Recommendations based on "The Defenseless"

The stunning new standalone, with a chilling edge of psychological suspense, from the No.1 bestselling author of the Will Trent and Grant County series.Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind…Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy smalltown family life was destroyed by a terrifying attack on their home. It left their mother dead. It left their father – a notorious defence attorney – devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that shocking night.Twenty-eight years later, Charlie has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer. But when violence comes to their home town again, she is plunged into a nightmare. Because the case triggers memories she's tried so hard to suppress, and the shocking truth about the crime which destroyed her family won't stay buried for ever…

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL • NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR“Defiantly populated with living women . . . beautifully drawn, dense with detail and specificity . . . Notes on an Execution is nuanced, ambitious and compelling.” —Katie Kitamura, NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW (Editors' Choice)"A searing portrait of the complicated women caught in the orbit of a serial killer. . . . Compassionate and thought-provoking." –BRIT BENNETT, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing HalfRecommended by New York Times Book Review • Los Angeles Times • Washington Post • Entertainment Weekly • Esquire • Good Housekeeping • USA Today • Buzzfeed • Goodreads • Real Simple • Marie Claire • Rolling Stone • Business Insider • Bustle • PopSugar • The Millions • The Guardian • and many more!In the tradition of Long Bright River and The Mars Room, a gripping and atmospheric work of literary suspense that deconstructs the story of a serial killer on death row, told primarily through the eyes of the women in his life—from the bestselling author of Girl in Snow.Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours. He knows what he’s done, and now awaits execution, the same chilling fate he forced on those girls, years ago. But Ansel doesn’t want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood.Through a kaleidoscope of women—a mother, a sister, a homicide detective—we learn the story of Ansel’s life. We meet his mother, Lavender, a seventeen-year-old girl pushed to desperation; Hazel, twin sister to Ansel’s wife, inseparable since birth, forced to watch helplessly as her sister’s relationship threatens to devour them all; and finally, Saffy, the detective hot on his trail, who has devoted herself to bringing bad men to justice but struggles to see her own life clearly. As the clock ticks down, these three women sift through the choices that culminate in tragedy, exploring the rippling fissures that such destruction inevitably leaves in its wake.Blending breathtaking suspense with astonishing empathy, Notes on an Execution presents a chilling portrait of womanhood as it simultaneously unravels the familiar narrative of the American serial killer, interrogating our system of justice and our cultural obsession with crime stories, asking readers to consider the false promise of looking for meaning in the psyches of violent men."Poetic and mesmerizing . . . Powerful, important, intensely human, and filled with a unique examination of tragedy, one where the reader is left with a curious emotion: hope." —USA TODAY“A profound and staggering experience of empathy that challenges us to confront what it means to be human in our darkest moments. . . . I relished every page of this brilliant and gripping masterpiece."—ASHLEY AUDRAIN, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

*Pre-order Alice Hunter's new novel BAD APPLE now! Coming in May 2024*She thought she’d left her past behind.She was wrong…Despite a childhood in the care system, Anna Price has beaten the odds and built for herself the perfect life, complete with beautiful seaside home, devoted husband and a job she loves.Then a policeman appears at Anna’s door: her estranged brother Henry is a wanted serial killer, and the police need Anna’s help to catch him before he strikes again.When an envelope turns up on her doorstep, Anna suddenly finds herself caught in a sick game. One that she remembers all too well from childhood – one that, this time, she must win at all costs…Readers are obsessing over The Serial Killer’s Sister!‘Loved every second of this. Finished it in 36 hours. And the twist…Didn’t see that coming!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘An excellent read with a fantastic jaw-dropping ending.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Loved every bit of this book. I thought I knew exactly what was going on but oh how wrong I was…The story right until the very end is full of surprises.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Alice Hunter is the queen of thrillers!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘The twist at the end is so clever that I was left thinking about it for days after.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Twists, turns, revenge, evil, family...so freaking good!!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘WOW. This was such a page-turner, and I truly didn't expect that ending.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I devoured this book in just one sitting. This is an unputdownable, addictive and gripping read. Hunter has pulled me in and kept me captive until the very last page.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A true masterpiece, that ending just keeps on giving, with twist upon twist.’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘WOW WOW WOW. I could've read it in one sitting, but I had to restrain myself!’ Real Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After Her Mother’s Mysterious Death, Mackenzie Receives a Chilling Letter: Want to Know a Secret? Love, Mom.For fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell, and twisty psychological thrillers that keep you second-guessing everything...--Mackenzie Casper has always lived in the shadow of her mother—a bestselling author known for writing twisted thrillers.But when her mother dies in a so-called accident, Mackenzie is left with more than grief. She’s left with questions.Then a letter arrives. Inside: pages from her mother’s diary and a chilling message:Want to know a secret?Love, Mom.As more letters appear, Mackenzie uncovers buried family secrets...and one of them was worth killing for.--Why readers are OBSESSED with LOVE, MOM'One of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a long time' 5***** reader review'This is the twistiest thriller I have ever read in my entire life' 5***** reader review 'Some great plot twists that had me gasping out loud' 5***** reader review‘OMG wow...so original, so many twists. One of the best books I have read this year’ 5***** reader review‘Best thriller I’ve read in a while – unputdownable! The twists and turns are a rollercoaster’ 5***** reader review‘The first twist left me speechless! And they kept on coming’ 5***** reader review

'Addictive, tense and pacy, Safe at Home kept me constantly guessing' B A Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The TherapistWhat if you left your child alone, and something terrible happened? Anna James is an anxious mother. So when she has to leave eleven-year-old Harrie home alone one evening, she can't stop worrying about her daughter. But nothing bad ever happens in the sleepy village of Barton St Martin. Except something goes wrong that night, and Anna returns to find Harrie with bruises she won't explain. The next morning a local businessman is reported missing and the village is sparking with gossip. Anna is convinced there's a connection and that Harrie is in trouble. But how can she protect her daughter if she doesn't know where the danger is coming from?'A wonderfully dark, addictive, intriguing and twisty read' Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend'If you're in the mood for a dark family drama, this novel will be right up your street . . . Expect plenty of twists and turns.' Heat'A deliciously gripping thriller; the twists blew my mind!' Emma Curtis, author of Keep Her Quiet'Razor-sharp and shocking - a breathless thriller that never lets up the pace' Charlotte Duckworth, author of The Perfect Father'A chilling thriller, perfect for a long weekend.' Daily Express Readers are gripped by Safe at Home: ***** 'This is psychological suspense at its very best'***** 'Such a gripping, intense story with so many secrets being exposed'***** 'Many characters weren't who they seemed and just when I thought it was all wrapped up, there was a twist I didn't see coming!'

’Cleverly crafted, twisty, gripping and suspenseful’ B. A. Paris Only the killer holds the key. . . A Sunday Times Book of the Summer IT WAS THE CRIME THAT SHOCKED A NATION. The Flowers were the perfect family. Until the day fifteen-year-old Joseph shot dead his parents and baby brother whilst his younger sister Eve hid. The family home became known as ‘The Red House’, the place where the walls were covered in blood. THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD THE KILLER. No one knows why Joseph murdered his family: the following day he crashed his car and has been in a coma for two decades. Eve’s always known he did it; she saw the crime, after all. WHAT IF THEY WERE WRONG? Now an adult, Eve is forced to re-examine her memories when disturbing new evidence about the case comes to light. Rumour has it that Joseph created a hidden level in his game that night, which might hold the key. But if Joseph didn’t do it, then the killer’s still out there – and they’re coming back for the girl who escaped. . . ’A masterclass in pace and intrigue. Tense, immersive, clever, surprising and unique’Andrea Mara, author of No One Saw a Thing ‘I wanted to immediately start reading again to check the very clever clues... A clever and engaging mystery with a resolution that will completely blow you away’Susi Holliday, author of The Hike ’You won’t know where you’re going until the last page. A genuinely delicious mystery’Christina Dalcher, author of Vox *** Readers are LOVING The Red House: ‘Definitely a contender for any year’s book of the year’ ‘An emotional rollercoaster of a ride. . .I could not put it down’ ‘Wow. Just wow’ ‘Carefully crafted plot and well-drawn characters made this an intelligent thriller that had me hooked’ ‘A brilliant thriller from the first page until the last’

The gripping No. 1 Sunday Times crime thriller He watches. A woman runs alone in the woods. She convinces herself she has no reason to be afraid, but she's wrong. A predator is stalking the women of Grant County. He lingers in the shadows, until the time is just right to snatch his victim. He waits. A decade later, the case has been closed. The killer is behind bars. But then another young woman is brutally attacked and left for dead, and the MO is identical. He takes. Although the original trail has gone cold - memories have faded, witnesses have disappeared - agent Will Trent and forensic pathologist Sara Linton must re-open the cold case. But the clock is ticking, and the killer is determined to find his perfect silent wife.... Praise for the Number One bestselling author: 'Passion, intensity, and humanity' Lee Child 'I'd follow her anywhere' Gillian Flynn 'One of the boldest thriller writers working today' Tess Gerritsen 'Her characters, plot, and pacing are unrivalled' Michael Connelly 'A writer of extraordinary talents' Kathy Reichs 'Fiction doesn't get any better than this' Jeffery Deaver 'A great writer at the peak of her powers' Peter James 'Karin Slaughter has - by far - the best name of all of us mystery novelists' James Patterson 'With heart and skill Karin Slaughter keeps you hooked from the first page until the last' Camilla Lackberg 'It's big, dark, rich, satisfying, and bloody - like a perfectly cooked steak' Stuart MacBride

Security specialist and PI Jamie Sinclair crosses interstate boundaries—and personal ones too—in this electrifying thriller from an award-winning author who “understands how to keep her readers riveted from beginning to end” (USA Today). With a long list of high-profile, high-paying clients, Jamie Sinclair has her hands full—and that’s the way she likes it. Still reeling from the brutal investigation that drove a wedge between her and her boyfriend, military police officer Adam Barrett, Jamie is counting on hard work to help her forget her recent history—but then DEA agent Marc Sandoval barges back into her life. The last time they worked together, Jamie almost crossed all kinds of lines. Now Marc doesn’t just want Jamie, he needs her . . . because she’s the only one who can help him—and the little boy he never told her about. Marc’s ex has vanished, leaving their six-year-old son in his care. Despite a troubled past, Elena never wavered in her duties as a parent, so something must be very wrong now. Teaming with Marc to track Elena through her home state of Colorado and beyond, Jamie finds herself on a cross-country search for the missing mother of Marc’s child, at a crossroads with Adam, and on a collision course with the killers who’ll stop at nothing to find Elena first. Don’t miss any of Nichole Christoff’s white-knuckle Jamie Sinclair thrillers: THE KILL LIST | THE KILL SHOT | THE KILL BOX | THE KILL SIGN | THE KILL WIRE | THE KILL CHAIN “Intelligent and fast-paced, Nichole Christoff’s debut thriller takes off like a rocket and never slows down.”—New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose, on The Kill List “Christoff doesn’t make the adventure a cake walk. She understands how to keep her readers riveted from beginning to end.”—USA Today, on The Kill Shot “An edge-of-the-seat thriller that doesn’t let up until the very last page.”—Library Journal, on The Kill Box

"Brilliant plotting, relentless suspense," raved the Washington Post. "A new synonym for terror," crowned the "Detroit Free Press." The critics agree: no one writes suspense like Karin Slaughter, whose thrillers featuring medical examiner Sara Linton and her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, have propelled her to the top of bestseller lists the world over. Now Slaughter fuses her unmatched grasp of forensic science and a mastery of complex relationships in a riveting tale of faith, doubt, and murder. The victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods--then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty, impeccably dressed young woman. And for Sara and Jeffrey, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of lives into the case. Lena Adams is one of them. A Grant County detective for years, she has her own reasons for being drawn to this case and a fierce drive to see justice done. For these three people, who have each seen the darkest side of human nature, the body of the murdered girl is but the first in a series of shocking and sordid revelations. Now, as Jeffrey and Sara narrow the field of suspects, they must confront their own doubts and indiscretions, while Lena Adams sees herself reflected in the frightened eyes of a battered woman who may be the key figure in the case. As Faithless builds to a stunning and unforgettable climax, Karin Slaughter masterfully brings together strands of interlocking lives, family secrets, and hidden passions with one astounding truth: the identity of a killer who is more eviland dangerous than anyone could have guessed.

Don't miss Faith Martin's fiendishly clever new novel, Murder by Candlelight, set in the 1920s and described as 'the perfect village mystery' by J.M. Hall 'The pairing of Ryder and Loveday is a stroke of genius.' Clare Chase, author of the Eve Mallow and Tara Thorpe mysteries Oxford, 1961. A family outing to Briar's Hall ends in tragedy when eleven-year-old Eddie is found dead at the bottom of a disused well.At first, it appears to be a tragic accident - but Coroner Clement Ryder and WPC Trudy Loveday aren't convinced. Why would a boy afraid of heights go near a well? And if he was climbing and accidentally fell, why are there no signs of cuts or dirt on his hands?As they investigate, the secrets of Briar's Hall - and the mysterious de Lacey family who live there - begin to surface. Soon, Ryder and Loveday begin to fear that Eddie may have stumbled upon a secret that someone was willing to kill for... A gripping, twisty cosy crime novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman and M.C. Beaton. 'Absolutely loved it... The characters were some of the best I've read in a long time.' Angela Marsons, no. 1 bestselling author of the Kim Stone seriesReaders LOVE A Fatal Secret!'Absolutely perfect! This is the book I have been craving since I last read the Thursday Murder Club series!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Very entertaining... Full of red herrings, plot twists and turns. I thought I knew who was the killer but I was wrong.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Have become an addict of Faith Martin - love her novels.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This author's books are soothing to the soul. Her characters are likable, and the plots always keep me guessing. Excellent fun.'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A brilliant book! This is Faith Martin at her scintillating best!... A cracking good read... Highly recommend this book and I give it a delighted 5 stars!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Gripping suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. I was hooked from page one.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Great plot, excellent main characters and I read it in one sitting! I would highly recommend this book.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Gripping... Crime-busting nostalgia at its very best.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Ryder and Loveday Series Book 1: A FATAL OBSESSIONBook 2: A FATAL MISTAKEBook 3: A FATAL FLAW Book 4: A FATAL SECRET Book 5: A FATAL TRUTHBook 6: A FATAL AFFAIRBook 7: A FATAL NIGHTBook 8: A FATAL END