shifts into darker territory. Aidan represents everything Alexandra claims to avoid—a charismatic psychopath with his own hidden agenda and a disturbing fascination with her family’s murderous legacy. Yet their connection proves undeniable, even as bodies begin accumulating around them.
Coryell excels at creating romantic chemistry that feels both genuine and deeply wrong. Aidan’s pursuit of Alexandra operates on multiple levels—he’s simultaneously her salvation and her destruction, offering the authentic connection she’s craved while dragging her deeper into violence. The author navigates this relationship with impressive nuance, never allowing readers to forget the dangerous foundation beneath their passion.
The dynamic between Alexandra and Aidan becomes the novel’s dark heart. Their scenes together pulse with tension as Alexandra wrestles between her desire for normalcy and her growing acceptance of her true nature. Coryell writes their interactions with a seductive quality that mirrors the way psychopaths operate—charming and compelling while remaining fundamentally predatory.
A Professional’s Perspective on Darkness
One of the novel’s most intriguing elements is its exploration of the matchmaking industry through Alexandra’s professional lens. Coryell has created a fascinating premise in Better Love Matchmaking’s specialized services for psychopathic clients. The author demonstrates impressive research into the psychology of antisocial personalities, weaving clinical understanding into compelling narrative.
Alexandra’s expertise in matching psychopaths provides dark irony throughout the story. She possesses professional knowledge about recognizing dangerous personalities while remaining blind to the threats surrounding her personal life. This professional competence contrasts sharply with her emotional vulnerability, creating a protagonist who is simultaneously powerful and powerless.
The workplace dynamics at Better Love add layers of complexity to the story. Nicole’s ambitious scheming and Serena’s maternal authority create a believable professional environment that feels lived-in and authentic. These relationships provide crucial context for understanding Alexandra’s isolation and her desperate need for genuine connection.
Legacy of Violence
Coryell skillfully weaves Alexandra’s family history throughout the narrative, revealing how her parents’ crimes shaped her understanding of love and relationships. The flashbacks to her childhood with serial killer parents provide crucial psychological depth while maintaining the story’s forward momentum.
The author handles this backstory with remarkable sensitivity, never exploiting the violence for shock value. Instead, these revelations illuminate Alexandra’s desperate desire for normalcy and her deep-seated fear of inheriting her parents’ nature. The family legacy creates psychological pressure that drives many of Alexandra’s decisions, making her choices feel inevitable rather than arbitrary.
Blood and Roses
When mysterious packages containing body parts begin appearing, the novel shifts into full thriller mode. Coryell demonstrates impressive skill at maintaining multiple plot threads while building toward a climactic confrontation. The mystery of who is targeting Alexandra creates genuine suspense, even as readers may suspect the truth.
The author’s handling of violence deserves particular mention. Rather than reveling in gore, Coryell focuses on the psychological impact of violence on her characters. Alexandra’s reactions to discovering body parts feel authentic and disturbing, emphasizing the human cost of the story’s darker elements.
The escalating body count serves the story’s themes rather than simply providing shocking moments. Each death forces Alexandra to confront her own capacity for violence while testing her relationships with those around her. Coryell uses these incidents to explore questions about nature versus nurture and the possibility of breaking cycles of violence.
Stylistic Strengths and Narrative Voice
Coryell writes with a voice that captures Alexandra’s psychology perfectly. The first-person narration allows readers intimate access to the protagonist’s thoughts while maintaining uncertainty about her reliability. This narrative choice proves especially effective during Alexandra’s emotional breakdown following Noah’s betrayal.
The author’s prose style balances psychological insight with page-turning momentum. Coryell demonstrates particular skill at writing dialogue that reveals character while advancing plot. The conversations between Alexandra and Aidan crackle with subtext, creating scenes that work on multiple levels.
The novel’s pacing deserves praise for building tension steadily while allowing character development to breathe. Coryell never rushes the psychological elements in favor of plot advancement, creating a story that feels both character-driven and suspenseful.
Exploring the Dark Side of Romance
Matchmaking for Psychopaths functions as both a thriller and a dark romance, examining how damaged individuals find connection. Coryell explores themes of acceptance, authenticity, and the price of hiding one’s true nature. Alexandra’s journey toward self-acceptance becomes the story’s emotional core, even as that acceptance leads her toward violence.
The novel raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of love and compatibility. Can psychopaths experience genuine emotion? Is it possible to build healthy relationships on foundations of violence and deception? Coryell doesn’t provide easy answers, instead allowing readers to grapple with these moral complexities.
The author’s exploration of female psychopathy proves particularly compelling. Alexandra’s character challenges stereotypes about how antisocial personality traits manifest in women, creating a protagonist who feels both familiar and subversive.
Areas for Improvement
While Matchmaking for Psychopaths succeeds on many levels, certain elements could benefit from refinement. The novel’s middle section occasionally slows as Coryell balances multiple plot threads. Some secondary characters, particularly workplace colleagues, feel underdeveloped compared to the central trio of Alexandra, Aidan, and Rebecca.
The story’s conclusion, while emotionally satisfying, resolves perhaps too neatly for such a psychologically complex narrative. Readers might desire more ambiguity in the final moments, particularly regarding Alexandra’s ultimate fate and moral journey.
Additionally, while Coryell handles the violent content responsibly, some readers may find the body count excessive for a character-driven story. The author occasionally struggles to balance the thriller elements with the psychological study at the novel’s heart.
Comparisons and Context
Matchmaking for Psychopaths will appeal to readers who enjoyed psychological thrillers like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl or Caroline Kepnes’s You series. Coryell’s work shares DNA with these novels in its exploration of unreliable narrators and toxic relationships, while maintaining its own distinct voice.
The novel also recalls the domestic noir tradition established by authors like Paula Hawkins and Ruth Ware. However, Coryell’s focus on psychopathy and professional matchmaking gives her work a unique angle within the crowded psychological thriller market.
Fans of Coryell’s debut Love Letters to a Serial Killer will recognize the author’s fascination with the psychology of violence and her skill at creating complex female protagonists. This sophomore effort shows significant growth in plotting and character development while maintaining the dark psychological insight that made her debut compelling.
The Verdict
Matchmaking for Psychopaths succeeds as both an engaging thriller and a thought-provoking exploration of human psychology. Coryell has crafted a story that works on multiple levels—as a page-turning mystery, a dark romance, and a psychological study of damaged individuals seeking connection.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its complex protagonist. Alexandra Smith emerges as a fully realized character whose journey feels both specific to her circumstances and universally resonant. Her struggle to reconcile her professional competence with personal vulnerability creates compelling internal conflict that drives the story forward.
Coryell demonstrates impressive growth as a novelist, showing increased confidence in handling complex psychological material while maintaining narrative momentum. The author’s exploration of psychopathy feels informed and responsible, avoiding sensationalism while creating genuinely unsettling scenarios.
Similar Reads for Dark Psychology Enthusiasts
Readers who appreciate Matchmaking for Psychopaths should consider these psychologically complex thrillers:
- You by Caroline Kepnes – For its exploration of obsessive love and psychological manipulation
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn – For its damaged female protagonist and small-town secrets
- Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris – For its examination of perfect facades hiding dark realities
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – For its psychological depth and unreliable narration
- Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess – For its exploration of trauma and survival
Matchmaking for Psychopaths establishes Tasha Coryell as a significant voice in contemporary psychological fiction. This sophomore effort demonstrates an author finding her stride, creating work that entertains while probing the darker aspects of human connection. For readers seeking intelligent thrillers that don’t sacrifice psychological complexity for plot twists, Coryell’s latest offers a deeply satisfying reading experience that lingers long after the final page.