Dead of Night

by Lisa Gray

A crime writer. A cold case. Will she survive to tell the story?

Since the sudden and tragic death of her partner, bestselling crime author Serena Winters hasn’t written a word. With deadlines looming, she packs up her grief and escapes from New York City to a secluded clifftop house in small-town California, hoping the change of scenery will cure her writer’s block.

But as news of her arrival spreads, Serena finds herself facing strange accusations that she’s here to cash in on the house’s history. When she uncovers the chilling story of a young family who mysteriously vanished from the very same house thirty years earlier, she can’t help asking more questions…

Someone in the local community doesn’t want the past dug up, though. Someone willing to push Serena to the limits of her sanity to keep the truth buried. Caught in a spiraling campaign of intimidation, and harboring a dark secret of her own, Serena soon finds herself in the kind of danger she usually only writes about…

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Grief

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2025

About the author

Lisa Gray is an Amazon #1, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and has sold over one million books. She has been longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize and an ITW Thriller Awards finalist. Lisa previously worked as the chief Scottish soccer writer at the Press Association and the books columnist at the Daily Record Saturday Magazine. She is the author of the bestselling Jessica Shaw series and standalone thrillers The Dark Room, To Die For, and The Final Act. Lisa lives in Glasgow and writes full time. Learn more at www.lisagraywriter.com and connect with Lisa on social media @lisagraywriter.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
It’s been six months since bestselling mystery writer Serena Winters’ partner died in a freak accident and has yet to write a single word towards her next novel. Thinking a change of scenery might help, she rents a cliffside home in Seaton Park, located on the California coast. Serena learns upon arrival that the house has an interesting history. The last residents, Bob & Danni Dupree with their ten year old daughter Charlotte, inexplicably vanished overnight thirty years ago and haven’t been seen or heard from since. Serena is inspired by the story and begins looking into it, only to stir up some unwanted resistance that turns sinister.

the heart of the story…
Serena’s writer’s block is unleashed the more she explores the story but she’s also invited some unwelcome attention by person unknown. Email threats and weird stuff happening in the house that spooks her and slowly ramps up to dangerous. Meanwhile, there’s another point of view from someone named Ruby, presenting a dual timeline from 1984. It took a while for the connection to be revealed, which heightened the intrigue.

the narration…
Brenda Scott Wlazol has a warm tone that was well suited for this story. She managed the primary characters nicely and delivered a strong performance.

the bottom line…
There’s a whiff of romance, lots of secrecy and intrigue and a house I probably would have moved out of on day one. I enjoyed how those secrets and Ruby’s connection were slowly revealed, giving me time to assemble clues and develop theories. I got a lot right but it was a little twisty, making me miss some big marks. And that ending…yikes! Well done.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[Meagan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up)

Dead of Night was an absolute ride and I was fully entertained from start to finish! This book gave me just the right amount of dark suspense, small-town secrets, and juicy reveals to keep me hooked.

The plot twists had me SHOOK, and just when I thought I had it figured out boom, another curveball. I was side-eyeing nearly every character at one point. The pacing was strong, the atmosphere eerie without being overdone, and the tension? Chef’s kiss.

Some parts were a bit over the top (in a good way, honestly), but that’s what made it such a binge-worthy read. It delivered on drama, kept the momentum going, and scratched that thriller itch perfectly.

Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced thriller that doesn’t hold back on the twists 🔪🌙

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the premise but the book was kind of boring. Also there were a ton of plot holes and not enough answers. Not my favorite thriller

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 3.75 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Brenda Scott Wlazlo

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Gray, and Brilliance Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always excited to get my hands on the work of an author who is new to me, I turned to this thriller by Lisa Gray. When a popular crime author seeks some inspiration writing in a rented house, she stumbles upon a complex mystery and missing family. Serena Winters wants to use it as a basis for her next bestseller, but also finds herself trying to solve it for her own mental wellbeing. A great story that spans multiple decades and shows Lisa Gray’s abilities.

The loss of her partner has left bestselling author Serena Winters unable to write at all. As her publisher pushes a new deadline, she flees New York and finds a rental home she hopes will provide much needed inspiration. California has to have more than sunshine to sterilise the grief in which Serena has been wallowing.

