Megan Collins is a writer who lives and works in Connecticut. She received her B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. She holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Boston University, where she was a teaching fellow. She currently teaches creative writing at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and Central Connecticut State University. She is Managing Editor of 3Elements Review. A Pushcart Prize and two-time Best of the Net nominee, her work has appeared in many print and online journals, including Compose, Linebreak, Off the Coast,Tinderbox Poetry Journal, and Rattle.
Our Last Wild Days (2025) Anna Bailey "Our Last Wild Days has everything I love in a suspense novel: a vivid and gritty setting, characters with sharp edges, atmosphere that seeps through the pages, and a dark, gripping mystery. Best of all is Anna Bailey's exquisite prose, filled with lines worth tattooing and passages worth framing. This is a book that will sink into your bones."
The Last Session (2025) Julia Bartz "In The Last Session, Julia Bartz proves why she's such an invigorating voice in the thriller genre. Her talent for building almost unbearable tension and transforming a familiar setting - in this case, a wellness retreat - into a wild, imaginative hellscape is on vivid display. I've finished this deeply unnerving book, but I don't think it's finished with me."
The Usual Family Mayhem (2025) HelenKay Dimon "Such a fun read! This family is a DISASTER, so it's nonstop drama, hijinks, secrets, alliances, and backstabbing. And amidst the hilariously awful family members, there are a couple true gems fighting against the expectations set for them to carve their own path."
The Family Inside (2025) Katie Garner "Creepy and atmospheric from the very first page, The Family Inside is a twist-a-minute thriller featuring one of the most suspicious and unsettling families you've ever read. Fans of Colleen Hoover and Jeneva Rose will devour this one."
Through the Midnight Door (2024) Katrina Monroe "Through the Midnight Door is one of the creepiest haunted house stories you'll read this year. With nail-biting scenes of vivid, imaginative horror and its focus on the complicated bonds between sisters, this novel is as chilling as it is poignant. My advice? Read it with the lights on."
I Need You to Read This (2024) Jessa Maxwell "A fresh and fascinating twist on a classic murder mystery. Not only does Jessa Maxwell transform the comfort of an advice column into something far more cut-throat, but she also deftly balances the darkness of the story with the warmth and wit of its characters. Just be careful which ones you trust!"
Made for You (2024) Jenna Satterthwaite "The Bachelor meets Black Mirror (with a splash of Barbie gone dark) in this captivating, empowering, and wildly original thriller. The twists and relentless suspense had my attention, but it's the protagonist'a synthetic woman - and her exploration of humanity, motherhood, and marriage that truly had my heart. Made for You is a spectacular debut."
The Vineyard Remains (2024) Addison McKnight "The Vineyard Remains is a fast-paced, juicy read filled with bad blood and backstabbing, but beyond the dark secrets and tangled relationships at the center of the story is a necessary exploration of the ways in which trauma pins us to our past while trying to dominate our present."
Don't Forget Me (2024) Rea Frey "Chilling from the first page to the final line, Don't Forget Me is a fast-paced, riveting read with layers of family secrets, each one darker than the last. I tore through this book, desperate to see whether my theories were correct - only to be blown away by an ending I never could have guessed."
What Is Mine (2024) Lyn Liao Butler "Unsettling from the very first page, What Is Mine is an emotional thrill ride about two women's desperate attempts to keep their families whole. Lyn Liao Butler has packed this story with page-turning suspense, culminating in a grand finale of explosive surprises."
The Engagement Party (2023) Darby Kane "If Agatha Christie re-wrote your favorite slasher story, it would be The Engagement Party. This is Darby Kane's darkest, twistiest thriller yet (which is saying a lot!), with game-changing surprises in nearly every chapter. It would be hard to find a book more fast-paced or adrenaline-fueled, because with this one, you don't turn the pages; you tear through them."
Lights Out (2023) (Kate Green, book 1) Elise Hart Kipness "With a TV sports reporter protagonist, Lights Out blasts onto the thriller scene with something completely new and exciting for seasoned readers of the genre. The book is teeming with plausible suspects, each with a compelling motive and secrets they'd kill to keep, but always returns to the question of whether or not we truly know what those closest to us are capable of. This is fast-paced suspense you'll want to read in just a couple of sittings, and with an ending that hints at more intriguing layers of our protagonist's story to come, I can't wait to see what Elise Hart Kipness delivers next!"
The Wonder State (2023) Sara Flannery Murphy "The Wonder State is a startling feat of-and feast for-the imagination, filled with intoxicating mysteries, devastating secrets, and prose as beautiful and magical as the story itself. Its setting is both deeply familiar and uniquely fantastical, and it's the atmospheric page-turner of my dreams."
With a Kiss We Die (2023) L R Dorn "In this riveting novel that expertly mimics the pace and pulse of a podcast, L.R. Dorn examines the ethical boundaries of true-crime journalism, the intoxicating influence of love, and what happens when passion turns to poison. Wildly addictive and wickedly dark, With A Kiss We Die is a book worth binging."
Have You Seen Her (2023) Catherine McKenzie "Danger lurks within the gorgeous setting of this addictive thriller. With a premise that feels ripped from the headlines, Have You Seen Her will appeal to fans of true crime, but it's the layers of mystery - from the protagonist's dark past to the novel's roster of missing persons - that make it especially difficult to put this one down."
The Chateau (2023) Jaclyn Goldis "Come for the gorgeous setting; stay for the escalating tension, high-stakes drama, and dark revelations. With its labyrinth of secrets and intersecting mysteries, THE CHATEAU is a mesmerizing story of betrayal and revenge."
The Family Bones (2023) Elle Marr "'Dysfunctional' doesn't even begin to describe the Eriksen clan during this family reunion from hell. Elle Marr's twisty plot and even more twisted characters make The Family Bones a dark, delectable, and fascinating thriller that questions how well we know not only our relatives but also our own minds."
You Should Have Told Me (2023) Leah Konen "With breathless suspense and cliffhangers in nearly every chapter, Leah Konen has written a pitch-perfect thriller with a plot so propulsive the pages practically turn themselves. Not only is You Should Have Told Me packed with stunning surprises and brow-raising reveals; it is also an unflinching exploration of the dark side of new motherhood - one that, too often, women are discouraged from sharing."
Reef Road (2023) Deborah Goodrich Royce "Reading Reef Road feels like bingeing a particularly addictive true crime series. Mysteries intersect in this haunting page-turner as Deborah Goodrich Royce explores the ripple effect of violence, generational trauma, and the emotional weight of a case gone cold."
A History of Fear (2022) Luke Dumas "A History of Fear succeeds on so many levels--as a haunting tale of the supernatural, a harrowing story of suspense, and a stark warning about the power of our inner demons. I consumed this book breathlessly, and every time I think of its jaw-dropping ending, I feel a chill all over again."
Imposter (2022) Bradeigh Godfrey "Brimming with gasp-worthy surprises, Imposter is my favorite kind of thriller: twisty, unsettling, and emotionally rich. Bradeigh Godfrey expertly amplifies tension throughout her impressive, propulsive debut, one which culminates in an ending that even the most seasoned reader will not see coming."
Kismet (2022) Amina Akhtar "Unsettling from the very first page, Kismet takes its readers on a wild ride set in Sedona's wellness community, featuring a serial killer, crystals, and kick-ass ravens. It's strange and smart and spellbinding, with sharp social commentary and huge surprises. Another eerie gem from Amina Akhtar."
Iris In The Dark (2022) Elissa Grossell Dickey "Iris in the Dark investigates the shadowy corners of one woman's past - and how they try to reclaim her, just as she finally finds some light. It's a moving and suspenseful story with prose as impactful as its characters' journeys. I read this one in a single sitting, pulled along by the novel's stunning revelations and Elissa Grossell Dickey's beautiful storytelling."
Last One Alive (2022) Amber Cowie "Cowie has done Agatha Christie proud in this stay-up-all-night, keep-all-the-lights-on mystery. With a setting that's remote, creepy, and possibly cursed--and a story both haunting and harrowing--Last One Alive will entertain you from the first disappearance to the final dead body."
Lacie's Secrets (2022) Tullan Holmqvist and Teresa Sorkin "Missing memories, a traumatic past, an eerie house, and explosive secrets combine in this fast-paced, haunting read with an ending that's sure to give you chills."
Chloe Cates Is Missing (2022) Mandy McHugh "It's a mommy blog gone terribly wrong in this captivating debut from Mandy McHugh. CHLOE CATES IS MISSING has everything I want in a domestic thriller: propulsive storytelling, razor-sharp prose, disturbing behavior, explosive secrets, and a uniquely dysfunctional family. Settle in for this stunner; once you start reading, you won't be able to stop."
Hello, Transcriber (2021) (Black Harbor, book 1) Hannah Morrissey "As poetic as it is suspenseful, Hello, Transcriber delivers a refreshing slant on the police procedural. With evocative prose, intriguing and layered characters, and a setting so vivid it infiltrated my dreams, Hannah Morrissey establishes herself as an exciting new voice in literary suspense."
