21 Willow Lane: A BRAND NEW tense psychological thriller of hidden secrets for 2026

by Keri Beevis

Discover the BRAND NEW gripping psychological thriller from the MULTI-MILLION BESTSELLER Keri Beevis ⚡️ Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Claire McGowan and Lisa Jewell! 📚Some friendships - and secrets - should stay buried forever…

Everyone said a change of scenery would help after my divorce. That’s how I found my perfect little cottage on Willow Lane, in the postcard-pretty Norfolk village of Blakeney. Number 21 was meant to be my fresh start.

Then I met Hope Andrews. Hope is Blakeney’s unspoken secret.

Twenty years ago, three teenagers went into the woods. One was found dead. One vanished without a trace. Hope was the only one who came home.

I didn’t plan to get close to her. I was new to Willow Lane. And we both seemed to need a friend.

As Hope begins to confide in me, her fear that her attacker never left the area appears to feel real, and as strange things start happening at Number 21, those fears become my nightmare.

Now I’m looking over my shoulder. Someone here knows the truth about what happened in those woods and I’m starting to realise Willow Lane isn’t the safe haven I was searching for.

Praise for Keri

'Another winner from Ms Beevis. A gripping story with plenty of twists and turns' - J.A. Baker

‘From the start I was glued - a cracking roller-coaster ride of a story’ - Susanna Beard

‘Compelling, addictive, fast-paced and chilling. I loved it!’ - Amanda Brittany

'A tense, clever and thought-provoking thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and long afterwards.' - Natasha Boydell

'This is how to write a page turner.'- Valerie Keogh

'Another suspenseful page-turner from this very talented author' - John Nicholl

'Brilliant, chilling, and unputdownable' - Gemma Rogers

'Another gripping fast paced story from the brilliant Keri Beevis.' - Sadie Ryan

‘Beevis has created a dark psychological thriller thick with atmosphere. Cleverly woven threads pull together in a heart-stopping conclusion in this satisfyingly clever tale. Highly recommended’ - Diane Saxon

'A disturbingly chilling thriller which is completely gripping. The Sleepover is an intense mystery full of clever twists which I didn't see coming' - Alex Stone

'An atmospheric thriller that grips until the last page. Beevis at her best!' - Diana Wilkinson

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

Audible Audio

First published May 22, 2026

About the author

Hi, I'm Keri Beevis, and I'm the author of the bestselling psychological suspense thrillers, Deep Dark Secrets, Dying To Tell, The Sleepover, and The Summer House.

Other titles I've written include Trust No One, Every Little Breath, The People Next Door, and The House in the Woods (previously released as The Boat House).

I am signed with Boldwood Books and my twelfth thriller, Nowhere To Hide is out 2nd April.

You can find out more about me on my website.

https://keribeevis.com/

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett]

Not a bad read from Keri. Started off well but dragged in the middle and brightened up in the end. A little too obvious in the plot for me. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm)]

4.5 stars!

Wow, this book was absolutely unhinged, and that's putting it lightly! I'm a huge fan of Keri's work, and I'd read anything she puts out. Recently, her writing has really evolved. She's becoming incredibly skilled at misdirection and wrapping up stories in some serious knots!

We meet Camilla, who is starting fresh after a divorce. She moves to a small town with a dark past, and as usual, everyone is in everyone else's business, so you quickly find out whether you're welcome or not. Camilla buys a house with its own history, and as we dive into this mystery, we encounter Hope, Nick, Sophie, and a few other locals. The story unfolds in a dual timeline, revealing what happened the night three teenagers ventured into the woods—only one came back. So, buckle up! This is a mystery waiting to be unraveled, and it's a wild ride!

It’s a chilling and atmospheric small-town read. As I mentioned, everyone knows everyone, but do they really? The mystery of the missing teens looms large—only one returned home, and you can’t help but notice the strange behavior around the village, prompting you to trust no one. The entire reading experience sent shivers down my spine! The house was creepy, but the whole town was unsettling, too!

