“We’re always one breath away from something, living or dying, sometimes it just can’t be helped.”
If you’re a fan of emotional suspense, gripping mysteries, and strong female leads, then Heather Gudenkauf may just be the author for you. Known for her bestselling thrillers like The Overnight Guest and Not a Sound, Gudenkauf has established a devout following of readers who love atmospheric stories filled with unexpected twists. Whether you’re a newcomer to her work or looking to dive deeper into her backlist, this list of the best Heather Gudenkauf books will help you decide which novel to pick up next. So, join us here at What We Reading as we rank Heather Gudenkauf’s most compelling novels. From chilling small-town secrets to intense emotional dramas, these books showcase the themes and storytelling that have helped make Gudenkauf a household name in the genre.
Not A Sound (2017)
Kicking off our list of the best Heather Gudenkauf books is 2017’s Not a Sound. When a tragic accident leaves nurse Amelia Winn deaf, she spirals into a depression that ultimately leads to her losing everything that matters – her job, her husband David, and her stepdaughter, Nora. Now, two years on and with the help of her hearing dog, Stitch, she is finally getting back on her feet.
But when she happens upon the body of a fellow nurse in the dense bush by the river, deep in the woods near her cabin, she is hauled into a disturbing mystery that could shatter the carefully reconstructed pieces of her life all over again. As clues begin to surface, Amelia finds herself swept up in an investigation that strikes all too close to home. But, how much is she prepared to risk to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice?
The Weight Of Silence (2008)
It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn’s shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families wake up to find their little girls have disappeared in the night. Calli’s mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could from within the confines of a marriage to a largely absent, often angry husband. Now she fears her decision to stay in that marriage has cost her more than her daughter’s voice.
Desperate to find his daughter, Petra, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he didn’t know existed beneath his professional, intellectual demeanour. Now these families are tied to the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets. The Weight of Silence is Heather Gudenkauf’s debut novel and is a beautifully told tale about family devotion, honesty, and regret that lingers long after the final page.
These Things Hidden (2011)
When teenager Allison Glenn is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls’ golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child, and her former friends rejoice over her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces whispered rumours every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. All she wants to do is forget about Allison, what happened that night, and the burden of the past that continues to haunt her.
But then Allison is released to a halfway house, and is more determined than ever to speak with her estranged sister. Their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And, if the truth is ever revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him, and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.
The Overnight Guest (2022)
Undoubtedly one of the most gripping Heather Gudenkauf books, The Overnight Guest follows true crime writer Wylie Lark, who is snowed-in at the isolated farmhouse where she has retreated to write her new book. A cosy fire, total silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that, decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl vanished without a trace.
As the storm outside worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the home, haunted by the secrets still contained within its walls as well as her own. Then, she discovers a small child in the snow outside. After bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to look for answers. But, soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she first assumed, and someone is prepared to do anything to find them.
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Before She Was Found (2019)
For twelve-year-old Cora Landry and her friends Violet and Jordyn, it was meant to be an ordinary sleepover – movies and Ouija and talking about boys. But when they decide to sneak and go to the abandoned rail yard on the outskirts of town, they are unaware that their innocent games will have dangerous consequences. Later that evening, Cora is discovered on the tracks covered in blood, and clinging to life. Her friends are nowhere to be found.
Soon, their small town is thrown into a frenzy. Who would want to hurt a young girl like Cora – and why? In an investigation that leaves no stone unturned, everyone is a suspect, even those closest to Cora. Another one of the best Heather Gudenkauf books, Before She Was Found, is a suspenseful and gripping tale about friendship and betrayal, about the power of social pressure and the price of needing to fit in.
One Breath Away (2012)
In one of her most emotionally-charged novels to date, Heather Gudenkauf explores how unspoken events shape a community in One Breath Away. In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school classroom. Outside, the town of Broken Branch watches on and waits.
As tension mounts with every passing minute, the hidden fears and grudges of this small town and its inhabitants are revealed as the people of Broken Branch race to uncover the identity of the stranger who holds their children hostage.
Everyone Is Watching (2024)
One of the best suspense thriller novels from 2024, Everyone Is Watching follows five contestants who have been selected to compete for ten million dollars on the game show, One Lucky Winner. The catch? None of them knows what (or who) to expect, and it will all be live-streamed across the world. Completely secluded in an estate in Northern California, with strict instructions not to leave the property and have zero contact with the world outside, the competitors soon start to feel a little too isolated.
When long-kept secrets begin to boil to the surface, each of the contestants realises that this is no longer just a reality show – someone is out for blood. And the game can’t end until the world knows precisely who these competitors truly are. Tense and claustrophobic, Everyone Is Watching is one of the best Heather Gudenkauf novels for anyone who loves the classic locked-room thriller formula.
Little Mercies (2014)
Veteran social worker Ellen Moore has seen the worst shades of humanity, the vilest acts one person is capable of committing against another. She is a fiercely devoted children’s advocate and a doting mother and wife. But, one blisteringly hot summer day, a simple moment of distraction will have repercussions that Ellen could never have imagined, threatening to upend everything that she holds dear and trapping her between the gears of the system she works for.
Elsewhere, ten-year-old Jenny Briard has been living with her well-intentioned but irresponsible father since her mother left them. When Jenny suddenly finds herself on her own, she is forced to survive with nothing but a couple of dollars and her street smarts. The last thing she wants is a social worker. But when Ellen and Jenny’s lives collide, little do they know just how much they can help one another. Poignant, profound and emotional, Little Mercies is one of the best Heather Gudenkauf books if you’re looking for less thriller, more literary fiction.
This Is How I Lied (2020)
Twenty-five years ago, the body of sixteen-year-old Eve Knox was discovered in the caves near her home in the small town of Grotto, Iowa. It was found by her best friend, Maggie, and her sister, Nola. There were a handful of suspects, including her boyfriend, Nick; yet, without sufficient evidence, the case ultimately went cold.
For decades, Maggie was haunted by Eve’s death and that horrible night. Now a detective in Grotto and seven months pregnant, she is thrust back into the past when a new piece of evidence surfaces and the case is reopened. As Maggie investigates and reexamines the clues and secrets about what truly happened all those years ago are brought to light. But someone in town knows more than they’re letting on, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the truth buried deep.
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).
