Kimberly Belle is the bestselling author of four novels: The Last Breath, The Ones We Trust, The Marriage Lie, and Three Days Missing. Her third novel, The Marriage Lie, has been translated into a dozen languages and was a semi-finalist in the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Kimberly worked in marketing and nonprofit fundraising before turning to writing fiction. She lived for over a decade in the Netherlands and currently divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
Strangers in the Villa (2026) Robyn Harding "Cava, sunshine, and secrets - in Strangers in the Villa, Robyn Harding nails the vibe with a lush Spanish setting, a smart, layered structure, and characters so real you'll invite them over for dinner...and then maybe change the locks. If The Drowning Woman was your kind of thrill-ride, cancel all your plans. This one delivers that same deliciously wicked mix of sharp twists, shifting loyalties, and a creeping sense of danger just beneath the surface."
I Came Back for You (2026) Kate White "In I Came Back for You, Kate White delivers a quietly explosive mystery about a daughter's final days through the eyes of a mother desperate to understand the daughter she lost. Bree returns to the place she hoped never to see again, chasing answers about her daughter's death - and the version of the young woman she never got to fully know. What follows is a taut, deeply felt whodunit filled with grief, reckoning, and painful truths that come to light only when it's too late to ask the questions. A five-star story that lingers."
We Were Never Friends (2026) Kaira Rouda "Mix one part ruthless college frenemies out for vengeance with another part juicy scandal not-so-deeply buried in the past, then shake it up with messed-up family dynamics and Rouda's trademark dark humor, and you get the heady cocktail that is We Were Never Friends. A fun, clever spin on the revenge thriller and a rollicking good time."
Pinky Swear (2026) Danielle Girard "Girard delivers a daring, twist-laden plot that barrels toward an electric, heart-stopping climax with chilling precision...a white-knuckle tale of friendship, betrayal, and the true meaning of family."
Where He Left Me (2025) Nicole Baart "Baart delivers a breathtaking blend of heartache and suspense as a woman's search for the truth unravels the life she thought she knew. With lyrical prose and a cleverly layered structure, Baart lures you into the wilds of the North Cascades, where a missing husband, a fractured family, and long-buried secrets collide - and love can be the most dangerous illusion of all."
Marguerite by the Lake (2025) Mary Dixie Carter "Tense and richly emotional, Marguerite by the Lake is a deep-dive into toxic love and the danger of wanting another person's life. Carter's prose shines, hypnotic and lyrical as she paints characters and a setting that pop off the page, but it's the story's overarching sense of doom that makes it unputdownable. An engrossing read with an ending that lingers."
One of Our Own (2025) Lucinda Berry "Hypnotic and haunting...One of Our Own is a live-wire of a thriller - and every parent's worst nightmare."
Hello, Juliet (2025) Samantha M Bailey "Samantha M. Bailey once again crafts a deliciously suspenseful tale, giving us a peek behind the curtains of a hit television show and the ramifications success has on its cast. In Hello, Juliet, Bailey perfectly captures the hunger for fame and the desperate measures some will take to achieve it, while also delivering a story filled with twists and surprises. A top-notch, single-sitting read."
Gothictown (2025) Emily Carpenter "A gothic banger of a story. Carpenter's talents really shine here: quirky characters that come alive on the page through her voicey Southern prose, and a sneaky, steady building of tension to claustrophobic proportions. Creepy in the best possible way, Gothictown is an absolute knockout."
Tell Me What You Did (2025) Carter Wilson "I'm a sucker for a revenge thriller, and Carter Wilson's latest, Tell Me What You Did, takes things up a notch by centering the plot around a true crime podcast. Wilson hooks you from page one and doesn't let go, reeling you in with sharp writing, a breakneck pace, and a protagonist to root for even when you think you shouldn't. The perfect book for readers who love their thrillers gripping and utterly original."
The Family Inside (2025) Katie Garner "Nothing is as it seems in Katie Garner's latest, The Family Inside, a psychological suspense with a dash of gothic horror. Garner gives us the goods: a claustrophobic old mansion filled with secret rooms, a hodgepodge family of eccentric, somewhat dodgy characters, and a dark and moody plot packed with surprises. A bingeable, five-star read."
Then Things Went Dark (2024) Bea Fitzgerald "True crime meets juicy reality TV as six well-known contestants compete in the ultimate quest for glory, where the stakes are death. Was it murder? An accident? Nothing is as it seems in this smartly plotted whodunnit, a complex game of scandals and scheming, alliances and betrayals that pops off the page."
The Last Caretaker (2023) Jessica Strawser "A powerful and atmospheric tale that is equal parts emotion and suspense as a woman takes over as caretaker of a remote nature reserve, only to discover the barn is part of a dangerous underground network for victims of domestic violence. In The Last Caretaker, Strawser perfectly captures the perils of living in an isolated part of the world and the desperate measures some women must take in order to survive. A richly emotional page-turner with an important message."
These Still Black Waters (2023) (Jess Lambert, book 1) Christina McDonald "A whip-smart and completely unexpected story of a killer out for revenge and a damaged detective out to stop him, a phenomenal story built on gorgeous prose and twists so surprising they'll leave you breathless. This is not the book you think it is, and I mean that in the best possible way."
One Night (2023) Georgina Cross "A tense and perfectly paced thriller set on a remote stretch of Oregon coastline as a family comes face-to-face with their beloved daughter's killer. In One Night, Georgina Cross perfectly captures the family's fury and grief as they confront their daughter's former boyfriend, and the desperate measures some of them might take to enact revenge. This is a locked-room stunner that unfolds at breakneck speed."
The Followers (2023) Bradeigh Godfrey "Bradeigh Godfrey returns with The Followers, a cat-and-mouse page-turner that will have you reconsidering your own social media footprint. When a popular influencer posts a photo with her brand new husband, she has no idea of his hidden past, or the dangers her post will bring to their doorstep. A chilling and whip-smart look at the dark side of the digital world--absolutely binge-worthy."
Thicker Than Water (2023) Megan Collins "Megan Collins is back with another brilliant suspense, Thicker Than Water, this time around two sisters-in-law and the man connecting them who's suspected of murder. Creepy and atmospheric, with quirky and nuanced characters, this is a slow-burn that will have you thinking twice about the people you know. An absolute must-read from an author who continues to impress."
The Vanishing Hour (2023) Seraphina Nova Glass "In Such a Good Wife, Seraphina Nova Glass weaves a deliciously dark tale starring Melanie, a loving and overworked mother and wife having an affair with the handsome Luke - until he turns up dead. If you think you've figured out the culprit, think again. A sly and pulse-pounding murder mystery set in steamy Louisiana."
A Death in Denmark (2023) (Gabriel Praest, book 1) Amulya Malladi "Past and present collide in this tense Nordic thriller... Filled with vivid imagery and beautiful prose, A DEATH IN DENMARK is part page-turner, part unflinching examination of the racism and nationalism woven through modern Danish society. A compelling and fast-paced read, with an ending that lingers long after the last page."
The Vicious Circle (2022) Katherine St John "St. John sweeps us away to another exotic locale in The Vicious Circle, this time to a remote part of the Mexican jungle. Sveta inherits her uncle's entire estate including Xanadu, a cult-like wellness center run by a charismatic but dangerous leader. As the jungle closes in, the story takes several sinister turns, and St. John is a clever master of surprise. Luscious and addictive, The Vicious Circle is a fast-paced and incredibly seductive read."
In Her Defense (2022) (Riversedge Law Club, book 1) Amy Impellizzeri "Impellizzeri delivers in In Her Defense, intricately weaving a psychological suspense and a gripping legal thriller into one bang of a book. A twisty, winding road of deceit, betrayal, and the extent to which someone will go to conceal the truth. I gobbled it up."
One Little Word (2022) Audra McElyea "It's not easy to hit me with a twist I don't see coming, but Audra McElyea did it in One Little Word, a clever and compelling tale from an author to watch."
The Overnight Guest (2022) Heather Gudenkauf "An isolated farmhouse, a deadly snowstorm, and a small child found in the snow - those are the ingredients for Gudenkauf's latest up-all-night thriller. Scrupulously plotted and layered with multiple narratives that culminate in some explosive surprises, The Overnight Guest is Gudenkauf at her best. A chilling and heart-stopping stunner."
The Neighbor's Secret (2021) L Alison Heller "I love it when a thriller hits me in the funny bone, and The Neighbor's Secret did just that. Smart and darkly comedic, with nuanced characters delivering whip-smart dialogue, this story will have you grinning as you race through the pages. An absorbing tale that delivers some juicy surprises."
The Summoning (2021) J P Smith "I love a story with a touch of paranormal, and The Summoning delivers in a suspense novel starring Kit, an out-of-work actress who survives by faking seances for family members of 9/11 victims...until the voices of the dead grow real. A dark and murky slow-burn that will take you by surprise."
A Fire in the Night (2021) Christopher Swann "Swann really delivers with his latest, a solid murder mystery starring Nick, a grieving former professor with a secret past and an orphaned niece who shows up on his doorstep. Tense and action-packed, with an ending that will make your heart stop, A Fire in the Night is a nail-biter with a Southern twang."
Safe in My Arms (2021) Sara Shepard "Sara Shepherd returns to the domestic suspense scene with a deep dive into the lives of three mothers at a fancy private preschool, all of them harboring dark secrets. Taut, smart and twisted, Safe in My Arms is everything I love in a suspense novel, a whip-smart tale of just how far a mother will go to protect her child. All the stars!"
No More Words (2021) (No More, book 1) Kerry Lonsdale "Kerry Lonsdale is back and better than ever with this multilayered tale about three siblings torn apart by a series of tragic events. Nuanced and smart, filled with characters with real emotion and depth, No More Words is everything you’ve come to love from the master of domestic drama. A mesmerizing beginning to a new trilogy that will have you one-clicking the next in the series."
Six Weeks to Live (2021) Catherine McKenzie "Six Weeks to Live begins with a gut-punch of an opener: a poisoning with a fatal diagnosis, a woman with a mere six weeks to find the killer. Grief, secrets, revenge, guilt and blame—McKenzie weaves them all with a deft hand, turning up the heat with every chapter. A gripping page-turner that held me captive until the shocking end."
Ruby Falls (2021) Deborah Goodrich Royce "Ruby Falls will sweep you headfirst into the life of Eleanor Russell, an actress setting up house in the glamorous Hollywood Hills with her handsome new husband, Orlando. Secrets abound in this bang of a book, a haunting tale sure to give readers chills. A stunner with some serious Gothic vibes."
Lies We Bury (2021) Elle Marr "A twisted mashup of Room and a murder mystery, Marr’s Lies We Bury is a story that creeps into your bones, a sneaky tale about the danger of secrets and the power the past holds to lead us into a deliciously devious present. Say goodbye to sleep and read it like I did, in one breathless sitting."
Just One Look (2021) Lindsay Cameron "Fast paced and thrillingly tense, Just One Look is a terrifying tale of obsessive love that will have you changing all your passwords."
Her Three Lives (2021) Cate Holahan "What begins with a brutal home invasion turns even darker in this deliciously twisted thriller. In Her Three Lives, Holahan escalates the suspense with each new discovery, shining a spotlight on divided loyalties and a family stretched to the breaking point. Holahan is three steps ahead the whole time, expertly stripping away each character's secrets until the shocking conclusion."
You'll Thank Me for This (2021) Nina Siegal "When I heard Nina Siegal’s You’ll Thank Me for This was based on the Dutch tradition of dropping kids in the forest to find their own way home—yes, it’s real, and yes, it still happens—I pushed it to the tippy top of my pile. What begins with every parent’s worst nightmare quickly evolves into a twisty, stay-up-too-late stunner, a tense and atmospheric tale that will make you take another look at the people you think you know."
Call Me Elizabeth Lark (2021) Melissa Colasanti "A long-ago vanished child, a still grieving mother, a woman on the run with her young son, and a truckload of family secrets…these are the ingredients for Colasanti’s Call Me Elizabeth Lark. Say goodbye to sleep and read it like I did, under the covers and straight through. A disturbing thrill ride crackling with tension."
Girl Gone Mad (2020) Avery Bishop "Old grudges resurface with a vengeance in Avery Bishop’s Girl Gone Mad, where former it girls are dying off one by one. This twisty tale of bullying, toxic teenage friendships, suspicions, and obsessions will keep you glued to the pages all the way to the unexpected ending. An addictive debut where revenge isn’t as neat or pretty as it seems."
For the Best (2020) Vanessa Lillie "Lillie follows up her smashing debut Little Voices with another winner, this time exploring just how far a person will go to keep old secrets buried. For the Best is dark and gritty, starring a host of damaged characters who blur the line between what’s true and what’s not. A slow-burn, moody mystery that will keep you on your toes."
The Monsters We Make (2020) Kali White "Kali White's The Monsters We Make had me hooked from page one...A nail-biter with a dark, atmospheric heart."
The Last Wife (2020) Karen Hamilton "Original, surprising, and addictive all the way to the very last page."
The Last Flight (2020) Julie Clark "I'm a sucker for suspense stories crafted around an airplane crash, and Julie Clark's The Last Flight lived up to the hype and then some. Clark starts with a bang then keeps the pace at full throttle, deftly weaving two seemingly separate stories into one wild and entertaining ride. The perfect combination of beautiful prose and high suspense, and an ending that I guarantee will catch you off guard."
Leah Konen "Leah Konen hits it out of the park with her debut suspense, All the Broken People, in which a faked death goes horribly awry. Konen delivers with Lucy, who escapes to rustic Woodstock for a fresh start, only to discover her new neighbors are harboring disturbing secrets of their own. A sly, up-all-night thriller that ends with a surprising bang."
Stories We Never Told (2020) Sonja Yoerg "Stories We Never Told is a beautifully told story of love and obsession, a gradual unearthing of long-held secrets that can unravel even the happiest of marriages. Yoerg has a real talent for creating compelling and complex characters who wrestle with real-life situations, leaving the reader wondering who to root for until the very end. Yoerg should be on every reader’s radar."
The Patient (2019) Steena Holmes "A therapist with a serial-killer patient is at the heart of Steena Holmes’ latest, The Patient. Holmes starts with a bang, then builds the action steadily, a gradual unfolding of secrets and truths that will have you constantly rethinking who is the killer. A brilliant psychological thriller that will mess with your mind."
Pretty Revenge (2019) Emily Liebert "Old wounds reopen with a vengeance in the latest from Emily Liebert, an irresistible page turner set against the glamorous backdrop of moneyed New York. Pretty Revenge twists its way through a riveting tale of blame and obsession, where revenge isn’t as neat or pretty as it seems. The perfect summer beach read."
Layover (2019) David Bell "Layover opens on an ingenious setup: a chance, romantic meeting in an airport with a woman who turns out to be missing. Bell starts with a bang then dials up the suspense to full-throttle, lobbing twist after twist....Smart and highly addictive, this one should come with a warning: don't start until you're prepared to read straight through."
Before We Were Strangers (2018) Brenda Novak "Secrets and family drama are at the heart of Brenda Novak's Before We Were Strangers, in which a woman returns to her small Texas hometown determined to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance. Novak's fans will devour this one, and the relentlessly twisty plot will win her some new fans, as well. This is the kind of book best swallowed in one sitting: suspenseful, surprising, and 100% addictive."
Leave No Trace (2018) Mindy Mejia "A boy missing for ten years emerges from the Minnesota wilderness in Mindy Mejia's spellbinding page-turner, LEAVE NO TRACE. Dark and atmospheric, with palpably vivid details and complex characters harboring plenty of secrets, Leave No Trace is the perfect combination of gorgeous prose and edge-of-your-seat storytelling. Clear your calendar, this is a book you'll want to swallow in one sitting. A stunner!"
Here We Lie (2018) Paula Treick DeBoard "With Here We Lie, Paula Treick de Board spins a mesmerizing tale of two former best friends and one shocking secret. Suspenseful and evocative, with pitch-perfect prose and pacing, Here We Lie is a story that resonates long after the last word. An engrossing read."
The Blind (2017) A F Brady "Madness is at the heart of A.F. Brady's gritty, gripping The Blind, in which a psychologist navigates her own inner demons while attempting to care for her patients... with devastating results. The reader gets a front-row seat for her unraveling, which unfolds like a slow-motion train wreck-one where you can't look away. Sly, dark, and completely enthralling, The Blind is a knockout debut."
The Blackbird Season (2017) Kate Moretti "A spellbinding tale of long-held secrets and small-town scandal, The Blackbird Season is one of those stories that sneaks up on you, each chapter building steadily to an ending that will haunt you long after you turn the last page."
