Ingenious and twisty, fresh and darkly comedic, A FRIEND INDEED is a meditation on social disparity, the weight of secrets, and the power of female friendships. Follow best friends Jo and Dana as they put their friendship to the ultimate test in a story that explores what it means to be a good wife, mother, and friend.

Summer wouldn’t be summer without a pile of good books to read by the pool, at the lake, or on the beach. As the temperature soars, we want sizzling reads about friends, frenemies, and foes—plus twisted family dynamics. If Christmas is the season for ghost tales and claustrophobic locked room mysteries, summer’s about steamy Domestic Suspense. Author Elka Ray suggests seven titles to stuff in your beach bag.

THE OFFING by Roz Nay

If you only read one Suspense book this summer, make it Roz Nay’s THE OFFING. New Yorkers Ivy and Regan sign up as crew on a sailboat in Far North Queensland, Australia, joining a handsome backpacker cook and the boat’s Tasmanian owner and his young daughter. It’s soon clear that everyone on board the Alone at Last has scary secrets. The travelers are trying to outrun bad choices and trauma, while the captain is either decent but desperate—or psycho. As in her past books, Roz Nay’s writing’s as smooth as a windless sea, while the setting adds heaps to this tense story, the surroundings beautiful, menacing, and claustrophobic. There’s nothing like being stuck on a small boat with people to truly get to know them. I could not turn the pages fast enough to learn whose secrets prove deadly. The solution hit like a shark attack—I didn’t see it coming.

A FRIEND IN THE DARK by Samantha M. Bailey

With her marriage in tatters, empty-nester Eden reconnects with an old flame online, only for her life to combust. The story’s told by Eden and another woman caught in a web of lies that stretches back to their time in college. Samantha Bailey does a masterful job of tying all the web’s sticky strands together in this tale of midlife angst, desire, wishful thinking, motherhood, and manipulation. As her marriage falters, Eden’s college-age daughter blames her blind-sided mom—a fascinating dynamic that adds to this midlife story. If you’re down for a truly evil villain, A FRIEND IN THE DARK is perfect pool reading. The ending is twisty, clever, and scary.

FOR WORSE by L.K. Bowen

Marital woes—and the risks of our online lives—also take center stage in FOR WORSE, which drew me in with its visually impaired main character and smooth writing. The story revolves around fifty-something Ellie, who has spent 22 years married to a manipulative man who’s using her failing eyesight to control her. After finding a tribe of over-it ex-wives in an online chat group for 50+ divorcing women, Ellie’s desire to be free reaches scary heights – while her husband’s grip tightens. The book offers fascinating insights into coercive control. Pick this up if you enjoy your Suspense with deeper character development and more psychological insights. Ellie’s domineering spouse is expertly drawn, while the women in the chat group are dryly funny.

THE WIDOW ON DWYER COURT by Lisa Kusel

While rocky marriages are the sometimes stale bread and butter of Domestic Suspense, THE WIDOW ON DWYER COURT has a truly original premise. Main character Kate hates having sex and encourages her husband Matt to sleep with other people, so long as he shares all the deets, which she plows into her bestselling erotic novels. Kate and Matt’s unconventional marriage is rattling along until an offbeat widow moves into their neighborhood, pushing everything off-kilter. At first, the newcomer is a breath of fresh air. Or is that breeze toxic? The book’s a fast, wild, and unexpected ride that explores marriage, desire, friendship, ambition, and betrayal. If you’re looking for spice, sly insights, and dark humor, slide THE WIDOW ON DWYER COURT into your beach tote. I give it top marks for uniqueness and humor.

KNIFE RIVER by Justine Champine

It’s not friends or spouses that take center stage in KNIFE RIVER but estranged sisters, reunited in their small hometown after their long-missing mother’s bones are discovered. If you want fast-paced twists, skip this one. It’s a slow burn. But burn it does—smoke will get in your eyes. Fifteen years ago, when Jess was thirteen, her mom left for a walk and vanished. Jess’s fiercely smart big sister Liz had to sacrifice her dreams of college to care for her younger sister, until Jess skipped town and drifted. Now, as they wait for the cops to finally do something, the sisters are forced to get to know each other—and face the ugliness of their small homophobic town. While the mystery of who killed their mom smolders like toxic smoke in the background, this is ultimately an examination of the ripple effects of trauma. The writing is gorgeous and the characters so real I didn’t just know them, but became them. It’s only April but I’m calling this one as one of my favorite books of 2024.

FOLLOW HER DOWN by Victoria Helen Stone

FOLLOW HER DOWN also examines the impact of trauma on siblings—in this case a brother and sister. Elise was ten and her brother thirteen when their big sister Robin was murdered. Now late-thirties, Elise is managing a rural motel and trying to cut back on her drinking, while Kyle is obsessed with conspiracy theories. Much to Elise’s fury, he questions whether the man who confessed to Robin’s slaying actually did it. When Elise’s wildly wealthy former lover is found murdered, Kyle’s convinced his death is linked to their sister’s. Not only is Elise a suspect in her ex’s killing, but she finds herself forced to ask questions she’d rather keep avoiding. Like Elise, I never knew where things were heading. If you like strong and complex female leads and tales of unsettling power dynamics, FOLLOW HER DOWN is great summer-cabin-reading.