When people learn of Serena’s arrival, they are split. Some are excited to have a popular author in town, while others are sure she is only there to use the notoriety of her rental house for her own means. Serena has no idea about the latter, but soon discovers the story behind the house and its past residents. A family disappeared into thin air three decades before and people have speculated about it ever since, leaving Serena to want to know more and potentially use it as help for her next bestseller.

While many are excited with Serena walking the streets and visiting the local businesses, someone is surely not. They go to great lengths to ensure Serena does not feel comfortable and pushes her to the ends of her mental sanity, even questioning what happened that fateful night her partner died. However, the story of this family is a thread that Serena must tug upon, no matter where it takes her. These events are becoming all too real and she cannot stop once she’s started writing and researching. A well-paced piece that has me curious to read more by Lisa Gray.

I always enjoy the adventure an author I have not read before brings to my favourite pastime. Lisa Gray does well to paint a vivid picture of the story before her and keep the reader engaged as they begin the journey. The narrative flows well and keeps pace as things begin to clip along. As the momentum finds its stride, the reader is pulled into the middle of the mystery and begs for answers of their own. Characters emerge as both relatable and well developed, allowing the reader to make a connection with those of their choosing throughout the piece. The plot, while juggling many perspectives and time periods, works well and adds depth to an already strong story. I am eager to see what Lisa Gray has next and how it might compare to this story, which was well worth my time and effort.

Kudos, Madam Gray, for a chilling story that kept me hooked throughout.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a well written book. There were 3 distinct time periods, 1983, 1994 and now. I absolutely loved how the author effortlessly moved us through them. She also nailed the cliffhangers at the end of the chapters. And she made it even more delightful by propelling the reader into another time period before addressing the jaw dropping cliffhanger. Now that's how you make a book addictive and unputdownable.

The ending was very intense, I was on the edge of my seat. The epilogue was pure perfection. Unexpected and brilliant.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been seeing this authors books all over lately so when I got the opportunity to listen to an early copy I jumped at the chance. I’m so glad I did because this was exactly the type of thriller I enjoy, it was smart, it was engaging and it surprised me more than once! The multiple timelines were easy to follow and connected in ways I didn’t predict and most of my theories were incorrect. The audio version was so entertaining with a narrator that kept my attention and a plot line that had me guessing. Such a fun thriller, I can’t wait to read more from the author!

[Lauren Self (lauren.shelby.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review • pub date 05.15.25

I loved Lisa Gray’s last book, and I enjoyed this one as well!
Told in multiple POV as well as multiple timelines, we get the story of a teenager growing up and falling in love 40 years ago, a family that disappeared in the middle of the night 30 years prior, and a present day writer who is staying in the house they disappeared from and digging into their past trying to solve their disappearance and getting inspiration for her next novel.

I had lots of theories but didn’t really get any of them right, it was fun to see how the stories intertwined, and I’m honestly still confused a bit by the epilogue/last paragraph 🤣 so maybe there is more that I missed - who knows- but the story was fun and can easily be read in a few sittings as it’s less than 300 pages.

4⭐️

Thanks to Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer for my ARC

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead of Night
By: Lisa Gray
Pub Date: May 15, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Shared with: Thriller Book Lovers THE PULSE, I quickly signed on for this one. Gray is now a MUST read for me. I loved the suspense, the story, scenes and creepy vibes of this novel.

Serena Winters has lost her partner and is struggling to write another book. She is of the bestselling authors of crime. She books a stay in small town in California in a secluded house on a cliff.SECLUDED and a CLIFF, oh NO!!!!

When she arrives she finds out the house has a mysterious past…..This is when the story turns chilling. How does a family vanish into thin air? This story gripped me and took my heart on an emotional journey along with frightening things along the way.

We love Gray at THE PULSE. Thank you Gray for your advanced copy.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Title: Dead of Night
Author(s): Lisa Gray
Publisher(s): Thomas & Mercer/Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: May 15, 2025
Currently Available on KU? ✅
Audiobook? ✅

🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: Dead of Night is my second time reading Lisa Gray and my second five star rating for her! This was such a wild ride, and I was invested from the explosive start all the way to the twisty AF ending.

🤩 𝚃͏𝚑͏𝚎͏ 𝙱͏𝚎͏𝚜͏𝚝͏ 𝙱͏𝚒͏𝚝͏𝚜͏: The bingeable nature of the storyline coupled with the different viewpoints was more than enough to keep me interested and I flew through this baby in a day. It was super suspenseful, and I loved that the main character happens to be a bestselling novelist. Action packed with plenty of drama, Dead of Night brings a cold case to life in the most spellbinding way.

🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: There are multiple viewpoints with Brenda Scott Wlazlo as our sole narrator, but I swear to god I thought I was listening to a full cast of female narrators. She was SO GOOD at adjusting her voice for the different characters in each chapter and made it a memorable experience. I will say, a male narrator at the end would have been nice, but still fab!

💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: This book made me want to read Gray’s entire backlist immediately and she set the scene perfectly while making me feel like I was right there with Serena. The fast pace is sure to be a crowd pleaser, and the blend of past and present viewpoints made this storyline complete. And did I mention yet that the twists were mind blowing?! 🤯

T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 📸📝👶🏼📖🫥

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received a complimentary listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
A grieving crime writer flees to a remote California house to overcome her writer's block. But as she uncovers a chilling cold case, someone in the town is determined to stop her from revealing the truth, putting her in danger.

I am a newcomer to this author, and I was graciously invited by the Pulse team to dive into this audiobook. Let me tell you, the narrator had me hooked from the get-go, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn. A skilled narrator truly has the power to breathe life into a story, and this one did not disappoint.

This tale unfolded like a high-speed mystery, with multiple points of view and a diverse cast of characters that were surprisingly easy to keep track of. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the plot took a sharp turn, leaving me guessing until the very end. The premise was solid, and the execution was top-notch.

Serena, the protagonist, takes on the role of detective while on vacation, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the story. Her intelligence, determination, and hidden secrets made her a compelling character to follow. And let's not forget about Danni, Bill, and Ruby - each playing a crucial role in the storyline.

The vivid descriptions of the environment, particularly the enchanting Cliff House, truly transported me into the story. I love when an author takes the time to set the scene, making me feel like I'm right there alongside the characters.

If you're a fan of unexpected twists, family secrets, and a jaw-dropping ending, this book is must-read. I found it nearly impossible to hit pause, as I was desperate to uncover the truth. And let me tell you, the ending completely flipped the script - bravo!

I can't wait for everyone to get their hands on this gem so we can dissect every juicy detail together. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you, The Pulse and Brilliance Publishing, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this! The characters are well-rounded and I was invested in them.  The pacing is good and the writing style drew me in. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Lisa Gray, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing & gripping prologue from 1994 that makes you curious how it will tie in to the story! The alternating timelines was a nice touch and truly brought the story all together. This story had many layers to unfold it was a very intriguing read! Great narration in audiobook, would definitely recommend.

[April❤️‍🔥 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. Definitely didn’t expect the ending. A good thriller

[dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

tied perfectly together!

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good until the epilogue. It threw me off.

[Karlie Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was incredibly interesting, talk about making someone feel crazy.

This family vanishes and leaves their things behind and now the cliff house is a rental proctored. Many years later their daughter comes back to make sure no one is looking into her and her family.

Well they have a new sheriff and a new author in town who is wanting to write about the family. The book is her finding out about the family and the connections and piecing what they did and what their daughter has done now.

Very mysterious, thriller ish, pay attention to the details

[Dierdra McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an intriguing story. A whole family just disappears and it’s never solved. Reminded me of an episode of a YouTube show about strange crimes.

The book definitely starts off strong. I like the characters and the plot was great. Then it started reaching a bit, but I went there with the author. Then the plot and ending really felt far fetched to me. I don’t know how else to say that without spoilers.

I enjoyed the style of retiring, the story just went off the rails for me, but I’ll definitely keep reading the author.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a twist I didn’t see coming!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Lisa Gray book. I found it on a whim just browsing around GR. The premise sounded interesting so I decided to check it out. I’m a sucker for books centered around mysterious disappearances and cold cases! Dead of Night definitely delivered. This was a fast, easy, and addictive read. It was so easy to fly through this one with lots of twists and turns and alternating timelines that felt like pieces of a puzzle being dropped into place. I figured out some of the twists but not all. Overall it was a very satisfying read and I’ll be watching out for more Lisa Gray books in the future!

