“The Universe doesn’t like secrets. It conspires to reveal the truth, to lead you to it.”
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, suspense, and gripping mysteries, Lisa Unger’s novels are an absolute must-read. But, with so many books to choose from, it can be tough knowing where to begin – or what order to read them in. That’s why we here at What We Reading have curated all our favourite Lisa Unger books in order, perfect for both new readers and longtime fans. From standalone thrillers to interconnected novels, Lisa Unger is renowned for her compelling characters, intricate plots, and unexpected twists. So, whether you want to explore her suspenseful standalones or follow the threads between her series, this list of the best Lisa Unger books in order will help you navigate her thrilling world.
Beautiful Lies (Ridley Jones #1) (2006)
Kicking off our list of the best Lisa Unger books is the American author’s debut novel under her present married name, Beautiful Lies. If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes or taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living in what she considered her perfect life. Instead, she’s in the wrong place at the wrong time, kickstarting a chain of events that starts with her receiving a mysterious package on her doorstep. A package that informs her that her whole world is an illusion.
Forced to question everything she knows about herself, Ridley wanders into dark territory, where everyone is hiding something. Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies takes readers on a breathless ride in which every decision Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to ignore.
Ridley Jones Books In Order:
- Beautiful Lies (2006) – Ridley Jones #1
- Sliver of Truth (2007) – Ridley Jones #2
Confessions On The 7:45 (2019)
Selena Murphy is commuting home on the train when she strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat. The woman introduces herself as Martha, and soon confesses she’s been having an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with their nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s stop, the two women part ways. Then the nanny disappears.
As Selena is pulled into the mystery of what happened, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, she begins to wonder who Martha really is. But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover. In this thriller novel by Lisa Unger, a couple learns that the apartment they’ve just inherited holds a chilling past.
Angel Fire (Lydia Strong #1) (2002)
The debut novel by Lisa Unger (published under Lisa Miscione), Angel Fire, opens with thirty-year-old Lydia Strong, who is a bestselling crime author and an investigative journalist whose intuitions never lie. The latest case to capture her attention is the disappearance of three adults, each the sort of loner whose sudden absence isn’t missed. The Santa Fe Police don’t see a pattern. But when another woman turns up missing, her apartment streaked with blood, even the police need to admit something is seriously wrong.
Lydia and P.I. Jeffrey Mark, the ex-FBI agent who solved Lydia’s mother’s murder, begin a relentless investigation. But it is only when the killer ups the ante and goes after Lydia herself that, just like fifteen years ago when she put the FBI on the trail of her mother’s killer, that the real hunt begins…
Lydia Strong Books In Order:
- Angel Fire (2002) – Lydia Strong #1
- The Darkness Gathers (2003) – Lydia Strong #2
- Twice (2004) – Lydia Strong #3
- Smoke (2005) – Lydia Strong #4
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six (2022)
Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway. An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, spectacular views, a hot tub, and a personal chef. Hannah’s generous brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It’ll be three couples on this trip with good food, good company, and lots of R&R. But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare.
A deadly storm is brewing. The chef reveals the house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated pasts, with secrets that run blood deep. How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them in this claustrophobic locked-room thriller by Lisa Unger.
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Last Girl Ghosted (2021)
She met him through a dating app. An intriguing picture on a screen, a date at a downtown bar. What she thought might be a quick hookup became much more. She fell for him – hard. It happens sometimes, a powerful connection with a perfect stranger takes you by surprise. But then, just as things were getting real, he stood her up. Then he disappeared – profiles deleted, phone disconnected. She was ghosted.
Maybe it was her fault. Perhaps she shared too much, too fast. But isn’t that always what women think – that they’re the ones to blame? Soon, she learns there were others. Girls who thought they were in love. Girls who later went missing. She had been looking for a connection, but now she’s looking for answers. Chasing a digital trail into his dark past – and hers – she finds herself on a dangerous hunt. And she isn’t sure whether she’s the predator or the prey.
