No One Knows You're Here

by Rachel Howzell Hall

A reporter’s obsession with an elusive serial killer gets personal in a terrifying novel of suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of the Anthony Award–nominated These Toxic Things.

For crime reporter Syeeda McKay, obsession is part of the job—and no story has ever consumed her like that of the Phantom Slayer. This serial killer has targeted sex workers in South Los Angeles for nearly twenty years. She named him. She’s tracked him. And only she can bring justice to these victims the city has ignored.

The a minister’s daughter—a far cry from the usual pattern and impossible to ignore. Overnight, the case explodes, and so does Sy’s life. Someone’s watching her. Following her. Anticipating her every move. And then come the emails from someone claiming to be the Slayer himself, offering details only the killer could know. She’s made him famous—and this is the Slayer’s way of saying thank you.

But he’s not done.

As her investigation gets closer to exposing the truth, Sy realizes that she’s more connected to the Slayer than she knew—and that he’s been waiting for her all along.

Revised This edition of No One Knows You're Here includes editorial revisions.

Genres: Thriller, Adult

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

RACHEL HOWZELL HALL l is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Her next thriller, These Toxic Things, out in September 2021, recently received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, calling the novel ‘cleverly-plotted’ and ‘a refreshing take on the serial killer theme.’

Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com

Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.

Reviews

[Ashly Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

i binged this book on the beach in one day. it was an absolutely phenomenal read and i felt like i could see through the main characters eyes the entire time.

i do wish the chapters listed who the POV was but since this is an ARC copy, i suspect that probably will be in the final copy in stores. i also wished the ending was longer. it’s finished but still feels slightly unfinished. i think this could turn into a series easily. the next book could give a glimpse into more crimes solved between the main characters or even a entire book about the serial killers life and what made him this way.

either way, i loved the book and want more from this story line!! please turn this into a series.

[Macy Rae Overcash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | No One Knows You’re Here by Rachel Howzell Hall

This thriller absolutely blew me away. From the very first chapter, Rachel Howzell Hall created an atmosphere filled with tension, paranoia, and nonstop suspense that completely pulled me in. What started as a gripping serial killer investigation quickly evolved into something far darker and far more personal, and I could not stop reading.

One of the strongest aspects of this novel was the main character, Syeeda McKay. She was intelligent, determined, flawed, and incredibly compelling to follow. Her obsession with solving the Phantom Slayer case felt raw and believable, especially as the danger surrounding her continued to escalate. I loved how emotionally layered the story felt while still maintaining the fast-paced intensity of a thriller.

The suspense in this book was executed so well. Every chapter added another layer of mystery, and the constant feeling that someone was always watching kept me completely on edge. The pacing was addictive, the reveals were shocking, and the twists genuinely caught me off guard. Just when I thought I understood where the story was heading, Rachel Howzell Hall completely changed the game.

What made this book stand out even more was how it explored themes of obsession, justice, trauma, and the way certain victims are overlooked and ignored. The story felt both emotionally impactful and incredibly suspenseful, which made it impossible to put down.

Overall, No One Knows You’re Here is a smart, chilling, and expertly crafted psychological thriller that thriller readers are going to devour. If you love investigative thrillers, serial killer mysteries, high tension, and twists that leave you speechless, this book absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Syeeda is a reporter following the Phantom Slayer, who has been targeting and killing sex workers for decades without being caught. Like, the police aren’t even close, even after so many years. And now, he’s finally nationwide news because of his latest victim, who’s about the farthest thing from a sex worker. She’s a minister’s daughter who will be missed by many, unlike the other victims who slipped through the cracks and were let down by the police and media, who should have been crying for justice.

But Syeeda’s been there the whole time and knows more about his crimes than almost anyone else. Is that why he’s chosen to reach out to her and no one else? She can’t believe she’s communicating with the Phantom Slayer and that he thanks her for making him famous! Seriously? But does that mean she has nothing to fear, or that she’s his ultimate victim?

I love the way this author pulls you into her stories. Her interactions with other characters just feel real, like you know them. Her friends could be your friends, and they act like actual people and not characters. I don’t know how else to describe it, but she just has a way with words, and I can always relate to the women in the books she writes. That’s why I get so engrossed when I start reading one of her stories, because it feels like real life, and I just need to see what she’s going to do next. And it always pays off!

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advanced reading copy of this book.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sy is a recently laid-off journalist from the Los Angeles Times, as well as a bestselling author whose work has already been adapted for film. Now, she’s in the middle of writing about and investigating, a serial killer targeting poor, Black sex workers whose disappearances rarely get sustained media attention. When one potential source reaches out to Sy with information, she discovers her dead body and believes she’s another one of his victims. Sy dives headfirst into the investigation.

While Sy is intelligent and accomplished, her lack of self-preservation was frustrating at times. This is a familiar trope in mystery-thrillers, the capable female protagonist who ignores her instincts and puts herself in danger. Sy certainly falls into that pattern. Still, given everything happening around her, I was still intrigued enough to stay invested in her story.

I suspected the killer fairly early on and ultimately guessed correctly. The resolution felt somewhat abrupt, leaving readers to fill in the blanks with a best-case interpretation of events.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and think it would translate well as a limited series. Originally published in 2011 and now being re-released, the story draws inspiration from the real-life “Grim Sleeper” case, which adds an extra layer of intrigue.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my review.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked No One Knows You're Here, I didn't love it. I think it's a great book for fans of strong FMCs and of thrillers that read like a true crime show. I enjoyed the references to real life serial killers as it made it seem like this could really be a true crime novel instead of a fictional story.

