Dark Things

by Kate Anslinger

She wrote fiction for a living—until her own life became the plot twist.

When bestselling author Amy Willows vanishes without a trace, her disappearance is written off as a publicity stunt—until her daughter, Rylie, a struggling journalist, uncovers a digital breadcrumb trail leading to an enigmatic social media group her mother recently joined.

As Rylie plunges deeper into the group’s shadowy corners, she realizes Amy wasn’t just researching her next standalone novel—she was reliving it. With a disgruntled agent fuming over Amy’s decision to abandon her wildly successful series, and clues that suggest the standalone may be more confession than fiction, Rylie finds herself unraveling a twisted narrative written in secrets and stained in truth.

The deeper she digs, the more Rylie begins to fear: her mother’s past didn’t stay buried—and someone will do anything to keep it that way.

When a bestselling author vanishes, her daughter follows the digital trail—into a story darker than fiction.

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller

252 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2025

About the author

Kate is the author of the Grace McKenna Mystery series and The Town Series. She’s also penned several standalone novels and co-authored a nonfiction book or two. In addition to her life as a novelist, Kate is a ghostwriter, book coach, and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Her debut novel Saving Jason, touches upon the struggles of PTSD, a topic that is near and dear to her heart. Kate lives on the North Shore of Boston with her husband, two daughters and golden retriever pup.

Reviews

[K~Terror · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ | This book was a twisty dark read that kept me hooked pretty much from start to finish, trying to figure out what was going on. I enjoyed the writing and the story, however, the FMC (Rylie) drove me nuts. She was all over the place. For a journalist, she wasn’t a big one for facts…

[Emily Youngblood · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC Review | Dark Things by Kate Anslinger


Dark Things pulled me in from the first chapter and didn’t let go. Kate Anslinger delivers a gripping psychological thriller packed with suspense, secrets, and emotional depth. As an ARC reader, I felt so lucky to get an early look at this one!


The story unfolds with just the right pace layer by layer, we’re drawn into a haunting mystery that blurs the line between reality and the secrets we bury. The characters are complex and compelling, especially the protagonist, who is dealing with trauma, intuition, and truths no one wants to face.


Anslinger’s writing is crisp and atmospheric perfect for fans of thrillers with a touch of the eerie and unexplained. Every chapter had me questioning what was real and what was just beneath the surface. It’s one of those reads that stays with you even after you turn the final page.


If you love dark, twisty stories with psychological depth and a hint of the paranormal, Dark Things is one to put on your radar.


✨Big thanks to Kate Anslinger for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Kim Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC Kate, I enjoyed this book so so much! This was such a great read! Great character development, lots of twists and surprises I didn’t see coming! As far as psychological thrillers go this rates right up there at the top! I was thoroughly immersed in this story and found it hard to put down, definitely a page turner! Highly recommend for all the thriller lovers out there! The ending will have your mouth on the floor!

[JB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, loved it!! It's rare these days to read a book and not see the twist coming, but this was that!! Bravo🫶🏻

[Jaclynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so honored to be given an ARC copy of this book. Thank you, Kate.

This was a page turner. The writing flowed and was fast-paced. The character development was good. I felt like I was right alongside Rylie trying to find answers. I didn't know who to believe. The twists were excellent, and the ending was perfection!👏

If you like physiological thrillers, then you must check this one out.!!!

[Ilona Fomby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Kate for sending me a copy of your book! Dark Things is a suspenseful thriller that is fast paced and will keep you turning pages nonstop. I thought I had this book figured out a few times, it turned out I did not. Really enjoyed this story.

[Devon Strickler · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow burn but at the 60% market it sped up so quick I couldn't put it down!

[Heather Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Kate, for letting me be on this roller coaster with you. This was an ARC read and it did not disappoint. If you are a psychological thriller reader, then this is your next read. It has twists and turns and keeps you guessing throughout the story. This is the story of a writer named Amy Willows that goes missing. Her daughter Rylie finds her laptop and phone and starts digging into any clues so she can find her mother. On this journey of discovery you will suspect everyone and think you have it figured out and then the end comes and BOOM! What a wild ride! Releasing August 5th.

[Stephanie Justus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC and enjoyed every second of it! it was very fast paced, twisty and kept me guessing until the end.

[Kate Anslinger]

Pre-order NOW AVAILABLE for Dark Things...

https://amzn.to/3FC58Iw

"She wrote fiction for a living…until her own life became the plot twist.”

"Everyone has a story. But only one is true."

[Hillary McGuckin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very twisty thriller! Had me second guessing who was the killer the whole book. This is my first read by Kate Anslinger and it will not be the last! Thank you to the author for the ARC.

[Sheila The Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dark Things by Kate Anslinger is about a bestselling author who disappears, and everyone thinks it’s a publicity stunt. Her daughter starts digging and finds out her mom might have been living the plot of her own book.

I really need to stop taking book recommendations from strangers on the internet. This one just didn’t work for me. The story felt flat, and both the plot and characters seemed underdeveloped. Nothing really happened until the last bit of the book, and when it finally did, it all came spilling out in a way that felt rushed and a little over the top. I wanted to find something positive to say, but honestly, it just felt like a middle-of-the-road popcorn thriller. At this point, I think whenever I see words like “unputdownable” or “twisty thriller” in a description, I should probably take that as my cue to run the other way.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC! What a good book! This was my first book by this author, and it definitely hit my thriller spot. It was very well written, the characters were developed. They had good relationships, and the author really kept you guessing into the last few chapters. You were able to come up with some hypotheses of who could be involved, but then she kind of threw a wrench in it at the end.So good!

