P. J. Vernon was born in South Carolina. He holds a PhD in immunology and published science before turning his hand to publishing fiction. P. J. is an insatiable reader of suspense and domestic noir. His writing―and love for all things unsettling―is influenced by the works of Gillian Flynn, S. J. Watson, and the late A.S.A. Harrison. Apart from spinning tales of dark secrets or terror in suburbia, P. J. is an active member of the Imaginative Fiction Writers Association (IFWA) and the Alberta Romance Writers Association (ARWA). He lives in Canada with his partner and two wily dogs.
Real Bad Things (2022) Kelly J Ford "Acclaimed author Kelly J. Ford spins a propulsive, sophisticated, and fearlessly queer tour de force in Real Bad Things. Ford's richly drawn characters and breathtaking storytelling create an inescapable undertow of menace that will not let go until the shocking final page. This is gothic suspense at its most haunting."
Vicious Creatures (2022) Ashton Noone "Deviously plotted and breathlessly spun, VICIOUS CREATURES is a gothic suspense every bit as deep and dark as the rumored child-eating forest at its heart. Ashton Noone's haunting voice is utterly unforgettable, and this debut, an absolute must-read for fans of things that go bump in the night -- or worse."
Kismet (2022) Amina Akhtar "One of the most original, chilling, and startlingly honest thrillers I've ever read, Amina Akhtar plunges readers into an altogether fresh flavor of hell in Kismet. Balancing nail-biting terror with razor-sharp wit, Akhtar interrogates the feral side of the human heart with a rare fearlessness that is certain to make Kismet one of the year's hottest titles and an absolute must-read. Period."
The Local (2022) Joey Hartstone "Unraveling a fraught legal system page-by-gripping-page, The Local is an extraordinary and unforgettable powerhouse of a debut. Hartstone's masterful storytelling and switchblade-sharp wit make for a piercing and wildly entertaining thriller about the fragility of power - and the feverish and cruel desperation of those who wield it. An absolute must-read."
In the Dark We Forget (2022) Sandra SG Wong "From page one, Sandra SG Wong thrusts readers mind-first into a rolling boil of terror, uncertainty and heartbreak in In The Dark We Forget -- a fiercely original and stunningly written thriller that cuts deeper than most. Trust no one, take nothing for granted, and buckle up because sometimes the only thing more dangerous than seeking the truth is finding it."
Watch Out for Her (2022) Samantha M Bailey "Samantha M. Bailey turns our most visceral fears into an artform in Watch Out for Her--a fierce and terrifying tour-de-force that puts unseen eyes on the back of your neck from page one. Through rich and palpably unsettling prose, Bailey delivers a relentlessly tense and inescapably honest thriller that scared the hell out of me as only she can. Read this book."
Knock Off the Hat (2022) (Clifford Waterman Gay Philly Mystery, book 1) Richard Stevenson "Gripping, evocative and turn-of-the-screw suspenseful, Knock Off The Hat is a brilliantly paced and startlingly immersive barnstormer. With firecracker prose, Stevenson brings the jungle hot streets of post-war Philly to life and deftly reminds us that nothing is stronger than a community besieged."
Reptile Memoirs (2022) Silje Ulstein "Extraordinary and terrifying, Reptile Memoirs sinks teeth into you from page one. Through relentless and, at times, almost unbearable tension, Ulstein delivers a menacingly layered thriller unlike any you've read before."
Like a Sister (2022) Kellye Garrett "A tour-de-force by one of crime fiction's best, Kellye Garrett delivers a knock-out in Like A Sister. Garrett's incredible range and depth of storytelling bring New York City to life as this thriller unfolds layer-by-gripping-layer. Through the inevitable media boil surrounding celebrity death, a powerful family keeping secrets of their own, and a grieving sister's relentless quest for answers, Garrett clarifies an important truth about the voicelessness of the dead: When they've left a sister behind, they often aren't."
Chevy in the Hole (2022) Kelsey Ronan "Profoundly honest and stunning in scope, Chevy in the Hole is a beautifully written reminder of community strength in the face of extraordinary change. Kelsey Ronan's voice is simply unforgettable and this debut, an absolute must-read."
Doctors & Friends (2021) Kimmery Martin "Martin's Doctors and Friends is nothing shy of stunning. While delivering the depth, wit, and soul that continues to garner both readers' love and critics' acclaim, she deftly reminds us that no crisis will ever shrink our capacity for love--and when threatened--our will to fight back. Absolutely brilliant."
The Perfect Family (2021) Robyn Harding "Harding wields deep community ties like a garrote and redefines terror in suburbia. Breathless pacing and an inescapable sense of menace make Harding’s latest an absolute must-read that will scare the hell out of you as only Harding can. This one’s a stunner."
The Family Plot (2021) Megan Collins "A gripping thriller with a gothic edge so sharp it's practically a switchblade, Megan Collins delivers a fiendish and compulsive read in The Family Plot. As the dark, murder-obsessed world of the Lighthouse Family unravels one deadly secret at a time — and the truth draws closer with each turned page — nothing will prepare you for Collins's shocking finale. Read this book. Now."
Razorblade Tears (2021) S A Cosby "S. A. Cosby is a once-in-a-generation storyteller -- and he's only getting started. In Razorblade Tears, Cosby delivers a jaw-dropping thriller of vengeance, cruelty, and heart. His iconic voice, cinematic prose, and brilliant plotting will have you hearing an 80-piece orchestra at full crescendo as you race towards an ending so explosive, you'll literally duck for cover. This book is far more than a work of art; it's the gold standard."
The Hunted (2021) Roz Nay "Twisty like a mamba and absolutely terrifying, The Hunted by Roz Nay is a hot, humid, fever dream of a thriller you simply can’t put down. With gripping prose and a shocking ending, Roz brilliantly reminds readers of an inescapable truth: Just because we fear the unknown doesn’t mean the unknown fears us."
Walking Through Needles (2021) Heather Levy "A stunning, devastating debut. As the story's taut mystery unfolds with beautiful prose across past and present, a deeper, far more monstrous truth awaits readers: nothing's as capable of cruelty quite like the human heart."
Confess to Me (2021) Sharon Doering "Brilliant, vicious, and wildly compulsive, Confess to Me is a masterpiece of a thriller. Through stunning prose and an almost unbearable sense of dread, Doering delivers a truly menacing tale one elegant twist at a time. You don't devour this book – it devours you."
The Bright Lands (2020) John Fram "Fram has delivered a powerhouse of a debut that is certain to be one of the year's most bracing thrillers. Unapologetic in its queerness, cruelty and heart, The Bright Lands will sink its teeth into you."
And Then You Were Gone (2019) R J Jacobs "Jacobs has crafted a live-wire of a debut. Fever-pitch prose reveals the untrustworthy nature of our perceptions, and a taut, unflinching plot makes putting this book down absolutely impossible."
