Psycho: A Novel

Before the infamous new Netflix series Monster or Alfred Hitchcok's classic movie, there was Psycho--the chilling original novel inspired by the shocking crimes of Ed Gein.

"Icily terrifying!" --New York Times

Norman Bates loves his mother. She has been dead for the past 20 years, or so people think. Norman knows better, though.

Ever since leaving the hospital, he has lived with Mother in the old house up on the hill above the Bates Motel. One night, after a beautiful woman checks into the motel, Norman spies on her as she undresses. Norman can't help but spy on her.

Mother is there, though. She is there to protect Norman from his filthy thoughts. She is there to protect him with her butcher knife.

If you love to be scared, or are a fan of classic movies, then you know the story of Norman Bates, his mother, and the dark and frightening Bates Motel. Alfred Hitchcock's taut, shocking scare-fest starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh is a classic movie, as scary today as it was in 1960 when it was first released, and this is the 1959 novel upon which the movie is based.

It was here that the legend of the Bates Motel was born. Robert Bloch's groundbreaking novel changed the face of horror forever, introducing the world to the monster next door. Its unsettling portrayal of a seemingly normal man driven to madness by isolation and his own fractured psyche shocked readers in 1959.

Discover the psychological thriller that launched a horror dynasty, from Alfred Hitchcock's classic film to the latest true-crime obsession.

"Psycho all came from Robert Bloch's book." --Alfred Hitchcock
"Robert Bloch is one of the all-time masters." --Peter Straub

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Published May 25, 2010

227 pages

Average rating: 8.24

45 RATINGS

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siemelle900

Nov 28, 2025

10/10 stars

The book and the movie don't differ from each other in too many aspects aside from some minor details and descriptions of character. Otherwise, Hitchcock's movie followed the book pretty darn well! I'm not going to go over the plot of the book because when you know you know and most people, I think, know very well! This was a fast, well-written read and I'm glad I had a chance to sit down and dive in. I have one complaint and it's the same complaint I have for the 1960 film - in my opinion, I don't think anyone actually needed the explanation of what was going on at the end. Maybe it's because this is 2021 and psychology is better understood than it was during the time of the book and film release dates, but the explanation took something away from the story. Not enough to have me be super mad at either one, but the author did a really good job at showing that no one needed to be told.

Jayhawker

Jul 03, 2025

8/10 stars

we recently watched a movie about the making of the movie Psycho. We decided to read the actual book it was based on. The movie miscast Norman, based on the actual character in the book. It also miscast the sheriff and the detective. But it followed many of the elements of the book as a whole. I hadn't read this author before but I liked the way he wrote. The book moves along quickly and tells what happened to Norman after the famous murder!

Vickie Lang

Jan 02, 2025

10/10 stars

Different from the movie, but still very much enjoyable!

Luara

Sep 21, 2024

8/10 stars

I'm not saying that Alfred Hitchcock should get less credit for his masterpiece film, but maybe Bloch should get a little more. The film's plot and a lot of the dialogue were taken scene-by-scene from the novel, including the iconic last line.

xxOdiousOpus666

Dec 08, 2023

4/10 stars

Loved how dated it felt. Not so much horror.