Author Biography

Shari Lapena is the internationally bestselling author of the thrillers The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know, The End of Her, Not a Happy Family, Everyone Here Is Lying, and What Have You Done?, which have all been New York Times and The Sunday Times (London) bestsellers. Her books have been sold in forty territories around the world. She lives on a farm outside Toronto.

Review

Praise for The End of Her:

"Shari Lapena's latest thriller The End of Her will keep you guessing right up to the end . . . And so begins a nonstop page-turning that has become a hallmark of Lapena's work. . . Be sure to carve out enough time, because once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down."
—USA Today

"The fast pace will keep those fond of mischief and murder in suburbia turning the pages."
—Publishers Weekly

"A novel of domestic suspense with shifting POVs, The End of Her will have you questioning who to believe right up until the end."
—BuzzFeed

"The queen of the one-sit read."
—Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Elevator Pitch

"I read the cracking The End of Her in one sitting. All hail the Mistress of the Page Turner."
—Fiona Barton, New York Times bestselling author of The Suspect

"I absolutely adore Shari Lapena's compulsive thrillers and her new novel is her best yet. More twists than a roller coaster."
—John Boyne, New York Times bestselling author of My Brother's Name is Jessica

"I tore through it. It kept me on my toes throughout and the ending was just fantastic. Really tense!"
—Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange

"The End of Her is a slippery eel of a novel – just when you think you have it in your grasp, it slithers away on a new current. I consumed it in a day. . . . Unputdownable."
—Louise Candlish, bestselling author of Our House

"Shari Lapena is one of the best thriller writers in the business."
—Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen

"Gripping, compelling, thoroughly entertaining and devilishly clever." 
—Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Lying in Wait
 
"Another unputdownable suburban thriller with the finest love-to-hate characters and a wickedly paced mystery."
—Elizabeth Kay, author of Seven Lies

Praise for Someone We Know:

"Poised and chilling." 
—The Wall Street Journal

"Clever." 
—USA Today

"No-one does suburban paranoia like Shari Lapena—this slowly unfurling nightmare will have you biting your nails until the end."
—Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Turn of the Key

"Slyly plotted . . . Lapena skillfully maximizes suspense with her dual story lines that eventually collide, as well as some deft misdirection . . . Many fans of domestic suspense will be satisfied."
—Publishers Weekly

"Highly suspenseful . . . Sure to delight fans of Liane Moriarty and Louise Candlish."
—Booklist

"This book is non-stop twists and turns. Shari Lapena will leave your head spinning as you try and make sense of the lies surrounding the families in this neighborhood. And just when you think you've figured it out, you're probably wrong. Absolutely recommend!"
—Suspense Magazine

"Someone We Know is a tour de force of thriller writing. Shari Lapena proves yet again that she is the mistress of the pacy plot, cliff edge tension and menacing suburban claustrophobia. Fans will be delighted and if you haven't read her books yet, then why on earth not?" 
—Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny

Praise for An Unwanted Guest:

"A gripping mystery perfect for fans of Agatha Christie." 
—Good Housekeeping

"Proving that time periods may change but people do not, Lapena delivers a solid whodunit with an ending that would make Dame Christie proud." 
—USA Today

"Another nail-biter perfect for an all-nighter." 
—Entertainment Weekly

"A new thriller that will give you serious Agatha Christie vibes . . . if you're one of the many people who counts [And Then There Were None] among their favorite books, you will love An Unwanted Guest. . . . A deftly crafted and expertly paced thriller that will keep readers guessing (and terrified) until the very end." 
—Bustle

"This compelling and realistic modern take on the country-house mystery will gain new fans for the author and is definitely one to hand to devotees of Agatha Christie (and her modern interpreter, Sophie Hannah)."
—Booklist

"An intriguing cast, an isolated location, a raging storm and the threat of death in every dark corner: An Unwanted Guest reads like Agatha Christie with a shot of adrenalin. Clear your desk before you start it because you won't want to put it down." 
—Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Know You Know

