Books like 'Drowning Instinct'
Readers who enjoyed Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance suspense forbidden love mystery tortured heroine high-school
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Lie To Her by Melinda Leigh
Lies from the heart lead to a dangerously intimate case for Sheriff Bree Taggert in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of revenge and fatal deceptions. When a digital marketer is found murdered in his backyard—hands bound and face smothered by plastic wrap—Sheriff Bree Taggert and criminal investigator Matt Flynn respond to the call...Categorized as:
suspense mystery contemporary heroine sleuth dark behind-doors length-medium audiobook -
![Can't Go Back by Debra Webb]()
Can't Go Back by Debra Webb
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsThe past and the present collide in the final installment of USA Today bestselling author Debra Webb’s Devlin & Falco series, threatening everything these two detectives care about. Birmingham detectives Kerri Devlin and Luke Falco arrive at the scene of a double homicide to discover that nothing makes sense... -
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![Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine]()
Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThey’re hunting a killer so silent, so invisible, that his unspeakable crimes are the only proof he exists. A car submerged in a remote pond. The bodies of two girls strapped into their seats. The mystery of their mother, vanished without a trace, leads Gwen Proctor and Kezia Claremont into dangerous territory... -
![Extreme Risk by Jane Blythe]()
Extreme Risk by Jane Blythe
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsCan she accept an offer of help from a patient she’s attracted to? Dr. Piper Hamilton is used to keeping on the fringes. She knows what it's like to be responsible for the death of someone you love and she'd do anything to protect herself from feeling that pain again... -
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![Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose]()
Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsDeadly secrets lie beneath the murky waters of the Louisiana bayou in this pulse-pounding new romantic suspense novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Rose. There's no safe place for a child to hide when danger comes from every direction. Public prosecutor J. P... -
![The Dark Bones by Loreth Anne White]()
The Dark Bones by Loreth Anne White
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsShe’s come back to solve the mystery of her father’s death and confront her own dark past. When Detective Rebecca North left her rural hometown, she vowed never to return. Her father’s apparent suicide has changed that. The official report is that retired cop Noah North shot himself, knocked over a lantern, and set his isolated cabin ablaze. But Rebecca cannot believe he killed himself...Categorized as:
mystery suspense heroine sleuth contemporary dark independent heroine length-long audiobook -
![Killman Creek by Rachel Caine]()
Killman Creek by Rachel Caine
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 63 ratingsEvery time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away. Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…. You’re not safe anywhere now... -
![The Good Lie by A.R. Torre]()
The Good Lie by A.R. Torre
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 59 ratingsSix teens murdered. A suspect behind bars. A desperate father. In a case this shadowy, the truth is easy to hide. Six teenagers dead. Finally, the killer behind bars. But are the games just beginning? Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore is an expert on killers... -
![Kade's Turn by Tiffany Snow]()
Kade's Turn by Tiffany Snow
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsIt only takes a second, a fraction of a second, to forever change your life. That moment happened to me years ago. I did something you can’t take back, and I’d do it again. It’s a secret I’ll take to my grave—which is probably sooner rather than later—and that’s okay. I live with my choices... -
![Inferno: Part 4 by T.K. Leigh]()
Inferno: Part 4 by T.K. Leigh
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsHe found me in the dark when I thought all hope was lost. He swore he loved me when I didn’t think anyone ever would. He vowed to keep the shadows haunting me at bay when I felt like I was drowning in my past. But in doing so, he also kept the truth from me. It shouldn’t surprise me...Categorized as:
suspense mystery forbidden love dark alpha male age difference contemporary dual-pov -
![Mafia Don's Secret Twins by Vivy Skys]()
Mafia Don's Secret Twins by Vivy Skys
