Featured Partner

Your Clinical Twin: AI Support Built Around Therapeutic Expertise

Built by a psychologist, Ecko Health is an AI mental health platform designed to reduce admin burden and support continuity of care between sessions.

Designed as an extension of your clinical self, Ecko learns your style and remembers what matters across your caseload.

Our interview with Ecko’s Clinical Lead explores what it means to use AI in a way that strengthens rather than replaces the human side of therapy.

Free for clinicians
Guided by your treatment plan
Your voice, your approach, amplified

Psychology Fiction



Psychology Fiction

Having added a psychology movies page to the website, it seemed logical to also add a page dedicated to psychology within fictional books and literature.


This page highlights the work of authors who are recognized for writing about psychology in an accurate and informative manner. It showcases the very best works of fiction written by psychologists and takes a look at some of the most popular fictional psychologists and psychological thrillers out there.


Jonathan Kellerman



Psychology Fiction

(Photo Credit: Paul Allison) 


In 1998 Jonathan Kellerman received a presidential citation at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention in San Francisco for his contribution to science through literature. Kellerman has written a series of best selling novels based on the crime solving exploits of fictional clinical psychologist Alex Delaware. In an APA article entitled "Boosting Psychology Through Fiction", Kellerman notes: 


"I wrote from the perspective of what I was, a psychologist...I wrote what I knew. I've been exposed to very troubling material as a psychologist, but here was a way to write my own story and play God by having the cases turn out the way I wanted them to".



The article points out that Alex Delaware's work ethic is one of quiet, professional observation because for Kellerman an empathetic psychologist is an ideal model for a detective. 



Jonathan Kellerman Talks About His Novel Obsession 






Great Psychological Fiction Books



Delusions of Clarity


Fictional Books Written By Psychologists



The Stethoscope Cure


From The Author



After years of writing nonfiction books about the complexities of adult life, I have turned to fiction in order to dig deeper into how we renew our creativity and hopefulness while remaining loyal to the roles and responsibilities that we hold dear. The Stethoscope Cure centers on a young psychiatrist just holding on by a thread as he tries to deal with the flood of vets coming into a VA hospital during the Vietnam War. This is a time when I, too, came of age professionally, doing my internship in the Boston VA hospital in the late Sixties. 


The story is not a thinly-disguised rendering of my own experience, though it does draw on what I observed at the time. I am fascinated by the inner life of therapists, particularly the wonderful irony that we are often able to help other people when we are so dearly in need of help ourselves. The struggle of Dr. Paul Gilverstein - the novel's main character - to be true to himself and his experiences without abandoning his responsibilities to others (his patients and his marriage , in particular) is a central question for us all today. The Stethoscope Cure offers an exploration of what it means to really listen to someone else, to truly hear and respond to those we are involved with.


You can buy this brilliant book on Amazon via the following link.


The Stethoscope Cure


Fictional Psychologists



DR. TONY HILL


Crime writer Val McDermid has written five psychology fiction books featuring clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Hill and in 2002 a T.V series "Wire in The Blood" featuring the fictional psychologist was launched. This very popular series ran until 2009.





ALEX CROSS 


Created by The Author James Patterson, Alex Cross has a PH.D. in psychology with Special concentration in the field of abnormal psychology and forensic psychology. Cross is a senior FBI agent and profiler. James Patterson has written numerous psychology fiction Alex cross novels; two of which (Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider) were adapted for the big screen, starring the wonderful Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross. 




Recent Articles

  1. Nihilist Penguin: Origin, Meaning, and Psychology

    May 22, 26 11:54 AM

    A lone penguin walking across ice toward distant mountains, illustrating the viral nihilist penguin meme and its psychological meaning.
    What is the nihilist penguin? Discover the origin of the viral clip, what it really shows, and why people read it as a symbol of despair, freedom, and walking away.

    Read More

  2. Psychology Articles by David Webb

    May 22, 26 11:15 AM

    Abstract illustration of a person reading with branching neural patterns, representing psychology and human insight
    Discover psychology articles by David Webb, featuring science-based insights into why we think, feel, and behave the way we do.

    Read More

  3. Sponsor a Psychology Website with Over a Million Yearly Visitors

    May 22, 26 06:49 AM

    All About Psychology platform reach: 100,000+ Substack subscribers, 200,000+ LinkedIn community, 300,000+ weekly search impressions, 1M+ social media followers
    Showcase your brand to a huge, engaged audience. Discover how to sponsor a psychology website trusted by over a million visitors a year.

    Read More


Know someone who loves psychology? Share this page with them.



Please help support this website by visiting the All About Psychology Amazon Store to check out an awesome collection of psychology books, gifts and T-shirts.


Psychology T-Shirts on Amazon
Psychology Gifts on Amazon




Back To The Top Of The Page


Go To The Psychology Book of The Month Page


Go From Psychology Fiction Back To The Home Page