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... -
![Little Girl Vanished by Denise Grover Swank]()
Little Girl Vanished by Denise Grover Swank
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsDisgraced, ex-detective Harper Adams is perfectly content wallowing at rock bottom. She’s lost her job, house, and reputation, and it only gets worse when she’s forced to move back home to Jackson Creek, Arkansas, the one place she swore she’d never return. But everything changes when she gets chilling news... -
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![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... -
![Killman Creek by Rachel Caine]()
Killman Creek by Rachel Caine
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 61 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: 4.26 of 5 stars · 49 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... -
![Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose]()
Beneath Dark Waters by Karen Rose
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 23 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 -
![Unbreakable by Cari Hunter]()
Unbreakable by Cari Hunter
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDr. Grace Kendal never stands a chance. The injured woman comes out of nowhere, bleeding heavily and holding a gun. Compelled to help her, Grace is dragged into Elin Breckenridge’s nightmare. Their fight to survive will take them across the country and to the limits of their endurance... -
![Bed of Roses by D.V. Fischer]()
Bed of Roses by D.V. Fischer
I never thought I'd fall for a murderer. As an old employee at a funeral home, Tegan's life had been full of corpses. When her parents died, she couldn't take being surrounded by death anymore. She had to get away, and to do that, she moved to a small, sleepy town in Utah. When Tegan rented a house sight-unseen, she had been told it would need a lot of work... -
![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... -
![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... -
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![Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter]()
Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 65 ratingsA small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally mutilated in the local diner. But it's only when town pediatrician and coroner Sara Linton does the autopsy that the full extent of the killer's twisted work becomes clear...Categorized as:
suspense mystery contemporary heroine sleuth dark tall-heroine length-long audiobook -
![Tainted Kitten by Sarah J.D., Sarah Jane Duncan]()
Tainted Kitten by Sarah J.D., Sarah Jane Duncan
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI am Kitten. Feel my Claws!The insatiable cravings that control my life have well and truly thrown me into a clusterfuck of epic proportions! Why didn’t I see this coming? Why didn’t I just walk away when I had the chance?I’ve put myself in less than ideal situations before, but never could I imagine this!Having the choice taken from me.Having my pleas ignored...Categorized as:
high-school suspense mystery reverse harem dark contemporary age difference grumpy sunshine -
![Murder Girl by Lisa Renee Jones]()
Murder Girl by Lisa Renee Jones
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones returns with the second book in her electrifying series featuring Lilah Love, an FBI profiler who doesn’t fight her dark side—she embraces it. It’s Lilah Love’s job to inhabit a killer’s mind. The unapologetically tough FBI profiler is very comfortable there. But her latest case is making her head spin...Categorized as:
mystery suspense heroine sleuth strong heroine dark contemporary length-medium audiobook -
![Never Look Back by Mary Burton]()
Never Look Back by Mary Burton
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsExpect the unexpected in this gritty, tense, and page-turning mystery from New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton.After multiple women go missing, Agent Melina Shepard of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation makes the impulsive decision to go undercover as a prostitute... -
![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... -
![The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith]()
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 46 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... -
![Layered Lies by Kaylie Hunter]()
Layered Lies by Kaylie Hunter
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 13 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... -
![Hear No Evil by Ivy Fox]()
Hear No Evil by Ivy Fox
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsEvil cannot take hold of an unconsenting soul.Do not be amazed that hell is empty, since all the devils live here.One by one, they will meet their hellish fate.One down…Three to go.EastonA tyrannous society has discovered our most atrocious secret and decided to wage war on us.They’ve had their fun with Finn, and now it’s my turn to be their little puppet...Categorized as:
suspense mystery new adult dark from hate to love college contemporary length-medium -
![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... -
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![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... -
![Zeppo by Mirrah McGee]()
Zeppo by Mirrah McGee
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTrigger Please note this book contains some content which may be triggering to those sensitive to SA off page, verbal abuse, violence, and torture. You may contact the author for more information.RuthPaleontologist? Police Officer? Doctor? Not me. When asked in school what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always the same; Zeppo Kraus' wife and the mother of his children... -
![Opal by Freya Barker]()
Opal by Freya Barker
