Psychological thriller

HER PERFECT TWIN. YOUR NEW OBSESSION.'Sarah Bonner's debut novel made my jaw drop. There are so many twists in this story, I never knew what was coming next. You won't want to miss this one!' Samantha Downing, author of My Lovely Wife'A wonderfully twisty, and twisted, thriller that'll have you up until the early hours, and with an ending that you will NOT see coming. Brilliant' S J Watson, author of Before I Go To Sleep'A terrifyingly vivid psychological thriller - paranoid, claustrophobic and captivating' Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The AppealWhen Megan discovers photographs of her estranged identical twin sister on her husband's phone, she wants answers. Leah already has everything Megan has ever wanted. Fame, fortune, freedom to do what she wants. And when Megan confronts Leah, an argument turns to murder. The only way Megan can get away with killing her twin is to become her. But then lockdown hits. How can she continue living two lives? And what happens if someone else knows her secret too? HER PERFECT TWIN IS THE MOST ADDICTIVE, TWISTY THRILLER YOU'LL READ IN 2022. DON'T MISS THIS WILD RIDE OF A NOVEL.'Brilliantly twisty and thoroughly entertaining - an extremely impressive debut' TM Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday 'A deliciously sticky web of a tale that snared me from the very first page and didn't let me go until the shocking end' C. L. Pattison, author of The Housemate'Intense, sharp, and surprising. Everything I love in a thriller' Jo Jakeman, author of Safe House'A perfect storm of sly revenge and rivalry' LV Matthews, author of The Prank'Twisty, compelling and clever, this is a fabulous debut with a heroine you'll root for' Penny Batchelor, author of Her New Best Friend'I was gripped by this unpredictable rollercoaster of a novel! Full of conniving characters, clever twists and high stakes. It had me constantly wondering what the characters were going to try next and who was going to prevail' Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs Neighbour'More deliciously twisty than Gone Girl . . . Dark and compelling, Her Perfect Twin is the perfect thriller. Sharp as a knife and so twisty, it hooked me from the very first page' Vikki Patis, author of In The DarkReal readers love Her Perfect Twin:'An outstanding debut from Sarah Bonner. I have never read anything quite like it''Cleverly plotted with great characters . . . A top notch thriller!''This book definitely had me hooked. It's one of those that gets under your skin''A devious, twisty story laced with dark humour, with characters you'll love and love to hate . . . Echoes of Hitchcock and du Maurier, but also more contemporary thrillers like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. Brilliant''Absolutely amazing'

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Book Synopsis'A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN STORY OF SISTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES ARE PROFOUNDLY CHANGED BY WAR. GREY IS NOT AFRAID TO SEARCH IN THE SHADOWS FOR THE TRUTH. A TERRIFIC AND THOUGHT PROVOKING READ' ELIZABETH BUCHANIdentical twin sisters Freya and Shona take very different paths, leading to long-buried family secrets that reverberate through the generations in this thrilling novel of psychological suspense by the author of Tell Me How It Ends. There are some choices you can't come back from.It is 1944 in war-battered London. Freya and Shona are identical twins, close despite their different characters. Freya is a newly qualified doctor treating the injured in an East End hospital, while Shona has been recruited by the SOE. The sisters are so physically alike that they can fool people into thinking that one is the other. It's a game they've played since childhood. But when Shona persuades her twin to swap roles to meet her Polish lover, he is angered at being tricked.Then Shona proposes a far more dangerous swapping of roles. At first Freya refuses but finally she agrees, with consequences that threaten not only the happiness but the lives of both sisters.Forty-five years later in November 1989 Freya, now aged 69, is watching television with her daughter Kirsty. Freya is gripped as she witnesses crowds of Berliners attempting to knock down their hated Wall. This sight stirs long buried memories of her own and her sister's war, especially the tragedy of the Warsaw Uprising - memories that she has never shared with anyone. Even if she wanted to reveal them now, she can't. She's suffering from a brain tumour and is unable to speak although her reason is unimpaired. And this is what she's thinking: if they succeed in knocking down the Wall, what secrets will come tumbling through? If her own were revealed, it would be devastating for all those close to her, especially her daughter.Trade ReviewMoving smoothly between two time periods, Grey investigates how secrets from the past continue to warp the present * The Sunday Times *This psychological suspense delivers not one, but two gripping heroines * Sunday Post *a perceptive, engaging novel... The plot is a finely carved jigsaw, the pieces fitting together seamlessly * Shots Magazine *A powerful story * Choice *A beautifully written story of sisters and their families whose lives are profoundly changed by war. A terrific and thought-provoking read * Elizabeth Buchan, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME *I enjoyed it very much...involving and exciting with not one but two engaging heroines and a story that takes many unexpected turns * Adele Geras author of DANGEROUS WOMEN *Told with masterly clarity - an absorbing journey through a slice of Poland's gripping wartime history and a heart-rending exploration of the effect on one family of secrets kept for too long * Carolyn Kirby, author of WHEN WE FALL *

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Book SynopsisShe says he is a killer. He says she is delusional. Somebody is lying.When Claire Fontaine learns that her ex-husband Simon is marrying again, to a woman with a teenage daughter, her blood runs cold. She is sure that years ago Simon molested her own daughter and was responsible for her mysterious death. She can't let him get away with it a second time. Vandalism, harassment; whatever it takes, Claire will expose him.Simon doesn't know where Claire got this delusion from; her daughter's death was ruled a suicide, but she has always blamed herself - is she just lashing out? Wanting to protect his new fiancee, he hires Sloane Wilson, an ex-cop turned 'sin-eater', whose job it is to handle delicate cases without getting the police involved, to get Claire off his back.Sloane must navigate the wreckage of Claire and Simon's marriage to discover the truth. Two people with conflicting stories and a whole lot of reasons to want to hurt each other. Is she crazy or is he manipulative? And can Sloane stay clear-headed enough to figure it out?Trade ReviewPacked with suspense and surprises, it is hard to put down * Daily Mail *Remarkably polished first mystery * New York Times *A hangman's noose of a thriller, airtight and inescapable, each strand expertly braided, each loop perfectly knotted. Harrowing yet humane - a novel as provocative as it is suspenseful -- A.J. FinnAn Inconvenient Woman is beautifully, beautifully written and suspenseful from the chilling opening until the end -- James PattersonAbsolutely stunning! A brilliant concept meets perfect execution in An Inconvenient Woman, a twisting thriller in which a looming tragedy and a horrific crime from the past are masterfully woven together. It's hard to believe that this is Buelens's first novel; I truly hope more are in the future-preferably the near future -- Jeffery DeaverOld problems told by conflicting voices. A new, sharp view of female realty. Sin Eater! What a fascinating concept. I could not put it down! -- Anne PerryAddictive, immersive, unputdownable. The powerful women at the beating heart of this beautifully-wrought thriller - women with grudges and looking for a certain brand of justice - give the old school noir vibe a thoroughly modern energy. As deep and human as it is rocket-paced, An Inconvenient Woman is a slick, accomplished debut -- Lisa UngerStephanie Buelens has the freshness and originality of a new writer, and the style and assuredness of an old master. For true fans of the psychological thriller, An Inconvenient Woman is as good a debut novel as I've read in years. Beautifully written, tense, taut, and tightly plotted, with fully developed characters who may or may not be telling the whole truth. A true mind-twister that will keep you guessing until the end -- Nelson DeMilleBy turns lyrical and enraged, but always poignant, An Inconvenient Woman provides relentless thrills. Buelens will inevitably invite comparisons to Liane Moriarty and Gillian Flynn - a taut, gripping noir mystery that is as timely as it is ferocious -- Lyndsay FayeA dark and riveting thriller with unexpected twists at every turn. I loved the two women at the heart of the story -- Camilla LachbergI wouldn't hesitate to recommend this masterpiece of apparent inevitability and tension building to anybody * Mystery People *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Deliver Me comes a gripping new thriller with a twist you'll never see coming! Thirty-two-year-old Jessica is newly divorced and has returned home to live with her parents whilst she puts the pieces of her life back together. But Jessica isn't the only one with problems, as her mother, Jean, has recently been diagnosed with dementia. Shortly after Jessica's arrival, one of the neighbours falls to her death, in what appears to be a terrible accident. However, Jean claims that the woman was murdered by her husband and that she witnessed the whole thing. With Jean's memory rapidly deteriorating, her family dismiss her story, believing Jean is confused. But when Jessica learns that the couple next door's marriage may have been in trouble, she begins to wonder if her mother did see something after all. Jessica is determined to discover the truth, but soon uncovers much more than she bargained for... An addictive psychological thriller for fans of Rachel Abbott and CL Taylor.See what readers are saying about Karen Cole:'This is one of the best books I've ever read. Gripped me from page one' Sue, Amazon reviewer'If you like Karin Slaughter you will love this!'Cath, Amazon reviewer'That reveal?!? I was constantly guessing throughout and I still didn't see that ending coming even though the clues are there!'Chanel, Amazon reviewer'This book is stunning - I was completely hooked from start to finish'Donna, Amazon reviewer

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Book Synopsis'Compulsive, twisty and deliciously dark' 5* reader review'Another brilliant book by Charlotte Duckworth!' 5* reader review'A fabulous twisty thriller' 5* reader review'Tense and gripping' 5* reader review'Addictive and devourable and I loved every second' 5* reader reviewFour pregnant women. Three nights of pampering at an exclusive yoga retreat. One too many deadly secrets . . .On a remote farm in the deepest Devonshire countryside, four pregnant women arrive at an exclusive yoga retreat for a five-star weekend of prenatal pampering. The location is idyllic.Their host, Selina, is eager to teach them all she knows about pregnancy and motherhood. But, like Selina, each of the women has a secret.And secrets can be deadly . . .Praise for The Sanctuary'Dark, compelling and wonderfully creepy' Karen Hamilton'A superbly plotted thriller - I could not put it down' Celia Rees'A fast-paced, twisty thriller' Nikki Smith'A writer at the top of her thriller game' Louise Mumford'Compelling' Jess Ryder'Full of tension and secrets and so many twists!' Lauren North'Gripping' Emma Christie'Wonderfully sinister and compelling' Caroline Hulse'Duckworth's best yet' Rebecca Fleet'A completely addictive read' Sophie FlynnTrade Review[A] dark, tense thriller * Bella *Dark, compelling and wonderfully creepy - a definite must-read * Karen Hamilton *Duckworth's best yet * Rebecca Fleet *A completely addictive read where no-one can be trusted and nothing is as it seems. I loved every page * Sophie Flynn *A perfect domestic suspense, wonderfully sinister and compelling with a pounding sense of upcoming doom. A real page-turner * Caroline Hulse *Duckworth has triumphed in fusing the unassuming serene with the abject sinister in her propulsive novel, The Sanctuary. With every chapter, there is layered tension and intrigue. I ripped through it * LV Matthews *I sped through this sinister locked-room mystery which is both gripping and compulsive with twists galore. More please Charlotte! * Emily Freud *A superbly plotted thriller - I could not put it down * Celia Rees *A fast-paced, twisty thriller about pregnancy and pampering in an isolated retreat where nothing is quite as it seems. I thoroughly enjoyed it * Nikki Smith *A writer at the top of her thriller game. Suspense, intrigue and a setting to die for * Louise Mumford *A compelling read. All credit to Charlotte for wrapping me up in the story and leading me astray * Jess Ryder *Full of tension and secrets and so many twists! I LOVED it! Another thrilling read from Charlotte Duckworth * Lauren North *Gripping, insightful and a wee bit creepy at times, I raced through The Sanctuary * Emma Christie *I always really enjoy Charlotte's books - the twists and turns will keep you riveted * Claire McGowan *Addictively readable and packed with secrets, I flew through this! * Allie Reynolds *Taut with tension from the outset and suspicious of everyone, you'll not be able to put this down until you reach the deliciously satisfying conclusion * Sandie Jones *Like a game of twister the shocks and surprises will tie you in knots * Peterborough Telegraph *Truly unsettling . . . creepy * Belfast Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisHe gave her everything. But can she trust him?'Get ready for a creepy, twisty ride' HeatLauren can't wait to leave London for a fresh start in the countryside with her new partner Paul and his two young children. She never thought she'd be so lucky. A dream glass house in the woods, a ready-made family, a second chance. But as dark rumours swirl about their new home, Lauren begins to question their happily-ever-after. When they met, she was at her most vulnerable. She would trust Paul with her life. But should she?'Tense, creepy and utterly chilling' Charlotte Duckworth'I devoured it in a single sitting' Charlotte Philby'Sly, tense and heartbreaking' L V Matthews'Unputdownable' Harriet Walker READERS LOVE WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND'Gripping, tense and chilling' 5* reader review'Heart-pounding' 5* reader review'Couldn't put it down' 5* reader review'A really brilliant thriller' 5* reader review'Oh my god, this book blew me away!' 5* reader reviewTrade ReviewWith all the ingredients needed to be turned into a cracking ITV thriller, get ready for a creepy, twisty ride * Heat *What She Left Behind is a masterpiece in the suspense thriller genre. Sly, tense, and heartbreaking in equal measure. I absolutely loved it * L V Matthews *Dark and menacing, What She Left Behind is a pacy, accomplished thriller that kept me reading on as the tension built with every page, until I had devoured it in a single sitting - never guessing the final twist * Charlotte Philby *[A] nerve-jangling thriller * Peterborough Telegraph *Emily Freud's What She Left Behind is a twisting evocative story which I devoured in just a few sittings. Brilliantly written and with a chilling isolated setting - I loved it! * Lia Middleton *Unsettling and unputdownable - I whizzed through this * Harriet Walker *I raced through this compelling novel in just two days. Tense, creepy and utterly chilling. What She Left Behind is easily the best thriller I've read this year. It's a proper page turner. So creepy and clever * Charlotte Duckworth *Set against the backdrop of a 'normal' life, this story simmers with foreboding and menace. The build-up to the ending is perfectly paced and executed. A highly recommended read for lovers of dark domestic noir thrillers. 5 stars from me * J. A. Corrigan *What She Left Behind is the perfect domestic thriller, truly gripping and shimmering with a dark undertone. My heart was in my mouth as I raced to the end. Mind-blowing and utterly compelling * Vikki Patis *A claustrophobic and very clever domestic noir thriller with a great sense of setting, believable characters and an excellent twist - I raced through this * Catherine Cooper *What a clever, involving and suspenseful novel about how vulnerability and self-doubt can be exploited so deeply. Emily Freud has written scenes which gave me goosebumps . . . Not to be missed * Jane Lythell *A deliciously dark and claustrophobic page-turner with a heartbreaking twist * Sophie Flynn *One of the best twists I've read in years. You won't want to miss this clever, addictive novel from Emily Freud * Sarah Lawton *Loved this dark, pacey and gripping [novel] with a twist that knocked me sideways. A killer thriller! * Kate Maxwell *What She Left Behind is an atmospheric and creepy thriller with a jaw-dropping ending. The twists and turns will have you hooked * Miranda Smith *An author whose work I'd be interested to read again and who appreciates how to leave enough breadcrumbs to tantalise thriller readers all book long * Peterborough Telegraph *I devoured this book - beautifully written, with masterful characterisation and that triumphant climatic finale took me by surprise * Mira V. Shah *