If you had a big—as in dead body-sized problem—would your best friend help you to cover it up? Out on May 14^th, Elka Ray’s Suspense debut A FRIEND INDEED follows two childhood besties who face this desperate dilemma. Reviewed as “devilishly smart” and “totally convincing”, A FRIEND INDEED is a twisty exploration of loyalty, social disparity, and corrosive secrets. Add it to your summer TBR here.

Happy summer Suspense reading!

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The following recently released debut thrillers range from traditional detective stories to dark, gritty, serial killer chases to domestic suspense novels to gothic-style tales with magical elements, and almost everything in between. Some have been written as the start to a new series and some are standalones, but all of them are highly rated and highly recommended.

DEATH IN THE FAMILY by Tessa Wegert
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An impressive combination of a traditional Agatha Christie-style locked-room mystery, with a young, gifted detective who is suffering from PTSD who is still learning who to trust in her new job and environment. Tessa Weggert introduces us to Senior Investigator Shana Merchant as she works to solve a mysterious disappearance on a small private island. We learn a lot about Merchant through her work on this case, but there is plenty more of her backstory to be unfolded. Weggert has written such a dynamic character that we can’t wait to see her in her next adventure!

THE GOOD DETECTIVE by John McMahon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

P.T. Marsh really IS a good detective, but his life has been tragic in the last year.  Struggling with his private life has left him not always making the best decisions, and sometimes those decisions have far-reaching consequences. Thinking he is helping a stripper get out of an abusive relationship, Marsh starts a chain of events that lead back to his job, his father-in-law, and multiple murders in the area. Likeable detectives aren’t always easy to find, but Marsh comes across as genuine, but not perfect, real, but not too-good-to-be-true, and someone who truly wants to make a difference.  

BLOOD ORANGE by Harriet Tyce
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A domestic thriller that will often leave the reader feeling like a voyeur, but also unable to look away. Alison is a young, successful lawyer with an attentive husband, a precocious daughter, and seems to have it all. But she is also having an affair with one of her colleagues, and drinking too much, and she’s starting to feel things unravel. When she takes on a new client – who willingly admits to stabbing her own husband – Alison thinks this might be the opportunity to straighten out the various threads of her life that have gotten out of control. Power, jealousy, betrayal, love, and hate are all added to the mix and this disturbing tale will keep you on the edge of your seat.

HOLD YOUR TONGUE by Deborah Masson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Fans of M.J. Arlidge’s books about DCI Helen Grace should definitely be paying attention to Deborah Masson.  Similar in tone, Hold Your Tongue gives us an entirely new detective squad to get acquainted with. This dark and gritty serial killer hunt, with all its twists and turns, may not be for everybody, but for those of us that live for these twisted tales, it is a MUST! Masson also has a sequel currently scheduled to come out later this year!

MAN OF THE YEAR by Caroline Louise Walker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Walker gives us a novel of domestic suspense set in a world where there just might not be a “good guy” to cheer for. Dr. Robert Hart has been named Citizen of the Year in his elite seaside town. His beautiful (second) wife and his son are there to celebrate with him. His son’s college roommate is also there, and the troubled young man changes the balance of power in the home. As the balance of power shifts, so does everything else in Dr. Hart’s life. Readers will hold their breath as they watch (mostly unlikable) people try to undo the damage they themselves have done.

NO BAD DEED by Heather Chavez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Heather Chavez hits the ground running with this fast-paced, menacing story. We meet veterinarian and mother of two, Cassie Larkin on her way home from work where she witnesses a crime. She calls 911, but against the advice of the operator, she gets out of the car. From that point forward she throws her happy, suburban life into absolute paranoia and chaos! Unfortunately, the paranoia is contagious, and Chavez will definitely have you looking over your shoulder. The book, however, is fantastic, with unique characters and nerve-wracking tension!

YOU LET ME IN by Camilla Bruce
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A bit more gothic-horror than true thriller, this book quickly becomes very hard to categorise. Fans of Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls, or Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children Series will find some similarities here. The entire book is written as a manuscript for Cassandra Tipp’s niece and nephew with instructions they are to follow upon her death or disappearance in order to obtain their inheritance. Occasionally written in second person, the reader feels very much a part of the story, as if they are being spoken to directly.

