The genre of psychological thriller relies on characters whose perceptions are at odds with reality, creating suspense about what is really going on. Common tropes of the genre include standard elements of mystery such as red herrings, and more philosophical concerns about the subjective nature of reality, which can easily be distorted or falsely constructed, and unreliable narrators whose substance use disorder or mental health conditions complicate the reader’s trust. For example, the 2015 novel The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, features a protagonist whose alcoholism fragments her memories, preventing her attempts to solve the mystery of a local missing woman.

The House in the Pines features many classic tropes of the psychological thriller genre. Maya is an unreliable narrator; her mental health and addictions to Klonopin and alcohol often distort reality. There are several central mysteries: the unexplained sudden deaths of Maya’s best friend Aubrey and Pittsfield artist Cristina, as well as the mystery surrounding Frank, who likes to lure young women out to a beautiful house in the woods. There are many red herrings as Maya searches for answers.

However, Reyes also subverts genre tropes.