Kristen Bird

“Readers can count on author Bird to write a twisty tale about the dark side of suburban perfection. Recommend to fans of authors Kimberly McCreight and Freida McFadden.”

— Booklist Review

March 12, 2024

Three women work to uncover the scorching lies and scandal behind a self-help movement, igniting a powder keg of secrets that could blow their town apart, in this suspense novel perfect for readers who love Southern mystery.

It’s early morning in the small Texas town of Edenberg when the body of sixty-five-year-old Beverly Hoffman is discovered in the Guadalupe River—drowned in only two inches of water.

After elementary school teacher Nichole Miller discovers the woman's body, she makes two phone calls: first to the police, who call Beverly's death a slip and fall, and second to her best friend, journalist Jenny Martin. Jenny is attempting to revive her flailing marriage and her all-but-DOA career, and she knows foul play when she sees it. The two women enlist the help of Beverly’s daughter-in-law, Robin, who’s eager to expose the truth.

Beverly had been beloved in the tight-knit community, having cofounded the wildly popular personal-development company Genetive, Inc., alongside her influential husband. But something sinister has been smoldering beneath the surface of their picturesque hometown. And Genetive is at the center of it all.

Writer. Teacher. Book Coach.

My name is Kristen Bird, and I love both writing and talking all things books. You can hear me on several podcasts, including Killer Women, Thoughts from a Page, and The Shit No One Tells You About Writing.

I’m the author of three novels with MIRA, an imprint of HarperCollins. These include The Night She Went Missing (Feb 2022), I Love It When You Lie (March 2023), and Watch It Burn (March 2024). Find out more on my Books page.

I’m also a certified book coaching through Author Accelerator.

If you’re interested in finding out more about book coaching and how you can work with me, please check out my Book Coaching and FAQs page or drop me a note at kristenbirdwrites@gmail.com.