Kathleen Barber was raised in Galesburg, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois and Northwestern University School of Law, and previously practiced bankruptcy law at large firms in Chicago and New York. When she's not writing, Kathleen enjoys traveling the world with her husband.
In Too Deep (2025) Crime Stories Inspired by the Songs of Genesis edited by Adam Meyer
Kathleen Barber recommends
We Were Never Friends (2026) Kaira Rouda "Secrets and betrayals abound in this twisty tale of a sorority reunion gone very, very wrong. We Were Never Friends is a delightfully juicy reminder that dark secrets can lurk behind even the glossiest of exteriors"
The Deadly Book Club (2025) Lyn Liao Butler "In a world where appearances are everything, the women behind the most desirable virtual book club have it all... until one of their own is murdered. Full of twists and gasp-aloud surprises, The Deadly Book Club is a delicious whodunit where any of the frenemies could be the killer. Lyn Liao Butler keeps the pace cracking in this tense thriller, and the scandalous secrets and shocking betrayals will keep you glued right until the last page."
Such a Lovely Family (2024) Aggie Blum Thompson "Fiendishly clever and wildly addictive, Such a Lovely Family is twisty perfection. By peeling back the polished surface of the Washington, DC, elite, Aggie Blum Thompson has crafted a masterful domestic suspense teeming with secrets stacked upon secrets. I absolutely inhaled it!"
The Split (2024) Kit Frick "Utterly absorbing and compulsively readable, THE SPLIT is a clever Sliding Doors-style thriller that brilliantly examines how a single decision can derail an entire life. At once an intriguing puzzle threaded with secrets and lies, and a compelling family drama exploring the complicated bonds of sisterhood, THE SPLIT is a novel you won't be able to put down -- or forget."
Have You Seen Her (2023) Catherine McKenzie "I am fully obsessed with Have You Seen Her. From the stunning setting to the vibrant, complicated characters, from the pitch-perfect pacing to the stellar twist, Catherine McKenzie's latest had me from page one. Clear your schedule and prepare to be thrilled!"
In Her Defense (2022) (Riversedge Law Club, book 1) Amy Impellizzeri "IN HER DEFENSE is an intricately plotted, compelling legal drama with heart-and a twist ending that you won't see coming!"
Blood Sugar (2022) Sascha Rothchild "Unsettling from its outset and engrossing to its very end, Blood Sugar pulls the reader deep into the mind of its highly intelligent, obsessively organized protagonist - an accomplished woman who just so happens to leave a trail of dead bodies in her wake. Never before have I cared so much for such an untrustworthy character."
The Mother Next Door (2021) Tara Laskowski "Suspenseful, sinister, and just the right amount of spooky, The Mother Next Door absolutely captivated me. Tara Laskowski combines an idyllic suburban setting, an almost terrifyingly organized clique, a creepy urban legend, and a healthy dose of long-buried secrets for a propulsive, expertly paced novel you won't be able to put down."
The Family Plot (2021) Megan Collins "Gorgeously wrought and deliciously creepy, The Family Plot is a twisted delight. Evocative prose and skillful misdirection propel the reader through the story, keeping them glued right up to the shocking conclusion. Perfect for true crime fans—and anyone looking for a gripping, vividly drawn suspense novel!"
You Will Remember Me (2021) Hannah Mary McKinnon "You Will Remember Me is a dark, delicious thriller where nothing--and no one--is as it seems. From the moment an amnesiac awakens on a dark beach, Hannah Mary McKinnon keeps the reader in her thrall, using each chilling twist to propel the story in an evermore sinister direction. As the tension gradually builds, so does the reader's sense of dread, right up until the shocking, gasp-out-loud ending!"
Call Me Elizabeth Lark (2021) Melissa Colasanti "A web of deception entangles a mother’s grief, a sister’s guilt, and a woman’s desperation in this twisty thriller. Full of surprises, Call Me Elizabeth Lark will keep you guessing until the very end!"
If I Disappear (2021) Eliza Jane Brazier "A spellbinding tale of obsession and isolation, and the darkness that can unspool when the two intertwine. Thick with atmosphere and dripping with tension, this is a book you'll want to devour in one sitting--if you dare."
They're Gone (2020) E A Barres "A relentless, pulse-pounding thriller that showcases E.A. Barres’s talent for injecting gritty crime stories with sympathetic, emotionally complex characters and sharp black humor. Barres skillfully combines a dark story about corruption, greed, and violence with an emotional arc about grief, resilience, and the lengths a person will go to protect their family—all while keeping the pace swift and the dialogue witty."