My Sweet Girl (2021) Amanda Jayatissa "MY SWEET GIRL is equal parts witty, chilling, and hypnotic, and it includes some of the creepiest lines and images I've ever read. By expertly pulling the strings of this riveting story, Amanda Jayatissa will have you thinking you know the answers to the book's layers of mysteries-until she upends every expectation with a series of shocking reveals."
The Family Tree (2021) Nicole Mabry and Steph Mullin "Chilling from page one, this twisted and twisty thriller is sure to keep you up at night – either because you can’t stop reading, or because you’re too afraid to sleep."
The Darkest Flower (2021) (Allison Barton, book 1) Kristin Wright "The Darkest Flower is juicy, suspenseful, and wickedly fun. With pitch-black humor, a fresh and engrossing voice, and one of the most fascinating characters I’ve come across, Kristin Wright explores the toxicity of privilege—and its ability to poison people from the inside out. From its attention-grabbing first line to the chilling revelations of its conclusion, this book is a stay-up-all-night read."
Jen Williams "It’s dark as a Grimm fairy tale and brimming with secrets. With its terrifying story of a serial killer, and the woman who’s recently uncovered her mother’s connection to him, this novel will appeal to – and deeply chill – fans of true crime."
Girl, 11 (2021) Amy Suiter Clarke "Delectably tense and terrifying, GIRL, 11 introduces us to a dormant serial killer and the podcaster who will risk everything—even her own life—to uncover his identity. With psychological precision and electric storytelling, Amy Suiter Clarke has created a thriller that feels ripped from the headlines, her Countdown Killer becoming as real to the reader as the Golden State Killer or BTK. True crime fanatics will find their new obsession in this dark, page-turning debut."
Call Me Elizabeth Lark (2021) Melissa Colasanti "Lyrical and riveting, Call Me Elizabeth Lark contains layers of mysteries that will surprise and thrill its readers. With heart-pounding twists, decades-old secrets, and complex characters knotted together by guilt and betrayal, this book is a stunning page-turner. I devoured it in a single day."
The Lady Upstairs (2020) Halley Sutton "Sultry, captivating, and electric with tension, The Lady Upstairs delivers a plot that must be devoured, in language that must be savored. With sharp, magnetic prose, Halley Sutton dives into the darkness of women's lives, illuminating how venom and vulnerability are often two sides of the same coin. Empowering and terrifying, this timely noir will keep you in its grip from its arresting first lines to its exquisite final chapter."
They Never Learn (2020) Layne Fargo "Layne Fargo has created an instantly iconic character in Dr. Scarlett Clark, a serial killer who takes out abusive men and rapists at the college where she teaches. With stunning, dagger-sharp prose and a deliciously satisfying plot, They Never Learn is the feminist revenge thriller we need and deserve."
Jubilee (2020) Jennifer Givhan "An exquisite story of loss and healing, Jubilee explores the unmatched power of a parent's love as a woman navigates a mysterious trauma manifesting in the belief that a doll is her daughter. This book is at once an engrossing page-turner and an empowering love letter to women--those who know their strength, and those who fight to discover it. Jennifer Givhan is a gorgeous and passionate storyteller whose shimmering lyricism enchants the reader on every page."
For the Best (2020) Vanessa Lillie "Twisty, unpredictable, and compulsively readable, For the Best deftly explores the intersections of healing and justice. Vanessa Lillie has created a riveting mystery about a woman desperate to remember what happened the night someone close to her was murdered—and she was named the prime suspect. Packed with surprises, this book will have you turning pages long into the night, right up until its stunning conclusion and beautiful last line."
The Girls Weekend (2020) Jody Gehrman "[An] exhilarating, atmospheric thriller exploring the darker side of friendship...dazzling prose and an eerily beautiful setting."
The Herd (2020) Andrea Bartz "Darkness swirls beneath the surface of the idyllic setting at the center of this thriller. From its gorgeously haunting opening to its spine-chilling final lines, The Herd delivers an astute exploration of female ambition in a world that tries like hell to keep women down. You won’t be able to stop reading this dazzling nail-biter until you unearth every last secret its characters keep buried."
Behind Every Lie (2020) Christina McDonald "Addictive and emotionally resonant, Behind Every Lie is a twisty, fast-paced thriller with secrets nestled inside secrets. Nothing is as it seems in this story exploring the sorrow and strength of brokenness, and with complex characters and a relentlessly compelling plot, you’ll be unable to stop reading it—or forget it once you do."
Her Daughter's Mother (2019) Daniela Petrova "Her Daughter's Mother has all the hallmarks of great psychological suspense: a compelling mystery, a cast of intriguing and suspicious characters, and plenty of stunning surprises. But it is the journey of the novel's protagonists--each trying to find family, connection, and redemption--that makes this page-turner a tender, moving story you won't soon forget."