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDino and Marisol's story. She's the ultimate prize—I'd risk my life just thinking about this mafia princess, let alone claiming her innocence. We had one night. Then she vanished. I found her. I thought that Marisol, my dream girl, was lost. After I woke up and never saw her again, it seemed like something that was a complete non-starter. She wasn’t with me. I didn’t know her last name... -
![The Demon by Stella Andrews]()
The Demon by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThey call me The Demon for a reason and Eliza Ortega is about to find out why. A runaway mafia princess who stumbled from one nightmare to an even bigger one. She has something I want and I intend on collecting. I will stop at nothing to deliver my promise and if there are casualties I will consider it a good day at the office. My hobby is testing limits... -
![Six Degrees of Separation by Taylor V. Donovan]()
Six Degrees of Separation by Taylor V. Donovan
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 20 ratings*WARNING FROM THE AUTHOR:. By Degrees is an ensemble serial with continuing story lines. Six Degrees of Separation is the second installment, and it must be read after Six Degrees of Lust. Thanks. In the sequel to Six Degrees of Lust, F. B. I. team leader Samuel Shaughnessy and bar manager Machlan O’Bannon are exploring a new phase in their non-relationship...Categorized as:
suspense mystery contemporary men in uniform dark alpha male length-medium cliffhanger -
![The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith]()
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 48 ratingsThe latest installment in the highly acclaimed, internationally bestselling Strike series finds Cormoran and Robin ensnared in another winding, wicked case. When frantic, dishevelled Edie Ledwell appears in the office begging to speak to her, private detective Robin Ellacott doesn't know quite what to make of the situation... -
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![A Dark Mind by T.R. Ragan]()
A Dark Mind by T.R. Ragan
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsA serial killer is terrorizing Sacramento, preying on happily married couples and unleashing unspeakable cruelties upon his victims. The ordeal rekindles disturbing memories for private investigator Lizzy Gardner, who barely escaped a serial killer clutches only years ago... -
![Layered Lies by Kaylie Hunter]()
Layered Lies by Kaylie Hunter
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTwo years after her son was abducted, Kelsey Harrison rebuilds a new life for herself. She opens a store, makes new friends, and settles into a peaceful existence. At least, that’s what she hopes the world believes. Behind closed doors, Kelsey hunts her enemies, living a life of lies. She hasn’t forgotten, hasn’t forgiven. She searches for answers still... -
![I'm Watching You by Karen Rose]()
I'm Watching You by Karen Rose
I Know Their Crimes. Star prosecutor Kristen Mayhew has a dangerous secret admirer. He seems to know her every thought, her every move. He sends her letters. And he kills the criminals she herself is powerless to stop. I Hunt Down the Guilty... -
![Dirty Ledger by Alta Hensley, Livia Grant]()
Dirty Ledger by Alta Hensley, Livia Grant
I’ve always chased after the bad boy. I just wasn’t prepared to actually catch one. He crashed into my life in my hour of need with his dark agendas, whispers, and lies. Dirty and dangerous, he’s the keeper of the worst kind of secrets, and now he owns mine. I’ve been thrust into the middle of a war I know nothing about, and he’s my only lifeline to safety... -
![Watch Her Bend by Emily Klepp, Jade Katzchen]()
Watch Her Bend by Emily Klepp, Jade Katzchen
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFor two long years, we kept our distance while also sitting on the same couch during my sessions. I kept my secrets tucked far away from my psychiatrist because revealing one thing would lead to the unveiling of my traumatic past. When I am forced to set aside my desire to weather this storm alone, Dr. Daxton Cooper is the one to catch me before I sink... -
![Texas Bodyguard: Chance by Janie Crouch]()
Texas Bodyguard: Chance by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe has secrets she prefers to keep hidden. Too bad he’s so good at getting to the truth. When a violent attack puts Maci Ford in the hospital, security expert Chance Patterson learns that she’s carrying his baby. Even though she ended their relationship, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to protect her and their child... -
![Last Resort by Janie Crouch]()
