Book picks similar to
The Midnight Child by J.A. Baker


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Kiss Her Goodbye


Susan Gee - 2018
     Kirsten Green has gone missing. I killed Kirsten Green. Seventeen-year-old Hayley Reynolds is unwanted at home, and an outsider at school. Pushed away by her best friend Kirsten Green, she makes a deliberate, chilling decision – if Kirsten can't belong to her, then she won't belong to anyone... DI Beverley Samuels has the body of a schoolgirl on her hands – a murder that brings back the hauntingly painful memories of the case she's tried so desperately to forget. There's something deeply disturbing about this crime – and yet with little hard evidence it's up to her to decide who she will believe... Kiss Her Goodbye is a dark psychological crime novel featuring a brilliantly manipulative psychopath – and with a shock ending that is the best twist of 2018!

The Haunting of Brynn Wilder


Wendy Webb - 2020
    Checking into a quaint boardinghouse for the summer, she hopes to put her life into perspective. In her fellow lodgers, she finds a friendly company of strangers: the frail Alice, cared for by a married couple with a heartbreaking story of their own; LuAnn, the eccentric and lovable owner of the inn; and Dominic, an unsettlingly handsome man inked from head to toe in mesmerizing tattoos.But in this inviting refuge, where a century of souls has passed, a mystery begins to swirl. Alice knows things about Brynn, about all of them, that she shouldn’t. Bad dreams and night whispers lure Brynn to a shuttered room at the end of the hall, a room still heavy with a recent death. And now she’s become irresistibly drawn to Dominic—even in the shadow of rumors that wherever he goes, suspicious death follows.In this chilling season of love, transformation, and fear, something is calling for Brynn. To settle her past, she may have no choice but to answer.

The Bad Mother


Amanda Brooke - 2017
    You’re the bad mother you were destined to become.At least, that what he wants you to believe…

Into the Flames


Liz Bradford - 2021
    Conflicting evidence puts him at odds with others on his team—especially the newest team member, his brother’s ex-girlfriend, Jacq Sheppard. As the case heats up, so does Dylan’s affection for Jacq. She's independent, adventurous, spunky. All the qualities he could hope for. But exactly the ones that his mother opposes. Living up to her standards is hard enough, especially in his brother's shadow, but tying his life to Jacq means existing as a disappointment to his mom forever. Sparks fly and disastrous choices are made as Jacq and Dylan fight to save the vulnerable girl from human trafficking. When the situation explodes, Dylan must douse his fears and go into the flames.You aren't going to want to miss this novel, the first in a four book (plus a prequel) series!

The One That Got Away


Egan Hughes - 2020
    You trust him. You can't escape him. Shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger award.'A gripping debut' HELLO! magazine'This tense and twisty thriller will have you gasping for air' WOMAN magazine'Utterly addictive' CRIME MONTHLY magazine'A masterclass in storytelling' THE COURIER'This one really pulled me in' JANE CORRY'Tense, thrilling and full of twists and turns' ANGELA MARSONS___________________Mia thinks she has escaped her controlling ex-husband, Rob. She's found herself a new home, a new boyfriend and a new life.But when the police arrive to tell her that Rob has been found dead on his boat, things quickly fall apart. Mia is terrified she'll be suspected, however the police are keeping all options open. They know Mia had reason to hate her ex-husband, but she's not the only one. Plenty of people wanted Rob Creavy dead, not least his new wife, Rachel.What they don't know is that Mia has a secret, one she's desperate to protect.But someone else knows. Someone with very dark secrets of their own . . .A claustrophobic, twisty psychological thriller about love, trauma and revenge - perfect for fans of, THE HOLIDAY, SOMETHING IN THE WATER and THE WOMAN IN CABIN TEN.'Addictive, I was gripped from the opening chapter' JO SPAIN'Plunges the reader in and leaves them gasping for air' RACHEL EDWARDS

Whisper Cottage


Anne Wyn Clark - 2021
    Their new home is run-down compared to their neighbour’s, but generous Mrs Barley quickly becomes a friend.   Until Stina sees a mysterious figure in the widow’s garden, and her happy new life begins to unravel. And when she hears strange noises in the night, she is forced to question if Mrs Barley is what she seems.  Why do the other villagers whisper about her? Why is she so eager to help the couple? And what is she hiding in her picture-perfect home?  A haunting, twisty story about the power of secrets and rumours, perfect for fans of Ruth Ware’s The Turn of the Key and Lucy Atkins’s Magpie Lane.

Lay Me to Rest


E.A. Clark - 2017
    Hoping for a fresh start, she travels to a remote stone cottage in Anglesey, amidst the white-capped mountains of North Wales.She settles in quickly, helped by her mysterious new neighbour, Peter. But everything changes when Annie discovers a small wooden box, inlaid with brass and mother-of-pearl. A box she was never supposed to find…Annie soon realises that she isn’t alone in the cottage. And now she’s trapped. Can she escape the nightmare that she has awoken, or will the dark forces surrounding the house claim her life – and that of her baby?A gripping thriller from E. A. Clark, perfect for fans of Kerri Wilkinson, Sarah Wray and Stella Duffy. You won’t be able to put it down!

Two-Faced: A Suspense Mystery


L. Selfman - 2014
    But things aren't exactly what they seem and her life soon spins out of control as she's sucked into a web of lies, betrayal and murder.

Flowers for the Dead


C.K. Williams - 2020
    I am their cautionary tale. Nineteen years ago Linn Wilson was attacked. Seventeen-years-old and home alone, she’d been waiting for her friends to arrive when she heard the doorbell ring. But when she opened the door, Linn let in her worst nightmare. The culprit was never found. It was someone I knew. I am going to find out who did this to me. Now, Linn is determined to get to the bottom of the night that changed her life forever. Returning to the village where she grew up, she knows that someone must know something. The claustrophobia and isolation of small town living means secrets won’t remain secrets for long… A wonderfully tense and gripping suspense thriller that will have you hooked! Perfect for fans of D.K Hood’s Detective Kane and Alton series and Sheryl Browne.

Never Girl


Ana Valen - 2021
    Two LAPD officers arrived at her condo and said her older brother was murdered. In the wake of this, she seeks guidance from James Reed—a lifelong friend and defense attorney in her brother’s law firm. James cautions against rash action, and she heeds this advice… until one of the homicide detectives updates her on the proceedings.Detective Stacy Raven doesn’t believe the facts on the ground—that someone killed Claire’s brother in a robbery. The crime hints at passion, not desire for his wallet. When Raven informs Claire about the irregularities, Claire shifts into action.Claire needs to find out what happened, but she doesn’t possess investigative skills. She needs someone who understands crime scenes. Better yet, she needs someone who understands the criminal mind. After finding the ideal person, they begin their own investigation. They quickly realize that the truth differs from what even Detective Raven suspects.

The Dream Wife


Louisa de Lange - 2018
    Supportive, respectful, mild-mannered - everything her husband wants her to be. But underneath, she is so much more.Annie is a prisoner in her own life. Her finances, her routine and her contact with the outside world are all controlled by him. Only her love for her little boy keeps her sane, and at night she escapes into a dreamworld where she is free.But Annie is about to do a very bad thing.And you won't believe how she is going to do it . . .*************A tense and electrifying novel with a twist that will break your heart. Fans of Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, The Girl Before by JP Delaney, Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris, Friend Request by Laura Marshall, Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear and Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney will love this.

Heart Swarm


Allan Watson - 2015
    Five years ago Harlan headed up the investigation of an identical murder in the same woods; a mishandled investigation that effectively destroyed his credibility as a detective. The new case immediately takes a bizarre twist when the body is identified as the same girl found hanging in the woods five years ago. The following day a local man commits suicide and the police find more dead girls hidden in his basement. The case seems open and closed. Until the killing spree begins. Harlan finds himself drawn into a dark world where murder is a form of self-expression and human life treated as one more commodity to be used and discarded. The only clue that links everything is a large oil painting of ‘Sagittarius A’ – a massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy orbited by thirteen stars daubed in blood with the words – Heart SwarmThis edition is no longer available.

The Docent


Tom Kenny - 2018
     A pair of the city’s most prominent lawyers takes on the task of defending an acerbic tycoon accused of fleecing his niece and nephew of their interest in the family business empire. As the court proceedings take a decided turn against their unforgiving client, defense counsel turn to insidious means in a desperate attempt to avoid a catastrophic judgment. They scheme to besmirch and derail the trial judge through the manipulation of her law clerk. Unknowingly, the clerk provides information that could involve Her Honor in the disappearance of the priceless museum paintings. The story unfolds in both posh and hardscrabble neighborhoods of Boston and its suburbs as its players succumb to greed, power and love, without concern for those left in their backwash.

Every Step You Take


Avery Lane - 2018
    For the first time in her life, she’s without her overbearing mother, extroverted roommates, and most recently, her controlling husband Evan. After a lifetime of damaging relationships, she’s finally found the courage to begin her own life. But then came the hand-scrawled note under her door. We’re never really alone. Suddenly, Riley finds her peaceful independence turning upside down. Items go missing in her home. Mysterious figures follow her in the shadows. And just like that, Riley realizes she’s being watched. But by whom? Evan is the obvious culprit but Riley can’t rule out her paranoid, overprotective mother. There’s also the handsome new stranger who works in her building who knows more about Riley than she’s ever told, and her soon-to-be newlywed clients whose image of perfection is crumbling into something dark and toxic right before Riley’s eyes. There are far too many suspects in Riley’s new life of independence, and at this point, she has no idea who she can trust. All she knows is that somewhere out there, someone doesn’t want her to be alone…