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Book Synopsis'The ending gave me shivers' Claire Douglas'A plot that tightens like a vice' Erin KellyIt all started to go wrong the day the Wrights moved in next doorMyles and Lana Butler live on a gorgeous new development in Wimbledon, leaning on a mortgage that is just within reach. When one of Myles' investments fails they are bound to lose everything.Gabriel and Holly Wright have just moved in next door. The Wrights are sophisticated, ambitious and apparently very wealthy. At an after-dinner drink with their new neighbours, Myles and Lana share their worries and a solution is suggested between the couples. Life Insurance fraud. For a cut of the pay out, the Wrights would help them.No one thought they were being serious. No one agreed they'd actually go through with it. And no one mentioned it would involve murder.Then, one night, Lana doesn't come home.Praise for The End of Us'Witty, dark, unpredictable. A book to be devoured in one sitting' Karen Hamilton'It reminded me of Hitchcock at his best. Tense, twisty, dark and so unpredictable' Claire Douglas 'The End Of Us is that rare book - beautifully written and impossible to put down' Fiona Cummins 'I loved it - easily Kiernan's best yet' Cara Hunter'Terrifically compelling. And that last line. Oh my. That is how a book should end' John Marrs'A superbly written tangled web of utter brilliance' Joanna CannonTrade ReviewAbsolutely loved The End Of Us, it reminded me of Hitchcock at his best. Tense, twisty, dark and so unpredictable I couldn't read it fast enough to see how it all played out. The ending gave me shivers. My favourite Olivia Kiernan book yet! * Claire Douglas *The End Of Us is that rare book - beautifully written and impossible to put down. A dark, complex and nuanced thriller, its protagonist Myles Butler is a Ripley for the 21st century, rotten to the core of his luxury lifestyle, but impossible to resist * Fiona Cummins *The End of Us is exactly the type of book I love to read: witty, dark, unpredictable, well-written and with great insight into the darker side of human nature. A book to be devoured in one sitting -- Karen HamiltonI loved it - easily Kiernan's best yet -- Cara HunterI loved everything about this stylish, addictive thriller from Olivia Kiernan. The End of Us entertains, it shocks, and it asks fascinating moral questions of its characters - and readers (my sympathies and allegiances were all over the place!) Beautifully written, masterfully executed. And THAT ending . . . -- Caz FrearA deliciously dark domestic noir - twisty, unpredictable and gripping -- J P DelaneyA golden couple whose reach exceeds their grasp, and their new neighbours who suggest a deal-with-the-devil solution. Beautiful prose and a plot that tightens like a vice -- Erin KellySickeningly good cat-and-mouse game of fraud with a spot of murder for good measure, in a bougie enclave of Wimbledon. Delicious right down to the last killer line. -- Dom NolanTense and twisty, this novel sits at the intersection of Hitchcock and Ripley - really enjoyed it. And that ending. Deliciously dark -- Catherine Ryan HowardIntoxicating, classy, twisty and just a total joy to read . . . I adored it -- Charlotte DuckworthThe characters jumped out of the pages and the chilling twists just kept coming. -- Nikki SmithAn unputdownable, gulp-in-one-sitting, utterly brilliant read -- C S GreenThis super chilling, heart-stoppingly suspenseful psychological thriller is not to be missed -- Steph BroadribbDark and compelling, with complex relationships that reveal shocking twists, I was sucked into the world of Belvedere Court and its wealthy inhabitants, where the gloss of respectability is only a veneer. -- Sam BlakeCompelling -- Harriet TyceKiernan's greatest achievement is to make Myles such a sympathetic character that his increasingly violent actions seem almost sensible. * Literary Review *Kiernan has delivered a standalone of style and substance. * Irish Times *A nerve-jangling thriller. * Woman's Own *If you love the old-style Hollywood glamour of films like Double Indemnity, this domestic noir tale, set in the contemporary opulence of a luxury Wimbledon housing estate, will do the trick. * Daily Mail *Strong characterisation, an unpredictable plot and an unexpected conclusion will keep readers gripped. Kiernan has proved she won't be confined to one genre and we look forward to what she does next. * Irish Independent *A gripping thriller * Bella *Beware, this psychological thriller is definitely a sit-up-all-night read * Woman's Weekly *It's a dark, twisted and satisfying read, which never lets up its pace. It's unpredictable, ingenious and brilliantly written. Read it. * Irish Examiner *Hitchcock and Highsmith would both have been proud if they'd written suburban horror-story The End of Us . . .You won't be able to stop reading. Each unfolding episode is unbearable. A bravura thriller. * The Tablet *Kiernan proves she's every bit as good at depicting the dark side of our interior lives as she is with her rollercoaster police procedurals. * Westmeath Examiner *Tom Ripley would see the narrator of this deliciously Highsmithian chiller as a soulmate. . . . * Telegraph (Best Books of 2023) *I really enjoyed this! Switchback Highsmith -- Ian RankinI couldn't stop reading. Perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and Patricia Highsmith * Jo Callaghan *

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Book Synopsis'Hausmann is a force to be reckoned with' DAVID BALDACCIThey say he's a murderer. But how could he be?Berlin, 2017: several young girls have been disappearing for the past fourteen years. Red ribbons show the police the way to their bodies, but there's no trace of the killer. One evening, internationally renowned philosophy professor and anthropologist Walter Lesniak is arrested on the suspicion of the murders in the presence of his daughter, Ann.'Professor Death' becomes the headline of the tabloid press and Lesniak himself refuses to cooperate with the police. Ann is certain this is all some kind of mistake. And she will prove it. Yet, with the arrest of her father, she begins a journey into the unknown . . .READERS LOVE ROMY HAUSMANN'Ingenious' 5 * reader review'Loved every minute' 5* reader review'The best thriller I have ever read' 5* reader review'Spellbinding' 5* reader review'Absolutely brilliant' 5* reader reviewTrade ReviewA deeply unsettling psychological thriller that will get under your skin . . . True crime fans will love this one * Hot Press *PRAISE FOR ROMY HAUSMANN: 'Hausmann is a force to be reckoned with' * David Baldacci *A peerless exercise in suspense * Financial Times *Claustrophobic, terrifying and fiercely compelling * Daily Mail *If you read only one thriller this year, choose this one * Alice Feeney *[B]eautifully written, intriguing and very compelling * Peter James *

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Book SynopsisA young woman's carefully constructed fantasy world implodes in this brilliantly conceived novel that blurs distinctions between right and wrong, comedy and tragedy, imagination and reality: "Surreal . . . filled with technicolor lies and terrible truths" (Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling and Hugo-award winning author).Most Anticipated by CrimeReads · Good Housekeeping · BookRiot · Goodreads · Bookish · OverDrive An Aardvark Book Club pickKatrina Kim may be broke, the black sheep of her family, and slightly unhinged, but she isn't a stalker. Her obsession with her co-worker, Kurt, is just one of many coping mechanisms-like her constant shape and number rituals, or the way scenes from her favorite children's book bleed into her vision whenever she feels anxious or stressed.But when Katrina finds a cryptic message from Kurt that implies he's aware of her surveillance, her tenuous hold on a normal life crumbles. Driven by compulsion, she enacts the most powerful ritual she has to reclaim control-a midnight visit to the Cayatoga Bridge-and arrives just in time to witness Kurt's suicide. Before he jumps, he slams her with a devastating accusation: his death is all her fault.Horrified, Katrina combs through the clues she's collected about Kurt over the last three years, but each revelation uncovers a menacing truth: for every moment she was watching him, he was watching her. And the past she thought she'd left behind? It's been following her more closely than she ever could have imagined.A gripping page-turner, as well as a sensitive exploration of mental health, Liar, Dreamer, Thief is an intimate portrayal of life in all its complexities-and the dangers inherent in unveiling people's most closely guarded secrets.Includes a Reading Group Guide.

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Book SynopsisDetective Carter knows all about torture—but he’s never known a case as dark as this one. The Six… An abandoned building goes up in flames. Six women are chained inside and left to die—the truth is left to burn with them. Only one piece of evidence remains, but will it be enough to find their killer? The Detective… Retired detective Warren Carter has been suffocated by grief for his wife and is looking for a new start. But when he gets a call that cuts to the heart of the force, investigating a corrupt police officer, he has to accept. This time, though, he’s going to have to face his demons and work out who to trust when the truth is guarded by his own colleagues. The Bad Cop… It was supposed to be the perfect crime: they knew the system well enough to beat it and get away with murder. But they didn’t know Detective Carter, and how far a man will go when he has nothing left to lose… Their Last Breath is the gripping new thriller perfect for fans of Line of Duty, from the bestselling author of Duplicity and Into The Darkness.

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Book SynopsisGlamorous messiah or charlatan? A mask of beauty hides deadly secrets in #1 New York Times and Amazon Charts bestselling author Gregg Olsen’s mesmerizing novel of suspense. In the Pacific Northwest, detective Lindsay Jackman is investigating the murder of a young journalist found at the bottom of a ravine. Lindsay soon learns that the victim was writing an exposé. Her subject: a charismatic wellness guru who’s pulled millions into her euphoric orbit… To hear Marnie Spellman tell it, when she was a child, a swarm of bees lifted her off the ground and toward the sunlight, illuming her spiritual connection with nature—an uncanny event on which Marnie built a cosmetics empire and became a legend, a healer, and the queen of holistic health and eternal beauty. In her inner circle is an intimate band of devotees called the Hive. They share Marnie’s secrets of success—including one cloaked in darkness for twenty years. Determined to uncover the possibly deadly mysteries of the group, Lindsay focuses her investigation on Marnie and the former members of the Hive, who are just as determined to keep Lindsay from their secrets as they are to maintain their status.Trade ReviewAn Amazon Best Book of the Month: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense “Readers who relish the aftershocks of cult exploitation will turn every page with keen anticipation.” —Kirkus Reviews “The Hive is Gregg Olsen at his finest. Exciting, anxiety provoking, and twisty…You will stay up all night reading…not wanting to put it down until the final and shocking conclusion. This book will take you right down a rabbit hole you never suspected.” —Mystery & Suspense Magazine “Mesmerizing! Gregg Olsen tautly reveals layer after layer of lies, secrets, and betrayals in an increasingly horrifying exposé of one cult leader and her terrible sway over others. Forget the evil men do. These women will have you fearing for your life.” —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author “The Hive is a riveting thriller, a tsunami of a story that starts out strong and absolutely knocks you over at the end. The characters are fascinating, their world so real and absorbing—I was transfixed from the very start. Gregg Olsen is such a compelling writer.” —Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author “In this gripping thriller, everything is not as it seems, and beauty is only skin deep. The Hive is a brilliantly engrossing read—exactly what we have come to expect from Gregg Olsen.” —Karin Slaughter, New York Times and internationally bestselling author “A charismatic wellness guru, a dead young journalist, and a slew of secrets are the ingredients that make up this fiendishly fun thriller. The Hive will have readers buzzing.” —Greer Hendricks, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Wife Between Us “Gregg Olsen’s The Hive is a fast-paced, intriguing, intense, and suspenseful read that is as creepy as it is fantastic. Brilliant, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and original, The Hive will keep you up at night and leave you reeling long after you’ve finished it. Every page carries weight in this novel. There are plenty of twists and turns to satisfy even the most seasoned crime fiction reader, and the characters feel authentic and alive in ways that only Olsen can achieve.” —Lisa Regan, #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series “Die-hard Gregg Olsen fans will love The Hive; new readers will become fans. Olsen deftly guides the reader through the pages, cranking up the suspense as long-held secrets rise to the surface. The result is compulsively page turning as Olsen keeps the reader’s mind buzzing in suspense. He hooks the reader as a dark crime from the past collides with a crime from the present.” —Kendra Elliot, Wall Street Journal bestselling author “Gregg Olsen’s The Hive begins with a fascinating premise and a spellbinding opening scene that held me in its grip as I flew through the pages. Olsen expertly weaves together a multilayered tale told by a complex array of unforgettable characters in his latest jaw-dropping thriller. In this dark and dangerously addictive read buzzing with secrets, betrayal, and murder, queen bees and wannabes take on a whole new meaning. Not to be missed.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How I Lied

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Book SynopsisFamily secrets, revenge, and righteous fury collide in an international bestselling novel of psychological suspense and intrigue. Clara and Henrik are married and living in a beautiful inherited villa in Oslo. She is a single-mindedly ambitious child-rights activist at the Ministry of Justice. Having grown up in rural Western Norway, she is also an Oslo outsider. Henrik is a doctor from a well-to-do Oslo family. Though their marriage is under serious strain, they share a devotion to their twin sons and their work. Outwardly, they’re a successful couple both dedicated to saving lives. Then a Pakistani Norwegian child is admitted to Henrik’s hospital and dies in his care. The boy had clearly been the victim of child abuse. Soon after, a related murder rocks the city. It won’t be the last. The events unearth years of trauma, secrets, and buried resentments at the heart of Clara and Henrik’s fragile marriage. Little by little, in the wake of these shattering crimes, the veneer of normalcy begins to fall away. But even then, nothing is as it appears.Trade Review“A refreshingly different kind of thriller. The story is riveting, the plot artful, with constant twists and surprises and a serious underlying theme. I devoured the book in two evenings, but the characters are still with me…” —Maja Lunde, internationally bestselling author of The History of Bees

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Book SynopsisA victim on display. A detective on the rails. Shopping with her sister, DI Amy Winter is admiring a Valentine’s Day window display of a perfect bride encrusted in diamonds and resplendent in lace—until she notices blood oozing from the mannequin’s mouth. This is no stunt. A post-mortem reveals the victim was left to die on her macabre throne for all to see. When a second victim is found, it emerges that both women were ‘Sugar Babes’ arranging dates with older men online—and Amy finds herself hunting an accomplished psychopath. As she tracks down the killer, Amy’s instincts go into overdrive when the charismatic head of the agency behind the display makes no attempt to hide his fascination with her serial-killer parents. What exactly does he want from Amy? With her own world in freefall as her biological mother, Lillian Grimes, appeals her conviction, Amy pushes the boundaries of police procedure when a third ‘Sugar Babe’ disappears…Is she as much at risk as the killer’s victims?