This is a well-crafted, 20-year-old murder mystery with its fair share of uneven pacing, but the twists will keep you hooked. The book starts slow but really picks up speed; by the second half, it races like a freight train through the plot twists. Just don’t forget to breathe! A lot is happening, but it’s easy to keep track of each character, thanks to the author’s skillful differentiation. Some characters are predictable, while others are shrouded in enigmatic darkness and unpredictability.

I managed to guess a twist or two along the way, but the ending and the main twist completely blindsided me. If you enjoy the eerie vibes of a small town, creepy old house, unsolved teenage mysteries, and a sprinkle of obsession with some characters who are tough to crack, this book is bound to knock your socks off. You'll find yourself reaching for your wine glass more than once! So, get comfy and stay alert because things will escalate quickly, and you’ll want to keep pace. Trust me, it all comes together seamlessly in the end. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check on my camera that malfunctioned because this book has definitely taught me a thing or two! Ha!

Thank you, Boldwood Books and NetGalley, for the DRC widget. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom)]

21 Willow Lane delivers that classic villain‑gone‑mad energy and keeps the tension simmering throughout. I enjoyed the ride, but not as much as I hoped. While the twists were shocking and the premise intriguing, the story lacked the substance and originality I usually look for. As a thriller girlie who has read just about everything, this one lands in the “okay” category for me.

What Worked:
Fast, twisty pacing
Shocking moments
Classic villain energy

What Didn’t Fully Hit:
Lacked depth
Not very original
Didn’t stand out in a crowded genre

Overall, it’s a decent pick if you’re after a quick, entertaining thriller with familiar beats. It kept me guessing, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

~JaNnA~

[Suzanne]

RTC.

[Andrew Nattrass]

Gripping dark, sinister and psychologically thrilling, once again Keri Beevis has come up with the goods
Camilla is hoping for a new start when she moves into 21 Willow Lane
She be friends, one of the locals, Hope, who survived an attack 20 years ago which resulted in one of her friends being murdered and one disappearing altogether

However, a peaceful life is not what is not destined for Camilla

With sinister goings on lots of twists, suspense and tension throughout and a gripping conclusion, Keri has again had me on the edge of my seat

The narration on the audiobook was absolutely fantastic

[Stephanie]

terrible ending. The book had such a strong start. I knew from the beginning who it was all along though. No surprises.

[Josh Epp]

3 stars!

****book club read****

So this was fun. Very fast paced and entertaining. The narration for the audio was done well. The predictability of this novel is high and the story plays out almost the exact way you expect it too. The epilogue adds another layer of texture and possibilities and don’t fully close the story.

The characters were well built and thought out. Some decisions they make are on the typical thriller side of things. The MC is pretty intelligent throughout the novel but does have some dumb moments when reveals come. The author really puts emphasis on reveals before they happen so you know it’s coming. The sense of dread throughout this novel goes in and out.

It reads quickly and is entertaining. There are moments of lull and moments where it drags beyond belief. It pics up around the 83% mark and it all hits the fan at once. I would have liked it to burn slower on throughout the story and less at the end.

I will read more from this author, this was a good introduction. It’s nothing special and isn’t life changing but it does scratch the thriller itch. This would be good for a day at the pool or a rainy day inside.

[jesswouldratherbereading]

*3.5 ⭐️

Tara is a sweet baby angel and I love her, a star is obviously for her. Too much use of acrimonious. Oh how I crave to be by the seaside eating fish and chips, listening to the waves and seagulls. Hope making a Black Manhattan and Cam hoping it won’t be strong had me giggling, I also now want a Black Manhattan. Much more like the twisted nutjobs I expect from Keri, not my favourite but demolished

[Kayl_may]

This was my first time reading a book by Keri Beevis, and overall I found it to be a decent read.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints, which I always enjoy, as it allows you to see events unfold from different perspectives and helps build a fuller picture of what is going on. It also introduced an element of unreliable narrators, which I thought worked well and is always a great way to keep you guessing and on your toes.