Fragile (The Hollows #1) (2010)
Everybody knows everybody in The Hollows, a quaint, charming town outside of New York City. As a child, Maggie found living under the microscope of small-town life stifling. But as a wife and mother, she has happily returned to The Hollow’s insular embrace. As a psychologist, her knowledge of family histories provides powerful insights into her patients’ lives. So when the girlfriend of her teenage son, Rick, disappears, Maggie’s intuitive gift proves useful to the case.
The investigation has her husband, Jones, the lead detective on the case, acting strangely. Rick, already a brooding teenager, becomes even more withdrawn. In a town where the past is always present, nobody is above suspicion. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie follows her own leads into Charlene’s disappearance and exposes a long-buried town secret – one that could destroy everything she holds dear.
The Hollows Books In Order:
- Fragile (2010) – The Hollows #1
- Darkness, My Old Friend (2011) – The Hollows #2
- In The Blood (2014) – The Hollows #3
- Crazy Love You (2015) – The Hollows #4
- The Whispering Hollows (2016) – The Hollows #4.5
- Ink and Bone (2016) – The Hollows #5
The New Couple In 5B (2024)
Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet when they receive life-changing news: Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its prewar elegance and impeccably uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade.
At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t be more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie begins to suspect there’s more to Windermere than meets the eye. When one of the neighbours winds up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its spell.
All My Darkest Impulses (House Of Crows #1) (2021)
For disgraced professor Matthew Merle, the inheritance of his grandfather’s crumbling mansion is both a burden and an offer of safe haven. His childhood friend Claire, a psychiatrist, desperately needs a haven of her own after one of her patients unleashes his dark side. At turning points in their lives, it’s inevitable that they should return to the past. And to Merle House. It’s been waiting for them.
All My Darkest Impulses is the first entry in the House of Crows series, a four-part serial about friends with a shared history of darkness. They’ve spent their lives running, but they can no longer hide from the past. Each of these gripping Lisa Unger stories can be read or listened to in a single haunted sitting.
House Of Crows Books In Order:
- All My Darkest Impulses (2021) – House of Crows #1
- Fog Descending (2021) – House of Crows #2
- Circling the Drain (2021) – House of Crows #3
- Love the Way You Lie (2021) – House of Crows #4
Close Your Eyes And Count To Ten (2025)
Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites you to the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. But as the players gather on Falcao Island, the event soon spirals into a chilling test of survival. A storm rages as a deadly threat stalks the contestants, turning the challenge into something far more sinister than the social media stunt it was meant to be.
Enter Adele, a single mother with a fierce determination to protect her children, no matter what. When she begins the game, she unwittingly enters a twisted web of deception and intrigue. Can she manoeuvre through the treacherous storm and the relentless competition to return home? In a ruthless battle for survival in this new Lisa Unger novel, the blurry line between the virtual and the real proves that the only person we can trust is ourselves.
The Stranger Inside (2019)
When former journalist Rain Winter was twelve years old, she narrowly escaped an abduction while walking to a friend’s house. The abductor was eventually found and sent to prison, but years later was released. Then someone delivered real justice – and killed him in cold blood.
Now Rain is living the perfect suburban life, spending her days as a stay-at-home mother. But when another criminal who escaped justice is found dead, Rain is unexpectedly drawn into the case, forced to revisit memories she’s worked to leave suppressed. Is there a vigilante at work? Introducing one of the most compelling killers in crime fiction, Lisa Unger takes readers deep inside the minds of both criminal and victim to explore how even good people are drawn to do evil things.
The Kill Clause (2025)
Another one of the best new Lisa Unger books, 2025’s The Kill Clause, opens as Paige slips into a palatial house, ignoring a blizzard of texts from her ex-husband. No surprise – Julian always gets maudlin this time of year. The real shock comes when her target is not alone. His young daughter is there too.
Risking the wrath of her organisation, Paige retreats. There are some lines that even a hit woman won’t cross. But when she returns on Christmas Eve to finish the job, the girl is still there, along with something even more startling. As the ghosts of her past gather – to help or haunt, it’s unclear – Paige must confront old traumas and outwit her superiors to make it to Christmas morning alive.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