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Book SynopsisThe Amazon Charts bestselling series. What really happened in the forest? Hidden crimes and secrets of the past converge in a riveting thriller by Anne Frasier, the New York Times bestselling author of Find Me. No strangers to evil, criminal profiler Reni Fisher and detective Daniel Ellis both still grapple with traumatizing pasts. It unites them. So has a crime they must solve before someone else dies. At a campsite on California’s Pacific Crest Trail, a guide is murdered and three young hikers vanish without a trace. The only lead is a puzzle in itself: a video of the crime scene, looking eerily staged, uploaded to social media. The girl who posted it can’t be found. Is it a viral hoax gone unspeakably wrong, or is there something more sinister at play in the forest? The case intensifies when one of the missing is found wandering down a dirt road, confused and afraid. As Reni and Daniel struggle to sort fact from fiction, a secret past collides with the present, threatening to sever their relationship. Are some truths too much to bear? Will this be the case that finally breaks them?

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Book SynopsisRitual murder. Archaic clues. A visionary killer. In this heart-stopping novel by the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Sydney Rose Parnell series, words can kill. On the muddy banks of the Calumet River, a body has been found posed next to a series of mysterious glyphs and bearing wounds from a ritualistic slaying. Chicago detective Addie Bisset knows only one man who can decipher the message left by the killer: her friend Dr. Evan Wilding. A brilliant forensic semiotician, Evan decodes the etchings as Viking Age runes. They suggest either human sacrifice or righteous punishment. But to what god? And for what sins? Only one thing is clear from the disturbing runic riddles: there are more victims to come. As Evan races to determine the identity of the Viking Poet, he and Addie uncover the killer’s most terrifying secret yet: the motive. This startling discovery puts Evan’s life in mortal danger, and verse by ancient verse, time is running out.Trade ReviewAn Amazon Best Book of the Month: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense “Well-researched…” —Kirkus Reviews “[In] this intense psychological thriller…Evan and Addie race to prevent more bloodshed. Hints of a romantic relationship between the pair enliven the story, and references to Beowulf and Viking history add depth. Readers will hope to see more of Addie and Evan.” —Publishers Weekly “Brilliant Evan Wilding, with his goshawk and unusual friendships, will fascinate those who read for character.” —Library Journal “The moment I finished this intelligent and pulse-pounding psychological thriller, I was ready for Book Two…Dr. Evan Wilding is one of the most interesting fictional characters I’ve met in some time…Author Nickless’s prose is crisp and, at times, poetic. Her descriptions are vivid but balanced. I became immediately attached to her engaging and well-drawn characters. In some respects, At First Light is reminiscent of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I highly recommend this book to fans of fast-paced thrillers that include riddles, ancient languages and literature.” —Claudia N. Oltean, for the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union “At First Light is a stunner of a tale. Barbara Nickless has fashioned a deep exploration into moral depravity and the dark depths of the human soul in a fashion not seen since the brilliant David Fincher film SE7EN. This wholly realized tale is reminiscent of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Scottoline at their level best.” —Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author

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Book SynopsisIn this gripping thriller from the bestselling authors of Spare Room and Say Her Name, one woman’s mysterious death has led to a lifetime of pain. Can her daughter find out why? “A compelling psychological mystery that will keep you guessing.” —Woman’s Weekly Lawyer Gabby Lewis always knew she would die young. Since her mother’s death twenty-five years ago, she’s dreaded her upcoming fortieth birthday, the same age her mother died. When she discovers a connection between her mother and a suspicious mansion house, Ocean Haven, Gabby begins to suspect that her mother’s death wasn’t an accident, it was murder. Returning home Gabby sets out to uncover the truth despite her family, friends and the local police all telling her to stop. When she starts to develop the same mysterious symptoms that led to her mother’s death, she is certain she’s on the right track. But will she be able to catch the killer in time? Or will she become another victim of a murderer desperate to keep the past buried? Praise for Say Her Name “My book of the year so far.” —Lee ChildTrade Review“A compelling psychological mystery that will keep you guessing.” —Woman’s Weekly

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Book SynopsisEdgar Award Winner for Best Paperback Original. A secret love becomes a fatal affair in a twisting novel of suspense by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Joe Hart. When novelist Andy Drake returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father, a reconnection with his childhood friend Rachel escalates into a secret love affair. For Rachel, struggling to maintain the facade of a picture-perfect life, it’s an escape from an emotionally abusive marriage. Then Andy receives an anonymous note warning him to end the affair. Or else. Whoever’s been watching is going to make Andy pay. Weeks later, Rachel’s husband, David, is shot to death. Rachel and her two young sons vanish without a trace. One misstep, one careless reveal, and Andy could look as guilty as sin. Clue by clue, as his investigation into the mystery unfolds, Andy discovers that he and Rachel weren’t the only ones keeping secrets. Nothing in this quiet neighborhood is as it seems. No one peeking from behind the curtains of their homes can be trusted. And the worst is yet to come. Because David isn’t the only one who will die.Trade Review“Hart remains a suspense writer to watch.” —Publishers Weekly “Or Else is a thriller/suspense tour de force. Joe Hart has knocked it out of the park with a start-to-finish roller coaster ride of perfectly executed twists and expertly timed chills. Deep character development and rich narrative seals Or Else’s place as the not-to-be-missed domestic thriller/suspense of the year.” —Steven Konkoly, author of the Ryan Decker series and Deep Sleep “The perfect thriller for a rainy afternoon, Or Else draws you into a web of small town secrets, lies, and intrigue and doesn’t let you go. Hart’s well-rendered setting and characters resonate like people and places you’ve known. Loved every minute of this absolute page-turner!” —D.M. Pulley, bestselling author of The Dead Key “Joe Hart has written compelling stories before, but it’s in Or Else that he shows off just how good he is. This book checks all the boxes for me: a (seemingly) quiet, small town drama—filled with those little quirks and secrets nobody wants to talk about—that quickly blossoms into something big, sinister, and menacing. Hart doesn’t pull any punches on some serious issues, either: love, infidelity, family conflict…there’s plenty to think about right up to the explosive ending. THIS is the thriller you’ll be recommending for the foreseeable future.” —Matthew Iden, author of the Marty Singer series and The Winter Over

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Book Synopsis“Susi Holliday is one of our best and most original creators of tense and twisty tales . . . Nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted in this brilliant page-turner.” —Ian Rankin “Tense and twisty as all hell.” —Mark Billingham “Tense, creepy and utterly brilliant…” —Jenny Blackhurst, author of The Hiking Path “A brilliant concept, superbly executed. Susi Holliday is a master of her craft.” —Marion Todd, author of A Blind Eye “On this street, lock your doors, whisper your secrets, and don’t trust anyone. Compulsive, clever and I couldn’t put it down.” —Louise Swanson, author of End of Story Their neighbours welcomed them with open arms. Now they’ve vanished without a trace. Anna and Peter desperately need to escape London for a fresh start. And they’ve found just the place: a perfect house on a perfect street in a perfect new development on the Scottish coast. But before they’ve even unpacked, they discover that the community they’ve moved into might be keeping secrets of its own… Eager to fit in, Anna and Peter spend their first evening with their new neighbours, a couple who turn up on their doorstep to welcome them with open arms. But when Anna pops over the next morning to thank them for their hospitality, there’s no answer. The house is bare and unoccupied, and the neighbours have vanished without a trace. What’s more, everybody else on the street is convinced that no one ever lived there at all. As she battles a growing obsession with the mystery, Anna finds herself becoming increasingly paranoid. She thought she’d escaped her own troubled past, but as the truth catches up with her, life starts to unravel. Maybe she’s not the only resident of The Street with something to hide…Trade Review“Susi Holliday is one of our best and most original creators of tense and twisty tales…Nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted in this brilliant page-turner.” —Ian Rankin “Tense and twisty as all hell.” —Mark Billingham “Another cracker from Susi Holliday! A seemingly perfect street hides dark secrets in a twisty thriller with Don’t Worry Darling vibes where nothing is quite as it seems. Loved it!” —Lisa Gray, author of To Die For “A perfect locked room mystery—nail-bitingly tense, stomach-churningly suspenseful and utterly moreish!” —Steph Broadribb, author of Death on the Beach “Tense, creepy and utterly brilliant…Will have you twitching your curtains to check on your neighbours.” —Jenny Blackhurst, author of The Hiking Path “Another original and completely compelling read from a writer who never fails to deliver.” —C.S. Green, author of The Whisper House “Another addictive page-turner from Susi Holliday, filled with breath-holding intrigue and suspense, evocative writing and twists galore.” —Victoria Goldman, author of The Redeemer “Finished The Street last night. It's soooo goood. Like Stepford Wives meets Rosemary's Baby meets Don’t Worry Darling. The everyone-is-guilty vibe of The Hike turned up to eleven with dark secrets, guilt, double cross and danger on every page. Absolutely brilliant.” —Derek Farrell, author of the Danny Bird Mysteries “I raced through The Street. Twisty, tense with secrets and questions on every page. Satisfyingly gritty in places and such a brilliant finish! Loved it.” —Rachael Blok, author of The Fall “A brilliant concept, superbly executed. Susi Holliday is a master of her craft.” —Marion Todd, author of A Blind Eye “Doesn't relax the tension for a moment!” —Quentin Bates, author of the Gunnhildur Mysteries “In The Street, Holliday takes a startlingly original idea and runs with it. I got up early so that I could read the final chapters before starting work - it's compelling, twisty and unpredictable. Highly recommended.” —R.M. Ward, author of The Girl Who Vanished “On this street, lock your doors, whisper your secrets, and don’t trust anyone. Compulsive, clever and I couldn’t put it down.” —Louise Swanson, author of End of Story “Gripping.” —Crime Monthly

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Book SynopsisA forensic psychologist fights a mental war against two serial killers in this disturbing thriller from Mike Omer, Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of A Killer’s Mind. An online video of a girl clawing at the ceiling of her own grave could be the worst thing FBI forensic psychologist Zoe Bentley has ever seen. Perhaps even more disturbing is the implication of the video’s title: “Experiment Number One.” Zoe and her partner, Special Agent Tatum Gray, work as fast as they can to find the monster behind the shocking video, but soon another one shows up online, and another girl turns up dead. Meanwhile, a different murderer is on Zoe’s mind. Rod Glover has been tormenting her since childhood, and his latest attack is a threatening photo of himself with Zoe’s sister. As Glover’s threats creep toward action, Zoe’s torn between family and duty. Zoe must think fast to prevent another murder. With her own family’s safety on the line, Zoe feels she’s never been in more danger. And while she’s always known her job could send her to an early grave, she always assumed she’d be dead first.

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts bestseller. Emma’s darkest secrets are buried in the past. But the truth can’t stay hidden for long. Emma is a loving wife, a devoted mother…and an involuntary killer. For years she’s been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her as a teen. It’s a secret that might have stayed buried if only her life had been less perfect. A promotion for Emma’s husband, Alex, means they can finally move to a bigger home with their young son. But with a buyer lined up for their old house, Emma can’t leave without destroying every last trace of her final revenge… Returning to the shallow grave in the garden, she finds it empty. The body is gone. Panicked, Emma confesses to her husband. But this is only the beginning. Soon, Alex will discover things about her he’ll wish he’d learned sooner. And others he’ll long to forget.Trade Review“Silent Victim is fast-paced, twisty, and it chilled me to the bone…I loved every minute of it!” —Robert Bryndza “The very definition of a page-turner. Unreliable narrators mean you never quite know where you stand until it all builds to a richly satisfying climax. A fantastic psychological thriller.” —John Marrs “Brilliantly gripping and deliciously creepy. Make sure you clear your day as you won't be able to put Silent Victim down!” —Sibel Hodge “Dark, shocking, and utterly compelling.” —Mel Sherratt

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Book SynopsisAn Amazon Charts bestseller. She’s a total stranger. But she knows who you are… Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband, Nick. When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much so that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible—does she already know what Suzi did? Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But when her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if that means murder. After all, she’s done it before… Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.

