Christina McDonald is an author of suspenseful, emotional thrillers. She is also an avid bookworm and a devoted mother and wife. She was born in Seattle, Washington and now lives in London, England with her husband and two sons, where she enjoys reading, writing, hiking and lifting weights at the gym.
Christina always wanted to be a writer. She told her earliest stories to her two younger sisters, who were her first audience, cheerleaders and sounding board. She has a BA in Communications from the University of Washington, Seattle and an MA in Journalism from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Going to college in Ireland wasn’t part of the master plan, but happened randomly when Christina went travelling and arrived at Heathrow Airport in London completely jet lagged, caught sight of the Aer Lingus desk, and spontaneously bought a ticket to Ireland. She loved it so much she went back the following year to study.
Christina has worked as an author, journalist, and copywriter for companies such as The Sunday Times, Dublin, The Connacht Tribune, Galway, Expedia, USA TODAY, Travelex, TUI Travel, Pearson Publishing and British Telecom (BT). Originally from Seattle, WA, she holds an MA in Journalism from the National University of Ireland Galway, and now lives in London, England.
Mask of the Deer Woman (2025) Laurie L Dove "A beautifully written tale about the Indigenous girls who disappear twice, once in life and once in the news. Clever, elegant and utterly compelling, Mask of the Deer Woman is a brilliant exploration of identity and the struggle of being separated from one's culture. Hypnotic and beguiling, I was hooked from the first sentence."
Catch You Later (2024) Jessica Strawser "Hypnotic, elegant, and beguiling, Catch You Later is a beautifully written story about the power of female friendships. There's a compelling mystery, emotional depth, and tightly plotted twists, but where this book really shines is its characters...Smart, textured, and with a dark, atmospheric heart."
Deeper Than the Dead (2024) (Vera Boyett, book 1) Debra Webb "Expertly plotted and whip-smart, Deeper Than the Dead is an exceedingly clever crime thriller filled with secrets, betrayals, and complex characters. Webb manages to hit that sweet spot between family drama and police procedural. This one is sure to be a hit in the crime thriller genre. A wild and massively entertaining ride."
A Lovely Lie (2024) Jaime Lynn Hendricks "Juicy, beguiling, and utterly delightful! With ratcheting tension and a clever, compelling plot, you'll love this fantastic twistfest about how the repercussions of the past reverberate into the present. An irresistibly gripping thriller."
Don't Forget Me (2024) Rea Frey "Poignant, emotional, and yet marvelously malevolent, Don't Forget Me is written with Frey's traditional gorgeous prose while simultaneously being suffused with dread. The final outcome is deeply shocking and terrifying. Certain to keep readers turning the pages!"
It Takes Monsters (2023) Mandy McHugh "A clever and pacey thriller. McHugh delivers a tantalizing story about a dysfunctional marriage and what happens when one decides to take matters into their own hands. Claws out, no holds barred, this one is urgent, sinister, and sharp as a knife."
This is How We End Things (2023) R J Jacobs "RJ Jacobs delivers a gripping, pacey and compulsive psychological thriller leading readers on a dark and beguiling journey into what it means to lie and be lied to. Addictive and sharp as a knife, you'll want to clear your schedule!"
One Night (2023) Georgina Cross "A clever, atmospheric, and emotionally astute locked-room thriller with unforgettable characters and suspense that will leave you breathless . . . This is a deep dive into a family's grief, full of dark secrets and surprising twists. Clear your schedule!"
I Know What You Did (2023) Cayce Osborne "A psychological thriller with a beating pulse. I was pulled into Petal's story right from the start. Gripping, atmospheric and sharp, this fresh, new voice is written with a wry humor. A must read."
Night Will Find You (2023) Julia Heaberlin "Dark, elegant and utterly captivating, Night Will Find You is an unforgettable story written with richly evocative prose and genuine heart. I found myself completely immersed. A lyrical exploration of the fine line between scientific fact and the things we can't explain."
The Drowning Woman (2023) Robyn Harding "A compelling, intriguing, masterfully crafted thriller that will sweep you up like a runaway train, I absolutely devoured The Drowning Woman. With twist after ingenious twist, this one is stylish and utterly riveting."
Last One Alive (2022) Amber Cowie "A riveting, irresistible locked-room mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie, Last One Alive is endlessly entertaining and fiendishly clever. So jam-packed with tension and suffused with dread, you won't be able to put it down!"
