Book picks similar to
Saving Grace by D.M. Barr


thriller
mystery
psychological-thriller
suspense

No Kiss Goodbye


Janelle Harris - 2015
    Things will never be the same again, they said. Isn't it wonderful, they said. But no one knows what to say now. My husband wants to take the kids. My husband thinks the accident was my fault. My husband thinks I need help. But I think he wants rid of me.

Underneath


Andie M. Long - 2014
    An extra-ordinary vendetta.From the outside Lauren’s life looks idyllic, yet beneath the surface there are cracks in her marriage.When an old schoolfriend returns home, Lauren doesn’t know whether to avoid her or befriend her. Her husband thinks she should give Bettina a chance; her best friend thinks she has a hidden agenda. A sexy schoolteacher proves an unlikely ally, even if he is an extra threat to her marriage.Slowly Lauren’s life begins to unravel: a car crash and poison-pen letters are just the beginning.Someone is out to ruin her. But who?

Bone Maker


D.F. Bailey - 2015
    A woman mourns alone. A reporter works a single lead. If you have an appetite for organized crime series, you’ll love this new crime trilogy. Add a slice of noir novels, the juice of steamy PI mysteries, the zest of a financial thriller series. Soon you’ll be stewing in this new technothriller trilogy — and begging for more. Following a family tragedy that has broken his spirit, crime reporter Will Finch returns to his news desk in San Francisco eager to reboot his career and renew his lease on life. When he’s assigned to cover the grisly death of a witness to a multi-million dollar bitcoin fraud, Finch discovers some troubling complications: A Mercedes-Benz abandoned in the wilderness. A wounded bear. A cop who rules a remote town with an iron fist. And the witness’s fiancée — a US senator’s daughter — knows there’s something mysterious about her lover’s death. But what? Inspired by true events, Bone Maker is the first thriller in this series of noir crime new releases — a new crime trilogy that races from coastal Oregon to San Francisco, Moscow, Honolulu and Washington DC. It intersects the worlds of international finance, cryptocurrency software algorithms, and corruption that reaches from the US Senate to Turk Street in the Tenderloin District. Fans of contemporary noir novels will love this technothriller trilogy. Be sure to read this gripping financial thriller series in order: Bone Maker, Stone Eater, Lone Hunter. All three books are available now. Author Interview with D. F. Bailey Q. The first page of Bone Maker states that the novel is “inspired by true events.”* Tell us more. DFB. Two events inspired these books. The first involves a massive bitcoin theft. In the spring of 2014 the bitcoin equivalent of over $450,000,000 simply disappeared from a bitcoin exchange called Mt. Gox. Solving this crime drives the plots of all three novels. At heart, the books are an organized crime series in the form of a technothriller trilogy. Q. What was the second true event? DFB. A few years ago I came across a news article about a convicted murderer — 53-year-old Rory Nelson Wagner — whose corpse was discovered outside his car in a mountain wilderness. Apparently he died of a heart attack and a bear had dragged him from his vehicle and partially devoured him. Horrible as it seems, I was drawn by the notion of some sort of natural justice at play. Early on in Bone Maker, the sheriff handling a similar case refers to the attack as “Murder by Nature.” I considered using that for the book title at one point. Q. Sounds like one of Agatha Christie’s PI mysteries. DFB. Granted, there’s an element of PI mysteries to the trilogy. However, I’m not the sort of writer who likes to create a maze or puzzle with red herrings and hidden clues to fool or mislead the reader. Bone Maker is a crime thriller with a strong noir flavor. Readers learn about the crimes one step at a time, just as our hero Will Finch uncovers the facts of each case. Q. So who is Will Finch? DFB. Finch is a 35 year-old crime reporter working for the San Francisco eXpress. Before becoming a journalist, he served in Iraq, at Abu Graib, in military intelligence. Like all noir heroes, there is an irredeemable quality to him, but he’s not completely lost. He senses that he can find his way back to a normal life, yet he’s not sure how to do it. Q. Tell us about the title, Bone Maker. DFB. Each of the three titles in the trilogy uses the nickname of a bad guy — the antagonist.

The Unremembered Girl


Eliza Maxwell - 2017
    It’s all he can do to keep his compassionate but ailing mother and his stepfather—a fanatical grassroots minister with a bruising rhetoric—from ruin. But they have no idea they’ve become the obsession of the girl in the woods.Abandoned and nearly feral, Eve has been watching them, seduced by the notion of family—something she’s known only in the most brutal sense. Soon she can’t resist the temptation to get close. Where Henry’s mother sees a poor girl in need, his father sees only wickedness. When Henry forges an unexpected bond with Eve, he believes he might be able to save her. He doesn’t know how wrong he is.Eve is about to take charge of her own destiny—and that of Henry’s family. As both their worlds spin violently out of control, Henry must make an impossible choice: protect the broken young woman who’s claimed a piece of his soul, or put everyone he loves at risk in order to do the right thing.

