Books like 'If There Be Thorns'
Readers who enjoyed If There Be Thorns by V.C. Andrews & The Real Virginia Andrews also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance suspense mystery horror m-f
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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
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
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... -
Bitter Falls by Rachel Caine
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsShe’s investigating a cold case no one else could—by going places no one else would dare. In spite of a harrowing past still haunting her, Gwen Proctor is trying to move forward. Until a new assignment gives her purpose: the cold-case disappearance of a young man in Tennessee. Three years missing, no clues. Just Ruth Landry, a tortured mother in limbo... -
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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... -
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... -
Code Name: Pisces by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsMy code name is Pisces. The stars say I’m independent, wise, and intuitive. Still waters run deep. I’m the leader of Zodiac Tactical’s guardian unit. We’re the bodyguards—the ones who stand toe to toe with danger and refuse to give any ground. We protect people who need it most. But what if who needs it most is a spoiled diva? I don’t normally take on movie stars... -
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
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... -
Rescuing Isabelle by Ellie Masters
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKeeping her safe from a deadly cartel might be the easy part of our relationship…. As a former NAVY SEAL and Guardian, rescuing Isabelle LaCroix was my job. Falling for her was not. But that didn’t stop me. Boy, did I fall hard. Just my luck… Izzy isn’t looking for happily ever after. Especially not with a guy like me... -
Easy to Fall by W. Winters
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsFrom USA Today bestselling author Willow Winters comes the epic conclusion to the heart-wrenching, edge-of-your-seat gripping, romantic suspense, Hard to Love series. With her I was always on the highest high. That's why it was so easy to fall. I never stood a chance without her. The two of us were made for one another. It's as simple as that... -
Hammer by J.E. Daelman
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAs the head of the construction business for the club, Hammer is off checking out new business opportunities. Some good, others not so good, but the Flower shop gives him more options than just construction. Adding in his relationship with Shar, the ex-husband after Tilly, the loan shark that wants his money and the kids causing trouble in town, Hammer and the club have their hands full... -
Obsession by T.K. Leigh
Rated: 4.88 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne week. No names. No expectations. That was our agreement. We were supposed to walk away after our time in Hawaii was over. No matter what. That was before…. Before I learned who she is. Before I realized how interconnected our lives are. Before I fell in love. But our love isn’t the stuff fairy tales are made of. Demons lurk around every corner. Good doesn’t necessarily prevail over evil... -
Savage by K.L. Savage
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsI'm on the road, but there's only one thing on my mind. Eden. .. Problem is, this isn't me. I don't chase. I don't pursue. But I can't help myself. Eden is stubborn. Headstrong. The toughest woman I know. My mistake was letting myself have a taste. It wasn't enough. I'm addicted. I'm breaking my own rules. I don't care how complicated it is. But the complications keep coming. . -
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Raven by K.L. Savage
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsNot even the holidays can make a bastard like me feel better. The guys are all gone for Christmas, but I decide to stay. I'm hunting a horrific serial killer and I can't afford to lose him. I'm regretting that decision when I find her:. Beaten, bloodied, and left out in the snow to die. Who is she? That's the problem. Not even she knows... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
Andrey by LeAnn Ashers
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsNicole. Since I was a little girl, raising my younger sister had always been my main priority. I never imagined, however, that taking care of her would put me in danger. Men came for her, but kidnapped me instead by mistake. Then he rescued me, and on that day, he claimed me. Andrey is mine just as much as I am his. Andrey. The second her eyes met mine I saw the fear in them... -
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 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... -
Blackout by Janine Infante Bosco
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEvery fairytale is just a tragedy with a twist. And happily-ever-after is a fantasy. Give me the real, ugly love of two people battling their demons to make it work. Two people like us. When the stakes have never been higher, I turn to my past. After all, it's our favorite sins that always do us in. But even in the midst of my blackout, there she is. The beacon of light I don't deserve... -
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... -
Pretty Evil by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen the cage door opens, freedom is a difficult temptation to ignore. Serena VieriMafia princess, protected her entire life for a very good reason. There is a target on her back. Her family believed she was better off not knowing but with knowledge comes a certain kind of power that she could sure use right now... -
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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... -
A Shade of Evil by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsRevenge is a dish best served cold. Shade Vieri has no mercy. No compassion and no empathy. He is cruel, enigmatic, and deliciously dark. His instructions are clear. Find the Achilles heel of the enemy and destroy it. The enemy is a woman who slides across his soul like spun silk. A breath of fresh air in a dark, depressing world... -
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... -
Vindication by Alex Grayson