One Year Gone (2021) Avery Bishop "An emotionally charged mystery that’s simultaneously heartbreaking and thrilling as a single mother risks everything to find her missing daughter. One Year Gone is deeply unsettling and gorgeously disturbing. Don’t miss this one!"
The Night We Burned (2021) S F Kosa "Tense and unsettling, this captivating tale follows Dora, a newspaper fact-checker with dark secrets, as she desperately tries to outrun her past. With high stakes and a compelling protagonist, the story rockets towards its shocking conclusion, deftly exploring the line between fact and fiction and posing the question: do facts always matter? A wild and entertaining read."
Six Weeks to Live (2021) Catherine McKenzie "Smart, engrossing and richly emotional, Six Weeks to Live is a deep dive into the secrets and lies between a dying mother and her three daughters. Part who-dunnit, part family drama, this textured and utterly spellbinding story unravels in surprising ways you won’t see coming. A heart-wrenching, complex story of death, regret, and the impact our pasts have on our future."
Girls with Bright Futures (2021) Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman "Wickedly paced and devilishly clever, Girls with Bright Futures is a serious case of moms behaving badly, perfectly showcasing the dark side of ambition in the cut-throat world of elite college admissions. For those who enjoy mischief and mayhem in an urban, ultra-competitive private school setting, this smart and riveting debut is a wildly entertaining read."
For the Best (2020) Vanessa Lillie "A fascinating look at the power of restorative justice, For the Best is Vanessa Lillie at her finest. With damaged characters and a dark undercurrent, the plot unravels a myriad of devastating secrets in the wake of an alcohol-soaked night that left a man dead and a woman accused of his murder. Mesmerizing and thought-provoking, For the Best smolders with a brooding, slow-burn tension you simply won’t want to miss."
Behind the Red Door (2020) Megan Collins "Spellbinding, poignant and atmospheric, Behind The Red Door is one of those rare stories you can get utterly lost in. With writing so richly evocative I could vividly imagine every detail, this is a mesmerizing tale in which family bonds are broken, lifelong secrets are exposed, and a woman who suffers a debilitating anxiety disorder must find the truth about her connection to a decades-old kidnapping. Intensely moving, beautifully written and thoroughly enjoyable, I can't recommend this highly enough!"
How to Save a Life (2020) Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke "Liz and Lisa’s latest is flawless and irresistible, profoundly moving and endlessly emotional. How to Save a Life is a truly unique and beautiful reimagining of Groundhog Day, asking if life and death are preordained, if our destiny is predetermined, and if some lives are meant to be saved."
Perfectly Famous (2020) Emily Liebert "Much more than a clever whodunit, Perfectly Famous is a subtle and lyrical acclamation of relationships, especially the challenging one between mothers and daughters. Irresistible and intriguing, it smolders with a brooding, slow-burn tension that delicately unwinds to a final, profoundly shocking outcome. A captivating story that’s richly evocative, with characters you won’t soon forget. Perfectly Famous is a must read for fans of domestic drama."
This Is How I Lied (2020) Heather Gudenkauf "A twisty, evocative tale of the danger of secrets and the power the past has to lead us down deliciously dangerous paths. Immersive and richly atmospheric, This Is How I Lied intertwines page-turning suspense with characters that creep into your very bones…. An exhilarating thriller that shows Heather Gudenkauf is at the top of her game."
He Started It (2020) Samantha Downing "A wicked-fun read with razor-sharp wit and a killer twist, He Started It is compelling, captivating, and deliciously dark. Samantha Downing writes with a wry, sparse elegance that steadily entangles you until you're utterly addicted."
Follow Me (2020) Kathleen Barber "Addictive, disturbing, and frighteningly real, Barber ratchets up the tension in this spine-tingling thriller about the dangers of oversharing. Follow Me is one of those rare books that is creepy and suspenseful, while still managing to be a fun, unforgettable read."
Woman on the Edge (2019) Samantha M Bailey "Exhilarating and evocative. . . . Woman on the Edge had me gripped. This book effortlessly ticks all the boxes: wonderful world building, realistic characters and a gripping plot that made me keep flipping the pages. It's about obsession and madness, motherhood and trauma. This is a debut you'll want to slip straight to the top of your to-read pile!"