What We Forgot to Bury


Marin Montgomery - 2020
    But she’s safe now. She lives in a gated community, protected from danger. When teenager Elle knocks at her door looking for shelter during a particularly severe storm, the woman can’t help but think how lucky Elle’s been to have found someone as friendly as her. Except Elle chose her door on purpose…She knows all about Charlotte’s secrets because they ruined her family and her life. And it is time that everyone else knew. But Charlotte’s past has left a dark void in her life, so she is concocting her own vicious plan, convinced that Elle can help fill that void.As events unfold, the truth unravels and pulls both women into a dangerous game that will leave you wondering, Who’s the villain?

Give It Back


Danielle Esplin - 2017
    She thought that was the worst thing that could happen to her, but soon she realizes it’s just the beginning of an everlasting nightmare. Lexy:Lexy, an au pair from London, moves to Seattle to help Lorraine with her infant son. But she didn’t come for the child…she came for something else. Ella:When Ella receives a call from her sister, Lorraine, who begs her to leave San Diego to spend time with her, she decides to take a few days off from work to visit her. Frightened to see how much Lorraine has weakened since her diagnosis eight months ago, she packs a bag and heads to Seattle with a foreboding feeling that this might be the last time she sees Lorraine. But on her way to the airport, she learns that something shocking has happened since she last spoke with Lorraine and now. To make matters worse, once Ella arrives in Seattle, Lorraine’s story keeps changing, making Ella question how reliable her sister really is. Soon Ella is entangled in a mysterious investigation, and more so, in the lives of everyone involved. She realizes not only that she won’t go home anytime soon but also that she’ll never look at others the same way she did before.

Cicada Spring


Christian Galacar - 2015
    . .On a warm May evening in the spring of 1979, the people of Heartsridge, Massachusetts, are living the American dream. Families are gathered for barbecues. Kids are playing in front yards. Gardens are being kept. Meanwhile, Kara Price stumbles home through the woods, raped and beaten, her life shattered by a wicked act of violence, perpetrated by one of the town’s most beloved and public figures. Surrounding Kara is a cast of compelling and nefarious characters—a violent-tempered mayor who can do no wrong in the eyes of the town, a sheriff bound by the rules and plagued by a guilty conscience, a father bent on revenge, a serial killer in the midst of an identity crisis. And at the center of it all there's Kara, who just wants to move on with her life and forget everything that happened to her. But how can she do that when everyone thinks she is a liar who is only out for attention? With plot and emotion braided together by a careful hand, this haunted group of people all acting on behalf of their own interests begs the question: How far would you go to protect your own?

Following You


Eva Lesko Natiello - 2021
    Guaranteed to shock.” —Samantha Downing, bestselling author of My Lovely Wife 

A missing body.
A dead body.
A somebody.
A nobody.
It's New Year's Eve in Southern California. Shae Wilmont, the adored celebrity host of IShop—a popular shopping site—is ready to reclaim her life. Her stalker's been caught. But en route to a party, a bizarre encounter lands her in the wrong place at the wrong time. She panics. And trusts her gut. It's a devastating mistake.Only one person knows where she ends up. It's where no one can find her.

Shae's stunned fans rally to track her down. Yet the charismatic Shae they know, who delivers digital intimacy to viewers who buy anything she sells, off camera is an enigma—private and strangely insecure. She's unable to let anyone get close. When the investigation exposes startling personal secrets, the paradox of Shae begins to unravel.

In this dark psychological thriller, the lives of three strangers collide irreversibly. Honey, a displaced Southern girl with a painful past, is fiercely protective of her new friends at the expense of her own safety. Creepy Lawrence, a Detective Bureau fast-tracker with a penchant for latex gloves and a perverse obsession with Shae. And Shae, with millions of fake friends but hardly a real one. All three are hiding something, but only two of them are lying.Time is running out. But the only way to find Shae, is for someone to discover who she really is.

Nothing is what it seems in this propulsive locked room thriller. Eva Lesko Natiello is back with another gripping suspense, keeping you guessing until the final page.