I found this to be more of a slow burner, particularly in the earlier stages, and it wasn’t always the most gripping read. However, there was enough intrigue throughout to keep me engaged and wanting to see how everything would come together.

The pace picked up noticeably in the final third of the book, which made it a quicker and more compelling read towards the end. I thought the ending was good and wrapped things up well.

Overall, this was an easy and enjoyable read. It may have been a slower build than I expected, but I still enjoyed it and would definitely be interested in reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to the Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cin (cinsnextchapter)]

I swear, every novel I read from Keri Beevis is somehow better than the last! They’re all so good, but 21 Willow Lane may officially take the cake. It starts out as a fresh beginning in a quiet neighborhood and quickly morphs into something much darker, with secrets lingering beneath the surface and a lurking feeling that no one can really be trusted.

This book had a cast of questionable and downright creepy characters along with such a claustrophobic atmosphere that I was suspicious of EVERYONE! I started this book last night as something to fall asleep with and instead stayed up until almost 3am because I literally could not sleep until I had answers.

Every time I thought I had things figured out, another twist had me questioning everything all over again. I was genuinely surprised by where this story went, and I absolutely LOVED it!
This one was such an addictive read and another easy 5 stars for me!

[Zoe Kindle Queen]

Twenty years ago three girls went into Pretty Corner Woods but only one came out. Bianca is dead and Natalie was never found and Hope is now living with the trauma of that night and also the loss of both her parents and younger sister in other tragedy’s. Hope is a loner through choice and when Camilla moves into 21 willow lane, home of one of the pretty corner girls - Natalie who has never been found, Hope and Camilla soon build up a friendship but simmering beneath the surface is the shadows of the past.

I’ve read most of Keri Beevis’ work and I have to say I’ve never been disappointed, this one lost momentum for me from about halfway through though unfortunately. A mystery with the suspense of a decades old case sums up the plot.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my gifted eARC.

[Courtney McGhee]

Well…i finished it. 😂 And unfortunately, I hated basically everyone.

There are books where the characters are intentionally unlikeable but still fascinating enough that you can’t stop reading about them. And then there are books where I am just thinking, “Every single one of you is insufferable.”
This was the latter.

SPOILERS AHEAD. ⚠️

For most of the book, I was CONVINCED Harvey was the killer.

I had my theory. I was committed to it. In my head, I had solved this entire thing. Then we find out it was ROSE.
And my reaction wasn’t even, “OMG WHAT?!”
It was: “Oh. Duh.” 😂😂😂

Because the second it was revealed, it felt SO obvious. Like of course it was Rose. Suddenly everything clicked into place and instead of feeling shocked by the twist, I felt like the book had basically slapped me across the face with something I should have figured out 150 pages earlier.

I will give the book credit for successfully making me suspicious of Harvey, because clearly that worked on me. But I wanted the eventual reveal to have more impact. I love a thriller that makes me gasp, immediately start mentally flipping back through everything I’ve read, and think, HOW DID I MISS THAT?! This was more like: “Ohhhhhhh. Yeah. Obviously.” But honestly, my biggest problem wasn’t even the mystery. It was the characters.
I could not find ONE PERSON (liked Tara the dog) I genuinely cared about. Everyone annoyed me. Everyone made decisions that irritated me. Everyone seemed to have some combination of secrets, terrible judgment and personality traits that made me want to reach into the book and shake them.

The actual premise was probably my favorite part of the book. Camilla moves to 21 Willow Lane in Blakeney after her divorce, hoping for a fresh start, only to learn that her new home is connected to a decades-old mystery involving the “Pretty Corner Girls.” Twenty years earlier, three teenage girls went into the woods: one was murdered, Natalie Tolliver disappeared and was presumed dead, and Hope Andrews was the only one who came home. Camilla ends up befriending Hope, who has spent years living with the trauma of that night and believing the person responsible may still be nearby. Then increasingly creepy things start happening around Camilla’s house, and suddenly the old case doesn’t feel very old at all.