"Lapena has written a great whodunit, with a delicious Christie-like vibe. Fans of the author's first novel will want this, and anyone who savors a well-crafted murder mystery will gobble it up!" 
—Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for A Stranger in the House:

"Lapena's A Stranger in the House will have you sleeping with the lights on for weeks." 
—Bustle

"Smart and suspenseful . . . You'll never see the ending coming." 
—PureWow

 "So much suspense. So many twists. Good luck sleeping tonight." 
—HelloGiggles

"So many dizzying twists you'd better not drive after reading!" 
—Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Parting Shot
 
"Smart, twisty and compulsive. Suspense and suspicion accumulate relentlessly, toying with your expectations and your emotions right up until the packs-a-punch ending. Don't miss it, and don't expect to be able to put it down." 
—Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Know You Know

"A diverting page-turner." 
—Publishers Weekly

"Great suspense and lots of twists."  
—The Toronto Star

"Lapena keeps the well-developed twists churning, with each a surprise notch in this ever-evolving plot, and she continues this skillful storytelling until the stunning twist at the end . . . Memorable."  
—Associated Press

Praise for The Couple Next Door:

"Meticulously crafted and razor-sharp. The Couple Next Door lingers long after you turn the final page." 
—Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fool Me Once

"The twists come as fast [as] you can turn the pages." 
—People

"Provocative and shocking. One crime, an entire neighborhood of suspects, secrets, and lies. How well do we ever know those around us? The Couple Next Door will keep you glued to the pages in search of the answer. Even then, you'll never guess the truth . . . until it's too late." 
—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Find Her

"I read this novel at one sitting, absolutely riveted by the story line. The suspense was beautifully rendered and unrelenting!" 
—Sue Grafton, New York Times bestselling author of Y is for Yesterday

"Real men read women writers—because of books like this. Trust me." 
—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Me

"A twisty, utterly riveting tale that will send readers on a wild roller-coaster ride of emotions. Shocking revelations kept me turning the pages like a madwoman." 
—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of Playing with Fire

"Expertly paced and finely crafted, The Couple Next Door is a gripping thriller of the highest order. I couldn't put it down." 
—A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Good Neighbor

"Gripped me from the very beginning to the very end!" 
—Becky Masterman, author of Rage Against the Dying

"Brilliant! This utterly riveting psychological thriller hurtles along at breakneck speed, never giving you the opportunity to catch your breath. Twisty, turny, and unputdownable." 
—C. L. Taylor, bestselling author of The Lie

"Exquisitely torturous tension." 
—NPR.org

"Where did that baby go! It's hard not to read to the end to find out, and the twists waiting there are gratifyingly clever."
—USA Today

"The many never-saw-them-coming twists and questionable characters . . . will keep you on the edge of your seat. First-time novelist Lapena's writing is spare and tense, and it makes The Couple Next Door a compulsive read. The last line is absolutely a killer." 
—Good Housekeeping

"[A] well-sculpted domestic thriller . . . highly suspenseful . . . Twists are subtly revealed with aplomb, taking the story to increasingly unpredictable levels." 
—Associated Press