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGEM: A PRIVATELY-FUNDED ORGANIZATION OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY IN THE SEARCH FOR—AND THE RESCUE AND RECOVERY OF—MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH, AT TIMES WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, GEM AIMS TO ENSURE THE VICTIMS RECEIVE JUSTICE…BY WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY. ____GEM Operator Opal; multifaceted, versatile, a chameleon.She hides in plain sight, adapts, and infiltrates...Categorized as:
suspense mystery single-father dark mature couple forced proximity contemporary length-medium -
![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 ChanceShe 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... -
![Unfortunately Francine by Joan Vassar]()
Unfortunately Francine by Joan Vassar
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsGeorgia, 1995–A gentle push from her sister causes Francine Adams to agree to one date with the handsome, Jalal Dorsey. When his ex-girlfriend makes an appearance, a perfect evening takes a turn for the worse. Blinded by humiliation and desperate to put distance between herself and the drama, Francine flees the upscale eatery...Categorized as:
suspense forbidden love african-american dark contemporary black-mc length-medium audiobook -
![Insatiable Kitten by Sarah J.D., Sarah Jane Duncan]()
Insatiable Kitten by Sarah J.D., Sarah Jane Duncan
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsI am Kitten. Watch me play!They call me Kitten. I’m their plaything, and I love it. I thrive on it. I need it.Why?It’s like an itch I can’t quite scratch.A craving that doesn’t take away the hunger.A compulsion that I can’t control.It’s all-consuming in every way.I thought I’d come to terms with how my future looked. Meaningless sex. Lots and lots of meaningless sex...Categorized as:
high-school suspense mystery reverse harem dark contemporary age difference friends to lovers -
![Duty by Bethany-Kris]()
Duty by Bethany-Kris
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThey say heavy is the head that wears the crown … Andino Marcello’s world is turned upside down when he becomes the next heir apparent to the Marcello empire. He was comfortable in his place as a Capo, but comfort is for the weak in the world of mafioso. The boss’s seat is waiting... -
![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... -
![Naked Truth by Lisa Renee Jones]()
Naked Truth by Lisa Renee Jones
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsJax North. He's handsome, brutally so, and wealthy. Our first encounter is intense and sex is my escape. I go with it. I go with him and what a ride it is. And then, I say goodbye. Only you don't say goodbye to a man like Jax if he doesn't want you to. I've challenged him without meaning to. He wants me. I don't want to want him, and yet, I crave him. And he tears me down, my resistance, my walls...Categorized as:
mystery suspense contemporary dark super rich hero dual-pov from hate to love length-epic -
![The Last Party by A.R. Torre]()
The Last Party by A.R. Torre
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 32 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 Rogue by Kimberly Kincaid]()
The Rogue by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe scars that cut deepest are the ones beneath the surface…Detective Addison Hale is a survivor. The armor she uses to hide her scars keeps her safe on the job, and holding people at arm’s length is a small price to pay when there’s a stalker on the loose.Especially since he’s after the sister of impulsive firefighter Ryan Dempsey, who she had a scorching-hot fling with two months ago...Categorized as:
mystery suspense friends to lovers contemporary dark firefighter military length-medium -
![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 THRILLERIf 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. This was intentional... -
![The Chameleon by Amelia Shea]()
The Chameleon by Amelia Shea
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsTwo hundred fifty dollars. It’s exactly what Camille Gwin was worth twelve years ago when she was traded to the leader of the Underground to pay off a debt. Barely an adult, she was initiated into the harsh reality of a new world. The Underground. Camille knows how it works. Play the game or get played. Her rise in the Underground came at a cost... -
![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... -
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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... -
![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... -
![Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen]()
Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsOnce, Special Agent Smoky Barrett hunted serial killers for the FBI. She was one of the best–until a madman terrorized her family, killed her husband and daughter, and left her face scarred and her soul brutalized. Turning the tables on the killer, Smoky shot him dead–but her life was shattered forever. Now Smoky dreams about picking up her weapon again... -
![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... -
![Worth of Waste by Bethany-Kris]()
Worth of Waste by Bethany-Kris
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 10 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... -
![It's Our Secret by W. Winters]()
It's Our Secret by W. Winters
From romance author Willow Winters comes a USA Today best-selling emotionally gripping, standalone, romantic suspense. Allison: It was only a little lie.That’s how stories like these get started.But with every lie I told, he saw through it.I think in his heart he knew I was broken; he felt my pain as if it was his.And that’s what changed everything.He’s the reason it all fell apart...Categorized as:
suspense mystery tortured heroine contemporary new adult super rich hero dark length-medium
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