The final stretch is where the book FINALLY picked up for me, as all the secrets surrounding that night started coming out and we learned who had been lying and why. I spent basically the entire book convinced Harvey was the killer, so clearly the red herrings worked on me. I wanted the ending to completely pull the rug out from under me, but instead it felt more like the book finally turned the lights on and showed me something that had been sitting in the room the entire time. Hope was just crazy and obsessed with each friend she had until she killed them.

[Karrie]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second book by Beevis and I really enjoyed this one. Very twisty and I wasn't sure of who was guilty until the end! Camilla moves into the home of one of the victims of the Pretty Corner Woods. Twenty years prior, an unknown person killed one girl and Natalie was never was found, yet Hope was able to escape. But, now that Camilla has bought Natalie's family home, someone is breaking in and threatening her. Is the killer after her now? Or is it someone even closer?

Looking forward to more by this author.

[Jasmin]

21 Willow Lane by Keri Beevis is a dark and unsettling psychological thriller that explores how obsession can slowly take over someone’s life and turn into something ugly and dangerous.

What stayed with me most was the way the story indirectly touches on mental health. Sometimes, people who behave in disturbing or frightening ways are not simply “bad” people but they may be struggling with mental health issues and desperately need help, understanding and intervention. When those problems go untreated, the consequences can be heartbreaking.

This book reminded me that obsession can start innocently, but once it crosses a certain line, it can become destructive. It's a disturbing story, but beneath the suspense, there is also a deeper message about mental health, human vulnerability and the importance of getting people the help they need.

[Jayne Burnett]

An addictive read,
Hope is a strange character, a loner, she was the only survivor 20 years ago when herself and two friends went into the dark woods at night, She has no friends, works alone, shops in the frozen food isle.
Camilla is new to the village of Blakeney, she is making a fresh start. She stops to assist Hope when comes off her bicycle, she finds Hope standoffish to the point of rudeness. After several meetings they build a tentative friendship, though Hope doesn’t like that Camilla is also making some other new friends. She wants Camilla all to herself.
The story is filled with well crafted characters, mystery, suspense, an uneasy atmosphere in the village when Hope’s name is mentioned, paranoia and twists galore.
Loved the descriptions of the area, I could visualise Camilla’s new surroundings.
A enjoyable read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

[Cece]

I spent the last hour of this book nervously tapping my Kindle. It was so intense. I guess I'm going to have to find some more books from Keri Beevis.

[Katelyn Alexander]

⭐️ 5 ⭐️
Slightly predicable in some areas but overall a great read!!!

[Sophie]

I really loved this one! Definitely one of my fastest read in a long time, just couldn't put it down.

[Joyce]

Keri has done it again. Grabbed by the Prologue and racing to find out what really happened and who was responsible. Even when life interfered with my reading time, I hurried back to the book. Keri has a way of making you feel that you are living the experience along with the characters!

[Sarah]

Quite a dark tale from Beevis exploring friendships and obsession, I spent most of the book looking at the wrong suspect until the writer proved otherwise. Whilst I did enjoy this read, I don’t believe it carried the same degree of tension of some of her other books (and it would appear that I have read a lot of them!).

The story centres on the Pretty Corner Girls, where, twenty years ago, Bianca was brutally murdered, Natalie’s body never discovered, and Hope was the only survivor. Camilla moves into the area – actually into Natalie’s old home – and befriends the lonely and isolated Hope. Yet, it would seem that someone doesn’t want Camilla to be there, attempting to thwart her growing friendship with Nick and even vandalising her home. Naturally, Camilla is spooked and I enjoyed how Beevis gradually increases the suspicions in the story, especially as I was completely blindsided!