Review Quote

Praise for The End of Her: "Shari Lapena''s latest thriller The End of Her will keep you guessing right up to the end . . . And so begins a nonstop page-turning that has become a hallmark of Lapena''s work. . . Be sure to carve out enough time, because once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down." --USA Today "The fast pace will keep those fond of mischief and murder in suburbia turning the pages." --Publishers Weekly "A novel of domestic suspense with shifting POVs, The End of Her will have you questioning who to believe right up until the end." --Buzzfeed "The queen of the one-sit read." -- Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Elevator Pitch "I read the cracking The End of Her in one sitting. All hail the Mistress of the Page Turner." -- Fiona Barton, New York Times bestselling author of The Suspect "I absolutely adore Shari Lapena''s compulsive thrillers and her new novel is her best yet. More twists than a roller coaster." -- John Boyne, New York Times bestselling author of My Brother''s Name is Jessica "I tore through it. It kept me on my toes throughout and the ending was just fantastic. Really tense!" -- Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange "The End of Her is a slippery eel of a novel - just when you think you have it in your grasp, it slithers away on a new current. I consumed it in a day. . . . Unputdownable." -- Louise Candlish, bestselling author of Our House "Shari Lapena is one of the best thriller writers in the business." -- Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen "Gripping, compelling, thoroughly entertaining and devilishly clever." -- Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Lying in Wait "Another unputdownable suburban thriller with the finest love-to-hate characters and a wickedly paced mystery." -- Elizabeth Kay, author of Seven Lies Praise for Someone We Know: "Poised and chilling." --Wall Street Journal "Clever." --USA Today "No-one does suburban paranoia like Shari Lapena--this slowly unfurling nightmare will have you biting your nails until the end." --Ruth Ware, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Turn of the Key "Slyly plotted . . . Lapena skillfully maximizes suspense with her dual story lines that eventually collide, as well as some deft misdirection . . . many fans of domestic suspense will be satisfied." --Publishers Weekly "Highly suspenseful . . . Sure to delight fans of Liane Moriarty and Louise Candlish." --Booklist "This book is non-stop twists and turns. Shari Lapena will leave your head spinning as you try and make sense of the lies surrounding the families in this neighborhood. And just when you think you''ve figured it out, you''re probably wrong. Absolutely recommend!" --Suspense Magazine "Someone We Know is a tour de force of thriller writing. Shari Lapena proves yet again that she is the mistress of the pacy plot, cliff edge tension and menacing suburban claustrophobia. Fans will be delighted and if you haven''t read her books yet, then why on earth not?" --Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny Praise for An Unwanted Guest: "A gripping mystery perfect for fans of Agatha Christie." --Good Housekeeping "Proving that time periods may change but people do not, Lapena delivers a solid whodunit with an ending that would make Dame Christie proud." --USA Today "Another nail-biter perfect for an all-nighter." --Entertainment Weekly "A new thriller that will give you serious Agatha Christie vibes . . . if you''re one of the many people who counts [ And Then There Were None ] among their favorite books, you will love An Unwanted Guest . . . . A deftly crafted and expertly paced thriller that will keep readers guessing (and terrified) until the very end." --Bustle "This compelling and realistic modern take on the country-house mystery will gain new fans for the author and is definitely one to hand to devotees of Agatha Christie (and her modern interpreter, Sophie Hannah)." --Booklist "An intriguing cast, an isolated location, a raging storm and the threat of death in every dark corner: An Unwanted Guest reads like Agatha Christie with a shot of adrenalin. Clear your desk before you start it because you won''t want to put it down." --Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Know You Know "Lapena has written a great whodunit, with a delicious Christie-like vibe. Fans of the author''s first novel will want this, and anyone who savors a well-crafted murder mystery will gobble it up!" --Library Journal (starred review) Praise for A Stranger in the House: "Lapena''s A Stranger in the House will have you sleeping with the lights on for weeks." --Bustle "Smart and suspenseful . . . you''ll never see the ending coming." --PureWow "So much suspense. So many twists. Good luck sleeping tonight." --HelloGiggles "So many dizzying twists you''d better not drive after reading!" --Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author of Parting Shot "Smart, twisty and compulsive. Suspense and suspicion accumulate relentlessly, toying with your expectations and your emotions right up until the packs-a-punch ending. Don''t miss it, and don''t expect to be able to put it down." --Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Know You Know "A diverting page-turner." --Publishers Weekly "Great suspense and lots of twists." --The Toronto Star "Lapena keeps the well-developed twists churning, with each a surprise notch in this ever-evolving plot, and she continues this skillful storytelling until the stunning twist at the end . . . memorable." --Associated Press Praise for The Couple Next Door: "Meticulously crafted and razor sharp. The Couple Next Door lingers long after you turn the final page." --Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fool Me Once "The twists come as fast [as] you can turn the pages." --People "Provocative and shocking. One crime, an entire neighborhood of suspects, secrets, and lies. How well do we ever know those around us? The Couple Next Door will keep you glued to the pages in search of the answer. Even then, you''ll never guess the truth . . . until it''s too late." --Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Find Her "I read this novel at one sitting, absolutely riveted by the story line. The suspense was beautifully rendered and unrelenting!" --Sue Grafton, New York Times bestselling author of Y is for Yesterday "Real men read women writers--because of books like this. Trust me." --Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Make Me "A twisty, utterly riveting tale that will send readers on a wild roller-coaster ride of emotions. Shocking revelations kept me turning the pages like a madwoman." --Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of Playing with Fire "Expertly paced and finely crafted, The Couple Next Door is a gripping thriller of the highest order. I couldn''t put it down." --A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Good Neighbor "Gripped me from the very beginning to the very end!" --Becky Masterman, author of Rage Against the Dying "Brilliant! This utterly riveting psychological thriller hurtles along at breakneck speed, never giving you the opportunity to catch your breath. Twisty, turny, and unputdownable." --C. L. Taylor, bestselling author of The Lie "Exquisitely torturous tension." --NPR.org "Where did that baby go! It''s hard not to read to the end to find out, and the twists waiting there are gratifyingly clever." --USA Today "The many never-saw-them-coming twists and questionable characters . . . will keep you on the edge of your seat. First-time novelist Lapena''s writing is spare and tense, and it makes The Couple Next Door a compulsive r