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs the Sheriff of Malus, Texas, JW takes his oath to protect its citizens very seriously. Born from an ugly past, he swears no child, woman, or man will ever endure what he and his brothers have. As he seeks retribution of the ones who have wronged him, his past and his present finally collide. Secrets are laid open. Ones that are so heinous, they'll rock the very foundation of JW's life... -
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... -
Vengeance by Alex Grayson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFierce, loyal, controlled. Three things Judge became at a young age. Enduring unimaginable horrors no child should, he swore no person would dictate his or his brother’s lives again. Revenge fueled him, setting a path destined from the moment he and his brothers escaped their hell... -
Consumed by Truths by Ella Miles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEnzo is my heart. My soul. My breath. I never thought I could be so dark. Never knew love meant losing myself and getting reborn. The lies and truths have finally caught up with us. We may have stolen an empire, but we aren’t ready to give it up. It’s ours. He’s mine. And our love will find a way to the truth. Consumed by Truths is book 6 and the final book in Enzo and Kai's story. -
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... -
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... -
Born Evil by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSome devils come dressed in sharp suits with eyes that seduce and a check box beside every wish you ever had. Some victims come dressed in innocence and ignorance, disguising a soul of pure fire. I am Troy Remington. Ruthless billionaire with a heart of steel. I offered Laura Kincaid the job of a lifetime for a very important reason... -
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Blackness Within by Norma Jeanne Karlsson
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsFighting to find his worthy place in life…. This is the story of a woman that has worked tirelessly to build her own life from nothing. While the task has been exhaustive, it’s been worth every drop of sweat to earn her own slice of normal. Natasha Reynolds has built a life beyond an absent mother and a drug addict brother to become a home-owning, dog-loving nurse... -
The Sinister Silhouette by Alex Grayson, JW Photography
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“Luca…. ”. She whispers my name at night, filling my dreams with her haunting beauty. Her tormented amber eyes beg me for something I don’t understand, and her agonizing pain becomes my own. For years, she’s come to me, calling my name. For years, I’ve never known who she was. Until now…. -
The Lucky One by Jessica Payne
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsTen years ago, I survived a serial killer. They called me the lucky one, but they don’t know the truth I’ve been hiding ever since…. Then: We danced together that night, our dresses glittering in the swirling lights. We couldn’t have known that for one of us, it would be our last night alive... -
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
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. -
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... -
Borgata by Katarina E. Tonks
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSamantha finds herself imprisoned in a world of illegal trade and criminal activity, where she must face the consequences of her actions and repay her father's debt. She also will try to resist a mob boss, who understands her on a much deeper level than her heart can allow. -
Combative Trilogy by Jay McLean
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsIn a world full of secrets, heartache, and betrayals, they only have one thing on their mind: redemption. But with redemption comes destruction. And that destruction might cost them their hearts. *. Kyler Parker is not one of the lucky ones. Abused and neglected until he was sixteen, Kyler needed an out. A way to escape... -
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:
horror suspense mystery dark forced proximity contemporary length-epic explicit-plentiful -
Hide and Seek: A Dark Stalker Romance by Sheridan Anne
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsWhen darkness wants to claim you, do you run or do you step into the light, daring it to catch you? Forensic Pathologist, Harper-Rayn, is no stranger to darkness. She has seen it all in the cold silence of Blackstone’s one and only morgue, revealing the mystery of death on her autopsy table—until the bodies start speaking to her in eerie, calculated ways...Categorized as:
m-f suspense mystery dark age difference forced proximity contemporary first-in-series -
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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... -
Darkness Lurks by J.L. Drake
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsEmily McPhee has struggled to overcome her father’s death. .. It’s not easy, but Emily finally has the life she wants. She’s an A student at Orange University and has a comfortable home and a great circle of friends. She’s also in love with handsome Orange PD officer Seth Connors. He doesn’t seem to return her feelings, though, so she tells herself his friendship is enough... -
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... -
Say You're Sorry by Karen Rose
Introducing the first novel in the pulse-pounding Sacramento series from New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose. There is a serial killer on the loose, preying on vulnerable women. The only identifiable mark the killer leaves are letters—sometimes one, sometimes two—all carved into the torsos of his victims. Together they spell “Sydney. ”... -
Merciless Union by Faith Summers
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsEverything changed overnight. Truth became my enemy, and the sting of betrayal dragged me into a web of lies. I’m damned if I fight to live and damned if I die. Both will be dangerous for the child growing inside me. I can’t trust Lucca to save us. Love is a myth we shouldn’t have explored. He was always my enemy. Love just made me forget and blinded me to the truth... -
A Faint Cold Fear by Karin Slaughter
Rated: 4.02 of 5 stars · 55 ratingsAn apparent student suicide has brought medical examiner Sara Linton to the local college campus, along with her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver. But a horribly mutilated corpse yields up few answers...
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