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an exciting book, from start to finish. Author Serena Winters lives in New York, she has two best selling books to her credit, (a mystery series). She has a deadline to make for her third book in the series, but she definitely has a bad case of writers block. Maybe moving to California for the summer will help clear the cobwebs out of her head. She rents a huge house overlooking the ocean, and immediately her writing block is lifted. She soon finds out the house is shrouded in mystery: the previous tenants vanished from the house four decades ago. Husband, wife, and daughter disappeared one night without a trace. Serena is intrigued by the case and starts researching everything about the case and the house. Someone realizes Serena is getting too close and sends threatening messages to her. Serena starts using some of the background into her own writing, but still keeps doing her own investigating. By doing this she is even a bigger threat to the person that is threatening her. Some very well thought out twists in here, and the ending was a total surprise.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A writer’s life turned upside down by an accidental death, a cold case mystery, and a secluded mansion on a cliff- sign me up! In true Lisa gray fashion this was a twisty quick read with multiple POV and short chapters.

Serena’s partner died tragically in an accident, her latest book in her bestselling detective series is due and she hasn’t written a single word. She decides to rent a secluded/isolated (iykyk) beach side mansion to work on her next book but when she gets there she finds out the house is the last place a family of 3 was seen. They disappeared in 1994 and were never heard from again. As someone who exclusively reads thrillers I can tell you I got every single twist wrong! Such a fun read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Hailey]

This book is another new favorite of mine and you definitely won't want to miss it after pub date. A family vanishing in the middle of the night but why? A best selling author coming back to the same house, digging to find out the truth... Whoa this book was everything I look for in a psychological suspenseful thriller. Lisa Gray did a superb job of keeping me invested in the story, flipping fast through the pages to get to the explosive conclusion. My jaw literally fell on the floor during the many twists and turns. This book will be one of the best reads for 2025. What a great story. Well done, Lisa!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually add a little bit of personal details to my reviews but this one is going to have a little more. Right after I started this audiobook is found out that something happened to a friend of mine and she might not make it. So that made me put the book down. Then the next day my friend passed. I couldn't read for days. Then I came back to this 3 days later and finished it and I want to say thank you to the author for taking my mind off of the pain for a little while.

With all that being said, this was a fun time. I loved the author aspect, I loved the solving a crime aspect and I just loved the overall atmosphere of the book.

[Caitlin Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, my first read from this author and I ate it up. I would 100% recommend doing this one on audio (never thought I would say that) as this one is so suspense and kept me hooked till the very end. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

[Savvyyreads ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity via the Thriller Book Lovers (The Pulse) to read this book this month, and I’m glad that I requested it. This is a very “popcorn thriller” type of book. It was very plot driven, not a huge amount of character background, yet it kept my attention and kept my will to find out how it would end going strong. While it was a rather predictable plot, there was a big twist at the end that surprised me. I really love that the book was able to answer all of my questions in the end as well. I did half of this book on my kindle and the other half via audio. The little that I did of the audio was done very well with a clear sounding narrator. If you’re a lover of popcorn thrillers, missing person cases, and creepy yet beautiful vacation homes, definitely pick this one up when it releases on 5/15/2025.

[Stacey (reading2escape) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was so twisty and suspenseful! I loved that Serena, a bestselling author, decides to dig into the mysterious disappearance of the family who used to live in the secluded cliff top home that she's temporarily renting. There were a few different timelines and POVs to keep up with in this one, but the author did a great job, and I was able to keep it all straight. I liked how everything came together in the end!

This book could easily be read in one sitting. I started it one night when I went to bed, and finished it the next morning! There's a reason that everyone over at The Pulse @thrillerbookloversthepulse has been talking about this one!

[Merliza Alcala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but not thrilled about the ending

I like this author and has read a number of her books. I enjoyed reading this book until I got to the epilogue. I’m not thrilled about the last “twist” that a character in the story can do something that caused so much heartache and agony to someone he claimed to love.

[Maria Montero · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read all of Lisa Gray’s books…and the ending of this one was weak. However, I will say, Lisa Gray’s writing always sucks you in. She’s my favorite, randomly discovered author and I will always read her books.

So while the ending of this one wasn’t a home run, it is always an enjoyable read.

@jessica gray, if you read this, I would love to be one of your test readers!!

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were several times I thought I had it all figured out, but a little twist here and a bigger twist there made me rethink what I thought I knew. There were, in fact, so many twists that it got boring and the final twist made me roll my eyes out loud.