[Kelley D · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to take a walk in the mind of a psychological thriller author’s mind this is the book for you! Kate has a way to make her characters twist all while twisting your mind. Just when you think you figured out who did it, think again. That is, think again multiple times. This book has a great flow with very descriptive words that grab you and keep you held hostage throughout. My mind is still blown from the ending. Holy smokes, a definite MUST READ!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the amazing opportunity to arc read this and wow 🤯 I loved this book I was hooked from the start! I normally don’t read to many thrillers but wow! Love love love

[Kate Ohlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for letting me be an ARC reader! Dark Things was fast-paced, twisty, and totally addictive. Great characters, a gripping plot, and an ending I did not see coming. Highly recommend if you love dark, suspenseful reads!

[Jenni Wixom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much for the ARC to review!! Dark Things is truly a nail-biter, a psychological thriller packed with plenty of twists and turns with well paced suspense. If you’re into thrillers that keep shifting beneath your feet, this one truly delivers. The ending was incredible with all the little pieces coming together perfectly!! Drewberry soap

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review: This book seriously pulled me in from the very first page! The search for Rylie's Mom had so many twists and turns that sometimes I didn't know which way was up! It isn't very often that I don't see an ending a mile away, but this one had me shook. This was the first I have read by this author, but definitely won't be the last! Thank you Kate for allowing me to read this amazing book!

[Sloanie423 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in a chokehold from the first chapter. Dark Things is the perfect mix of creepy, emotional, and completely addictive. Kate Aslinger did such a good job building this slow, tense atmosphere that just keeps building, and then suddenly you’re in deep and can’t stop reading. My first ARC 🥰📚

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I did recieve an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Things by Kate Anslinger is everything I crave in a psychological thriller—fast-paced, addictive, and impossible to put down. From the first page, the tension builds steadily, pulling you into a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

Anslinger crafts a tightly woven narrative full of twists, emotional depth, and characters who keep you guessing. The pacing is pitch-perfect, with just the right amount of suspense and psychological complexity to keep the pages turning late into the night.

If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish, Dark Things absolutely delivers. I devoured it in one sitting and can’t wait to read more from this author.

[Amber B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Kate for an ARC of her upcoming novel releasing next month!

One thing I love about how Kate writes thrillers is the fact that she gives us little crumbs throughout the entire storyline that has us mentally exploring multiple endings at once. We follow along in this mystery thriller regarding a famous author who seems to have gone missing. Her daughter, Rylie suddenly finds herself with the task of digging into her family and not knowing who in her life she can trust!

Did Rylie’s mom disappear on her own accord? Did someone abduct her? Or did her father have something to do with it? Kate takes us on a journey that had me thinking things were about to go down one way and then at the very end, I absolutely was hit with a huge twist I never saw coming!

[Melissa Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving this as e-ARC and I am voluntarily going to give my honest review. This book had me sitting at the edge of my sit!! It has so many twists and turns that it kept you wanting to continue. I didn’t see the end coming like it did! I really had my mind on someone else!! Loved the plot twists and really loved this book!!

“She wrote fiction for a living—until her own life became the plot twist.

When bestselling author Amy Willows vanishes without a trace, her disappearance is written off as a publicity stunt—until her daughter, Rylie, a struggling journalist, uncovers a digital breadcrumb trail leading to an enigmatic social media group her mother recently joined.”

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. This is a psychological thriller that follows an author who is a psychological thriller writer that goes missing. Her daughter embarks on a journey to try to find her and through following the clues, she learns a lot about her parents' past that she never knew. Nothing is what you think it is and you will be suspicious of every single character. Each time I thought I had it figured out, I realized I was wrong. The ending comes together so flawlessly and does not end the way you expect. If you like a good who done it mystery, then this book is definitely for you! You will stay on the edge of your seat and you will never see the ending coming! It is twisty until the very last page!

[Nikki P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Things by Kate Anslinger is a psychological thriller showcasing a best selling author who suddenly goes missing. Her family desperately searches for her and looks into all the clues left behind. This thriller is a fast read that keeps you guessing! I enjoyed the layers of POV and when you think you figured it out there is another twist.

Thank you to Kate Anslinger for this ARC!

[Susan Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Kate, for the privilege and honor of being an arc reader for Dark Things. From the moment I opened the book till the very last page it took me on a roller coaster ride of who done it who took Amy Willows… It was also quite fast paced never a dull moment… I thought I had the kidnapper figured out, but I was pleasantly surprised at the completely unexpected and ultimate twist

[Judy Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5 as I just had to binge read Dark Things in one sitting.

Dark Things is a fast paced relentless mix of secrets, lies, red herrings and jaw dropping twists.

You dont know who to trust, who to believe and is anyone telling the truth as Riley investigates her mother's disappearance.

Kate Anslinger has told a fantastic story that is gripping from start to finish.

This was my first book by her but it certainly will not by my last.

Treat yourself to a compelling and captivating read in Dark Things.

[Marilyn Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much for the opportunity for an ARC.
Great read. I was up and down with the characters and the twist, and I loved every minute of it.

[Lacey Fatura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. When you want thriller, this is what you want! The plot TWISTSSSSSSSS 🤯 just when you think you have it figured out, NOPE! And it just keeps on doing that, but not in a whiplash type of way. Nooo this paints a picture for each character that leaves you going “buttttt it has to be them”. The end, not at allll what I was expecting.

Hands down one of my favorite thrillers!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god! Kate thank you for an ARC copy of this book. This book was so freaking good. The twists just kept coming. I love trying to figure it out before the end of a thriller like this and I can honestly say I didn’t see any of it coming. Well done! If you’re looking for a psychological thriller, you NEED to read this one!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing such a great read could not put this book down. I highly recommend this book!!!! Whether you’re a seasoned reader or looking to get into reading again it’s a must read!!!!