The Last Room on the Left
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Library Journal (starred review): “Konen deftly shifts the mesmerizing narrative between characters as well as back and forth in time, with nerve-shredding results, before delivering a pulse-pounding conclusion with a final, delightfully devious, Hitchcockian twist. Not since Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train or A.J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window has an unreliable protagonist been used to such great effect. Tipping her literary cap to Stephen King’s The Shining, Konen serves up a superbly crafted novel of suspense that will thrill and delight fans of Lucy Foley, Alice Feeney, and Sarah Pearse.”
Kirkus: “Full of creepiness and tenable red herrings, the story is solidly engaging, with the author offering just enough breadcrumbs to hint at the truth without giving anything away too soon. . . [The] setting of the secluded motel is evocative and entirely eerie, and the story is sufficiently dire to keep readers engaged. As the characters try to make sense of their situation while also tackling weighty issues like addiction and self-doubt, things eventually become clear. . . A fast-paced thriller that plays up the disorientating nature of isolated locations.”
Booklist: “[A] fast-paced and engrossing read.”
“Terrifying and taut, The Last Room on the Left is equal parts tantalizing mystery, scary snowstorm survival tale, and thoughtful portrait of a complex female friendship speeding toward a cliff. If you love tightly plotted thrillers about women on the edge—read this now.” —Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of The Spare Room
“Leah Konen’s The Last Room on the Left is a masterclass in psychological tension, weaving themes of creativity, ambition, and betrayal into a gripping narrative that kept me unable to look away until I reached the last page. Konen expertly explores the haunting space between truth and deception, both in the stories we write and the ones we live. A must-read for anyone who loves a thriller that lingers long after the final page. —Danielle Valentine, NYT bestselling author of Delicate Condition
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Keep Your Friends Close
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Kirkus: “[A] fast-paced, plot-driven novel that manages to poke fun at millennial parenting and the culture of wealthy Brooklynites. . . Konen does an admirable job of building suspense. . . Readers will find themselves sufficiently surprised by the ultimate reveal. A thrilling and unpredictable hunt for answers that pays off.”
Booklist: “Fans of domestic suspense will enjoy the ride.”
Library Journal: “Unravels at breakneck speed, careening crazily to the dramatic ending. . . This twisty tale told by an unreliable narrator will appeal to fans of Gillian Flynn, Shari Lapena, and Paula Hawkins.”
“Prepare to meet your newest addiction with Leah Konen’s deliciously twisty latest, Keep Your Friends Close. A riveting, deliriously entertaining, and also chilling take on complicated female friendships, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Unbearably tense with masterful plotting, this juicy suspense will have you second-guessing who to trust with each chapter. It’s Highsmith meets Lucy Foley with Konen’s signature whip-smart voice and customary refreshing spin on domestic suspense.” —May Cobb, author of The Hunting Wives
“Gorgeously dark and twisted, Keep Your Friends Close is a slippery, Hitchcockian take on the impossibly heavy burden of the mental load. I ached for Mary as she fought for custody of her son, and questioned whether her friendship with Willa had ever been real. Leah Konen is at the top of her game.” —Danielle Valentine, author of Delicate Condition
“Packed with conniving characters, head-spinning twists, and female friendship at its most toxic, Keep Your Friends Close is a brilliantly constructed murder mystery. I didn’t want it to end!” —Andrea Bartz, author of We Were Never Here
“A twisty, addictive thriller from the foremost domestic suspense novelist of our time. Konen masterfully explores themes of friendship, marriage and family, exposing the fear and rage that can lurk beneath the idyllic surface. I couldn’t put it down.” —Julia Bartz, author of The Writing Retreat
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