I thought that Syeeda, the FMC, sometimes lacked self preservation. She's a crime journalist that doesn't mind antagonizing people in her search of a good story. She knows that she has enemies who know where she lives and she still seems to never arm her alarm system. Smh. That really bothered me.
Some of her relationships felt a bit off, particularly her friendship with medical examiner Spencer. They only meet up so he can give her information, which made me feel like he was only there to be a plot device.
I also found the ending very abrupt. I'd have liked to know a little more about what happened and why.

Overall, it was an OK read, but I probably won't pick up a book from this author in the foreseeable future.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm usually the type of reader who is drawn into a story within the first few chapters, whether through compelling characters, engaging writing, or an intriguing plot. Unfortunately, No One Knows You're Here never quite managed to capture my attention in that way.
The premise sounded promising, and the blurb definitely sparked my interest, but the story itself didn't fully deliver for me. Throughout much of the book, I found myself feeling distracted and disconnected from what was happening. I'm not entirely sure whether it was the writing style, the pacing, or simply a lack of depth in the narrative, but I struggled to become invested in the story.
While I did finish the book, very little stood out as memorable once I reached the end.
For a mystery thriller, I was hoping for more tension, suspense, or moments that would leave a lasting impression. Sadly, this was a read that didn't resonate with me, despite its intriguing premise.
That said, other readers may connect with aspects of the story that didn't work for me. It simply wasn't the right fit for my reading tastes.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A journalist investigating a long-time serial killer finds herself in the crosshairs in No One Knows You’re Here, a re-release from author Rachel Howzell Hall. A killer has been on the loose in South Los Angeles for twenty years, targeting sex workers. Reporter Syeeda McKay has been following the story, and when she gets a late night text from an anonymous source who has info on the killer, she wastes no time in going to the meet location. But when she arrives, she finds another victim of the killer, and the cold case picks up steam. The plot is fairly straightforward, but the author’s down to earth writing style brings a grittiness to the story that packs a punch. Although not as sharp as her later books, this is still a compelling read, but the abrupt ending was somewhat disappointing. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and author Rachel Howzell Hall for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This hooked me immediately. I love a thriller that drops you right into the tension, and I was invested in Sy’s investigation from the start.

The middle slowed down a bit for me, which is why this landed at 4 stars instead of 5, but the final 25% absolutely made up for it. Once things started coming together, I flew through the pages because I needed to know who the killer was. I never fully figured it out, and a couple of the reveals genuinely surprised me.

Sy was a strong main character and I found myself rooting for her the entire time. If you enjoy thrillers with serial killer investigations, true crime vibes, and a fast-paced ending that keeps you turning pages, this one is worth picking up.

[Melly · Rating 4 out of 5]

No One Knows You're Here pulls you in fast and never really lets go. Rachel Howzell Hall keeps the tension tight, but the real strength is the main character, Syeeda McKay. She’s stubborn, exhausted, reckless, and believable.

The murder investigation is gripping, but the book hits harder when it focuses on the women nobody seems to care about until they’re dead. That part sticks with you more than the twists.

Some plot threads get crowded, and the ending may not work for everyone, but the atmosphere is sharp and unsettling the whole way through. Dark, fast, and worth the read if you like crime fiction with real weight behind it.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

[Kristen Bolding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Syeeda McKay is a journalist who is writing a book on a serial killer in Los Angeles called the Phantom Slayer who has been killing sex workers for several years.

This book is full of suspense and tension and really pulled me in from the beginning. It had different POV’s and was sometimes confusing trying to figure out who’s POV it was.

I also feel like the story ended so abruptly though and would have loved more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the ARC

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ This book isn’t my favorite by the author but I still enjoyed it. I liked the serial killer storyline and I liked the main character but I just felt like there was too much going on. It started getting a bit ridiculous with all the old friends from years and years ago showing up, having cancer, having a stalker, having a serial killer after you, your sister maybe having cancer, your dad being dead, your boyfriend cheating on you, etc…It just became a bit too much. The ending was good but it was a bit abrupt. Overall a good crime drama.

[Britney Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating this a 4.25 stars. I really enjoyed this read. It reminded me of a really good tv episode of murders and finding the killer. So it had true crime tv vibes throughout.

If you are a fan of true crime series and serial killers this is definitely the book for you!

Thank you #NetGalley for the arc of this book.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel Howzell Hall is one of my favorites, but this one didn’t quite grab me the way her other books did. Maybe because it was slightly darker? I’m not exactly sure why, but I couldn’t quite get into it. It’s a serial killer book, with lots of religious undertones. A strong female protagonist, which I love!

I received an early copy through Netgalley but all
opinions are my own.

[Likestotravel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery with a surprise twist or two at the end. This is a revised version of the previous edition of this story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Momo•Reads•Books (Only Fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the ARC COPY. Wow okay this was good. This was like a true crime novel. I liked it. I read the author’s note in the end which talks about all the cases that inspired her to write this book. I’m definitely going to read more books by this author.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep thinking there's a new book from Rachel Howzall Hall, then finding out it's a reprint. I appreciate the publisher resurfacing old books for me! And updating them, too. I liked this a lot.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon