Alex Finlay is the pseudonym of an author who lives in Washington, D.C. Born in Opelika, Alabama, Alex's formative years were spent traversing the globe, from a tropical island in the Pacific to a small village in the UK to a remote region in the Far East. But it was on a vacation in Tulum, Mexico that Alex was inspired to write Every Last Fear.
When They Find Me (2026) Carter Wilson "Carter Wilson delivers an electrifying thriller that is bold, cinematic, and an absolute masterpiece. In When They Find Me, a violent mistake unleashes a cascade of long-buried secrets in a story that is both heart-pounding and heartbreaking. Wilson deftly explores the lingering shadow of an unyielding patriarchy and the fierce power of maternal love without ever easing off the throttle. A haunting reminder that the past never stays where you leave it. Wilson's finest novel to date."
The Cold Read (2026) Tara Laskowski "The Cold Read is Tara Laskowski's best novel - and that's saying something. A love letter to slasher movies, with characters that hit hard and a plot that never lets up. Laskowski delivers a killer blend of thriller and horror that would make Stephen King proud. It cuts deep - and hacks its way into your heart."
The Paris Files (2026) Eva Jurczyk "Like Paris itself, The Paris Files shimmers, seduces, and never lets you go. Eva Jurczyk delivers a dazzling, brilliantly structured novel that is part mystery, part thriller, part love letter to the City of Lights. I was utterly immersed until the final jaw-dropping twist. Simply exceptionnel. Fantastique!"
You'll Be Sorry (2026) Lisa Gardner "Just when you think Lisa Gardner can't get any better - BAM - she delivers You'll Be Sorry. A heart-stopping, sleep-destroying, absolutely unputdownable masterclass in suspense. Packed with a vanished family, a couple with secrets, and a home with a haunting past - not to mention Gardner's signature wit and razor-sharp humor. This is Gardner at her most electrifying. Miss it, and you'll be sorry."
You Know Why (2026) J T Ellison "J.T. Ellison is a rock star of psychological thrillers, and You Know Why proves it. A propulsive, first-rate thriller about sibling rivalry, sisterly devotion, and the secrets we keep to protect the ones we love. With a missing husband, a decade-old murder, and twist after twist after twist, the suspense never lets up. Fasten your seat belt and prepare for takeoff, because Ellison is at the top of her game."
Hot Girl Murder Club (2026) Ashley Winstead "Hot Girl Murder Club is the must-read thriller of the year. Ashley Winstead delivers a glittery, pulse-pounding, and at times, heartbreaking, story about sisterhood and justice and the price of revenge. Vengeance never looked so hot."
The Neighbors Are Watching (2026) Aggie Blum Thompson "Thompson is a master at sneaking us behind closed doors into the dark and devious world of rich suburbanites...The Neighbors Are Watching is her best work yet. Good fences aren't enough to make good neighbors in this entitled world, but you'll relish every second wondering who will get their just deserts. An exceptional thriller from a major talent."
Nasty Little Secrets (2026) Gabbie Hanks "It's rare to read a debut thriller and somehow know that the writer will be a future star in the genre, but that's my prediction for Gabbie Hanks. Nasty Little Secrets is a dazzling debut - a twist-fest about family, secrets, and systemic injustice with a protagonist you won't soon forget. A star is born."
Keep Them Close (2026) David Ellis "Bold, brilliant, and unforgettable. David Ellis is in a league of his own."
Warning Signs (2026) Tracy Sierra "Warning Signs continues Tracy Sierra's trajectory as a rising star. A chilling story with emotional depth and an ending that will take your breath away. Fair warning to readers: once you start reading, you won't want to stop."
Pinky Swear (2026) Danielle Girard "Danielle Girard has written an epic story about who we once were and who we become, the deep bonds of high school friendships, and the harrowing lengths a mother will go for her child. Heartfelt, twisty, and even shocking, Pinky Swear is a triumph. Make an oath to pick up this stunning novel."
Watch Us Fall (2025) Christina Kovac "One of the best psychological thrillers of the year! Watch Us Fall is a beautiful exploration of the bonds of friendship and how far we'll go to protect those we love - and what happens when secrets threaten to tear everything apart. Emotionally rich, atmospheric, and twisty - Brace yourself for the fall."
What About the Bodies (2025) Ken Jaworowski "Gritty and atmospheric, What About the Bodies, is the harrowing tale of three intersecting lives, each faced with a choice of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. Jaworowski writes with vigor and swagger. This is crime fiction at its best."
This Stays Between Us (2025) Sara Ochs "A ripper of a thriller. Studying abroad forever changes eight young lives-in all the wrong ways. This Stays Between Us is a story about secrets and how they change who we are and who we become; a tale of friendship and betrayal and those exhilarating years when our friends are our universe. It's atmospheric, emotional, and twisty, and destined to be one of the best thrillers of the year. Ace!"
Night Watcher (2025) Daphne Woolsoncroft "Daphne Woolsoncroft is a natural storyteller who earned a name for herself with the integrity and respect she brings to her popular true-crime podcast. She infuses her novel with the same heart and empathy while at the same time giving you chills up your spine. Night Watcher is a terrifying story about a young woman's determination, the complex relationships of fathers and daughters, and a quest for justice. A stunner of a novel from a rising star in the genre."