"Intense and creepy."
"Wickedly plotted."
"Gripping till the last page."
"If you think you know how this book will end—you're dead wrong!"ADVANCE PRAISE:

"Expertly paced, gripping, and intoxicating, FOLLOWING YOU will leave you breathless." —J.D. Barker, New York Times bestselling author of A Caller's Game

“FOLLOWING YOU is a dark, delicious thriller. Read it with the lights on.” 
—Amber Garza, author of When I Was You
“An inherently riveting and deftly crafted novel of dark psychological suspense, FOLLOWING YOU showcases author Eva Lesko Natiello's genuine flair for originality and a distinctively entertaining narrative storytelling style. Highly recommended, especially for library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections . . . and all dedicated psychological thriller fans . . .”—Midwest Book Review“Eva Lesko Natiello, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of THE MEMORY BOX, returns with a sizzler in FOLLOWING YOU . . . Diabolically twisted and entertaining . . . Intense and creepy . . . A smart, wickedly plotted psychological thriller brimming with dark surprises at each page turn. From the enigmatic and stunning front cover to the gripping last page, you will be spellbound.”—Judith D. Collins, Must Read Books

Pocketful of Bones


Julie Frayn - 2017
    When an accident takes the life of a friend, Finnegan buries the evidence amid the purple dead nettle and bougainvillea, and unearths a treasure trove of human remains. Did his house rest atop an ancient burial ground? Or was there a killer tucking him into bed at night?His fascination with bones grows as fast as his obsession with his mother. She rejects his advances, and he escapes to the other side of the country. Years later, he returns to his childhood home, to the secrets and the guilt and the bones -- and to fulfill his destiny.

It Ends with Her


Brianna Labuskes - 2018
    She’ll end it.FBI special agent Clarke Sinclair doesn’t give up easily. She’s spent years tracking serial killer Simon Cross, forced to follow his twisted clues and photographs across the country. Clarke knows that Cross selects only redheaded women and that he doesn’t target another victim until Clarke discovers the previous one.He’s never broken pattern…until now.A girl has already gone missing in upstate New York when a second one is kidnapped—a blonde. The killer’s MO has changed, sending Clarke back to the drawing board. The closer she gets to the truth, the deeper she’s drawn into an inescapable trap made just for Clarke. Whatever Cross’s ultimate game is, it ends with her.

Rapid Falls


Amber Cowie - 2018
    The tragedy has become a local legend, but Cara has moved past her grief to have a successful career and a happy family. Pity about Anna. Recently released from incarceration, she’s struggling with addiction, guilt, and shame—a shattered life. Cara’s forgiveness seems to be the only thing that helps her pick up the pieces.But as Anna pulls herself together, her memories of that night on the bridge start to come into focus. And few of them match her sister’s.As past secrets unfold and nothing is what it seems anymore, Anna desperately searches for the truth. But what if Cara doesn’t want her to find it?

Dr. Vigilante (Dr. Vigilante, #1)


Alberto Hazan - 2013
    He spends his days treating patients at the St. Jude’s Hospital ER and his nights going after the psychopaths who wrong them: the child molesters, wife beaters, and rapists. But when the fiery, beautiful new social worker discovers his secret identity and their love affair takes off, Robert is forced to face some hard questions:Do the ends justify the means?After years of hunting down psychopaths, is Robert turning into one himself?An action thriller with strong, distinct characters, filled with suspense and surprise, Dr. Vigilante is also a love story unfolding amid the turmoil and drama of a busy ER.

Every Last Secret


A.R. Torre - 2020
    Watch your husband, watch your friends, and watch your back.Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home; social standing; and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbor like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality.Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s anxious to move up in the world. This beautiful new town is a step in the right direction. It’s also making Neena aware of what she doesn’t have. Namely, William. When Neena’s infatuation escalates into obsession, it’s just a matter of eliminating a few obstacles to get the life she wants. The life next door.As Neena’s secret fixation grows, so does her friendship with Cat. But beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous.

Lies We Bury


Elle Marr - 2021
    At twenty-seven, Marissa’s moved beyond the trauma and is working under a new name as a freelance photographer. But when she accepts a job covering a string of macabre murders in Portland, it’s impossible for Marissa not to remember.Everything is eerily familiar. The same underground lairs. Sad trinkets and toys left behind, identical to those Marissa had as a child. And then there is the note meant just for her that freezes Marissa’s blood: See you soon, Missy.To determine the killer’s next move, Marissa must retrieve her long-forgotten memories and return to a past she’s hidden away. But she won’t be facing her fears alone. Someone is waiting for her in the dark.

Trespassing


Brandi Reeds - 2018
    Her latest round of fertility treatments not only failed but left her on edge and unbalanced. And her three-year-old daughter, Elizabella, has a new imaginary friend, who seems much more devilish than playful. So when Veronica’s husband fails to return home from a business trip, what’s left of her stability begins to crumble.Given her family’s history of mental illness, and Elizabella’s insistence that her daddy is dead, Veronica starts questioning herself. Every move she makes is now suspect. Worse still, Veronica is positive that someone wants her and her daughter dead, too—unless it’s all in her mind…Somewhere beneath her paranoia is the answer to her husband’s vanishing. To find it, she’s led to a house in the Florida Keys. But once there, she isn’t sure she wants to know the truth.