Tasha Coryell’s sophomore novel Matchmaking for Psychopaths serves up a twisted cocktail of romance, psychological thriller, and dark comedy that goes down smoother than it should. Following her debut Love Letters to a Serial Killer, Coryell proves she has a particular talent for making readers root for characters who should, by all moral standards, terrify us. This isn’t your typical romance where opposites attract—it’s a story where like attracts like, and the magnetism is both deadly and irresistible.
The novel follows Alexandra, a professional matchmaker whose specialty clientele sits “somewhere on the psychopathy scale.” When her picture-perfect life implodes—her doctor boyfriend Noah leaves her for her best friend Molly on what was supposed to be her engagement night—Alexandra’s carefully constructed world crumbles. Enter Rebecca, a mysterious client who seems to offer friendship at exactly the right moment, and Aidan, a dangerously attractive man who knows far too much about Alexandra’s murderous family legacy.
Character Study: Perfectly Imperfect Psychopaths
Alexandra: The Unreliable Narrator We Can’t Help But Trust
Coryell crafts Alexandra as a masterclass in unreliable narration. She’s simultaneously self-aware and delusional, calculating and impulsive. The character’s complexity shines through her professional competence—she genuinely helps people find love—while harboring deep-seated trauma from being the daughter of serial killers. Alexandra’s voice carries the practiced polish of someone who has spent years perfecting a facade, yet Coryell allows cracks to show that reveal the damaged person underneath.
The author’s choice to make Alexandra a matchmaker isn’t merely ironic; it’s psychologically astute. Someone who grew up without witnessing healthy love would naturally be drawn to studying it, trying to decode its patterns and mechanisms. Alexandra’s professional success becomes both her armor and her Achilles’ heel.
Supporting Cast: A Gallery of Beautiful Monsters
Rebecca emerges as perhaps the novel’s most chilling creation—a psychopath masquerading as a best friend, whose motivations run far deeper than initially apparent. Coryell builds her character with subtle menace, allowing readers to sense something off-kilter without immediately grasping the full scope of her deception.
Aidan represents the dark prince archetype reimagined for the modern psychological thriller. He’s charming enough to be believable as a love interest, yet dangerous enough to keep readers on edge. His obsession with Alexandra’s family history could easily veer into stalker territory, but Coryell manages to make his devotion feel almost romantic.
Narrative Craft: Style and Structure
Prose That Cuts Both Ways
Coryell’s writing style mirrors her protagonist’s psychological state—polished on the surface with an undercurrent of controlled chaos. The author demonstrates particular skill in balancing multiple tones: the corporate speak of Alexandra’s professional life, the intimate vulnerability of her internal monologue, and the sharp wit that emerges during moments of stress.
The narrative structure effectively uses the romance novel framework as a Trojan horse for much darker themes. Readers expecting a straightforward romantic thriller find themselves deep in psychological horror territory, yet the transition feels organic rather than jarring.
Pacing: A Steady Build to Explosive Revelation
The novel’s pacing deserves particular praise. Coryell understands that psychological suspense requires careful calibration—too slow, and readers lose interest; too fast, and the psychological elements feel underdeveloped. The author builds tension methodically, layering reveals that recontextualize earlier events without feeling manipulative.
Thematic Depth: Love, Legacy, and Moral Ambiguity
Nature vs. Nurture in Murderous Relationships
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its exploration of inherited trauma and whether Alexandra can escape her family legacy. Coryell doesn’t offer easy answers about whether psychopathy is genetic destiny or learned behavior. Instead, she presents Alexandra’s struggle as fundamentally human—the universal desire to be loved and accepted, even when you believe you’re unworthy of both.
The Commodification of Love
Through Alexandra’s profession, Coryell offers sharp commentary on modern dating culture. The idea of matching psychopaths becomes both literal plot device and metaphor for how we often seek partners who complement our dysfunction rather than challenge us to grow.
Technical Elements: Strengths and Limitations
What Works Exceptionally Well
The novel excels in several key areas:
- Character voice consistency – Alexandra’s narrative voice remains authentic throughout, even as revelations change our understanding of her reliability
- Atmospheric tension – Coryell creates a pervasive sense of unease that builds naturally from character interactions rather than forced plot devices
- Dark humor integration – The author successfully weaves comedy into horrific situations without undermining their impact
- Psychological authenticity – The portrayal of trauma responses and coping mechanisms feels researched and genuine
Areas for Improvement
While largely successful, the novel does have some weaknesses:
- Rushed ending – The final act, while shocking, feels somewhat compressed compared to the careful build-up. Rebecca’s revelation as Alexandra’s sister, while thematically appropriate, could have been better foreshadowed.
- Secondary character development – Some supporting characters, particularly those at Alexandra’s workplace, feel more like plot devices than fully realized people. Nicole’s antagonistic role, while serving the story’s needs, lacks the psychological complexity of the main trio.
- Convenience plotting – Certain coincidences strain credibility, particularly how easily various characters cross paths despite the novel’s urban setting.
Genre Conventions: Innovation Within Framework
Coryell demonstrates impressive skill in subverting reader expectations while honoring genre conventions. The novel functions simultaneously as:
- Psychological thriller with genuine suspense and character-driven tension
- Dark romance that questions what constitutes a healthy relationship
- Black comedy that finds humor in the darkest situations
- Family saga exploring intergenerational trauma
This genre-blending approach keeps readers off-balance in the best possible way.
Literary Merit: Beyond Genre Fiction
While firmly rooted in thriller conventions, Matchmaking for Psychopaths offers literary depth that elevates it beyond simple genre entertainment. Coryell’s exploration of identity, family legacy, and the nature of love provides substantial thematic weight.
The novel’s treatment of mental health, while occasionally simplified for plot purposes, generally avoids stigmatization. Alexandra’s condition isn’t presented as an excuse for behavior but as a factor that complicates her choices and relationships.
Comparison to Author’s Previous Work
Compared to Love Letters to a Serial Killer, this sophomore effort shows marked improvement in several areas:
- More sophisticated character development
- Better integration of humor and horror
- Stronger thematic coherence
- More confident prose style
However, the debut’s tighter focus gave it a more intense psychological impact that this broader canvas sometimes dilutes.
Similar Reads for Genre Enthusiasts
Readers who enjoy Matchmaking for Psychopaths should consider:
- You by Caroline Kepnes – for psychologically complex unreliable narrators
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – for twisted relationship dynamics
- Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess – for trauma-informed psychological exploration
- My Education by Susan Choi – for unconventional relationship structures
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – for psychological thriller elements
Final Verdict: A Worthy Addition to Psychological Thriller Canon
Matchmaking for Psychopaths succeeds more often than it stumbles, delivering a reading experience that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. Coryell has created something rare: a novel that functions as both guilty pleasure and legitimate literary exploration of contemporary relationship dynamics.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to provide easy moral judgments. Alexandra isn’t a victim or a villain but a complex person shaped by extraordinary circumstances. Her journey toward self-acceptance—even when that self is potentially dangerous—offers a twisted but strangely hopeful message about finding belonging.
While not perfect, the novel represents a significant step forward for Coryell as a writer. Her willingness to explore uncomfortable psychological territory while maintaining narrative momentum suggests a promising future in the genre.
For readers seeking psychological thrillers that challenge conventional morality while delivering genuine suspense, Matchmaking for Psychopaths offers a satisfying—if disturbing—exploration of love’s darker territories. It’s a book that will likely spark book club discussions and leave readers questioning their own relationship patterns.
- Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers, dark romance, and readers who appreciate morally complex characters navigating impossible situations.