Last Resort by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA TODAY Bestselling Author Janie Crouch. Previously published as Texas Chance. She has secrets she prefers to keep hidden. Too bad he’s so good at getting to the truth. When a violent attack puts Maci Ford in the hospital, security expert Chance Patterson learns that she’s carrying his baby... -
![Angels and Ashes by Avelyn Paige, Alfie Gordillo]()
Angels and Ashes by Avelyn Paige, Alfie Gordillo
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsHe’s the scorned President of the Heaven’s Rejects. She’s the widow of his best friend and former Vice-President. He shouldn’t want her, but he’ll move heaven and earth to have her. Left alone as a new widow to raise her family, Darcy Kyle’s life has spiraled out of control... -
![Worth of Waste by Bethany-Kris]()
Worth of Waste by Bethany-Kris
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsDeLuca Duet, Part Two. The Chicago Mob is the same as it has always been—violent, greedy, and excessive. The Outfit families have turned their backs when they were needed the most one too many times, but Dino DeLuca didn’t expect anything different. His whole life has been lived for the Outfit—for his family. He has a whole new set of reasons to live and fight now... -
![The Last Party by A.R. Torre]()
The Last Party by A.R. Torre
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsA loving mother. A notorious murderer. They both have reasons to hide their secrets in a novel of escalating shock and suspense by New York Times bestselling author A. R. Torre. Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection... -
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![The Fearless One by Lori Foster]()
The Fearless One by Lori Foster
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 11 ratings“Count on Lori Foster for sexy, edgy romance. ” —Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling authorHe had it all planned…until she showed up. Jedidiah Stephens came to the Colorado Rockies for one to uncover the truth behind the fire that killed her family. She’s been chasing down clues, and everything has led her to an isolated campground...Categorized as:
suspense mystery forbidden love contemporary dual-pov dark boss & employee small town -
![Tangled up in Hate by Charlotte Byrd]()
Tangled up in Hate by Charlotte Byrd
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsEpic love requires an epic sacrifice…. A long time ago, I borrowed money from a very powerful family. I paid my debt, but they have come for more. They want everything that I have built and they will hurt her if I refuse. Harley doesn’t understand why I have to break her heart. She hates me, but at least she’s okay…for now... -
![Tease Me: A Stark International Novel by J. Kenner]()
Tease Me: A Stark International Novel by J. Kenner
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsFrom New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Kenner comes a new story in her Stark International series…. Entertainment reporter Jamie Archer knew it would be hard when her husband, Stark Security Chief Ryan Hunter, was called away for a long-term project in London. The distance is difficult to endure, but Jamie trusts the deep and passionate love that has always burned between them... -
![Wishing Well by Lily White]()
Wishing Well by Lily White
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe perfect timing of a fairy tale is tied to its tragedy…. Journalist, Meadow Graham, is invited to interview death row inmate, Vincent Mercier. Given three days to hear his sordid confession, Meadow seeks to learn why a wealthy hotel owner killed four people, including her twin sister... -
![The Interrogation (Hunt&Cam4Ever) by Adira August]()
The Interrogation (Hunt&Cam4Ever) by Adira August
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHunter’s most twisted killer. Cam’s most dangerous case. A STAND-ALONE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. If you like a master gamesman for a detective and a few twists in your criminal cocktail, you want to read this. -
![Guarded from Sabotage by Gia Cobie, Operation Alpha]()
Guarded from Sabotage by Gia Cobie, Operation Alpha
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI never imagined my life could fall apart so quickly. It all started when my credit card was stolen. I chalked it up to bad luck. A minor annoyance. Until more things started happening—fraudulent loans taken out in my name, my bank accounts drained, and I was even accused of a crime I couldn’t possibly have committed. And it became terrifyingly clear this wasn’t just bad luck... -
![Reaper by Rachel Leigh]()
Reaper by Rachel Leigh