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Book SynopsisDark, disturbing and deliciously twisty, Reptile Memoirs is a biting and brilliant exploration of the cold-bloodedness of humanity - perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Jo Nesbø and Tana French.What readers are saying about Reptile Memoirs'Truly unusual and terrifying' 'Dark, heart-wrenching and creepy''Graphic''Dark, challenging and unforgettable''Chilling''Not for the faint hearted''Unique, dark and disturbing, gripping and very, very clever'Late one night, Liv sees a TV nature show and finds herself compelled to buy a pet snake. As she bonds with her new Burmese python, she is unaware how much he takes in with his cold, impassive eyes. He watches.Thirteen years later, Mariam Lind goes on a shopping trip with her eleven-year-old daughter, Iben. Following an argument Mariam storms off, expecting her young daughter to make her own way home . . . but she never does. Detective Roe Olsvik is assigned to the case of Iben's disappearance. As he interrogates Mariam, he instantly suspects her - but his response to the situation seems unusually personal . . .A biting and constantly shifting tale of family secrets, rebirth and the legacy of trauma, Reptile Memoirs asks the question: Can you ever really shed your skin?Trade ReviewThe narrative twists make your jaw drop...An astonishing debut. * The Times - Books of the Year *This astonishing debut gradually tightens its grip and leaves you gasping...Silje Ulstein is a daringly original writer. * The Times *A remarkable literary debut offering a twist on the Nordic police procedural * Financial Times, Best books for summer *Original, sharp, tender and chilling, Reptile Memoirs is hugely ambitious and hypnotically readable. -- Chris Whitaker, author of WE BEGIN AT THE ENDA beautifully dark and twisty story with jaw-dropping twists and pin-point plotting. -- Joanna Cannon, author of THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEPNeither Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), nor Paula Hawkins (Girl on the Train), nor Alex Michaelides (The Silent Patient) - to name some well-known examples from the last decade - can measure up to Ulstein . . . This debut is a great discovery . . . A thriller that really stands out. * Aftenposten *Ulstein has written the best and creepiest Norwegian crime debut in years . . . A novel that stands out due to both its dark, clever and intricate plot as well as the author's solid insight in the human mind. * Adresseavisen *A nerve-wrecking and highly original psychological thriller . . . The book is very hard to put down and if you do the plot will keep playing out in your mind. * Dagbladet *This book is a shapeshifting marvel. I found it compulsively readable, and not just for the unexpected paths by which it unpacks its secrets. Silje Ulstein writes about snakes in ways that made me feel I've never really seen them before: In language that is as seductive as it is prickly, she pries open the boundaries between reptiles and humans, adults and the children they once were, and criminals and victims. An uncanny, unsettling and totally immersive read. -- Emily Fridlund, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of HISTORY OF WOLVESReptile Memoirs is a magnetic ocean tide: a bold, heart-stopping and genre-defying debut which compels us to sink toward the darkest depths of our past. A masterfully shocking and at times wonderfully uncomfortable exploration of obsession, desire and rejection, sexuality and taboo, Ulstein leaves us breathless in her quest to examine which version of the self is capable of love and violence. -- Sarah Schmidt, author of SEE WHAT I HAVE DONEExtraordinary and terrifying, Reptile Memoirs sinks teeth into you from page one. Through relentless and, at times, almost unbearable tension, Ulstein delivers a menacingly layered thriller unlike any you've read before. -- P. J. Vernon, author of BATH HAUS

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Real Bad Things and Cottonmouths, a Los Angeles Review Best Book of 2017, comes the darkly suspenseful tale of a small-town Easter tradition and its murderous secrets. For seventeen years, a serial murderer has used the Presley, Arkansas, Annual Hunt for the Golden Egg to find prey. Or at least that’s what some people believe. Others, like the town’s devoted “Eggheads,” relish the tradition and think the deaths are just unfortunate accidents. But for Nell Holcomb, the town’s annual Hunt dredges up a particularly painful memory: her brother’s death, long believed to be “the Hunter’s” first kill. Nell has been caring for her nephew since then, trying to keep him safe and trying to conceal the role she played in his father’s death. Most importantly, she’s been trying to avoid the Hunt—despite the clashes that erupt in town over the event and her best friend’s obsession with winning the big prize. As Easter draws near and the town’s frenzy escalates, Nell must face her past and the Hunt as the danger once again veers close to home.Trade ReviewPraise for The Hunt “Truly absorbing…Ford renders the town of Presley, Ark., as a living entity swirling with resentments and loyalties, and governed by fear, thanks to wild rumors that a serial murderer stalks prey at the town’s famous ‘Hunt for the Golden Egg’ each Easter…You won’t find any tidy narratives or simple judgments here.” —New York Times Book Review “Ford is particularly good at laying down subtle bread crumbs for readers to follow, utilizing fun devices such as a Google Doc moderated by amateur sleuths who are trying to identify the Hunter. This basket is stuffed with surprises.” —Publishers Weekly “An Easter egg hunt in Presley, Arkansas is the unlikely springboard for a serial killer’s diabolical plot in Kelly J. Ford’s newest standout thriller. Ford takes all that small-town rumor and agitation and burns it down to its purest form, where every incident is loaded with significance and the race to untangle truth from supposition becomes almost impossible. Ford pulls off the high-wire act with coolness and style to spare.” —CrimeReads “Better than almost anyone writing today, Kelly J. Ford is able to spot the magic in the mundane and craft a compelling story around what others simply look right past. The Hunt is just the latest example of her ability to draw readers into the chaos and craziness of everyday life while exploring themes of shared trauma, family dynamics, and the societal constraints of small town America. Add a serial killer into the mix and you have yourself one hell of a book.” —Best Thriller Books “The Hunt by Kelly J Ford is a down home dark and suspenseful trip though the legends and lore that make the South the beautiful haunted place it is. Kelly is a wordsmith of the first order and this story grabs you on page one and never let's go!” —S.A. Cosby bestselling author of Razorblade Tears “No one does small town noir like Kelly J. Ford. With an enticing premise and characters rich in nuance if not money, The Hunt is a welcome addition to any crime fiction lovers bookshelf. I loved it.” —Kellye Garrett, award winning and Edgar nominated author of Like A Sister “Imagine if Megan Abbott penned a chilling yarn about an annual Easter egg hunt in backwoods Arkansas, and you’re getting close to what Kelly J. Ford’s pulled off in her next novel. The Hunt perfectly captures the strangeness that lurks behind the guise of so many small-town Southern traditions. Nobody does buried secrets better than Kelly. But this dark rural noir conjures up more than just old ghosts—it shines a fresh new light on the truth.” —Eli Cranor, author of Don’t Know Tough and Ozark Dogs “Ford’s The Hunt cements her as not only one of the best Southern fiction writers around but also one of the best contemporary writers period. There’s a macabre playfulness to The Hunt as each unpredictable twist builds to an ending no one will see coming. But despite the dark humor, this is ultimately a story about how guilt can consume and destroy, especially in small towns, where empathy can be in short supply and gossip is a sport. Ford knows how to put her characters’ humanity front and center even as they repeatedly stumble down dangerous paths. These are damaged people you want to see win.” —Heather Levy, author of the Anthony-nominated Walking through Needles “Kelly J. Ford is a modern master of the rural noir—dragging the elements of a classic tale and reshaping it with a tone and viewpoint that is undoubtedly modern and alive. The Hunt is loaded with tension and razor-sharp plotting but also lets readers engulf themselves in the all-too-human characters Ford is so adept at creating. A small-town suspense novel that evokes tales like Megan Abbott’s The Fever and Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects with Ford’s trademark voice. A winner.” —Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity Praise for Real Bad Things “Acclaimed author Kelly J. Ford spins a propulsive, sophisticated, and fearlessly queer tour de force in Real Bad Things. Ford’s richly drawn characters and breathtaking storytelling create an inescapable undertow of menace that will not let go until the final, shocking page. This is gothic suspense at its most haunting.” —P. J. Vernon, author of Bath Haus “Ford’s follow-up to her devastating debut novel, Cottonmouths, is a moving meditation on misplaced loyalties, love, and the legacy of violence and abuse, all wrapped in a mystery filled with guy-wire tension.” —John Vercher, author of Three-Fifths “A powerful, grounded, and dark dose of rural noir, Real Bad Things is a tale of a homecoming gone wrong. Kelly J. Ford evokes the work of superstars like Gillian Flynn and Daniel Woodrell in this story of dark secrets coming back to roost and pulls it all through the prism of her own potent voice. This is a down-and-dirty crime novel that nods to the masters while keeping both feet firmly planted in the present. I loved it.” —Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Secret Identity, Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, and Blackout “This absolutely gripping and gorgeously written Southern noir grabs hold and does not let go until the very last page. Ford’s darkly atmospheric writing transports you right to the underbelly of Maud Bottoms—where the water teems with dead bodies, hidden secrets, forbidden love, and past betrayals—and pulls you inescapably into its ominous current, then shocks you with its final twist. Real Bad Things is Southern gothic perfection.” —Elizabeth Chiles Shelburne, Holding On to Nothing, winner of the IPPY Gold Award for Southern Regional Fiction “At the start of this gripping suspense novel from Ford, Jane Mooney, who’s been living in Boston, returns home to Maud Bottoms, Arkansas…The truth slowly unfolds as the plot builds toward a surprising conclusion foreshadowed by a trail of skillfully disguised clues. Ford delivers the goods.” —Publishers Weekly “A confessed killer’s return home brings long-buried secrets to life with a series of seismic jolts.” —Kirkus Reviews “Beautifully written and socially astute, Real Bad Things delivers on the promise of Ford’s debut, Cottonmouths.” —CrimeReads “With layers of storytelling portraying generational trauma, small towns, and the unbearable confines their scrutiny can place on anyone who feels different, as well as the unbreakable bonds that adversity can forge, Real Bad Things is sometimes a hard read but always an excellent one. Readers looking for slow-burn mystery with unforgettable characters and an unforgettable atmosphere will find here exactly what they need.” —Mystery and Suspense Magazine “This atmospheric, suspenseful novel will keep you guessing and page turning all the way to the end.” —Good Housekeeping “Some writers seem to have a natural affinity for originality and the kind of narrative-driven storytelling that immediately engages and then holds the reader’s total attention from first page to last. Clearly, with the publication of Real Bad Things, Kelly J. Ford has proven herself to be one of those novelists.” —Midwest Book Review “Kelly J. Ford is the moonshine-soaked voice rural noir has been looking for.” —S. A. Cosby Praise for Cottonmouths “Ford’s novel features a lesbian protagonist, yet sexuality is only one facet of her strongly drawn character. Emily suffers from unrequited love, from betrayal, and from a longing for meaning and acceptance. Her struggles, as well as those of her family and community, are universal struggles set in a brutal reality where choices are scarce. Read this debut novel for its ability to go beneath the surface, striking impressive depths of character and setting.” —Los Angeles Review, the Best Books of the Year, 2017 “Refreshingly, Cottonmouths refuses to romanticize unrequited love…Cottonmouths is not a love story: it’s a tale of resentment, venomous betrayal, and the wounds hidden beneath familiar surfaces. Through a kaleidoscope of characters, Ford’s dark novel shows us the choices people make when the world denies them good options and the consequences of complicity.” ―Lambda Literary “Filled with foreboding and anguished desire, Cottonmouths is a perfectly paced drama of the perils of loyalty, love, and homecoming. A terrific novel by an exciting new queer voice.” ―Christopher Castellani, author of All This Talk of Love and Leading Men “Gripping and atmospheric. A tense tale of the specific gravity of the places and the people we come from and can never fully leave behind.” ―Kate Racculia, Bellweather Rhapsody “A taut page-turner trembling with desire and regret, Kelly J. Ford’s debut, Cottonmouths, strips away nostalgia for person and place when the return of one young woman reveals the rotting core of a small Southern town, unraveling with the ferocity of addiction and forcing a painful lesson―she must learn to let go of her delusions in both love and friendship before it’s too late.” ―Michelle Hoover, author of Bottomland “Kelly J. Ford’s Cottonmouths is a fierce first novel―startling in its grip and authenticity. It’s a novel about desire and desperation and the perilous danger of loving broken people in broken places.” ―Travis Mulhauser, author of Sweetgirl “A compelling story of unrequited love, identity, and the power of letting go.” ―Heather Newton, author of Under the Mercy Trees “Part noir, part Southern gothic, Cottonmouths is far more than the sum of these parts―an original story that haunted me after I read it. Kelly J. Ford’s unflinching prose plunges readers into the town of Drear’s Bluff, where what’s familiar isn’t what’s safe and where desire proves deadly.” ―Stephanie Gayle, author of Idyll Threats “With prose as lyrical and languid as a hot Arkansas summer, Kelly J. Ford explores the myopia of desire―and its tragic aftermath. I found myself torn between wanting to rip through these pages to find out what would happen and a need to slow down and savor Ford’s sentences. A remarkable debut.” ―Lisa Borders, author of The Fifty-First State “Kelly J. Ford delivers a sharp punch to the gut with this tightly spun modern noir tale. I can’t wait to read more from this author.” ―Tiffany Quay Tyson, author of Three Rivers “Ford’s debut novel traces the sobering struggles of small-town meth addiction, sexual identity, and the choices people make when good options are in short supply.” ―Los Angeles Times “Kelly J. Ford’s novel Cottonmouths captures life in backwoods America like a fish in a frying pan. Ford takes her young, raw, flailing characters and rakes them over the heat of a high-octane plot until their vulnerable insides sizzle on the page.” ―Shelf Awareness “Cottonmouths, another book that seems to sample the new territory wrought by David Joy and Frank Bill, is an original addition to the meth-and-magnolia genre…This debut novel from Kelly J. Ford is sensitive yet brutal, with Ford giving her protagonist, Emily, believable flaws while nailing small-town Southern culture in the new world that has replaced Welty and Connery with Joy and Crews. A terrific new voice in the genre.” ―Shelf Discovery “Cottonmouths paints a disturbing picture of deep darkness lurking just below the surface of small-town America.” ―Mystery Scene magazine “A Southern gothic queer masterpiece.” ―S. A. Cosby, Do Some Damage “We talk about the need for diverse books in America; Cottonmouths shows us a version of our country seldom given its own narrative. Kelly J. Ford writes with honesty, subtlety, and grace.” —Patricia Park, Re Jane “Cottonmouths is an astonishingly assured debut from Kelly J. Ford, a writer who daringly plumbs the depths of both love and despair in a new and chilling South rendered with taut and pitch-perfect detail. Trust me, this is a book you will remember.” ―Kimberly Elkins, author of What Is Visible “Kelly J. Ford’s Cottonmouths is a heartbreaking debut about the lies we tell ourselves to brave the past—and the truths we hide that hurt us most. An honest, unflinching portrait of yearning and loss.” ―Andy Davidson, author of In the Valley of the Sun

