What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Amateur
Chris Bohjalian · Book · 2026
If you loved The Amateur, start with Imperfect Women (Annie Weisman, 2026) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Amateur across media.
You were drawn to The Amateur because of how quickly a single, tragic accident pulls back the curtain on dark, suburban secrets.
Films on the same thread
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Olivia Newman · Film · 2026
Explores: Grief and healing, Intergenerational friendship, Hidden secrets.
Like the shocking discovery in The Amateur, this story reveals how a singular, unexpected event can fundamentally alter the trajectory of a life, leading to profound and hidden truths.
The Housemaid
Paul Feig · Film · 2025
Explores: Class Conflict, Gaslighting, Identity Theft.
If the unsettling exposure of predatory behavior in The Amateur captivated you, you will appreciate how this thriller peels back the layers of a dangerous, high-stakes domestic environment.
Strung
Malcolm D. Lee · Film · 2026
Much like the protagonist in The Amateur, this character finds her ordinary life upended by an elite social circle, turning a professional role into a harrowing test of survival.
The Crash
Film · 2026
This narrative mirrors the core premise of The Amateur, following a tragic moment of accidental violence that transforms a seemingly normal teenager into the subject of a murder trial.
Series on the same thread
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Explores: wealth inequality, midlife crisis, moral decay.
If you enjoyed the way The Amateur explores the dark underbelly of wealth, you will find this descent into moral decay and suburban crime equally gripping and morally complex.
Imperfect Women
Annie Weisman · Series · 2026
Explores: female friendship dynamics, hidden secrets, betrayal.
Similar to the investigation at the heart of The Amateur, this story uses a sudden death to dismantle the facade of a social group and reveal long-buried, toxic betrayals.
All Her Fault
Megan Gallagher · Series · 2025
Explores: Missing Child, Parental Fears, Suburban Secrets.
Just as a simple country club outing turns into a nightmare in The Amateur, this story begins with a routine errand that spirals into a terrifying, suburban mystery.
56 Days
Lisa Zwerling · Series · 2026
Explores: Drama, Crime.
Like The Amateur, this reconstruction of a deadly relationship examines the gap between public perception and the dark reality of a crime linked to a specific, intimate setting.
Podcasts on the same thread
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
If the intersection of sports and scandal in The Amateur intrigued you, these investigations provide a similarly sharp, cynical look at how elite athletic culture breeds unexpected criminal behavior.
Crimes of the Times
L.A. Times Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Criminal Justice, Courtroom Drama, Miscarriage of Justice.
This podcast echoes the investigative precision found in The Amateur, focusing on the legal fallout and hidden truths behind shocking crimes that occur within seemingly respectable, ordinary lives.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Amateur based on a true story?
The Amateur is a work of fiction written by Chris Bohjalian. While the story centers on a tragic accident at a country club in 1978, the narrative and the subsequent legal trial of the teenage golf prodigy are products of the author's imagination.
What is the central premise of The Amateur?
The Amateur follows a young golf prodigy who accidentally kills a caddy with a stray ball. This incident triggers an investigation that uncovers a web of predatory men, secret affairs, and a high-stakes trial that places the teenager at the center of a dark and shocking mystery.
Who is the author of The Amateur?
The Amateur was written by Chris Bohjalian. He is a number one New York Times bestselling author known for writing other notable works such as Midwives and The Flight Attendant.
When is The Amateur set?
The Amateur is set in 1978. The story begins on the first Thursday in August, a time when the protagonist's life is forever altered by a freak accident at the country club that leads to a complex and dark criminal investigation.