Alafair Burke is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels include the standalone thrillers The X, Long Gone and If You Were Here, and the Ellie Hatcher series: All Day and a Night, Never Tell, 212, Angel’s Tip, and Dead Connection. She is also the coauthor of the Under Suspicion series with Mary Higgins Clark. A former prosecutor, she is now a professor of criminal law and lives in Manhattan.
Promise Me Never (2026) Liv Constantine "With finely drawn characters and a razor-sharp insight into the potentially all-consuming power of relationships, this deliciously twisty thriller hooks you from the first page and refuses to let go. Don't plan on sleeping - you'll be up all night racing to the final, jaw-dropping reveal."
Blade (2026) Wendy Walker "Blade pairs intricate plotting and a winning protagonist with an insider's take on the fierce pressures placed on young women in competitive ice skating. Wendy Walker always delivers."
Watch Us Fall (2025) Christina Kovac "An insightful look at the complex dynamics of close female friendships and the lingering effects of trauma, Watch Us Fall is also a fast moving, twisty thriller that pulls you in on page one and keeps you reading until the surprising and satisfying ending."
Mississippi Blue 42 (2025) (FBI Special Agent Rae Johnson, book 1) Eli Cranor "Filled with humor, heart, and an insider's knowledge of the American South and its favorite sport, Mississippi Blue 42 is the kind of read that keeps a smile on your face as you compulsively turn the pages. If you haven't read Eli Cranor yet, now's the time."
The Good Liar (2025) Denise Mina "Filled with intelligence, intensity, and empathy, The Good Liar is a taut, propulsive mystery about family, truth, and morality. Denise Mina is such a talent."
What Kind of Paradise (2025) Janelle Brown "A breathtaking story of love, loyalty, family, and fate, What Kind of Paradise is an incredibly prescient and nuanced exploration of the impact of technology on society and individuals. This is Janelle Brown at the top of her game."
Wordhunter (2024) (Wordhunter Mystery, book 1) Stella Sands "Maggie Moore is tattooed and pierced and drinks beer for breakfast, but she's also a linguistic savant with a lightning quick mind. In short, she's a winning protagonist for a smart, original, and entirely entertaining mystery. If you love words, puzzles, or just a well crafted story, you will love Wordhunter."
What You Leave Behind (2024) Wanda M Morris "What You Leave Behind is a masterfully crafted story about grief, family, community, and multi-generational injustices. It's also a phenomenal crime novel. One of the best legal thriller writers since John Grisham, Wanda Morris keeps getting better and better."
Blood Rubies (2024) (Rune Sarasin Caper, book 1) Mailan Doquang "Jewel thief turned reluctant investigator Rune Sarasin makes a winning protagonist in this captivating, page-turning debut. Mailan Doquang is a writer to watch."
Someone Saw Something (2024) Rick Mofina "It's a family's worst nightmare. A child is missing and his parents are left with unimaginable choices and the threat of long-held secrets being exposed. Mofina expertly weaves together an anguishing story of a family's trauma with a propulsive, twisty thriller that pays off to the very last page."
An Inconvenient Wife (2024) (Modern Tudor Mystery) Karen E Olson "Twisty, sly, and utterly unique, An Inconvenient Wife is a sinfully entertaining, one-sitting read. Don't miss it!"
The Lost Van Gogh (2024) Jonathan Santlofer "Perfectly paced and plotted, The Lost Van Gogh seamlessly weaves together a mystery of unrelenting suspense with a fascinating tale about art and the dangerously criminal culture that surrounds it. A terrific read--one that only Jonathan Santlofer could have written!"
Dark Ride (2023) Lou Berney "Lou Berney is such a talent, and he's at the top of his game here. Hardly Reed is a protagonist to root for - an affable stoner who just might be the one person who can save two children in danger. Dark Ride will grab your heart in chapter one and not let go until the final, searing page."
Happiness Falls (2023) Angie Kim "This book will stay with you long after you turn the final, satisfying page."
The Quiet Tenant (2023) Clémence Michallon "Clémence Michallon has managed to re-imagine the serial killer novel, delivering all (and frankly, more) of the expected suspense and psychological tension, but offering a story about women - the ones who didn't know the evil that lurked within, the ones who tried to placate or fight but still perished, the ones who might actually survive. Haunting but never prurient, The Quiet Tenant is truly unforgettable. Read it."
Sing Her Down (2023) Ivy Pochoda "Ivy Pochoda once again writes with empathy about a world of unseen, unheard women-this time, two former cellmates whose lives remain entangled after their sudden release from prison. Sing Her Down is a stunning thriller, at once beautiful and gritty. Pochoda is a major talent."
Love Betrayal Murder (2023) Adam Mitzner "The twists keep coming in this smart, sly, and subtle legal thriller. Love Betrayal Murder starts as a slow burn but quickly builds into an unputdownable page turner."
Central Park West (2023) (Nora Carleton, book 1) James Comey "James Comey combines his insider knowledge of every level of the justice system with a natural storytelling voice to create a winning debut in Central Park West. More books, please."