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Book SynopsisA new life in paradise should have healed her wounds. But for a woman struggling to hold on to her family and her sanity, one stormy night could change everything. Blow by blow, Annie Lin’s life crumbles. Her dance studio goes bankrupt. Her mother and beloved dog are gone the same year. Then a terrible accident leaves her young son traumatized. It’s time for a change. Palm trees, mai tais, peace and quiet—Annie should be at ease, safe in her new Kauai home with her husband and son. She hopes proximity to her family can provide them all with a sense of belonging and calm. But soon items from her past start turning up—her dog’s collar, a bracelet that disappeared years ago—and she has the unnerving sensation she’s being watched. Reality begins to fracture, and Annie’s panic attacks return. When, during a brewing storm, a woman appears on her doorstep looking for shelter, Annie is relieved to have the company and feels an unexplainable bond with her visitor. As the night progresses, Annie realizes the woman is no stranger. Their lives are inextricably intertwined—and Annie might just lose everything.Trade Review“A skillful by-the-numbers thriller with its share of nice touches.” —Kirkus Reviews “Well-developed characters and plenty of local color add to the slowly simmering plot, which builds to a strong and unexpected climax. Alfred Hitchcock fans will be satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly “Chilling from page one, Someone Else’s Life is an unputdownable descent into two women’s parallel lives. With genuine jaw-dropping twists and enough seeds of doubt to populate a very wicked garden, Butler’s debut thriller is a breath of fresh Kauai air.” —Eliza Jane Brazier, author of If I Disappear “Lyn Liao Butler has mastered the art of full-body-tense suspense in this fresh take on the ‘stranger in the house’ concept, which will have you racing to the end even as your blood pressure increases and you have to remind yourself to breathe.” —Amanda Jayatissa, ITW Thriller Award–winning author of My Sweet Girl “A chilling and immensely readable psychological thriller, Someone Else’s Life simmers with menace as an unsettling encounter reveals the darker side of paradise and the fractures in a seemingly perfect life.” —Heather Chavez, author of Blood Will Tell “Someone Else’s Life is the read that every thriller lover needs. Atmospheric and character-driven, this story of two women’s parallel lives at times disturbed me, then brought me to tears within the same page. The slow build that Butler executes seamlessly translates into a satisfying ending that took me by wine-soaked surprise.” —Elle Marr, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Strangers We Know “Get ready for the storm, and brace yourself! Lyn Liao Butler’s psychological and suspense-building thriller packs a punch with provocative prose, layers of heart-racing conflict, and so many plot twists and turns that I read it in one sitting.” —Samantha Verant, author of The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique “A captivating and atmospheric thriller with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. There’s so much to love here: the Hawaiian setting, an animal shelter with adorable doggos, a female MC who isn’t perfect but is striving to find her footing after a mysterious accident, and an ever-increasing creep factor with the backdrop of a tropical storm. Eager to see what Lyn Liao Butler writes next!” —Kate Lansing, author of Killer Chardonnay “Someone’s Else’s Life is an atmospheric thriller with a twisty plot that will keep you guessing to the very end. I’m a big fan of Lyn Liao Butler’s diverse contemporary fiction, and her debut thriller proves her talent as a multifaceted author.” —Anita Kushwaha, author of Secret Lives of Mothers & Daughters “Gripping, twisty, and clever, Someone Else’s Life unfolds in a tantalizing slow burn, building to a heart-thumping, tense, breakneck crescendo. With astonishing twists and a pulse-pounding plot, this is a thriller that will leave you gasping for breath.” —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge and Watch Out for Her

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Book SynopsisIt’s murder in paradise as a woman uncovers a host of secrets off the rocky California coast in a gripping novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Rachel Howzell Hall. Colette “Coco” Weber has relocated to her Catalina Island home, where, twenty years before, she was the sole survivor of a deadly home invasion. All Coco wants is to see her aunt Gwen, get as far away from her ex as possible, and get back to her craft—writing obituaries. Thankfully, her college best friend, Maddy, owns the local paper and has a job sure to keep Coco busy, considering the number of elderly folks who are dying on the island. But as Coco learns more about these deaths, she quickly realizes that the circumstances surrounding them are remarkably similar…and not natural. Then Coco receives a sinister threat in the mail: her own obituary. As Coco begins to draw connections between a serial killer’s crimes and her own family tragedy, she fears that the secrets on Catalina Island might be too deep to survive. Because whoever is watching her is hell-bent on finally putting her past to rest.Trade Review“Original, compelling, memorable, What Never Happened by novelist Rachel Howzell Hall will have a very special interest for fans of crime fiction in general, and deftly crafted murder mysteries in particular.” —Midwest Book Review “Howzell Hall specializes in complex, realistic characters…What Never Happened gives a unique look at the domestic thriller.” —Florida Sun Sentinel “Rachel Howzell Hall does it again. What Never Happened blends blade-sharp writing and indelible characters with a suspenseful story that pulls you in and won’t let go, as a seeming paradise grows dark with storms, suspicion, and murder. I couldn’t put it down.” —Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author “What Never Happened opens with a gut punch and doesn’t let up from there. Rachel Howzell Hall’s twist on the you-can’t-go-home-again story is smart, dizzying, and thrilling. She not only handles the mystery elements expertly, but she honors the grief and rage of our past and present.” —Paul Tremblay, bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and The Pallbearers Club “Rachel Howzell Hall has crafted her own genre of slow-boiling, powerfully emotional thrillers. Her realistic characters are ordinary people, haunted by past horrors that won’t stay buried, forcing them to face pure evil to find their own redemption.” —Lee Goldberg, #1 New York Times bestselling author “In What Never Happened, Rachel Howzell Hall seamlessly weaves together the past and the present, decorating her breakneck plot with dark secrets and unexpected reveals that glitter like jewels. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” —Jess Lourey, Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Quarry Girls “What Never Happened is superb. Beautifully and smartly written, it is an engrossing thriller with an ending that will leave your head spinning. It is deliciously creepy and perfectly crafted. In a word, stunning! Don’t miss this one!” —Lisa Regan, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author “Rachel Howzell Hall’s What Never Happened is a spine-tingling twist of a roller coaster that keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very last page and will have you saying ‘Thanks a lot, Rachel, for my lack of sleep.’” —Yasmin Angoe, award-winning author of the critically acclaimed Nena Knight series, Her Name Is Knight and They Come at Knight

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Book SynopsisTwo kidnappings, thirty years apart. Can Stacey face her own dark past in order to save her stepdaughter? When Stacey’s ex-husband turns up on her doorstep begging her to help save his kidnapped thirteen-year-old daughter, Lyra, the terror is all too familiar. Stacey’s own violent kidnapping thirty years ago was never solved, and while a severe case of amnesia spares her from recalling the specific horrors, she remembers enough… Stacey knows her father never paid the ransom—she has the missing pinkie finger to prove it. She knows she was only saved because of an anonymous tip-off to the police. And she knows her captor was never apprehended. Lyra’s kidnappers have made it clear the police must not get involved. But Stacey can’t shake the eerie similarities between the two cases, and she’ll use whatever she can, from her journalistic powers to her shady contacts, to save Lyra from the same nightmare. Desperate to find any link between Lyra’s abduction and her own, Stacey forces herself to revisit her forgotten, traumatic past for clues. But can she make sense of the terrible secrets she unearths in time to save Lyra? And if she does, is she ready to face her own tormentor?Trade Review“A twisty whodunit wrapped in a thriller that will keep you behind closed doors until the final, shocking revelation.” —Lee Goldberg, author of the Eve Ronin series “Hooks you in from the first explosive chapter and takes you on a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns before reaching a shocking and unforgettable conclusion. A real page-turner.” —Lisa Gray, author of the bestselling Jessica Shaw series “Fast-paced, tense, and emotional, Behind Closed Doors is a nail-biting mystery. I loved it and suspected nearly everyone!” —D. S. Butler, author of the Detective Karen Hart series

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Book SynopsisThey thought they knew what really happened—and each other. They were wrong. Four years in, Stevie and Nate’s true-crime podcast, All the Gory Details, is forced onto hiatus when their conclusions in their first-ever episode, about the unsolved murder of teenager Lauren in their hometown seventeen years ago, are proven wrong. Their mistake ruined a life, and Stevie and Nate are still reeling from the consequences. Still, when a fresh murder frighteningly similar to Lauren’s is brought to their attention, Nate is adamant that they should resurrect the podcast. He tells a hesitant Stevie that this is their chance to redeem themselves, and maybe even to solve the murder for real. But when Nate becomes fixated on the podcast above anything else, Stevie begins to wonder if she really knows Nate after all… When a second murder changes everything, it suddenly seems as if Stevie is inside one of her own episodes. How well do either of them really know what happened back then—or each other?

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Book SynopsisIn this chilling story from the bestselling author of The Secret Mother, it’s the wedding day of Alice’s dreams. Until it becomes a nightmare… Alice and Seth are a perfect love story: the handsome doctor and his beautiful fiancée. They’re wealthy, well liked and made for each other—the envy of all their friends. Alice can’t wait for the day of their dream wedding. But when she arrives at the altar, she doesn’t recognise the man waiting to marry her. When this stranger insists he’s Seth, her husband-to-be, the entire congregation seems to agree. Even her parents try to persuade Alice to go through with the wedding. As panic sets in, Alice’s world comes apart. Where is the real Seth, and why have all traces of him disappeared from her life? Fearing she’s losing her mind, she sets out to uncover the truth and escape the nightmare she’s living in. But with everyone around her convinced by the fake Seth, how can she ever hope to find the man she loves?

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Book Synopsis“Amina Akhtar’s Almost Surely Dead is a witty, fresh psychological thriller that’s part stalker thriller, part ghost story. This book took turns I never saw coming. I was up all night, tearing through the pages as the mysterious pieces came together, leading to an explosive conclusion.” —Mindy Kaling A psychological thriller with a twist, Almost Surely Dead is a chilling account of how one woman’s life spins out of control after a terrifying—and seemingly random—attempt on her life. Dunia Ahmed lives an ordinary life—or she definitely used to. Now she’s the subject of a true crime podcast. She’s been missing for over a year, and no one knows if she’s dead or alive. But her story has listeners obsessed, and people everywhere are sporting merch that demands “Find Dunia!” In the days before her disappearance, Dunia is a successful pharmacist living in New York. The daughter of Pakistani immigrants, she’s coping with a broken engagement and the death of her mother. But then something happens that really shakes up her world: someone tries to murder her. When her would-be killer winds up dead, Dunia figures the worst is over. But then there’s another attempt on her life…and another. And police suspect someone close to her may be the culprit. Dunia struggles to make sense of what’s happening. And as childhood superstitions seep into her reality, she becomes convinced that someone—or something—is truly after her.Trade ReviewPraise for Amina Akhtar Almost Surely Dead “Akhtar’s novel has one foot set firmly in folklore and the other in fast-paced action as Dunia questions whom she can trust and what she will have to do to survive. Though the suspense is real, Akhtar deftly weaves in levity with the campiness of the podcast, and the earnestness of Dunia’s voice keeps the reader rooting for her to outrun her demons. A nimble and eerie thriller.” —Kirkus Reviews “Amina Akhtar delivers a surprising and suspenseful ride. This is a winner.” —Publishers Weekly “Twisty, chilling, and original, Almost Surely Dead is an absolutely addictive page-turner. I couldn’t put it down.” —Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author “A shocking act of violence opens the door to a terrifying mystery in this eerie, addictive thriller from Amina Akhtar.” —Chuck Wendig, bestselling author of The Book of Accidents “I didn’t think Amina Akhtar could get better, but she has—crafting a wholly unique and mesmerizing novel that is impossible to categorize or forget. Part thriller, part family saga, part supernatural horror, Almost Surely Dead will surprise you in the best way possible and leave you thinking about this magnificent book for a long time after you’re done. A powerhouse.” —Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity “Full of energy, suspense, and the frightening possibility of the supernatural, Almost Surely Dead is a spine-chilling thrill of a book that will grip you from the very first page and refuse to let go. A gripping gothic of the true crime podcasting era.” —S. C. Lalli, international bestselling author of Are You Sara? “What’s a girl to do when the universe seems to want you dead? The answer is nothing you’d expect—but everything you’d want from one of the most exciting thriller writers in the business. Almost Surely Dead is a sparkling, twisted gem of a book, a riotously funny and deeply unsettling examination of the ways in which we are—and in which we refuse to be—defined by our pasts. This is Akhtar’s best work yet, and I loved every word.” —Elizabeth Little, bestselling author of Dear Daughter “Amina Akhtar isn’t a writer; she’s a word magician, a wonderful comedian who juggles the darkest themes and the ugly things that make us human, the young, smart, fashion-savvy auntie who knows where the bodies are buried and reminds you to call your mom. And she keeps getting better with every book. Almost Surely Dead is a witty, wildly entertaining novel that dips its toes in the supernatural while delivering social commentary, highlighting the realities of the Pakistani diaspora, and dancing with the ghosts and superstitions we all carry in our blood. Don’t miss it.” —Gabino Iglesias, Bram Stoker Award–winning author of The Devil Takes You Home “Akhtar coils constant paranoia, flash-forward dread, and family tragedy into an electric threat of a novel. This book will have you glancing over your shoulder. A unique thriller.” —Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award–winning author of No Gods for Drowning “Almost Surely Dead is such a masterful slow burn of a mystery it’ll singe your fingertips. Amina Akhtar creeps you out, keeps you guessing, and forces you to the edge of your seat, constructing a story that, in the end, is as surprising as it is deeply human.” —Rob Hart, author of Paradox Hotel Kismet “An amusing takedown of influencer culture.” —Kirkus Reviews “Akhtar turns her sharp wit on the wellness community and its dark secrets in a thriller [that is] equal parts vicious and funny.” —USA Today “Akhtar brings to her second novel…a gimlet-eyed view of Sedona, Arizona’s wellness pretensions and a wicked way with one-liners…the surprises Akhtar has in store upend assumptions about trauma, healing, and the motivations of those who helicopter into lands they claim to hold sacred.” —Los Angeles Times “Twisty, sardonic.” —Oprah Daily “The alluring world of wellness gets a fatal awakening in Amina Akhtar’s darkly humorous thriller Kismet.” —PopSugar “[Kismet] skewers the wellness industry of Sedona (Amina Akhtar is now based in Arizona) and also includes a light supernatural touch that’s perfectly integrated into the thriller arc as a whole.” —CrimeReads “Amina Akhtar weaves a wickedly smart tale.” —Desi News “With Kismet, Amina Akhtar invites us into the foxhole with Ronnie Khan, a New Yorker stationed in Sedona, just in time for Wellness World War. I loved this book—the claustrophobia of wide ‘open’ exclusive spaces. Amina teleports us to the passive-aggressive front lines in this dry landscape where caftans and corpses are equally foreboding. You want Ronnie to make a run for it, but she’s a real hero—she wants to make a go for it. Lucky for us, she stays. Kismet is wicked and smart, a fly-on-the-wall humdinger where a light social gathering spikes your blood pressure. Amina deftly intertwines the earthly with the otherworldly. Read it now so you can be the one telling your friends about Kismet.” —Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of You “Amina Akhtar had me at ravens! Then she kept me turning the pages with her colorful cast of characters, keen insights, and layered, engaging heroine. Kismet is darkly funny, sharply observant, and full of surprises. Don’t miss this utterly original and wildly entertaining thriller.” —Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Last Girl Ghosted “The twists just keep coming in Kismet, Amina Akhtar’s dark and delicious thriller. I can’t imagine a better companion around these nail-biting curves than the novel’s protagonist, Ronnie Khan, who is wide eyed yet smarter than she lets on, naive yet world weary. In a nutshell: she’s the perfect heroine. I’d follow her anywhere.” —Jess Lourey, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Unspeakable Things “Dead bodies are turning up in Sedona’s upscale wellness community? Sign me up! I loved everything about Kismet, Amina Akhtar’s sharply observant, funny thriller. Gleeful and gripping, Akhtar has knocked it out of the park with this wickedly entertaining, twisty novel.” —Jennifer Hillier, bestselling author of Little Secrets “A chilling tale that lures in the reader with a seductive blend of friendship and tranquility, then transforms it into something evil and deliciously twisted.” —A. R. Torre, New York Times bestselling author of Every Last Secret “Kismet is funny, sharp, twisty, and spot on. Whether she’s dealing with toxic relationships or everyday racism, Ronnie Khan is a character that you can’t help but root for. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading a novel. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is going to be talking about those ravens.” —Kellye Garrett, Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award–winning author of Like a Sister “Wickedly smart and outrageously entertaining, Kismet grabs hold and doesn’t let go until a final twist that will have even the savviest readers gasping. Just like the clever, scene-stealing ravens, Akhtar skewers those who deserve it with her trademark wit while also layering in emotional nuance as compelling as the captivating mystery. At once atmospheric, chilling, and thought provoking, Kismet will surely be this summer’s must-read thriller.” —Brianna Labuskes, bestselling author of A Familiar Sight “Gaspingly original. Kismet is brilliant and twisty—a knockout page-turner about guilt, revenge, and the toxicity of family and friendships. The oh-so-talented Amina Akhtar unleashes her keen eye and mordant wit—and exquisite understanding of human emotions—to reveal the dark side of the wellness industry and the terrifying reality behind the glam exteriors. Wow! This gripping, heartbreaking, and constantly surprising thriller is not to be missed!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect Life “Amina Akhtar yet again brings her wickedly wicked style to this twisty thriller about a woman who’s finally taken charge of her life—only to find dead bodies piling up around her in the wellness community where she’s starting over. Kismet is a page-turner populated by eerie ravens and people who aren’t what they seem in a perfectly unsettling desert setting.” —Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of Under Lock and Skeleton Key “Kismet is the twistiest, most delicious take on wellness and self-care gone wrong. With a cast of unforgettable characters, a point of view you’ll never guess, and an ending that leaves you breathless, you’ll be busting down doors to join me as copresident of the Amina Akhtar fan club!” —Yasmin Angoe, author of Her Name Is Knight “Kismet is a gleeful (and at times literal) skewering of influencer culture and clout chasing, as well as a deeply relevant look at how easily and often the white wellness world intersects with racism and cultural appropriation—and how blind we can be to that and to the stain it leaves on the world around us. A bold and insightful whodunnit that ensures you’ll never look at ravens the same way again.” —Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, bestselling authors of The Royal We and The Heir Affair “Unsettling from the very first page, Kismet takes its readers on a wild ride set in Sedona’s wellness community, featuring a serial killer, crystals, and kick-ass ravens. It’s strange and smart and spellbinding, with sharp social commentary and huge surprises. Another eerie gem from Amina Akhtar.” —Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot “A mystery thriller just the way I like them—full of secrets and karma. Amina Akhtar creeps us out and keeps us guessing all the way!” —Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and Ararat “Kismet is as atmospheric as it is dark and twisted. An unsettling read with wholly original protagonists, this is one thrilling story I won’t be forgetting soon.” —Hannah Mary McKinnon, international bestselling author of Never Coming Home “A remarkably original, terrifying read that seized me from the first line. Kismet is an astonishing, expertly structured thriller. Akhtar’s signature creepy tone, suffused with dread and laced with wicked humor, is riveting. Her characters make you blur the lines of morality and justice. With brilliantly shifting points of view, a touch of magic, and a jaw-dropping ending, this is a stand-out suspense.” —Samantha M. Bailey, international bestselling author of Woman on the Edge and Watch Out for Her “A desert setting, crystals to ward off evil, cunning ravens, and murder. Amina Akhtar has whipped up a creepy mystery that will have you second-guessing what you know about the wellness industry, not to mention what to think the next time you see ravens!” —Wanda Morris, Lefty-nominated author of All Her Little Secrets “One of the most original, chilling, and startlingly honest thrillers I’ve ever read, Amina Akhtar plunges readers into an altogether fresh flavor of hell in Kismet. Balancing nail-biting terror with razor-sharp wit, Akhtar interrogates the feral side of the human heart with a rare fearlessness that is certain to make Kismet one of the year’s hottest titles and an absolute must-read. Period.” —P. J. Vernon, acclaimed author of Bath Haus