WOMAN ON THE EDGE by Samantha M. Bailey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Told from two alternating points-of-view, Woman on the Edge is the story of Morgan Kincaid who, while waiting for the subway on her regular trip home from work has a woman thrust her baby into Morgan’s arms, and then jump in front of the oncoming train! (That’s not a spoiler – it is on the back cover and happens in the first 3 pages.) But faster than the blink of an eye, Morgan’s life, which was already going through some very trying times, is turned upside down by this seemingly random act. 

 Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Eight Outstanding Debut Thrillers You Might Have Missed appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

*Disclaimer: this article and the novel both refer and discuss suicide openly*

Woman on the Edge is Samantha M. Bailey’s debut novel and it is an extraordinary fast paced psychological thriller about two women and how their lives become entwined with one another. Morgan Kincaid is trying to go unnoticed and just move through the motions of life following the suicide of her husband until she is suddenly thrust back into the spotlight. Nicole Markham, a well-known CEO of the company Breathe, forces her newborn daughter into Morgan’s arms before falling to her death at the hands of a subway. Morgan is left holding little Quinn with a million questions running through her head.

The reader will be taken on a wild journey as Morgan tries to uncover why Nicole not only fell to her death, but why baby Quinn was left to Morgan to care for when Morgan has no clue who Nicole or how they know each other. Written from the perspectives of both Morgan and Nicole, the reader follows Morgan in the present and Nicole from the time she gives birth up until she falls to her death. Bailey has done an excellent job at keeping both stories separate yet blending them together in a way that has the reader trying to guess where the connection is between these two women.

Morgan is a social worker at a local shelter and wants nothing more than to have a child, but after the suicide of her husband, she is finding that the steps to becoming a single mother is not as easy as it seems. After Nicole falls to her death, Morgan is left with Quinn and finds out that Nicole has left Quinn to Morgan as her sole guardian, even though Nicole leaves behind a husband and a brother. Morgan takes it upon herself to uncover Nicole’s past with the help of Nicole’s brother Ben, to find out what really happened to Nicole.

Bailey has constructed an absolutely brilliant story about a woman losing her grip with reality after the birth of her daughter. In the beginning, Nicole is shown to be a successful business woman who is just about ready to give birth to her first child. While she is thrilled about the new adventure she is about embark on, it is clear that there are parts of Nicole’s past that are coming back to haunt her and even have her fearing for her life and the life of Quinn. One of the themes that Bailey explores in Woman on the Edge is post-partum depression, an incredibly common diagnosis for women to get after the birth of a child; Bailey uses Nicole to shine light on this topic that still needs to be discussed more frequently. On top of post-partum depression, Bailey also uses mental health and especially suicide to show how people in extreme isolation with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness feel that their only way out is by suicide. Nicole becomes extremely isolated, both self-induced and from those she thought she loved pushing her away. Bailey is able to show the reader how detrimental isolation can be and how even when we try to reach out for help, maybe we aren’t reaching out to the right people. Bailey also ties in the expectations of perfectionism that can take over a mother’s life. Nicole becomes obsessed with wanting to be the perfect mother to Quinn and feels like nothing she does is good enough. Any reader who is a mother or is going to be a mother will likely feel empathetic to Nicole and her situation.

Bailey’s debut novel is stunningly written and very well thought out, even the title of the novel is something that can be taken both literally and figuratively and I think that is just absolutely brilliant. Woman on the Edge is also an excellent reminder that when we are struggling with our mental health that it is okay to reach out for help, to find someone that you trust to lean on. Even though Nicole felt like she had nobody to turn to, you can always find someone to turn to when you are sick. Mental health is something that is being talked about more openly all of the time and seeing novels like this reminds the reader that mental health is a normal part of life and that it is okay to seek help when you need it. After reading Woman on the Edge, I cannot wait to see what Samantha M. Bailey brings to her readers next, she is bound to come up with some more excellent and intense work.

Woman on the Edge is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Synopsis | Goodreads

A moment on the subway platform changes two women’s lives forever—a debut thriller that will take your breath away.

A total stranger on the subway platform whispers, “Take my baby.”

She places her child in your arms. She says your name.

Then she jumps…

In a split second, Morgan Kincaid’s life changes forever. She’s on her way home from work when a mother begs her to take her baby, then places the infant in her arms. Before Morgan can stop her, the distraught mother jumps in front of an oncoming train.

Morgan has never seen this woman before, and she can’t understand what would cause a person to give away her child and take her own life. She also can’t understand how this woman knew her name.

The police take Morgan in for questioning. She soon learns that the woman who jumped was Nicole Markham, prominent CEO of the athletic brand Breathe. She also learns that no witness can corroborate her version of events, which means she’s just become a murder suspect.

To prove her innocence, Morgan frantically retraces the last days of Nicole’s life. Was Nicole a new mother struggling with paranoia or was she in danger? When strange things start happening to Morgan, she suddenly realizes she might be in danger, too.

Woman on the Edge is a pulse-pounding, propulsive thriller about the lengths to which a woman will go to protect her baby—even if that means sacrificing her own life.

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