The Felons' Ball (2025) Polly Stewart "The Felons' Ball is literary crime fiction at its best. It's a tribute to small town Virginia that only someone with deep roots could have conjured; a gripping story of family secrets - and crimes - that only a literary master could have penned. A must-read for connoisseurs of only the finest kind of novels - the ones that stay with you long after you've mourned turning the last page."
Don't Open Your Eyes (2025) Liv Constantine "The first great book of the summer has arrived! Liv Constantine always delivers shocking twists, killer prose, and edge-of-your-seat suspense. But Don't Open Your Eyes could be her best yet. In a novel that delves into haunting premonitions, I have one of my own: This will be one of the best psychological thrillers of the year."
The Brothers Kenney (2024) Adam Mitzner "Prepare yourself for a lump in your throat, a sting in your heart, and a sleepless night because you can't bear to put this book down. Adam Mitzner has written a heartfelt and twisty tribute to the complexities of family in what will surely be one of the best novels of the year."
The Paris Widow (2024) Kimberly Belle "The Paris Widow takes you on a twist-filled journey from the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower to the seedy alleyways of the 19th arrondissement and into the secrets lurking behind a seemingly idyllic marriage. You'll hold your breath as Stella Knox faces the dangers of the dark world of blood antiquities in her search for the truth about what really happened to her husband and whether her marriage and life were all a facade. Kimberly Belle has crafted the perfect thriller. Magnifique!"
Perfect Little Monsters (2024) Cindy R X He "Perfect Little Monsters is a heart-pounding, harrowing, and twisty tale about the legacy of bullying and cruelty and its devastating consequences. An extraordinary debut from an extraordinary talent."
The Main Character (2024) Jaclyn Goldis "Suspenseful, stylish, and seductive - what you'd expect from Jaclyn Goldis - but with something deeper at its core: a love letter to family. THE MAIN CHARACTER is a runaway train that will leave you mesmerized. All aboard!"
A Lovely Lie (2024) Jaime Lynn Hendricks "My favorite kind of thriller: a crime at the edge of the millennium, buried teenage secrets coming back to haunt, and twist after twist. A Lovely Lie is a lovely and clever story, and might just be Jaime Lynn Hendricks's best yet!"
You Know What You Did (2024) K T Nguyen "A stunning debut that will stay with you. You Know What You Did is not only a twisty psychological thriller, it's a gripping story about the wars we wage from within, the fallacy of the American Dream, and, most of all, the love, dreams, and fears mothers hold for their daughters."
Lost to Dune Road (2024) Kara Thomas "Lost to Dune Road is a triumph. A twisty and emotional story about second chances and the pursuit of truth. Kara Thomas takes us on a journey into the darkest corners of the world of privilege, then skillfully guides us toward the light. If you haven't read Kara Thomas yet, what are you waiting for?"
When I'm Her (2024) Sarah Zachrich Jeng "The adage be careful what you wish for is taken to the next level in this unputdownable story about friendship, envy, and revenge. The premise is wild and innovative, with a Blake Crouch twist, and will keep you ripping through the pages. Another winner from Sarah Zachrich Jeng."
Hollywood Hustle (2024) Jon Lindstrom "A propulsive, unputdownable thriller that explores the dark side behind the glitter and glamour of LaLa Land . . . This is one of the best debut novels I've ever read."
Invisible Woman (2024) (Invisible Woman, book 1) Katia Lief "Katia Lief's Invisible Woman is a stunning achievement: it's not only a taut thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, but also a literary exploration of the complexities of marriage and friendship, and a timely tribute to women who were silenced for all too long. The novel will stay with you long after you finish the last page."
It Takes Monsters (2023) Mandy McHugh "It Takes Monsters is a spellbinding thriller that dives deep into domestic dysfunction, sibling side-eye, and the monsters in our midst. Dark, clever, and even shocking at times, the novel proves that Mandy McHugh is a writer to watch."
Gone Tonight (2023) Sarah Pekkanen "With prose that cuts like knife-full of both emotion and twists-GONE TONIGHT proves why Sarah Pekkanen is one of the finest thriller writers working today. Just when you think Pekkanen couldn't possibly outdo herself, she delivers with what will undoubtedly be crowned one of the year's best novels. Fresh, inventive, and with a gut-punch you won't see coming, GONE TONIGHT is this decade's Gone Girl. Believe the hype."
Not By Blood (2023) Chris Narozny "Not By Blood is an unforgettable novel about the legacy of violence and addiction, the secrets we keep, and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love. Narozny writes with confidence and subtle grace, yet still manages to punch you in the emotional gut. This is the debut everyone will be talking about."
The Widowmaker (2022) (Black Harbor, book 2) Hannah Morrissey "Mesmerizing, moody, and filled with menace, you won't want to put down The Widowmaker. The future of crime fiction is named Hannah Morrissey."
Always the First to Die (2022) R J Jacobs "A storm is coming and its name is Always the First to Die. It's a breathtaking thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists and lump-in-the-throat emotion--a love letter to cinema and family. R. J. Jacobs is a masterful storyteller. A must read."
A History of Wild Places (2021) Shea Ernshaw "Let the wild rumpus start! A History of Wild Places is poignant and original, and will truly take you to uncharted places. One of the best novels I’ve read this year."