Murder Your Employer (2023) (McMasters Guide to Homicide, book 1) Rupert Holmes "With dry humor and an eye for hidden clues, Rupert Holmes imagines a secret Hogwarts-like school that teaches the fine art of pulling off the perfect (and perfectly deserved) murder. An utterly creative and deliciously diabolical read."
The House in the Pines (2023) Ana Reyes "In The House in the Pines, Ana Reyes delves into a complex female friendship and the fragile nature of memory to weave together a smart, eerie, and completely addictive story of psychological suspense. Reyes is a debut author to watch."
Like a Sister (2022) Kellye Garrett "Like a Sister is one of those reads whose tight plotting and suspenseful pacing might tempt you to rush to its twisty end, but take your time and enjoy the ride as Kellye Garrett fills these pages with humor, heart, and whip-smart insights into class, race, family, and our contemporary media culture. Garrett deserves every bit of praise Like a Sister is certain to earn."
Do I Know You? (2021) Sarah Strohmeyer "Gripping and emotionally resonant, Sarah Strohmeyer’s thrilling new novel introduces readers to a relentless heroine who’s driven by the power of sisterly love."
The Cottage (2021) Daniel Judson "Shamus Award winner Daniel Judson is back with a propulsive, twisty psychological thriller about love, loss, and regret. A smart, suspenseful slow burn, The Cottage is a total pleasure."
As the Wicked Watch (2021) (Jordan Manning, book 1) Tamron Hall "As the Wicked Watch is a terrific read—a propulsive, compelling mystery, but also a nuanced look at class and racial inequality. With Jordan Manning, Tamron Hall has given us a smart, empathetic heroine to cheer on for years to come."
A Good Mother (2021) Lara Bazelon "A Good Mother is a high-stakes legal thriller packed with intense courtroom drama, but it's also a story about the complicated sacrifices and compromises that mothers face. In this impressive debut, Lara Bazelon's talent for both storytelling and the law are on sharp display."
Never Far Away (2021) Michael Koryta "Koryta's expert plotting is on full display as he masterfully introduces one intriguing character after another, weaving their stories together while leading all of them--and the reader--to a stunning finale. Never Far Away is a must-read for thriller fans."
When No One Is Watching (2020) Alyssa Cole "From the first page of WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING, I felt like I was right there in the gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood, filled with sharply etched characters and dialogue that zings. Then bam! I was knocked over by the momentum of an intense psychological thriller that doesn't let go until the final page. This is a terrific read."
Little Secrets (2020) Jennifer Hillier "Little Secrets is a powerful, enthralling thriller that had me looking forward to the end of each day I could spend with these intriguing characters and Jennifer Hillier's riveting storytelling. Prepare yourself for a terrific read."
Pretty as a Picture (2020) Elizabeth Little "Engaging and irresistible from the very first page, Pretty as a Picture is a smart and compelling thriller filled with surprises. Little writes with such a clear, confident, and witty voice, I found myself smiling as I read."
The Blaze (2020) Chad Dundas "With firm, incisive writing, Dundas makes his Montana setting come alive. The Blaze is the best kind of thriller, full of suspense and twists until the very end, with complicated characters haunted by the past and struggling with the present."
Before She Knew Him (2019) Peter Swanson "In Peter Swanson’s expert hands, one woman’s discerning observation at a quiet suburban dinner party unfolds into a gripping, twisty, psychologically complex thriller. I could not put it down."
The Warehouse (2019) Rob Hart "A chilling and all-too-believable portrait of a not-so-far-off future where free will succumbs to big business."
The Disappearing (2018) Lori Roy "Beautifully written and expertly plotted, The Disappearing is a twisty, haunting, and utterly riveting thriller. Lori Roy just gets better and better."
The Banker's Wife (2018) Cristina Alger "In Cristina Alger’s expert hands, the world of complex international finance is the perfect setting for a gripping, twisty thriller that asks how well we really know the people closest to us. The Banker's Wife is smart, savvy, and beautifully written. It grabs the reader by the gut and doesn’t let go until the last page."
Best Friends Forever (2018) Margot Hunt "Best Friends Forever is a clever thriller that asks how far we'll go to protect our friends. Margot Hunt will keep you guessing until the final, satisfying twist."
The Devil's Song (2017) Lauren Stahl "I was up all night, utterly riveted...It's hard to believe this is a debut. Lauren Stahl is a writer to watch."
Green Sun (2016) (Hanson, book 3) Kent Anderson "Kent Anderson immediately pulls you into his taut, authentic depiction of a cop's life in early-80s Oakland. Green Sun is crime fiction at its best: smart, unflinching, and, ultimately, compassionate."
(Kick Lannigan, book 1) Chelsea Cain "Kick Lannigan is my kind of heroine, brave and honorable, with a big gun and a sharp tongue. Chelsea Cain is at the top of her game here with crisp prose, rich characters, and breakneck pacing. Read the first chapter, and you'll be hooked."
The Book of You (2014) Claire Kendal "Chilling, raw, and utterly addictive, THE BOOK OF YOU is the kind of psychological thriller that you will want to read in one gulp, only to find yourself terrified once the lights are off."
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