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Book SynopsisThe search for a missing boy entwines the lives of two desperate women. One seeks redemption for her sister; the other will do anything for the love of her life. Hope Chen and her husband are raising her nine-year-old nephew, Luca, in the wake of his troubled mother’s death. Luca finally has a safe home in a neighborhood where kids play in the streets and nobody locks their doors. Then one day, Luca and his dog disappear without a trace. Guilt-ridden, fearing the worst but praying for the best, Hope finds her imagination running wild. Meanwhile, a woman with dangerous secrets to keep buried will do anything to protect her marriage. In one fleeting instant, it’s all within her reach. She can finally give her husband the one thing that will make him love her again. Hope will do anything to get Luca back. The other woman will do anything to stop Hope. As Hope’s search grows more desperate and the other woman’s plans more twisted, their lives collide in an explosive battle of wits. With a boy caught in the middle, nothing on this deadly path of love and revenge is what it seems.Trade ReviewWhat Is Mine “Unsettling from the very first page, What Is Mine is an emotional thrill ride about two women’s desperate attempts to keep their families whole. Lyn Liao Butler has packed this story with page-turning suspense, culminating in a grand finale of explosive surprises.” —Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot and Thicker Than Water “What Is Mine features Lyn Liao Butler at her very best. This twisty page-turner plays on every parent’s darkest fears by evoking a scenario in which nothing is as it seems, and no one can be trusted. In the crowded field of domestic thrillers, Butler delivers!” —Don Bentley, New York Times bestselling author of Forgotten War “Captivating from the very first line, Butler masterfully builds a world full of suspense. With careful twists and shocking reveals, What Is Mine is a must-read novel.” —Nekesa Afia, author of the Harlem Renaissance Mystery series “Relentlessly suspenseful and heartbreakingly chilling! Butler’s stealthy, diabolical storytelling and her brilliant sleight of hand kept me guessing from page one—then rocket ahead to places readers will never predict. A gripping page-turner about family and obsession and, most terrifying, a tale of how far people will push to get what they want. Clear your calendar—you will not want to put this down!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author “This rollercoaster of a novel follows two women seeking redemption and their fight over the boy they think will provide it for them. Hope’s fear is absolutely palpable, and the tension powering the book made it impossible to put down. A gripping, at times heartbreaking, look at family, betrayal, and how far one will go to claim what they believe is theirs.” —Mia P. Manansala, author of the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning Arsenic and Adobo

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Book SynopsisShe thinks the island will keep her safe—she is wrong. Traumatised by the death of a child in her care, top London paediatrician Claire seeks refuge on remote Selkie Island in the wilds of the Irish Sea with her husband Daniel and their baby daughter Kitty. Hidden away in Daniel’s old family home, Claire hopes to be as cut off from her guilt as she is from the mainland, but can she find peace in a place so full of its own secrets? Twenty years earlier, Daniel’s parents left the island in a boat and never made it to the mainland. Mystery surrounds their deaths—and their lives. Why did they set out late at night in a storm? What had really been going on at the house? Even as Claire begins to recover her sense of self amid the island’s rugged beauty, she can’t shake off a chilling suspicion that Selkie Island has a dark history that the locals just can’t face—and that it somehow has a connection to her own life. When baby Kitty suddenly disappears, Claire’s fragile world falls apart. The only way to secure her future is to uncover the past, but the closer she gets to answers, the more danger she finds herself in. Will she be able to save her family or will the island’s dark secrets take another life?

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Book SynopsisIn this richly unnerving tale about family secrets and expectations, two sisters are at lifelong odds with each other, their mother, and themselves—and as every hour becomes more twisted than the last, they are all pushed to their breaking point. Lovely and Beauty know their place: at home, beneath the watchful eye of their mother. Life has never included friends, an education, or anything the sisters can call their own. Their comings and goings are supervised by Farida. Otherwise, they don’t come and go at all. That changes on Lovely’s fortieth birthday. In a stroke of inexplicable fortune, Farida permits her eldest daughter to go to the Gausia Market alone, with no instructions but to abide by her curfew. For once on her own, Lovely is goaded by the voice in her head to push her mother’s—and her own—boundaries. New experiences and old memories abound as her family awaits her return. But with the taste of freedom so fresh on her tongue, Lovely is spurred on by her disembodied companion to hang on to her newfound independence. When home isn’t a safe haven, Lovely must find somewhere else to turn.Trade ReviewPraise for Good Girls “Gazi aids her brisk plotting with flashbacks that emphasize the family’s abusive dynamics…” —Publishers Weekly “Written in lyrical prose, with nuanced characters, Gazi's first novel translated into English deftly unravels the complicated relationships between the sisters, their mother, and the secrets they’ve harbored.” —Booklist “Taut, unsettling, and at times wickedly funny, this sly novel will hold you in its thrall until the very last page.” —Ash Davidson, author of Damnation Spring

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Book Synopsis'An unsettling, haunting story...memorable, atmospheric and tense' THE LADY'Well-written, well-crafted and constantly gripping' DAILY MAIL'A disquieting and atmospheric psychological novel' DAILY EXPRESS'A grippingly dark thriller...Great writing from a master storyteller' RED MAGAZINENorman Stokoe has just been appointed Children's Czar by the new government. He sells his flat and moves up north to take up the position. However before his first salary cheque has even hit his bank account, new priorities are set for the government department for which he works. The Children's Czar network is put on hold but it is too late to reverse the decision to employ Norman. So he is given a P.A. and a spacious office in a new business park on the banks of the Tyne.He settles down in his new leather chair behind his new desk, to wait for the green light to begin his mission. The green light never comes. What does happen is that two children go missing. As Children's Czar, surely this case should fall within his remit, but Norman has built a career on doing nothing, on stamping pieces of paper with 'send to the relevant department'. Now, faced with a campaigning journalist and a distraught mother, he is forced to become involved. The search will take him to dark places and will make him ask questions about the system he is supposed to uphold.Trade ReviewA grippingly dark thriller...Great writing from a master storyteller -- Viv Groskop * RED MAGAZINE *Torday has blended some excellent social satire and even a dollop of the supernatural...this is an excellent mash-up, well-written, well-crafted and constantly gripping * DAILY MAIL *A great story, and very dark in places * ESSENTIALS MAGAZINE *A disquieting and atmospheric psychological novel * DAILY EXPRESS *An unsettling, haunting story...Torday has created some strong characters in this memorable, atmospheric and tense novel...His prose is controlled, elegant and measured and his totally unexpected conclusion is very powerful * THE LADY *A well-crafted novel...there is momentum, and there is excitement * SPECTATOR *We move from comedy, through pain, to a greater mystery than the mystery with which, on the ordinary level of crime and detection, the author has gripped us * THE SCOTSMAN *Tautly written, the tone acid and angry * EVENING STANDARD *Torday's exploration of human anguish and pain, interspersed with the dark haunting rural environment, provides the template, while his biting social comment showcases a writer at the very top of his game * YORKSHIRE POST *This is a terrific read in Mr Torday's simple and effective prose style, which should alert us all to what is happening in Britain * COUNTRY LIFE *

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed author of the Anderson & Costello series, a compelling standalone psychological thriller.Megan Melvick has returned home after a three-year absence to visit her dying sister, Melissa, for the last time. As she approaches the grand Scottish country estate where she grew up, the memories come flooding back. Just what did happen on the night of Melissa''s wedding five years before? Where has Megan and Melissa''s mother disappeared to? And why does Melissa whisper that solitary word before she finally slips away: Sorry. In order to overcome her demons, Megan must confront her painful recollections of that terrible night, the night of Melissa''s wedding. The night somebody died. But can she really trust her memories? And who is it who''s determined that she should forget .?

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Book SynopsisShe thought her prayers had been answered. Now she''s praying for time.Vanessa Everly is a successful actress in Los Angeles, but she''s still traumatized by the night that ripped her world apart. Eight years ago, Vanessa and her younger sister Roxanne were attacked on the beach in their hometown in Oregon - and Roxanne was kidnapped. Devastated, Vanessa ended her relationship with handsome medical student Christian Montgomery, whose troubled brother Brody was the police''s prime suspect.Now, Vanessa receives the news she never thought she''d hear: Roxanne is alive. Arriving back in Everly Cliffs, Vanessa is reunited with her sister - and with Christian. Roxanne can''t remember what happened that night, but someone else can. Who''s making threatening phone calls to Vanessa, and why has Brody suddenly gone missing?Vanessa''s torment should be over, but it''s about to get much darker.