Excerpt from Book

August 2018 Aylesford, New York Hanna Bright puts little Teddy in his baby swing on the front porch and sits down to read her novel. It''s going to get hot later, but in the morning it''s nice here on the porch, out of the sun. She notices two cars parked at the house across the street and a couple of doors down. The house is for sale; someone must be looking to buy. She soon becomes engrossed in her novel, but looks up a little while later when she senses movement across the street. A heavy-set man in a suit whom Hanna recognizes as the real estate agent is in the driveway talking to a woman. Hanna watches them, idly wondering if she is a serious buyer. The house hasn''t been on the market for long, and this is a desirable neighborhood; she imagines it will sell fairly quickly. She hopes it goes to a young family-she wants lots of friends for Teddy, who''s six months old. There''s a pair of four-month-old twins with a really nice mom-Stephanie-directly across the street whom Hanna''s become friends with. This woman looks to be alone-no husband or kids in tow. With a final handshake, the woman turns away from the agent and heads for her parked car. As she reaches the street, she looks over at Hanna on her porch and stops. Then, to Hanna''s surprise, she crosses the street and walks toward her house. What does she want? Hanna wonders. "Hi there," the woman calls out in a friendly voice. Hanna can see that she''s probably in her early thirties and is certainly attractive. She has shoulder-length blond hair, a good figure, and enviable posture. After a quick glance to check that Teddy is content, Hanna stands up and walks down her porch steps. "Hi, can I help you?" she asks politely. "I was just looking at the house across the street," the other woman says, making her way up the drive. Hanna walks over to meet her, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. "Do you mind if I ask you a bit about the neighborhood?" the woman asks. So, she''s a serious buyer then, Hanna thinks, a bit disappointed. "Sure," she says. "My husband and I are interested in this area-is it a good place to raise children, do you think?" She nods toward the baby swing on the porch and smiles. "I see you''ve got a baby." Hanna warms to her then and describes the neighborhood with enthusiasm. Maybe the woman is already pregnant, but not showing yet. At the end of their chat, the woman thanks her and walks back to her car. Hanna realizes she didn''t get her name. Oh well. Plenty of time for that if she does buy the house. Something niggles at the back of her mind, but she doesn''t know what. Teddy starts to cry then, and as she lifts the baby out of the swing, she realizes what it is. The woman hadn''t been wearing a wedding ring. No matter-lots of people have families without getting married these days, although she''d mentioned a husband. But who looks at a house without her spouse? Stephanie Kilgour has put the twins down in their cribs upstairs for their morning nap. Now she sits down on the living-room sofa for a moment and leans back and closes her eyes. She

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