The novel switches focus from Camilla to Hope. There is a degree of irony behind Hope’s name, particularly as readers learn more about her troubled teenage years. Thanks to an eccentric father who is preparing for the end of the world, and bullies that won’t leave Hope alone, she is socially awkward until she makes friends with Natalie. This is the catalyst of the events leading up to the fateful night, where readers finally learn exactly what happened to the girls. Being an outsider for Hope has continued in present day and I supported Camilla in her sympathy towards Hope, especially where Jayden is concerned.

Yet, although I enjoyed this book, it didn’t have the pacey, page-turning vibes that I usually experience with a Beevis book. This was more of a slow-burner which was slightly disappointing in what I was hoping to get from my read. On the other hand, I enjoyed being completely fooled and the apocalyptic bunker definitely had me shuddering in discomfort!

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[VickydpBooks]

This is a psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Claire McGowan and Lisa Jewell!

Some friendships - and secrets - should stay buried forever…

I enjoyed this book it was about divorce and going to different places might help easier the pain of a divorce.

[Marshamariella]

⭐️3.9
it was a slow take off that picked up in the latter half. It was some predictable but I like how the author did give some other avenues to think otherwise or suspect other characters.

[Sarah]

This is the 3rd book by Keri Beevis that I have read and I have liked them all. I did find there were a few times where it lagged or there was too much repetition of the same thought by a character - but they did not detract from the overall vibe of the book which was stellar. Camilla Darrow is recently divorced and is looking to change her life. She moves to 21 Willow Lane in Blakeney where she can be closer to her friend, Sophie, and Sophie's husband, Will. She learns that the small timid person, who she saw in a bicycle accident, is a survivor of the murder at Pretty Girls Corner where one girl was found dead and the other missing. Only Hope returned from the woods to tell the tale of the traumatic experience. Camilla tries to be friends with Hope. The story is told in 3rd person but from the POV of Camilla, of Hope and sometimes of Harvey or Nick. Through the relationships Camilla makes and her interactions with others in the town, we are treated to a twisty tale with heart pounding climax. No worries, an epilogue ties it up nicely. I couldn't put this one down! Highly recommend.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the Advanced digital reader's copy. I leave this review voluntarily. The book was released May 22, 2026.

[Jayne Fagan]

Written like a teenager

It's not much of a mystery and pretty predictable. Not sure the intent was to sound like a 16 year old writing in her diary, but that's what you get!

[Karen Knight]

Cam moves to Blakeney after her divorce to be near her best friend and has a new job as a teacher starting at the beginning of the new school year. She has a few weeks to do some work on her new house at 21 Willow Lane. Twenty years ago there was an incident involving 3 local girls, one died, one vanished and one survived. No one was ever charged with the crime, is the killer still at large? Cam discovers that her new home is where the girl who vanished lived. She befriends Hope, the survivor and forms a friendship with Nick who was the boyfriend of the missing girl. It seems everyone from that time has secrets, secrets they want to keep secret.

Secrets can’t stay secret for ever and how far will people go to keep them?

Another great book that keeps you guessing till the end.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for my advance copy of this book.

[Claire]

I was intrigued by the premise of 21 Willow Lane and was expecting a tense and gripping thriller. The book did build the tension and there were some great twists but I can’t say the plot overly grabbed me. Parts, especially the ending were predicable and did leave me somewhat flat. Others will love it, but for me it wasn’t my favourite. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

[Amy]

The only reason this wasn’t a 1 star book is because of all the thrills that happened in the last 15-20% of the book (excluding the very rushed epilogue). Once you’ve figured out that the author follows the exact same formula for every book, it’s hard to care enough to finish. Very disappointed. The writing also felt very rushed and sloppy vs some of the earlier books by this author.

[Amy Stoyles]

2.75⭐️

It was alright.

[Sydney]

I feel for the one of the red herrings so I guess I'd call that effective writing! Good one, took a little while to build but that didn't bother me this time

[Laura]

I’ve got to stop the mindless thrillers….