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Book SynopsisAn invitation you can''t refuse. You should . . .When shy, lonely Ivy meets a woman who claims to be her long-lost sister, she knows it''s too good to be true. She decides to trust Kate anyway. She wants a family. She wants someone to love.She''s making a mistake. Ivy enters Kate''s fairytale cottage, deep in the heart of Scotland . . . and she doesn''t come out. She''s the first to go missing.She won''t be the last.Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Tash''s journey is just beginning . . .Multi-award-winning master of suspense Catriona McPherson is back with an ominous, twisty psychological thriller set in contemporary Scotland that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

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Book Synopsis'Gripping . . . twists and turns like a thriller' Sunday Times 'Brave and startling' Financial Times 'Classy . . . suspenseful' The Times 'I loved everything about it' Daily Mail 'Exhilarating' Guardian Dr Eitan Green is a good man. He saves lives. Then, speeding along a deserted moonlit road in his SUV after an exhausting hospital shift, he hits someone. Seeing that the man, an African migrant, is beyond help, he flees the scene. It is a decision that changes everything. Because the dead man's wife knows what happened. And her price is not money. It is something else entirely. A gripping, suspenseful and morally devastating drama of guilt and survival, shame and desire. It looks at the darkness inside all of us to ask: what would we do? What are any of us capable of?Trade ReviewGundar-Goshen's gripping second novel twists and turns like a thriller, and it is particularly impressive in its moral ambiguities Sunday Times The great overlooked read of the summer... its real engine, one that never stops thrumming, is the idea that life can change for ever in one nauseating second -- Rachel Cooke Observer The highly anticipated second novel [by Gundar-Goshen]... proves it's not every day a writer like this comes our way Guardian Waking Lions is a classy, suspenseful tale of survival where the good guys and the bad guys are harder to distinguish than you might think. The implications of Gundar-Goshen's work extend far beyond its Israeli setting and shine a penetrating light into the dark corners of our safe lives The Times A literary thriller that is used as a vehicle to explore big moral issues. I loved everything about it Daily Mail An absorbing and atmospheric tale from an exciting literary talent Tatler Tense thriller set among Israel's illegal immigrant community -- Mariella Frostrup Observer's Best Holiday Reads 2016 If there were a literary prize for nail-biting first lines, Israeli writer Ayelet Gundar-Goshen's second novel, Waking Lions, would win...brave and startling Financial Times A sophisticated, angst-filled thriller Spectator A complex and affecting moral thriller New Statesman Waking Lions shows us that there's more mystery in who we think we are than in the narrative of any crime thriller Sunday Herald Tense thriller with serious moral dimension by a critically acclaimed Israeli writer The Sunday Times Crime Club A gripping drama... tense pageturner that should appeal to fans of film noir The Lady What gives Waking Lions its edge is Gundar-Goshen's deja-vu evoking depiction of the mental bunny hops which dominate our waking hours. Her writing on the fluctuations of selfish, guilt-ridden parental love reads like an open wound, its truth just as visceral Big Issue [Ayelet Gundar-Goshen] can take a straightforward genre - the thriller - and use it to explore big moral and political questions about secrets, lies and race in modern-day Israel... we enter a new genre: Israeli noir Jewish Chronicle A gripping novel Jewish News A daring, genre-defying literary creation... [a] remarkable novel, so layered it is with meanings, perspectives and insights Thriller Books Journal Extraordinarily assured...daring Jewish Quarterly Takes real events and fictionalises them to explore themes of self-awareness, intimacy, and the human capacity for good and evil, ignorance and indifference, concealment and deception Bookanista A gripping and tense thriller Jewish Renaissance magazine One of the best crime books to cross my desk in some time Crime Review Waking Lions personalises the situation providing insights into the uncomfortable mix of guilt and anger of the host country coupled with the helplessness and fatalism of the refugees The Bay Ultimately, about humanity. All of that wrapped in a drama that is gripping enough if you don't want to think that far into what it all means... but to be honest, I defy you not to respond to the depth Bookbag [Waking Lions] is a sharp, thoughtful, challenging novel. It makes Ayelet Gundar-Goshen out as a very talented writer indeed The Writes of Woman (blog) The synopsis of Ayelet Gundar-Goshen's second novel, Waking Lions, is like the premise for a movie Elle Thinks (blog) Gundar-Goshen's fine book explores guilt and obligation in a way that left this reader enriched but very, very uncomfortable indeed Shelf Life (blog) If it affects you as it did me you will finish it feeling slightly dirty, spoiled by whatever privileges and comforts you may enjoy, and guilty, definitely guilty in your complicity in looking away from suffering Eve's Alexandria (blog) Such an informative and surprising novel Lizzy's Literary Life (blog) A cleverly-plotted novel with a strong moral and highly contemporary sociopolitical theme Annethology (blog) I couldn't stop reading it, a book I'd recommend to everyone - it's a grenade! SFR Book Club A tense tale of life at the margins of society Bookbag's Top Ten Literary Fiction Books of 2016 A gripping, suspenseful and morally devastating drama... Gripping, provocative, original, it's stayed with me more, perhaps, than any other book I read this year Foyles Top Ten Fiction Titles of 2016 Waking Lions, in a propulsive translation from Hebrew by Sondra Silverstone, yokes a crime story to thorny ethical issues in ways reminiscent of Donna Tartt and Richard Price... it's a rare book that can trouble your conscience while holding you in a fine state of suspense Wall Street Journal Anyone who loves the magic of the printed word should read Waking Lions... Gunnar Goshen has earned, and deserves, a worldwide audience, and this magnificent novel may well be the vehicle for that Bookreporter Waking Lions is a griping, suspenseful and morally devastating drama of guilt and survival, shame and desire Newsweek Vividly imagined, clever, and morally ambiguous... it's a smart and disturbing exploration of the high price of walking away, whether it be from a car accident or from one's own politically unstable homeland NPR's Fresh Air It is a literary achievement for its page-turning exploration of inconvenient empathy and culpability. Gundar-Goshen's description of pain and medicine are tender and startling, but perhaps the novel's greatest strength is the way it considers how we look at each other, the power of our gaze on strangers and on those we love. It's about seeing and being seen, about pride and power. This is a brave novel, socially aware and truly unforgettable Bookpage Immensely suspenseful... alarmingly realistic and superbly written Shelf Awareness This is a profound and moving book, sure to make all of us reassess our view of refugees in our rapidly changing world Winnipeg Free Press Exhilarating... Skillfully translated by Sondra Silverston, Waking Lions is a sophisticated and darkly ambitious novel, revealing an aspect of Israeli life rarely seen in its literature New York Times

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Book Synopsis'Creepy and packed with suspense and menace, it draws the reader into a community that has more than its fair share of skeletons to hide.' Daily MailThe phenomenal new thriller from the multi-million-copy bestselling author.__________Blackwood Bay. An ordinary place, home to ordinary people.It used to be a buzzing seaside destination. But now, ravaged by the effects of dwindling tourism and economic downturn, it's a ghost town - and the perfect place for film-maker Alex to shoot her new documentary. But the community is deeply suspicious of her intentions. After all, nothing exciting ever happens in Blackwood Bay - or does it?Blackwood Bay. An ordinary place, home to an extraordinary secret.__________READERS ARE GRIPPED BY FINAL CUT'Thrilling to the end, and will keep you guessing' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Full of twists, turns and great atmosphere' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A brilliantly crafted thriller' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING'Dark and twisty, and full of surprises and so smartly done' Joanna Cannon'I loved that behind this disturbing and clever plot there's a genuinely heartrending story.' Emma Curtis 'The master storyteller S J Watson is back with another clever psychological thriller' Woman & Home'An intriguing and unsettling new thriller' Fabulous'Watson adroitly [brings] the strands of his story together to create a disturbing journey to a shocking truth' The Observer'S J Watson has done it again. Even more compelling than Before I Go To Sleep' Lesley KaraTrade ReviewWatson adroitly [brings] the strands of his story together to create a disturbing journey to a shocking truth * The Observer *Creepy and packed with suspense and menace, it draws the reader into a community that has more than its fair share of skeletons to hide. * Daily Mail *Dark and twisty, and full of surprises and so smartly done. * Joanna Cannon *S J Watson has done it again. Even more compelling than Before I Go To Sleep * Lesley Kara *S J Watson, pacing his story with mesmerising expertise, keeps you so invested in the fates of his characters * Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express *

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Book Synopsis'Intriguing ... an impressive debut' Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next Door'It made me look at marriage in a different light' Jane Corry, author of My Husband's Wife'T. A. Cotterell masterfully conjures up the suffocating atmosphere that envelopes the couple as they navigate the mental trauma of maintaining a complex web of lies ... An intriguing, well-constructed and dramatic debut' TLSHow far would you go to keep a secret?Alice has a perfect life – a great job, happy kids, a wonderful husband. Until he goes missing one night; she receives a suspicious phone call; things don’t quite add up. Alice needs to know what’s going on. But when she uncovers the truth she faces a brutal choice. And how can she be sure it is the truth?Sometimes it’s better not to know.An FT ' Reader Pick' Books for Summer Reading.Trade ReviewAn intriguing and layered psychological thriller, What Alice Knew will hold you fast till its startling conclusion—and then you’ll want to talk about it to anyone who will listen. An impressive debut. * Shari Lapena, author of 'The Couple Next Door' *Intriguing and compelling – it made me look at marriage in a different light … * Jane Corry, Author of 'My Husband's Wife' *The suspense [is] beautifully sustained ... the writing is finely crafted. * Joanne Harris *A tale of crime and morals ... an intriguing crime mystery that blends elements of psychological suspense and marital drama ... If you read this thinking you know where the story is going to go, just you wait. What Alice Knew is a tale of what it means to be a woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and an artist. But more than anything, it’s a story of humanity, in all it’s ugliness and beauty, and the things people are willing to do for the ones they love. * Culturefly *T. A. Cotterell masterfully conjures up the suffocating atmosphere that envelopes the couple as they navigate the mental trauma of maintaining a complex web of lies ... An intriguing, well-constructed and dramatic debut. -- Justin Warshaw * Times Literary Supplement *

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‘I read The House Swap in one breathless sitting. Dark, smart, sexy, gripping, totally brilliant.’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said She Said'Sinister and compelling' Woman & Home'You'll be whipping through the pages' Stylist**********‘No one lives this way unless they want to hide something.’When Caroline and Francis receive an offer to house swap, they jump at the chance for a week away from home. After the difficulties of the past few years, they’ve worked hard to rebuild their marriage for their son’s sake; now they want to reconnect as a couple.On arrival, they find a house that is stark and sinister in its emptiness – it’s hard to imagine what kind of person lives here. Then, gradually, Caroline begins to uncover some signs of life – signs of her life. The flowers in the bathroom or the music in the CD player might seem innocent to her husband but to her they are anything but. It seems the person they have swapped with is someone she used to know; someone she’s desperate to leave in her past.But that person is now in her home – and they want to make sure she’ll never forget . . .**********‘This is very much a heart-thumping, read-in-one-sitting story, and absolutely delivers on its smart and original hook’ Heat‘A fantastic thriller – dead-on domestic noir, full of tension and surprises. I loved it.’ Lee Child‘An enthralling thriller that lives up to its chilling premise.’ Renee Knight, author of Disclaimer‘Rebecca Fleet has created a perfectly contained cast of credible characters in a story so intriguing that you will be guessing right up to the last page. And it’s beautifully written too. I loved this book.’ Liz Nugent, author of Lying in Wait

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Book Synopsis‘A mesmerising, beautifully-written domestic thriller that really stands out from the crowd. I flew through it.’ Mark Edwards, author of HERE TO STAY‘A domestic noir to race through’ Sunday Mirror'Enjoyably twisty, this is most impressive for its chilling insights into obsession and where it can lead' Observer ******Everyone brings baggage to a new relationship.When Alex met Natalie she changed his life. After the tragic death of his first wife, which left him a single parent to teenage daughter Jade, he’s determined to build a happy family.But his new-found happiness is shattered when the family home is gutted by fire and his loyalties are unexpectedly tested. Jade insists she saw a man in the house on the night of the fire; Natalie denies any knowledge of such an intruder.Alex is faced with an impossible choice: to believe his wife or his daughter? And as Natalie’s story unravels, Alex realises that his wife has a past he had no idea about, a past that might yet catch up with her.But this time, the past could be deadly . . . *******************‘Beautifully written and well-crafted. I read it in two days, though I would have read it in one if I could’ Sandie Jones, author of THE OTHER WOMAN'Engrossing, original and hugely enjoyable' Emma Curtis, author of THE NIGHT YOU LEFTPraise for Rebecca Fleet:‘This is very much a heart-thumping, read-in-one-sitting story, and absolutely delivers on its smart and original hook’ Heat‘A fantastic thriller – dead-on domestic noir, full of tension and surprises. I loved it.’ Lee Child‘An enthralling thriller that lives up to its chilling premise.’ Renee Knight, author of Disclaimer‘Rebecca Fleet has created a perfectly contained cast of credible characters in a story so intriguing that you will be guessing right up to the last page. And it’s beautifully written too. I loved this book.’ Liz Nugent, author of Lying in Wait'Dark, smart, sexy, gripping, totally brilliant.’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said She Said'Sinister and compelling' Woman & Home'You'll be whipping through the pages' StylistTrade ReviewBeautifully written and well-crafted, the characters of Natalie, Rachel, Sadie and Alex stayed with me long after I finished reading and I resented anything that stopped me from getting back to them. I read it in two days, though I would have read it in one if I could! * Sandie Jones, author of THE OTHER WOMAN *A mesmerising, beautifully-written domestic thriller that really stands out from the crowd. I flew through it. * Mark Edwards, author of FOLLOW YOU HOME *Engrossing, original and hugely enjoyable. * Emma Curtis, author of THE NIGHT YOU LEFT *A fabulous read. * Woman & Home *A menacing new thriller . . . Expect to be gripped! * That's Life! *

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Book Synopsis---A GUARDIAN BEST SUMMER READ---'A very modern interrogation of violent fiction. Fiendishly readable' SARAH MOSS, GUARDIAN'Powerful and moving' ERIN KELLY, author of He Said/She Said______________When a young writer accepts a job at a university in the remote countryside, it's meant to be a fresh start. But when one of her students starts sending in chapters from his novel that blur the lines between fiction and reality, the professor recognises herself as the main character in his book - and he has written her a horrific fate.Will she be able to stop life imitating art before it's too late?At once a breathless battle-of-wits and a disarming exploration of sexual politics, The Body Lies is an essential book for our times.___________________'Outstanding' CLARE MACKINTOSH'A literary exploration of consent, entitlement and how narratives can be bent, misappropriated and wrested back. I loved it' SARAH VAUGHAN'A propulsive #MeToo thriller.' GUARDIAN'Gripping. The perfect marriage of risky literary fiction and full-on thriller' MARIA SEMPLE'Page-turning thriller and examination of how women's bodies are treated, in life and in fiction.' THE BOOKSELLER'A novelist with a gift for intimate and atmospheric storytelling' FINANCIAL TIMES'Baker's heroine is one of the most believable I've seen on the page in a long time...nuanced, non-linear, lifelike' TLS'Gripping and fast-paced' GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGTrade ReviewA propulsive #MeToo thriller investi­gating consent and male entitlement as well as the borders between truth and fiction. * Guardian *Build-up of tension is EXCELLENT * Daily Mail *Packs a powerful punch on every page * Red Magazine *Gripping ... with lots to say about sexual politics * Good Housekeeping *This superior thriller looks at how novels represent violence through the story of a creative writing teacher who finds herself trapped between the borders of life and fiction after recognising herself in a story written by one of her students * METRO *