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThey call me the reaper. Saying I have no soul. A heart that’s charred black. I tell them it’s true,. because it is. I’ve been hiding in the shadows. Stealing secrets, destroying the lives of those who deserve it. But there’s one story to be told before this book closes. My story. Don’t be fooled, it’s not a fairytale. I’m no prince. And I certainly don’t want a princess...Categorized as:
suspense high-school mystery new adult dark length-short contemporary first-person-pov -
![The Saint by Kimberly Kincaid]()
The Saint by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHis partner’s most trusted informant is his only hope…and his only weakness. When Detective Liam Hollister is assigned to an assault-turned-murder, he brings his signature three “C”s: control, calm, and composure. The “C” he wasn’t counting on? His partner’s informant, Carmen Desoto, who’s not only the key to unlocking his case... -
![Armor's Mistake by Elizabeth Knox]()
Armor's Mistake by Elizabeth Knox
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI crossed a line and I damn well knew it, but I wanted her, and I always get what I want. Armor. There are a few unspoken rules within the club. One of them is the fact we don’t go around screwing each other’s sisters and for a while it wasn’t an issue. That is, until Hammer came into the clubhouse. He was a regent from the Reapers Rejects MC up in Montana, and since Inc was there, he came here...Categorized as:
suspense forbidden love bikers multicultural dark contemporary bad boys length-novella -
![Duck's Salvation by Andi Rhodes]()
Duck's Salvation by Andi Rhodes
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDuck…. I finally have the life I want: an amazing fiancée, a baby on the way, Satan’s Legacy MC as my family. And then an accident, or my own stupidity, changes the course of my life forever. Unable to look at me, my fiancé removes herself from the picture, leaving me with a premature baby who requires more love and care than I know how to give... -
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![Gabby's Protector by Janie Crouch, Regan Black]()
Gabby's Protector by Janie Crouch, Regan Black
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter a heart-shattering tragedy, Tony Marino bottled up his emotions and gave more than twenty hard years to the SEAL teams. Now, he’s enjoying a later in life career in paradise in the Ellington Cove special security office. The best part? Working with their research expert, Gabby Ladd... -
![MARCUS: Sins of the Father by Nicole James]()
MARCUS: Sins of the Father by Nicole James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Nicole James, comes a. STEAMY, FORBIDDEN MC ROMANCE! The SECOND GENERATION has arrived! This is the first book in her spin-off from her bestselling Evil Dead MC series. Brandy--. When a bunch of bad-boy bikers walk through the door to the bar, one catches my eye. He's got a killer smile, and an air of wickedness about him that draws me in... -
![Trusting Skulls by L.M. Terry]()
Trusting Skulls by L.M. Terry
Lexie. I’ve been alone most of my life. I guess that’s why it started. The drinking … the men. They filled a lonely void, but lately the hit of dopamine they provide fizzles before it begins. I’m caught in a loop. It’s a repetitive cycle I can’t escape. No one noticed I’ve been drowning in it. Until Ash Taylor came to town. He extended his hand to me, but I’ve been reluctant to grab hold...Categorized as:
tortured heroine suspense dark contemporary new adult length-medium female-rake open-door -
![Wicked and Bare by Shayla Black]()
Wicked and Bare by Shayla Black
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJoin Matt and Madison for the conclusion of their Wicked Lovers: Soldiers For Hire love story. Coming July 18, 2023! **Wicked and Bare is part of the Wicked Lovers: Soldiers for Hire romantic suspense series. Stories in this series are told in a duet of two full-length novels. Each duet can be read as a standalone... -
![A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch]()
A Cry in the Dark by Jessica R. Patch
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDeep in the Kentucky hills, three women have been found brutalized and murdered. But the folks in Night Holler have their own ways and their own laws. And they’re not talking…. Led to an isolated Appalachian Mountain town by a trail of disturbing murders, FBI special agent Violet Rainwater’s determined to catch a serial killer with a twisted agenda... -
![False Hope by Meli Raine]()
False Hope by Meli Raine
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsShe thinks she’s fooled me. But I’ve known all along. Almost. Lily is hiding something, a secret so big, she came out of a year-long coma and her first instinct was to lie. Who does that? Someone who is afraid. No—not afraid. Terrified. And it’s my job to take that fear away. My partner and I have spent countless man-hours hunting down the cold-blooded killer who did this to her... -
![Angel of Mercy by Cara Malone]()
Angel of Mercy by Cara Malone
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“Angel of mercy. It was the stuff of legend, and nightmares. The caregiver who was supposed to heal and protect, who chose instead to kill. ”. In her very first case with the FCPD homicide division, Tate Macawi is investigating a death at one of Fox County’s most upscale nursing homes. With no evidence of foul play, it looks like the family is unduly suspicious…... -
![Wrath by Gwyn McNamee]()
Wrath by Gwyn McNamee
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAll I see is red. Blood. Pain. Rage. It consumes me. The moment he took her, wrath invaded my soul. I only have one purpose. End him and take back what’s mine. Love isn’t always clean, and wrath is the deadliest sin. -
![Two For The Show by Elizabeth Knight]()
Two For The Show by Elizabeth Knight
Hey, it’s your girl Von again. Remember when I said hunting down those two Accardi heirs would be a piece of cake? Well… I found one of them, only to realize he’s a guy I hit and quit two years ago. What's even worse is the fact I still remember him. I never remember my flings, I’m the girl who scratches the itch and moves on...Categorized as:
mystery suspense dark contemporary length-medium audiobook reverse harem explicit-open-door -
![Speak No Secrets by E.R. Whyte]()
Speak No Secrets by E.R. Whyte
They kissed four years ago, igniting a spark. Now that spark might lead to their destruction. First year high school teacher Shiloh Brookings is struggling to pay her brother’s medical bills. With students only a few years younger than she is, things are difficult enough, but when Gunner Ford enrolls in class, things go from unusual. .. to complicated...Categorized as:
suspense forbidden love mystery new adult explicit-open-door contemporary secret-relationship dark -
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![Tink by D.M. Earl]()
Tink by D.M. Earl
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWorking to rid the world of human traffickers has been Tink’s life’s calling. It’s very close to her heart and only those in her inner circle know the real reason why... -
![Pleasure & Prey: vol. 1 by A.J. Merlin]()
Pleasure & Prey: vol. 1 by A.J. Merlin
Depraved. There’s nothing out there. That’s what I keep telling myself while I walk back from a campfire to my isolated cabin. Brutal. Nothing bad happens at summer camp. That’s what my fellow camp counselors have convinced me of when the nights around the lake get a little eerie. ViciousOne, two, he’s coming for you. Three, four, better run some more...Categorized as:
suspense mystery dark horror forced proximity contemporary length-epic explicit-plentiful -
![Wicked Little Words by Stevie J. Cole]()
Wicked Little Words by Stevie J. Cole
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsEdwin Allen Mercer. I want them all to read my words. And they do. Every last blood-stained sentence, they've read and praised me for. They love the gore and violence, the realness. And I get a sense of power with it all because I know a secret: the victims in my books—they’re real and have all died on my table. And maybe that’s why the last book had such awful reviews... -
![Buried Deception by Amanda McKinney]()
Buried Deception by Amanda McKinney
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIn the pulse-racing first installment of the On the Edge series, a criminal psychologist teams up with a former marine on a deadly wildland mission. Not even their hearts can stay out of harm’s way. In the swamps of East Texas, alligators aren’t the only danger lurking in the shadows...Categorized as:
mystery tortured heroine suspense contemporary forced proximity dark military dual-pov -
![If You Know Her by Shiloh Walker]()
If You Know Her by Shiloh Walker
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsA SHADOW IN THE WINDOW. Nia Hollister doesn’t scare easily. She’s returned to Ash, Kentucky, with a vengeance—and with a mission: find the killer who brutally ended her cousin’s life. What she didn’t count on was trembling with desire every time she sees Law Reilly. If any man can help her escape the nightmares for a while, it’s him...Categorized as:
suspense mystery tortured heroine contemporary dark possessive hero small town length-long -
![Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan]()
Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsNewly divorced and with his career in jeopardy, Detective Connor Parks takes solace in the arms of a beautiful woman he meets at a bar. The next morning, Claire Fletcher is gone, leaving nothing behind but an address and a decade-old mystery...
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