The Lady Upstairs (2020) Halley Sutton "Sharp, sexy, and unrelentingly devious, The Lady Upstairs is a page-turner that will leave you breathless. Set in darkened bars and hotel rooms across Los Angeles and starring the feminist antihero of our dreams, this is a debut that is not to be missed."
They Never Learn (2020) Layne Fargo "Dark, shocking, and utterly satisfying! I’m a big fan of Layne Fargo’s Temper, and somehow she topped herself with this one, channeling even more feminist rage into her complicated, magnetic-but-terrifying characters."
For the Best (2020) Vanessa Lillie "Vanessa Lillie’s For the Best is both a riveting page-turner about a woman’s race to prove her own innocence, and a layered, thought-provoking exploration of self-destructive impulses and the crushing weight of old secrets. Well-paced and full of surprises, this is one you definitely don’t want to miss!"
Don't Look For Me (2020) Wendy Walker "Wendy Walker’s DON’T LOOK FOR ME is a pulse-pounding, thrill ride of a novel with heart. Centered around a family that has already endured unspeakable tragedy, the story explores the strength of familial bonds and our capacity for forgiveness?all while keeping the reader on the edge of her seat, quickly turning pages until the exciting conclusion. I couldn’t put it down!"
Hurry Home (2020) Roz Nay "Part nuanced exploration of how tragedy can shatter a family and part nail-biting psychological thriller, [Hurry Home] will keep you guessing until the end!"
The Swap (2020) Robyn Harding "Robyn Harding has upped her game with the page-turning and completely riveting The Swap. Harding deftly explores toxic friendship, desire, and obsession in this engrossing novel, in which two couples—one a glittering pair of former celebrities, the other stalwart high school sweethearts—become entangled in a web of secrets and jealousy. This is a clear-your-night-and-read-in-one-sitting book!"
Stranger in the Lake (2020) Kimberly Belle "Clear your calendar because once you've started Kimberly Belle's utterly engrossing STRANGER IN THE LAKE, you won't be able to tear yourself away! Old and new secrets abound in this tense and atmospheric thriller that will make you question how well we can really know anyone, and how much we might be willing to forgive for those we consider family."
The Last Flight (2020) Julie Clark "ulie Clark's The Last Flight is a stunner: both a compelling, intricately woven tale of suspense and a thoughtful, nuanced portrayal of two very different women, each at a dangerous crossroads in her life. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!"
The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida (2020) Clarissa Goenawan "In this elegant and haunting novel, Goenawan deftly explores the messiness of grief, the pain of lost chances, and the way a life can collapse under the weight of secrets. Miwako and her friends are under my skin, and I'll be thinking about them for some time."
Behind Every Lie (2020) Christina McDonald "In Behind Every Lie, a lightning strike survivor discovers that memories are fallible, identities are fungible, and she can’t trust anyone—including herself. With nuanced and dubiously trustworthy characters, dual timelines revealing decades of secrets, and a tension-packed plot, Christina McDonald has crafted an engrossing and utterly addictive thriller. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!"
A Good Man (2020) Ani Katz "Profoundly disturbing and deeply unsettling … Richly drawn and laced through with dread, this bold novel is an unflinching examination of what it means to be a man, and how easily a man can become a monster."
Her Daughter's Mother (2019) Daniela Petrova "Captivating and powerful, Her Daughter’s Mother is both a thought-provoking story about the ethical gray area one woman stumbles into on her quest for motherhood, and a twisty thriller about another woman’s abrupt disappearance. Secrets, obsession, lies, betrayals big and small—they’re all here in this expertly paced novel that will keep readers guessing right up until the very last page."
Tiny Americans (2019) Devin Murphy "Epic in scope, Tiny Americans is a poignant examination of the ties that bind a family, and how enduring those ties may be."
Forget You Know Me (2019) Jessica Strawser "A taut and immensely satisfying novel of domestic suspense. Come for the sinister premise, stay for the insightful portrayals of a friendship crumbling apart, a marriage strained to its breaking point, and at least one character who finds themself suddenly--and dangerously--in over their head."
Desperate Girls (2018) (Wolfe Security, book 1) Laura Griffin "In Desperate Girls, Laura Griffin has crafted a thrilling page-turner that expertly balances the tension of a manhunt for an escaped convict on a revenge quest with the sizzling attraction between a sharp, ambitious attorney and her new bodyguard. Each development will leave you breathless ... right up to the twist you won’t see coming!"
Girls' Night Out (2018) Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke "Girls’ Night Out is an utterly enthralling read that is impossible to put down. The dual timelines are captivating, just days apart, as they unfold both the frantic search for a missing friend and the circumstances that led to her disappearance. This is a book that makes you question how well you truly know even your closest friends, and also what you yourself might be capable of doing."