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Book Synopsis'Chillingly good' Elizabeth Day'Her best book to date and that's really saying something' Marian Keyes'A powerfully atmospheric, darkly compelling mystery' Lucy Foley'A superior psychological thriller' Liz NugentNessa Crowley's murderer has been protected by silence for ten years.Until a team of documentary makers decide to find out the truth.On the day of Henry and Keelin Kinsella's wild party at their big house a violent storm engulfed the island of Inisrun, cutting it off from the mainland. When morning broke Nessa Crowley's lifeless body lay in the garden, her last breath silenced by the music and the thunder.The killer couldn't have escaped Inisrun, but no-one was charged with the murder. The mystery that surrounded the death of Nessa remained hidden. But the islanders knew who to blame for the crime that changed them forever. Ten years later a documentary crew arrives, there to lift the lid off the Kinsella's carefully constructed lives, determined to find evidence that will prove Henry's guilt and Keelin's complicity in the murder of beautiful Nessa.In this bold, brilliant, disturbing new novel Louise O'Neill shows that deadly secrets are devastating to those who hold them close.Trade ReviewThis superior psychological thriller...absolutely gripping, intriguing and superbly written...a compulsive read - Liz Nugent -- Liz NugentImagine Emily Bronte crossed with a Netflix true-crime documentary and with a dash of Big Little Lies thrown in. After the Silence is gripping, clever and beautifully written. O'Neill has a gimlet eye for the telling detail ...Chillingly good - Elizabeth Day -- Elizabeth DayElegant, assured, gripping and moving, it's her best book to date and that's really saying somethingThis is good. Really good. Dark and tragic and anger-inducing. Succession meets West Cork with a fire of feminist fury. * Harriet Tyce *Chilling and atmospheric, After the Silence is sharp and perceptively written, with a mystery at its heart that will keep you gripped. I think this is Louise's best book yet. -- Beth O'LearyA gripping new direction for Louise O'Neill but still with her distinctive powerful voice. I raced through it, guessing until the very - satisfying - end. -- Cecelia AhernDevastating, chilling and enviably accomplished... I haven't been so gripped by a book in years * Laura Jane Williams * A powerfully atmospheric, darkly compelling mystery characterised by Louise O'Neill's exquisite writing and powerful psychological insight. Seriously good. -- Lucy FoleyLouise O'Neill has done it again. . .her writing captivates me in a visceral way every time. After The Silence does what Louise does best: addictive and scalpel-sharp fiction that addresses important topics that should demand our attention, while feeling both deep discomfort and fire in our belly. -- Emma GannonLouise O'Neill's After the Silence is a devastatingly beautiful book full of secrets, mystery and a story so powerful and enthralling you cannot look away. An absolute masterpiece and one of my favourite books in the world! -- Nikita GillA clever, sleight of hand psychological thriller set on the small Irish island of Inisrun * Red *dark, haunting, almost claustrophobic read, but the writing is still both beautiful and lyrical * Fabulous *You'll be absorbed by this chilling tale of controlling and toxic relationships * Sunday Mirror *A subtle slow-burn, this evocative mystery spins into an intricate portrait of gas-lighting and sacrifice * heat *Dark, windswept, suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. Bravo to a wonderful writer and wonderful woman -- Jessie BurtonThis multi-layered, sinister chiller is a real page-turner. * Best *The plot is intricate and intelligent, but the drama gets its real energy from the author's obvious anger about what men get away with, and why some women always pay the price. * Daily Mail *O'Neill has made her name as one of Ireland's foremost feminist writers, and this is a detailed examination of a toxic marriage as well as an absorbing mystery * Sunday Times *This is O'Neill at her best: splintered portraits of relationships so sharp you could cut yourself on them, deeply empathetic characterisation and a vivid exposure of the brutality of all forms of domestic abuse, including the ones that so often remain hidden in the shadows. A tour de force from a spectacular storyteller, it will have you gripped from the first page to the last, but it will stay with you long after that as well. O'Neill is one of our finest feminist writers and this is her best book yet. -- Laura BatesWith impeccable research into domestic violence on women, O'Neill conjures a disturbing and uncomfortable atmosphere, made darker by the remote island where the story is set * CultureFly *This compulsive novel tells a claustrophobic tale of violence, control and domestic abuse. * Sunday Express (S Mag) *The atmosphere of it is dream-like and it's completely compelling * Good Housekeeping *

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Book SynopsisSHE'D DO ANYTHING FOR HER HUSBAND.Julie has the perfect lifeA kind boyfriend, loving parents and good grades. She has everything ahead of her.Cora’s life is a nightmareA psychopath for a husband, a violent father and a terrible secret. There’s no way out.But one night, their worlds collideLocked in an isolated house together, they must work out what has happened – and who they can trust to set them free. From the bestselling author of The Never List, this is a breath-taking new thriller about the wife of a kidnapper and her relationship with his last victim.Praise for Koethi Zan:'Psychological thriller writing at its best' Jeffery Deaver 'Should be on every mystery reader's must-read list' Tess Gerritsen

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Book SynopsisHOW DO YOU SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER?Everyone believes Alex is in a coma, unlikely to ever wake up. As his family debate withdrawing life support, he can only listen.But he soon begins to suspect that his accident wasn't really an accident. Even worse, the perpetrator is still out there and Alex is not the only one in danger.Alex must use a series of clues from his past to solve the mystery of who tried to kill him. He needs to protect those he loves - before they decide to let him go...WHAT JULY KNEW - the new moving mystery by Emily Koch. Available now!Keep up to date with all things Emily Koch and subscribe to the newsletter at emilykoch.co.uk____________________________Praise for If I Die Before I Wake:'Exhilarating' Daily Mail'Beautifully written' Cara Hunter, bestselling author of All the Rage'This is a debut to be reckoned with' GuardianSHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA STEEL DAGGER AWARD 2018Trade ReviewThis is a debut to be reckoned with. -- Barry Forshaw * Guardian *The author conveys a real sense of the true horror of being locked inside a body that won’t move with a brain that still works. And she persuades us to stay with the story to its strangely exhilarating conclusion. -- Christina Appleyard * Daily Mail *The author conveys a real sense of the true horror of being locked inside a body that won’t move with a brain that still works. And she persuades us to stay with the story to its strangely exhilarating conclusion. -- Christina Appleyard * Daily Mail *If I Die Before I Wake is a captivating thriller by an exciting new voice. I read it in two days because I had to know who did it! Koch keeps you guessing until the very end. * Mary Lynn Bracht, author of White Chrysanthemum *I loved If I Die Before I Wake. I was completely gripped - a sign of a true story-teller. It's utterly compelling and has an ending that will rip the heart out of you. * Jo Spain, author of The Confession *

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Book SynopsisREAD THE TENSE TWIST-FILLED RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE OUTCAST.Family secrets can be deadly...Newly-weds Dan and Bea decide to escape London. Driving through France in their beaten-up car they anticipate a long lazy summer, worlds away from their ordinary lives.But their idyll cannot last. Stopping off to see Bea's brother at his crumbling hotel, the trio are joined unexpectedly by Bea's ultra-wealthy parents. Dan has never understood Bea's deep discomfort around them but living together in such close proximity he begins to sense something is very wrong.Just as tensions reach breaking point, brutal tragedy strikes, exposing decades of secrets and silence that threaten to destroy them all.'A suspenseful, beautifully written thriller about the corruption of money and abuse within a dysfunctional family' GuardianTrade ReviewSadie Jones is such an enjoyable novelist to spend time with. Her books are so easy to read, while each sentence is rich in meaty observation… Elegantly atmospheric… The Snakes left me breathless -- Claire Allfree * Daily Mail *The Snakes is superbly written, each sentence punctuated by a drumbeat of menace, each word placed with a master's touch. I keep thinking about the questions it poses: about what it is to be good in these imperfect times; about how we can protect our humanity in the face of narcissism and greed. Yet for all its depth and mystery, The Snakes is also just a thrillingly good read -- Elizabeth DayThe Snakes asks serious questions about human nature, avarice and justice, wrapped in the fast-paced rhythms of a thriller. It is written with Jones’s trademark economy and a fierce attention to the nuances of familial cruelty… I finished The Snakes with a juddering heart, strangely close to tears -- Elizabeth Lowry * Guardian *The Snakes is gripping from the outset, then finally unputdownable. The writing is magnificent. One of the most powerful and uncompromising novels I've read in years. -- Jonathan CoeEver since her debut, The Outcast, Jones has peopled her propulsive plots with nuanced, dimensional creations imbued with human failings and graces. The Snakes is no exception… Jones crafts a pitiless shock ending; a denouement that refuses closure and resonates long after the book is set aside… [the ending is] bound to become a talking point -- Suzi Feay * Financial Times *I am blowing the trumpet for The Snakes to anyone who'll listen. I devoured the book, awed by its beauty and brilliance. We'll be lucky if 2019 brings us much else of this rank. This is wickedly good writing and something really special. Sadie Jones has talent to burn. -- Billy O'CallaghanA suspenseful, beautifully written thriller about the corruption of money and abuse within a dysfunctional family * Guardian *Masterful, terrifying, dangerous, with an ending that is as uncompromising as the build-up is truthful. The Snakes is as beautifully written as it is dark and honest. -- Rachel JoyceA menacing, beautifully written novel * Guardian, *Summer Reads of 2019* *I was absolutely gripped by this original and beautifully-told story of a couple enmeshed in a nest of vipers -- a rich family of criminals. Its evocation of a sinister French house, the corruption of love and the powerlessness of good is both haunting and chilling. Nobody contemporary writes about unhappy families as well as Sadie Jones. -- Amanda CraigThis gripping read drips with a menace that builds of the shocking final pages -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping, *Book of the Month* *[A] menacing new contemporary thriller… a tantalising set-up, after which the plot zigzags unpredictably to a brutally stark finale that steals the breath -- Anthony Cummins * Metro *The Snakes has all of Jones’s trademark depth and layered storytelling -- Sarra Manning * Red *Sadie Jones… knows how to construct a narrative of great emotional power. Her prose is crisp and precise, studded with spiky observations -- Andrew Taylor * Spectator *An all-encompassing read from the first page to the devastating final paragraph -- Alice O’Keeffe * The Bookseller *The ending is devastating -- Jeffrey Burke * Mail on Sunday *Unsettling, thought-provoking and beautifully written, you won’t be able to get this out of your head -- Caroline Robb * Heat *Jones’s style is immediate and lively and she is particularly good at dialogue, which she uses a great deal, often to advance the fast-paced plot -- Elisa Seagrave * Literary Review *The Snakes unfolds in clean, functional prose and Jones has a lot to say about the way we live now -- Johanna Thomas-Corr * Evening Standard *Determined to escape the nine-to-five monotony, Bea and Dan head to France to visit Bea’s wayward brother Alex, who runs a hotel where the only guests are snakes in the attic. The peace is shattered when Bea’s parents arrive, bringingconflict and misery. From a sedate start, Jones deftly builds the tension to a horrific and powerful conclusion. * The Telegraph *Jones’s fifth novel is a fantastic read as a thriller, but where Jones excels, is in her microscopic yet compassionate scrutiny of relationships: the unconditional doting of a flawed sibling; the sickening toxicity of a vicious but powerful parent; the watchful care and explosions of irritation between spouses -- Maria Crawford * Financial Times, *Summer Reads of 2019* *Deliciously wicked... the perfect antidote to a relaxing summer's day... hypnotic -- like staring into the serpent's eyes just before it strikes -- Ron Charles * Washington Post *Both a cautionary tale and a pitch-black race-to-the-end thriller -- Justine Jordon * Guardian, *Books of the Year* *Sadie Jones is a talented writer. She is able to burrow down into the heart of feelings and yet does so in a matter of fact way. The ending shocked me… [The Snakes is] the sort of read I could spend ages thinking about what lies beneath the story of greed, wealth, jealousy and flawed family relationships -- Nicola Smith * NB *

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Book Synopsis'You'll be gripped' HeatSHE LIED TO PROTECT A KILLER. NOW THERE'S NOWHERE LEFT TO HIDE. . . The morning after a great storm, a woman arrives in a remote Cornish village.But Charlie, as she now calls herself, steers clear of the locals and keeps a low profile - because she has a terrible secret. Recently released from prison after providing a false alibi for the man she loved, Charlie wants to move on and start afresh. But someone, somewhere, is watching her, determined that she will never get that second chance.Perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh, Alex Michaelides and Harriet Tyce_____________________'Clever plotting, a hugely confident sense of place, and more suspects than you can shake a stick at' Caz Frear, bestselling author of Sweet Little Lies'Revenge is a dish served with lashings of relish in this vivid, blackly comic suspense novel' Louise Candlish on Sticks and StonesTrade ReviewNerve-wrackingly tense and paranoia-inducing, with a sense of unease that just won't let go. I loved every minute!You'll be gripped by just who is out to get Charlie - and why * HEAT *A queasily unsettling thriller is suffused with menace. * Sunday Mirror *An excellent, page-turning psychological suspense novel with a great plot and an engaging protagonist! Kept me guessing to the end -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlI was absolutely gripped by this tale of secrets, lies, and the impossibility of running away from your past. I struggled to put this book down. Fantastic! -- Luca Veste, author of The Bone Keeper

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Book Synopsis'A SUSPENSEFUL MYSTERY...DEEPLY MOVING AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY AFFECTING' ALEX MICHAELIDES, AUTHOR OF THE SILENT PATIENT PRAISE FOR KEEP HIM CLOSE:'A tense drama' Sunday Times'A beautiful and heart-breaking story that I can't stop thinking about. Simply stunning.' Jo Jakeman, author of Safe House'Powerfully written and packs a real emotional punch.' Cara Hunter, author of Close to Home'A magnetic, all consuming read. A heart-breaking suspense which deals with love in all its forms.'Gytha Lodge, author of She Lies in Wait_____________________________ONE SON LIED. ONE SON DIED.Alice's son is dead. Indigo's son is accused of murder.Indigo is determined to prove her beloved Kane is innocent. She is helped by a kind stranger who takes an interest in her situation. But little does she know that her new friend has her own agenda...Alice can't tell Indigo who she really is. She wants to understand why her son was killed. But how long will it take for Indigo to discover her identity? And what other secrets will come out as she digs deeper?No one knows a son like his mother. But neither Alice nor Indigo know the whole truth about their boys, and what happened between them on that fateful night.Trade ReviewKeep Him Close was a magnetic, all-consuming read. A heart-breaking suspense which deals with love in all its forms, however it is expressed. * Gytha Lodge, author of She Lies in Wait *A moving account of family relationships and mainly low-level but devastating criminality -- Natasha Cooper * Literary Review *Keep Him Close isn't just a suspenseful mystery about two women's determination to discover the truth about the night that left one of their sons dead. It's also a really well-written, deeply moving and psychologically affecting study of motherhood and heartbreak. Highly recommended. * Alex Michaelides, author of The Silent Patient *Powerfully written and packs a real emotional punch. * Cara Hunter, author of Close to Home *A gripping, dark domestic drama with motherhood at its heart. Beautifully written and emotionally charged, the characters leaped off the page and stayed with me. * Ruth Mancini, author of In the Blood *

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